Italy Travel Guide

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Top Things to See

Florence
Visit Florence (Firenze) and see Brunelleschi's revolutionary design for the Duomo (cathedral) (www.duomofirenze.it). Cross the medieval Ponte Vecchio bridge, see the art collections of the Uffizi Gallery (www.firenzemusei.it) and Michelangelo's famous statue of David at the Galleria dell'Accademia.

Greek sites of Sicily
Sail to Sicily to see the remains of successive invading cultures. The most important ancient Greek sites include the temples of the Valle dei Templi at Agrigénto, said to be better preserved than any in Greece itself. The catacombs at the Capuchin Monastery contain thousands of mummified bodies.

History in Rome
Be fascinated by Rome's historical sites - the Colosseum (www.archeorm.arti.beniculturali.it), the Forum and the Pantheon. At the Trevi Fountain, visitors guarantee their return to Rome by throwing a coin into the waters.

Monuments and mosaics
Discover early Byzantine and Christian monuments decorated with stunning mosaics in Ravenna (www.turismo.ravenna.it), including the splendid Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Piazza del Campo
Stand in the stunning Piazza del Campo in Siena (www.terresiena.it), the shell-shaped heart of this walled medieval city in southern Tuscany. See it at its best early in the morning or at sunset.

Roman life
Understand how first-century Romans lived their daily lives when you see the remains of Pompeii (www.pompeiisites.org) and Herculaneum, engulfed in the great eruption of AD79.

Romantic Verona
Soak up the romantic sights of Verona, the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The Casa di Giulietta (Juliet's House) attracts thousands of visitors each year. The Roman Arena, built in AD290, is the site of an annual opera festival.

Siena cathedral
Admire Siena's extraordinary humbug-striped cathedral (Duomo). Go in September to see its intricate patterned floor (pavimento) which is covered most of the year.

Vatican City
Enter the Vatican City (www.vatican.va), an independent sovereign state best known for the magnificent St Peter's Basilica. Among the principal features of the Vatican Palace (the Pope's residence) are the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum.

Venice
Explore Venice (Venezia), a work of art in itself. St Mark's Basilica (www.basilicasanmarco.it) and the Doge's Palace (www.museiciviciveneziani.it), overlooking St Mark's Square, have gained fame through Canaletto paintings. The Galleria dell'Accademia (www.gallerieaccademia.org) displays hundreds of Venetian paintings.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.

Top Things to Do

Capri boat trip
Whilst on Capri, one of Italy's most visited islands, take a boat trip from the Marina Grande to the Blue Grotto - named for the magical-looking blue light that emanates from the waters.

Hike and climb
In the Valle d'Aosta region, go hill walking or climbing in the Gran Paradiso National Park and Mont Avic Regional Park, home to wildlife including the chamois and ibex. The Dolomites on the Swiss border are also ideal for hiking and climbing.

Learn a skill
Italian language and art courses are available throughout Italy. Language courses are often complemented by subjects such as cooking or architecture. Art courses are offered by the Palazzo Spinelli (www.spinelli.it) and Università Internazionale dell'Arte (www.uiafirenze.com) in Florence.

Skiing in the Alps
To the west of Turin, in the Piedmont region, major ski resorts include Bardonechia, Sauze d'Oulx and Sestriere. Further north, the Aosta Valley's resorts include Cervinia, Courmayeur and La Thuile. Italy's most upmarket resort is Cortina D'Ampezzo in the Dolomites.

Spa rejuvenation
Italy has a plethora of thermal spas, some famous since the Roman era. The best-equipped health resorts are Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme (Veneto); Acqui Terme (Piedmont); L'Andana, Tombolo Talassa Resort, Terme di Saturnia, Chianciano Terme and Montecatini Terme (Tuscany); Fiuggi (Lazio); and Porretta Terme and Salsomaggiore Terme (Emilia-Romagna).

Truffle hunting
Umbria is a spectacularly beautiful region noted for its highly prized truffles. Black truffles are celebrated each year with a festival in the town of Norcia. Rare white truffles can be found between October and December.

Tuscan wine cellars
The landscape of Tuscany is, typically, one of vine-covered hills, cypress woods, fields of sunflowers and remote hilltop villages. Chianti, the best-known Italian wine, is made in the area north of Siena, and several wine cellars are open to the public.

Wander Trastevere
In Rome, wander around the district of Trastevere, the city's alternative focus which is home to numerous bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

Watersports
Head to the coast: all types of watersports are available. Popular spots include the Italian Riviera in Liguria, the Adriatic and Amalfi coasts. Less busy are the beaches in Sicily, which has large sandy stretches on the southern coast, and in Sardinia. Many of Italy's best dive sites are located in Sardinia.

Wildlife watching
In the National Park of Abruzzo (www.regione.abruzzo.it), you might spot Marsican brown bears (unique to Italy), wolves, chamois and eagles In the Molise region, the Matese mountain range is still the haven of wolves and various birds of prey.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.