Italy has land frontiers with France in the north-west, Switzerland and Austria in the north and Slovenia in the north-east. The peninsula is surrounded by the Ligurian Sea, the Sardinian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the west, the Sicilian Sea and the Ionian Sea in the south and the Adriatic Sea in the east. There is a great deal of variety in the landscape in Italy, although it is characterized predominantly by two mountain chains: the Alps and the Apennines.
What to Do in Italy
Once you have decided to visit Italy, your next decision is even tougher – what should you do while you are there? Italy might not seem like a big country, but there are so many things to do and see that a generation would not be enough time to see it all. The first task of tourists will be to prioritize the must-see list and work from the top down, seeing how much time you have. Plan on visiting Italy again to catch the rest of your list, so during each visit you can avoid rushing too much and enjoy each trip more.
The Holy Trinity – And Beyond
The three biggest tourist destinations in Italy – Rome, Florence and Venice is said to be the trinity. They might be crowded cities, often with as many visitors as residents (if not more), but they are heavily touristed for a reason. These three cities are generally the ones that people visit on their first trip to Italy, and they offer a nice overview to what makes people keep coming back to Italy every year. And for those of you who find that you like what you saw the first time around, the good news is that there is plenty more beyond the Holy Trinity. Wherever you go in Italy, you are likely to enjoy incredible food and scenery and the warm hospitality of the Italian people.
Rome is where you will find ancient remnants of the center of the once-vast Roman empire, the Vatican with its collection of world-famous art and its centuries of religious history, and some of the most amazing architecture you will see anywhere. Florence's museums, palaces, and churches house some of the greatest artistic treasures in the world. The most popular and important sites in Florence include the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Uffizi and the Accademia. The churches of Santa Maria novella and Santa Croce are veritable art galleries, and the library of San Lorenzo is a magnificent exhibition of Michelangelo's architectural genius.
The city of Venice, Italy, is simply stunning and completely unique. The city is always admired by the many tourists that visit throughout the year. There are several tourist information branches operated by the Azienda di Promozione Turistica, located on the Piazza San Marco, the Piazzale Roma, the Gran Viale Santa Maria Elisabetta, the Lungomare Adriatico, the Venice Pavilion and the Stazione di Santa Lucia. A further tourism outlet is conveniently situated in the arrivals hall at the Marco Polo Airport. If you have time for day trips, there are also many interesting towns to explore, such as Burano, Murano, Padua, Torcello, Verona and Vicenza.
The suggested two week Italy itinerary for fist time visitors:
- Venice – 2 days
- Cinque Terre – 2 days
- Florence – 4 days (with a day-trip to Siena)
- Rome – 5 days (with a day-trip to Pompeii)
Travel with a Focus
Often a great way to visit a place is to pick a focus – something you particularly enjoy – and create your vacation around it. It is easy to find something to focus on in Italy and to create a trip around it that will be memorable and personal, and which you will remember forever.
For example, a wine enthusiast or food lover could look for long meals of regional specialties and great Italian wines. A sports fanatic could get into the athletic events that dominate Italian culture – soccer (called calcio in Italian) and cycling like the country’s national bike race, the Giro d’Italia, around in May. And anyone who likes life in the fast lane will appreciate visiting the factories of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ducati and Alfa Romeo – and maybe even driving around Italy in one of the legendary cars, too. Obviously, even someone with only a marginal interest in art will be head-over-heels in love with the incredible art and architecture which seems to be everywhere you look in Italy.
But also, never forget to be open to those moments of luck – when an opportunity that could be fun or exciting presents itself all of a sudden, whether it’s one of the many free concerts in Italy, that happen during the summer, or a local Italian festival that takes over a town.
Italy off the beaten track
There are lots of reasons for heading off the beaten track, Visitors who have already seen Italy's big tourist destinations and want to discover somewhere new. Maybe those who simply don't like crowds, busy streets and tourist menus and Italy is a great country to do it in, since it is so full of charming villages, art-filled provincial galleries, excellent local restaurants and glorious natural scenery.
Italians are customarily proud of their local town and surroundings, and they will be delighted and privileged you have taken an interest. Generally the less visited the place, the more pleased, hospitable and helpful they will be. If you travel off the major tourist trail you are likely to encounter a warm welcome. However, off the beaten track, you will occasionally find tourist information offices and opening hours may be limited. Restaurants and bars can be found in all but the smallest settlements as they are key features of Italian life. Generally traveling off the main tourist trail is cheaper than visiting big cities, but limited accommodation options can mean that hotels are surprisingly expensive.
Characteristically in Italy, be prepared for unexpected delays and problems. Keep in mind that most shops, businesses, churches and even tourist attractions close for a few hours in the middle of the day. Sometimes museums may be all of a sudden closed. Tourists are advised to adopt a flexible attitude. Ask a friendly local for an alternative sight or activity, or relax in the sun or over a long lunch.
Few destinations off the beaten track
If you would prefer somewhere less world-beating but quieter, there are some suggestions below. Some may be minor tourist destinations, others may be well-known but not to English-speaking travelers. Others are truly off the tourist trail.
Visitors to Tuscany come for many reasons. Many come in search of fine art, others to explore the extraordinary countryside. Gourmets and wine buffs descend on Tuscany to enjoy the simple yet wonderful cuisine and wine. Walkers enjoy the mountain paths, cyclists the rolling hills, summer vacationers the sea coast and islands. For some less spruced-up hill villages, try touring the countryside of Lazio just to the south. Outside Rome, this region doesn't get its fare share of visitors and it has real - sometimes crumbling - charm.
Instead of the expensive hotel-villages of the Amalfi coast, try visiting the Cinqque Terre in Liguria. The Cinque Terre is the name given to five small villages along the eastern Ligurian coast. Cinque means "five", terre means "lands": Five Lands. The villages from north to south are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. Four of the five villages are at the bottoms of steep hills that run down to the sea. Corniglia sits on a cliff about a thousand feet above the sea. Until the 1960's, these villages were not accessible by road, so they remained isolated. This all changed when the road was built, but the villages still have an "old world" feel. They are very small towns, full of appealing old buildings and narrow pedestrian lanes. Cars are not allowed in most areas of the villages.
Capri is truly stunning but it fills up with daytrippers and hotels are very expensive. Larger Ischia to the north is less spectacular but much cheaper, most popular with German holidaymakers who relish the island's hot thermal spas. To the north, off the coast of Lazio, lie the Pontine islands. Ponza which is the largest is popular with the well-off and famous but here they enjoy a humbler holiday on a less-developed island. Instead of Lakes Garda, Maggiore and Como, consider visiting the smaller Lake Iseo which is still in the north of Italy, with its head towards the mountains and striking scenery, but which is much less touristy and a lovely place to stay.
