Italy
Culture, history, food, wine, lakes, beaches, mountains, ancient ruins – one can go on and on about Italy! The darling of many avid travellers, Italy makes you fall in love right from the word go.
Every region of Italy is distinct and has its own charm, attractions, and cuisines, making it an ideal destination for all. Natural beauty, incredible food, art, and style are only the beginning of the treasures that you can experience on a trip to Italy. Everyone should take a trip to Italy at least once in their lifetimes. Some of the best places in Europe can be found here. Venice is a unique city built across 116 islands with over 150 canals, winding alleys and cobbled streets. Rome is home to Italy’s ‘Eternal City’ that includes the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica. It also boasts ancient Roman ruins, elegant boutiques and stunning restaurants. Glorious beaches, magnificent art treasures, high fashion, unmatched leatherware, incredible landscapes and delicious food are just some of the attractions waiting for you on a visit to Italy.
Highlights
History & Culture
Italy boasts 51 UNESCO World Heritage sites, which makes it home to more sites than any other country in the world. Did you know that every twist and turn from Positano to Vietri on the Amalfi Coast is one? The historic centers of towns like Siena, Florence and Pienza in Tuscany are also on the list. There are magnificent ancient temple ruins to visit in Paestum and Agrigento and don’t miss the active volcano of Mount Etna.
Art Paradise
The Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo, the many Raphaels in the Pinacoteca, La Primavera by Botticelli — there is a mind boggling amount of priceless masterpieces in just the Vatican museums and the Uffizi galleries alone. If you only spent one minute in front of each work of art in the Vatican it would take four years to see each piece! There are also numerous smaller, quieter collections like the family collection inside the Villa Doria Pamphili in Rome and the incredible cycle of Tintoretto’s at The Scuola Grande di San Rocco in Venice.
Boat Tours & beaches
Italy is one of the premier luxury beach destinations in Europe, with an outstanding reputation that spans centuries. During the Roman times, the Emperors built impressive villas along the coast or on the surrounding islands as a retreat – one Emperor even made Capri his home! In more recent times, Europe’s elite as well as Hollywood celebrities have made Italy their summer destination of choice, staying at one of many historic villas that have been converted into stunning hotels – not one summer passes without another photo of a celebrity or royal frolicking in the warm waters of the Italian coast. Visitors come to experience the laid-back Italian lifestyle at its best.
Italian cuisine
Italian cuisine is incredibly hard to define. Italy is a fiercely regional country and even short distances can mean dramatic differences in terrain, language and food. In the north, stews served on top of polenta and apple streusel are popular. In Sicily, there are strong Arabic influences with dishes like couscous and raisins on the menu. Roman food is rustic and hearty with pastas that have few ingredients and bold flavors like amatriciana and cacio e pepe. On the Amalfi Coast, seafood reigns. One thing you will find in every single region, however, is gelato. A scoop of this cold creamy treat as an afternoon snack is something every Italian will agree on.
