Italy Travel Planner

Italy is an easy place to love. There are many wonderful things about the country, the only hard part about a holiday to Italy is deciding what you love the most. The wonderful food, ubiquitous art and culture, the scenery or the huge scope of Italy's history, the list is almost endless!

Art and history

Italy is home to some of the most famous and valued artworks anwhere. Art is such an important part of some cities that they are known as cities of art ( citta d'arte). From the astounding grandeur of Roman monuments such as the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, to the Renaissance treasures of Venice and Florence, beauty and art are everywhere.

Arguably the most historic country in Europe, Italy has an amazing 41 World Heritagesites -more than anywhere else on earth. Such is the fame of some of the monuments in Italy they have become household name including the leaning tower of Pisa and the Colloseum but these barely scratch the surface and there are vast numbers of others dotted throughout the country. Some of note include the Villa Adriana in Tivoli, Padua's botanical garden and of course the statue of David in Florence.

Food, magnificent food

One of the great loves of all Italians is food. Although Italian cuisine is familiar to those from the West, mealtime in Italy about the whole experience. Lunch is the main meal and it can last hours. Four courses are not unusual - antipasti to start, followed by soup r pasta (primi piatti), the either a fish or meat course (secondi piatti) and then finishing off with a desert (dolci). Of course all this is usually enjoyed with several bottles of wine and also coffee or grappa. It is not surprising that lunch is often followed by a quick nap or siesta!

Food is a serious topic with the Italians and regional rivalry is fierce. Each city will have it's own version of your favourite dish, and all will claim it to be the best and most authentic.

If you are into cooking keep an eye out for cooking courses or food tours which are available throughout the country, especially in Tuscany, Umbria, and Emilia- Romagna.

City living, Italian-style

Italy has some amazing big cities, Florence, Venice, Rome and Naples are all among the worlds most well known cities and each has it's own style and noteworthy attractions. Rome was the heart of one of the worlds great empires and evidence of those times is indelibly stamped everywhere you look. Added to that it is also the centre of the catholic world and has some of the most important churches anywhere including Saint Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chappel. Venice is without peer with it's streets of water and alleys that wind among buildings where the newest construction is still more than 500 years old. Florence was the centre of the Renaissance and has been associated with the world's most influential artists and thinkers, it was here that Leonardo Da Vinci did his finest work as well as many other of histories most influential such as Michelangelo, Donatello and Botticelli.

Natural beauty

The sun kissed hills of Tuscany are dotted with charming towns, rustic villas, and vineyards which produce an endless variety of wine, it's a perfect place to follow your nose and take your time. The more active may like to head to the Dolomites with it's skiing and alpine trekking is your thing, or head north to the lakes district, at the foot of the Alps. Try riding a bike on the western shores of Lake Como or enjoy some water-sports on Lake Garda. If it's the coastal life you are after, head to the sandy coves of Sardinia or the explore dramatic cliffs and views along the incomparable Amalfi Coast, the charming Isle of Capri or the sheltered bays of Santa Margherita.

Shopping sensations

If it's shopping you like you will have your work cut out for you in Italy! The best of all Italian fashions can be found along just four adjoining streets in Milan, an area known as the Golden Quadrilateral (Quadrilatero d'Oro). The main street of this shopping mecca is Via Montenapoleone and is lined with modish boutiques and sophisticated fashion outlets.

Montalcino in Tuscany is the place to shop for delicious local wines, while Via dei Coronari in Rome is an antique collectors delight. Shopping in Rome is such an important activity that traffic is banned from some areas on Sundays to let the shoppers get around unimpeded.

People and culture

For all the food wine and art perhaps Italy's greatest wealth is actually its people; they love life in a charming and infectious way and are generous and outgoing with visitors. They have a famous passion and zest for anything they do, most especially in their appreciation for music, food and family. Italians love to talk and love to laugh and are always ready with a good story or to to share a meal and a drink.