Italy Travel - Hotels, Sightseeing Tours, Travel Packages, Attractions, Information
Europe's kinky over-the-knee boot has it all: popes,
painters, polenta, paramours, poets, political puerility and potentates. Its
dreamy light and sumptuous landscapes seem made for romance, and its three
millennia of history, culture and cuisine seduces just about everyone.
You can visit Roman ruins, gawk at Renaissance art, stay in tiny medieval
hill towns, go skiing in the Alps, explore the canals of Venice and gaze at
beautiful churches. Naturally you can also indulge in the pleasures of la
dolce vita: good food, good wine and improving your wardrobe.
Domina Home Les Jumeaux Located in the heart of Courmayeur, pearl of the Aosta Valley, this prestigious and characteristic establishment is set just a few metres away from the ski-lifts and the town centre.
Made of 2 buildings sharing an ideal position, the Les Jumeaux ...
Starhotels Ritz Milan Recently renovated, Starhotels Ritz is a highly charming property set in the heart of Milan and located in a contemporary building ideal for both tourists and business travellers.
Close to the renowned and exclusive shopping area of Corso Buenos ...
Best Pick: Hotel Vecchio Borgo Situated in the heart of Palermo, just 100 metres from the Politeama Theatre and Square, this hotel is the ideal base for exploring the city?s cultural and artistic heritage and shops.
The charming hotel is equipped with all modern facilities, ...
Hotel Rialto Venice
In the historic, artistic, and commercial heart of Venice, the hotel occupies a unique and enviable position, overlooking the Grand Canal and just across from Rialto Bridge, one of the most beautiful spots of the city.
It is only a 5-minute walk from the hotel to the wonderful Saint Mark's Square, with a stroll along the Mercerie, the shopping streets where charming artisan shops alternate with trendy stores of renowned international houses such as Gucci, Prada, Cartier, and Louis Vuitton.
Completely refurnished in a combination of modern and Venetian style, the hotel features a terrace restaurant and bar which offer an ever-changing view of the daily life of the busy and colourful Grand Canal.
From the Arab-Norman and Byzantine wonders of
Palermo in
Sicily to the
majestic peaks of the
Dolomites, Italy is a movable feast of endless
courses. No matter how much you gorge yourself on its splendours, you always
feel you haven't made it past the antipasti. Few countries offer such
variety and few visitors leave without a fervent desire to return. The
Italians are not joking when they call their home Il Belpaese, the
Beautiful Country.
Italy is renowned for romance, art and history. However, it has so much more
to offer - from historical sites to ultra modern fashions, not to mention
great culture and cuisine! Rome delivers a dramatic history, Venice holds
the magic of Carnivale and the canals, Pisa offers the leaning tower, Naples
the birthplace of pizza,
Milan serves as the fashion capital, and here’s not
forgetting the enchanting architecture of Florence - also home of Dante and
Michelangelo.
For a more regional, some say a ‘real Italian experience’, try the
Sicilian Coast. Fly into Palermo or
Siracusa and then visit many coastal
towns. Step back-in-time in Apulia, or fly into
Brindisi and trek to nearby
vineyards on the Wines Road.
Campania features the breathtaking and world
famous Amalfi Coast, the eerie ancient city of
Pompeii and
Capri Island. Be
sure to also capture the legendary Tuscany landscape with its rich culture,
excellent cuisine and Chianti.
Visit Rome - The Eternal
City (Region: Latium) - Rome, the Eternal City, Rome Caput Mundi. A unique city
worldwide because of the completely opposite styles of art and life that
manage to live side by side there: Imperial Rome and Baroque Rome,
sophisticated Rome and working-class Rome.
Rome is home to some of the most admired tourist attractions in the world -
St Peter's Basilica; the Coliseum; and, as Anita Eckberg highlighted, the
Trevi Fountain.
Bologna (Region: Emilia Romagna) - Untouched by mass tourism, Bologna is the capital
of the prosperous Emilia Romagna region. Discover why Bologna has many
nicknames: La Dotta (The Learned), for its ancient university, La Rossa (The
Red) for the warm colors of its roofs and houses and La Grassa (The Fat) for
the wonderful food! Hotels Bologna
Florence (Region:
Tuscany) - A
patron of the arts and capital of the region of Tuscany, Florence is the
birthplace of the Renaissance and its most influential craftsmen, including
Michelangelo, Leonardo De Vinci and Machiavelli. Hotels Florence
Lucca (Region of
Italy:
Tuscany) - Lucca, the birthplace of Giacomo Puccini is a
lovely walled city. Its thick swathe of Renaissance walls, the almost
entirely medieval street plan, its palaces and houses make Lucca one of my
favorite cities in Italy. Hotels Lucca
Milan (Region: Lombardy) - Milan is all about worldly pleasures. Shopping
is of almost religious significance. Theatre and cinema flourish in this
fashionable milieu, as does a hopping club scene and a slew of tempting
restaurants.
History is achingly prominent here. The breathtaking Duomo is one of the
world's largest, most striking gothic cathedrals, while Milan's art
galleries, many housed in former palaces, are home to a host of significant
works that include Da Vinci's "Last Supper". You may even find yourself
sinking your morning espresso in the same cafe that composer Verdi
frequented. Milan receives more visitors than Venice or Florence, yet
manages not to be a tourist trap - perhaps that's the real secret to Milan's
style. Hotels Milan
Naples (Region: Campania) - Naples has many excellent galleries, art
museums, and other attractions, but its most popular sight is the oldest
aquarium in Europe. The National Museum of Archaeology in Naples offers a
myriad of interesting collections with many unique artefacts. Moreover,
Naples is the tourist capital of Italy, and its restaurants serve
gastronomic delights that are unlike anything in the world.
