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Top Attractions in Italy |
Venice
There's no escaping it, Venice is unique. A pedestrian city on a
very human scale, cars are almost nonexistent and beguiling narrow
paths take the place of ugly city roads. The harmonious architecture
seems to have sprung uniformly from somewhere between the 12th and
16th centuries and its secretive walls and enticing balconies
sparkle with flashes of water glimpsed through cracks and windows.
Dark paths suddenly emerge into the clear, bright daylight of a
church-filled square or cross the city's myriad of canals by way of
numerous and wonderful little bridges. The atmosphere is magical,
and inexplicably festive. The city is built on 117 small islands
and is linked to the mainland service town of Mestre by a road and
rail causeway. The Grand Canal winds itself around the city,
emerging at the unforgettable vista of Piazza San Marco. The Bridge
of Sighs links the palace to the gloomy old prisons and the bobbing
gondolas are overlooked by the stunning Santa Maria della Salute,
San Giorgio Maggiore and del Redentore churches. Whatever you do in
Venice, you’re sure to fall in love with it.
Pompeii
Easily accessible from Naples,
Pompeii was the thriving resort town for wealthy Romans buried under ash and
mud during the devastating eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79 AD. The
ruins provide a fascinating insight into how the ancient Romans
lived and include impressive temples, a forum, one of the
largest known Roman amphitheatres and luxurious houses with frescoes.
Pompeii was discovered in 1748 and excavations continue to this day.
Website: Pompeii
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
No visit to Italy is complete without a trip to see the
celebrated Leaning Tower of Pisa. Construction of the tower began in
1173 but had to be interrupted because the ground was giving way
which lead to its famous tilt. In the 14th century, Giovanni de
Simone finished the work with the creation of the Bell Room. It is
about 56 meters high and is inclined in relation to the vertical by
4 meters. Cylindrical in structure, it has six rows of loggia and a
row of blind arcades on the lower floor posed on semi-columns. The
Tower is situated behind the Duomo, which is considered to be the
most important expression of Pisan Romanesque. Its construction
began in 1064 by Buscheto and was completed by Rainaldo in the 12th
century. The facade is articulated on the lower level with arches
and on the upper level with four rows of loges. On its bronze doors
the stories of the Madonna and Christ are incised. Inside, the five
naves showcase paintings by Beccafumi, Ghirlandaio, Andrea del Sarto
and Sodoma.
Website: The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Ravenna
Situated halfway between Venice and Ancona, Ravenna is one of the
outstanding smaller sites of the Western world. No other city can
compete with its wealth of Byzantine architecture or its unique
mosaics, ecclesiastical treasures, Dante's tomb, and Theodoric's
tomb. The city is an art lover’s paradise.
Website: Ravenna
The Palio in Siena
Il Palio is held twice yearly on 2 July and 16 August in the
historic city of Siena. The festival is held in honour of the Virgin
Mary and dates from the Middle Ages and involves a series of
colourful pageants, a wild horse race around the town’s main square
Il Campo, and of course lots of eating, drinking and partying in the
streets! If you’re in Italy on these dates, it’s well worth getting
involved in this colourful and exciting festival.
Website: The Palio in Siena
The Island of Capri
The enchanting island of Capri has been long been considered
southern Italy's finest jewel where the extraordinary beauty of the
land and sea and the frequent presence of prestigious visitors imbue
it with a magical atmosphere. Overlooking the stunning Bay of Naples
and Mount Vesuvius, it has always been one of the favorite resting
places for the privileged. Once home to the Roman Emperor Tiberius,
today Capri offers a perfect get-away-from-it-all holiday
destination. Check out the island’s magical Blue Grotto. The strange
and unique refraction of light causes the water in the grotto to
glow an ethereal blue. While away some hours in the charming towns of
Capri and Anacapri. Check out the ruins of Emperor Tiberius’s villa
east of Capri town.
Assisi
Perched halfway up Mount Subasio, the visual impact of Assisi’s
shimmering white marble buildings is magnificent. The city is
dominated by the massive 14th-century Rocca Maggiore - a hill
fortress offering fabulous views over the valley and nearby Perugia.
St Francis was born here in 1182 and work began on his basilica two
years after his death in 1228. It's a magnificent tribute to the
patron saint of animals with frescoes by Giotto, Cimabue and
Martini. Relics from Imperial days include the excavated forum and
the pillared facade of the Temple of Minerva. Roman foundations are
a common feature of many buildings. The town's many churches include
Santa Maria Maggiore, San Pietro, St Clare and the Basilica of Santa
Maria degli Angeli.
Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso
The Gran Paradiso National Park in northwestern Italy was the
first national park established in Italy and is an oasis of larch
woods and firs, wide alpine prairies, rocks and glaciers. It has
rich and varied flora and fauna. The park was originally the hunting
grounds of the ruling House of Savoy who donated the first 5000
acres to the people in 1919. Today the park covers 173,000 acres of
perennially snow-capped mountain peaks, tiny glacial lakes, wooded
slopes and vast flowering meadows. The lord of this heavenly manor
is lo stambecco (the ibex), a chunky white mountain goat with
massive horns. About 3000 ibex live in the park and there are also
large populations of chamois and marmots, smaller numbers of fox and
golden eagles, and clouds of colourful butterflies.
Website: Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso
Sicily
The sunkissed island of Sicily is the largest island in the
Mediterranean and occupies a strategic position at the toe of Italy.
The island has long been a magnet for invaders - all of whom have
left their mark in the form of Greek temples, Roman ruins, Norman
castles, and Byzantine domes. Visiting these relics of the past,
swimming off the island’s beautiful golden beaches, marvelling at Mt
Etna – Europe’s largest live volcano – and sampling first-rate
seafood are all part of the Sicilian experience.
Rome
Check out our guide to the top ten attractions in
Rome
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