Italy has beaches, islands and mountains. Italy has more entries on the UNESCO World Heritage list than any other country in the world. Italy has Rome, Florence, Venice and Naples. Italy also has the Amalfi Coast, the Chianti hills, Cinque Terre and the Dolomites. It is almost impossible to get a bad meal in Italy. It is impossible to come to Italy and not find anything to your liking.
All about Italy
Rome
Few countries have more to offer than Italy, and few cities have more to offer than the capital, Rome, which with its Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and Pantheon has some of the most famous tourist attractions in the world. The entire historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can spend weeks here without being bored for even a moment.
Florence
Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region and is the perfect base from which to explore this beautiful wine region. Of course, the city itself also has lots to offer, including a magnificent cathedral and some of Italy’s finest museums. It does help that many of the most famous Renaissance artists were born in or near Florence.
Venice
Italy’s third major attraction is Venice, the only major city in Europe where almost all traffic goes by water. Piazza San Marco and St. Mark’s Basilica are must-sees and along the Grand Canal there are numerous beautiful palaces. The city’s carnival celebrations are world famous.
Naples
Naples is the capital of the Campania region in southern Italy. The city is notorious for its chaos and crime, but at the same time famous for the hospitality of its inhabitants and of course for its pizza. The most interesting sight in the city is the Archaeological Museum, where most of the objects found between the ruins of Pompeii are kept.
Milan
Milan is the second largest city in Italy. It is the capital of the province of the same name and also of the Lombardy region. The city is the financial and industrial center of the country. Tourists go there for the most part because of the shops, but with a.o. the famous cathedral and Leonardo’s Last Supper, the city has more attractions.
Verona
Verona, in the Veneto region, is of course first and foremost famous for Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”. Every year around Valentine’s Day there is a Shakespeare festival with concerts, exhibitions, etc. Meals are then served by candlelight in Verona’s restaurants. The festival is called “Verona In Love”. The biggest tourist attraction is the Arena.
Turin
Turin is the capital of the province of the same name and of the Piedmont region. Together with Milan, it is Italy’s most important industrial city and the country’s fourth largest city. Part of the historic centre of Torino is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The most beautiful buildings are the palaces of the former Italian royal family.
Assisi
Assisi is almost entirely dedicated to the most famous inhabitant of the town, St. Francis. The walled centre of the city lies on top of a hill and is one of the most picturesque places in Italy. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Apart from the basilica dedicated to the famous saint, there are also several beautiful churches.
Arezzo
The Tuscan hill town of Arezzo is the capital of the province of the same name. The town has a number of beautiful Romanesque and Gothic churches. The most important of these are located around the central square of the city, Piazza Grande. Most of these churches are adorned with paintings, frescoes and sculptures by the most famous Tuscan artists.
Perugia
Perugia is situated on a hill on the top (the Porta Sole) almost 500 meters high. It is a young, vibrant city, which is partly due to the two universities the city has, of which the smallest, the Università per stranieri, aims to teach foreign students the Italian language and culture. The main street Corso Vannucci is one of the most pleasant streets in Italy.
Padua
The Piazza del Duomo in Padua is the religious centre of the city. It is surrounded by some of the most important and beautiful buildings, including the Cathedral and the Baptistery. Other main attractions are the Prato del Valle central square and the Scrovegni Chapel. Those who want to visit Venice, but cannot deal with the crowds (and the prices), might consider a day trip from Padua.
Viterbo
Viterbo is the capital of the province with the same name in the Lazio region. It is located just under 100 kilometers north of Rome, in a region known as Tuscia. The city is nicknamed the “City of the Popes” (Città dei Papi) and many of its main attractions have to do with the former presence of these ecclesiastical leaders.