Pisa (Region: Tuscany)
- Leaning Tower of Pisa: Now open again to tourists, the Leaning Tower of
Pisa offers great views and a superb lesson in the power of gravity – not to
mention a unique photo opportunity.
Do not miss the Museo dell’Opera, the Botanico di Pisa gardens and the
Piazza dei Cavalieri (Knights Square) for chivalry and romance. Situated in
Tuscany, Pisa is a great place to sample fine wines, especially in Piazza
Garibaldi, full of shops and cafes, which are open until late to form Pisa’s
social centre. Hotels Pisa
Venice (Region: Veneto) - Finding words to express adequately the beauty and uniqueness of
Venice has occupied writers for centuries. It is the city’s
other-worldly, fairy-tale quality that attracts, keeping visitors
flooding its narrow calli and palazzo-packed campi. Not even the
less picturesque manifestations of today’s mass tourism – the shops
full of flashing plastic gondolas and the serried ranks of nylon
football shirts on stalls around the Rialto – can really tarnish the
romantic dream. It’s just as well, really. Were the magic to wear
thin, what would Venice do? Venice owes its origins to the collapse
of the Roman Empire. As Visigoths, Ostrogoths and other lesser Goths
swept across northern Italy, the natives took to the small islets
and sandbanks of what would become known as the Laguna Veneta. Hotels Venice
Italy has numerous wonderful travel attractions, from scenic destinations
to cultural and heritage sites. While traveling in Italy you can see the
magnificent churches of Italy including St Peters Cathedral and the Sistine
Chapel in Vatican City and many others, richly endowed with sculpture and
paintings by the great Italian artists of the Renaissance.
Amazing ancient monuments such as the Coliseum in Rome and the Roman
catacombs are sure to amaze you with the creativity of their construction.
The fascinating Leaning Tower of Pisa, the romantic canals of Venice and the
tombs of the Medici rulers are other amazing sights among Italy Travel
Attractions.
Explore the streets and sidewalks of the cities of Italy and discover the
culture, cuisine and craftsmanship of Italy. Tour the grand monuments, bask
on the beautiful Mediterranean beaches and sail in a gondola along the
canals of Venice, while on tours to Italy.
Italian Regions - Regions of Italy
Italy is geographically divided into 20 regions (regioni). A
kaleidoscopic reality with an innate vocation as a cultural melting pot,
ready to be discovered. Like France, many customs and attitudes in Italy are
regional. Even "Italian food" is basically made up of regional dishes. For
example, a traveller might like the wildness and open spaces of the
Abruzzo region, or the cheeses and
wines of the Piemonte region.
more ....
Golfing
in Italy
Italy isn't a place that immediately springs to mind when one thinks of
great, global golf destinations. When most Americans think of Italy, they
probably conjure images of the Roman Empire, wine, pizza, beautiful
olive-skinned women and great loafers, not necessarily in that order.
The Italian government is hoping to make a small dent in that mentality,
trying to lure golfers, as have other countries recently bent on attracting
the type of American and European tourists who spend money, rather than
free-loading backpackers.
The country does have excellent - if not world-renowned - golf, with
courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Robert Trent Jones, Pete
Dye and Robert von Hagge, to name a few. Club Roma "Acquasanta" is the
oldest, built in 1903, and some of the layouts have dramatic, historical
backdrops, like Roman aqueducts and ancient villas. more ....
Facts for the Traveler
Area: 301,230 sq km Population: 57.99 million Capital City: Rome People: Italian Language: Croatian, Italian, French, German, Serbian Religion: 84% Roman Catholic, 6% Jewish, Muslim and Protestant
Visas: EU citizens require only a passport or ID card to stay or
work in Italy for as long as they like. They are, however, required to
register with a questura (police station) if they take up residence
and obtain a permesso di soggiorno (permission to remain for a
nominated period). Citizens of many other countries, including the US,
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Switzerland and Japan, do not need a
visa if entering as tourists for up to three months. Since passports are not
stamped on entry, that three-month rule can generally be interpreted with a
certain flexibility. If you are entering for any reason other than tourism
(for instance, study) or plan to remain for an extended period, insist on
having the entry stamp. Without it you could encounter problems when trying
to obtain a permesso di soggiorno. Non-EU citizens who want to study at a
university or language school must have a study visa. These can be obtained
from your nearest Italian embassy or consulate. Health risks: rabies (This is only found in the Alps), Leishmaniasis
(This is found in coastal regions), Lyme disease Time Zone: GMT/UTC +1 (+2 in summer) (Central European Time) Dialling Code: 39 Electricity: 230V ,50Hz Weights & measures: Metric
When to Go
Italy is at its best in spring (April-May) and autumn
(October-November). During these seasons, the scenery is beautiful, the
temperatures are pleasant and there are relatively few crowds. Try to avoid
August, as this is the time that most Italians take their vacations, and
many shops and businesses are closed as a result.
Events
Religious, cultural and historical events pepper the Italian
calendar. The pre-Easter Carnivale is closely associated with Venice; Holy
Week Easter processions are especially flamboyant at Taranto, Chieti and
Sicily; and Florence explodes a cart full of fireworks on Easter Sunday.
Festivals honouring patron saints are also particularly colourful events;
for example the Festas di San Nicola in Bari and San Gennaro in Naples, the
Festival of Snakes in Abruzzo (May) and the Festa of Sant'Antonio in Padua
(June). Events betraying more than a hint of history include the Race of the
Candles and Palio of the Crossbow in Gubbio (May), the Sardinian Cavalcade
(May), the Regata of the Four Ancient Maritime Republics (which rotates
between Pisa, Venice, Amalfi and Genoa, and is held in June), Il Palio in
Siena (July & August) and Venice's Historic Regatta (September).
Hotel Rialto Venice
