Travel to Italy
Italy, a gorgeous boot-shaped country that steps into the Mediterranean like a cat-walking fashion model, is known for its terrific food, hot springs, fashion, art, history and more.
The cities in Italy are fascinating, the countryside is enticing, and the hill towns made for strolling.
Top Italy Travel Ideas
Visit Romantic Venice
Wander the watery streets of Venice and imagine the decadent days when Casanova wined, dined and bedded the cream of aristocratic womanhood.
(He also got thrown into jail here, so visit Piombi Prison while you’re at it.)
Head to Florence
Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance, and it’s here the dark history of the Medici family comes alive. Don’t miss seeing The Birth of Venus, the famous masterpiece by Sandro Botticelli at the Uffizi Gallery.
See the Giotto Frescos in Padua
If you love art, take a quick train ride from Venice to Padua to see the Giotto frescoes at the Scrovegni Chapel. These naturalistic works are wonders of the early Renaissance.
Don’t Skip Milan
Spend a day in Milan, this northern Italian city is the commercial hub of the country. Its vitality may surprise you.
Hit the Hills Towns
Sipping a rich Brunello or a Super Tuscan red wine in one of the hill towns of Tuscany such as Montalcino or Montepulciano is one of life’s rare pleasures.
Visit a Spa Town
Italy is bubbling with fabulous hot springs, and soaking in hot thermal water in spas towns such as Terme di Saturnia or Abano is a great way to relax.
Hot springs in Tuscany are particularly well known.
Toss a Coin in the Trevi Fountain
There are plenty of unusual things to do in Rome, but some old standbys are tried and true.
A perennial favourite is to toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain – legend has it this will guarantee your return.
What You Need to Watch Out for in Italy
- Crowds
- Pickpockets
- If you rent a car, watch out for speeding tickets. My husband still won’t confess how many he got.
- Sold out attractions. Book ahead for top museums and attractions such as the Vatican, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence and the Last Supper in Milan. They sell out fast.
