|
|
Whatever your muse-good wine, delectable cuisine, enchanting landscapes or inspirational art and architecture-you can find it in Italy. Visit Roman ruins, explore the canals of Venice, experience a renaissance of your own in Florence or travel to Sorrento and the Gulf of Naples, with its rugged cliffs and ancient ruins. Wherever you wander, you can be sure that a journey to this culturally rich Mediterranean country won't soon be forgotten.
History
Italian history dates back thousands of years, culminating in the formation of the Roman republic in 509 B.C. This budding democracy soon enveloped the known world and laid the foundation for our modern systems of law, city planning, engineering and centralized government. Following the fall of Rome and the dismal Dark Ages, the loose affiliation of city-states that would eventually become Italy became an important trade conduit for the rest of Europe.
The stars aligned in the fifteenth century, marking the return of the papacy to Rome and the flourishing of the Italian Renaissance. Centered in Florence, this period of renewed appreciation for art, literature, music, ingenuity and philosophy sparked a cultural revolution that inspired the world.
Fast Facts
- Capital: Rome
- Population: 58 million
- Language: Italian
- Currency: Euro (€)
- Time Zone: EST plus 6 hours
- Electricity: 220V, 50Hz
Weather
Italy has hot summers and cold winters. The south experiences mild, wet winters and very hot summers. Rain generally falls in October, January and early spring. Pack lightweight clothing with a few warm layers in spring and early fall, plus rain gear. In winter, bring a jacket in the south and a warm overcoat in the north. Summers can be hot, so bring light summer clothes with a light jacket or sweater for evening.
City Highlights
Rome
Sightseeing with your local guide (including headsets) starts with a visit to the VATICAN MUSEUMS and SISTINE CHAPEL, world famous for Michelangelo's ceiling paintings and The Last Judgement. Continue to monumental ST. PETER'S SQUARE and BASILICA. Proceed across the Tiber for a stroll along the Via Sacra in the ROMAN FORUM, where Roman Legions marched in triumph, and finally visit the COLOSSEUM and hear about gladiatorial combats.
Four more days to enjoy independent activities. Rome is full of very special churches - from the Church of Santa Maria Antigua, the oldest church in the Forum, to Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, dating from the 4th century but remodelled in the baroque style. Take a stroll along beautiful Via Condotti and discover Rome's hidden treasures at your own pace. Since the beginning of 1700, the habit of meeting in Via Condotti's cafés and at the Spanish Steps has not changed in the slightest. If you feel like traveling, join optional excursions to Pompeii, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by a volcanic eruption in 79 A.D., and to the excavations of Rome's antique harbor Ostia, or to Frascati, known for its golden wine and sumptuous villas. Plenty of opportunity to try out local specialties at Rome's famous restaurants.
Florence
Arrive in Florence, Italy and start exploring on your own. Your city sightseeing with a local guide includes headsets to clearly hear the commentary. Admire Michelangelo's celebrated David in the ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS. Visit the Piazza del Duomo with its magnificent CATHEDRAL and sculpture-studded Signoria Square. Stand in awe in front of the Baptistry's heavy bronze "Gate of Paradise" and Giotto's Bell Tower.
Next is a full day at leisure. If you're going to shop, Florence is the place to do it. Browse through the shops. Florentine leather goods and gold jewelry sold by the ounce are attractive buys. There are many excellent shoe stores, as you might expect, but also shops devoted to only one items, such as gloves, perfume, men's shirts, and handmade paper. Ask your host for more suggestions.
Venice
Arrive in Venice and start exploring this special city on your own. The next day's city sightseeing with a local guide includes headsets for clear commentary. Stop at ST. MARK'S SQUARE, the undisputed symbol of Venice and the most beautiful living room in the world. The square is not the result of a prearranged plan but the product of many changes beginning from the ninth century. Enjoy the BYZANTINE BASILICA, lavish DOGES' PALACE and the Bridge of Sighs. The bridge is composed by two corridors that connect the Palace of Justice and the ancient jails with the cells that are beyond the canal. It's told that the sighs of the prisoners could be heard when they passed the bridge because they could not escape anymore. To top off your day, watch Venetian glass blowers at work.
The next day is at leisure. You could choose to enjoy Venice from water level by taking a ride on a gondola, the famous flat-bottomed boat plying the shallow water. On the head of the gondola there is an ironwork called "ferro"; here six stripes recall the six districts of Venice while the laces represent the three Gothic palaces along the Grand Canal. Ask your Local Host for more suggestions.
Vacations
Must-See Sights
|