With its twisting canals and bobbing gondolas, its Renaissance church domes and coffee-clinking piazzas by the Adriatic, Venice reigns as one of the most iconic cityscapes on the planet. It’s amazing, but not just because it’s built on water! A onetime trading empire that spread to China and India found its epicentre here, which explains … Read more
Strung like a tiara around the glistening Bay of Naples, this southern Italian jewel has been a favourite holiday retreat since the times of the Romans. It was rocked by the eruption of smoking Mount Vesuvius – the hulking volcano that overlooks the town – back in 79 AD, and you can still seek out … Read more
A heady cocktail of whizzing Vespas and serene basilicas, ramshackle fish bazaars and Byzantine artworks, Palermo is a fine welcome to the island of Sicily. Tucked onto the northern shores, it’s the same hubbub of life it was during the ages of the Phoenician Greeks, the Romans, the Normans, the Moors – the list goes … Read more
Back in the 14th century Florence was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. Bringing Europe out of the clutches of the Black Death and the Dark Ages, the Renaissance signaled a time of light, beauty and discovery and Florence still very much represents that today. This magical city is the capital of the Italian region of Tuscany, and it attracts millions of tourists every year. Filled with Renaissance art and architecture, monuments, and culture, Florence has enough to keep you busy for weeks. If you’re itching to see the best of the city though, we’ve put together our recommendations for the top 10 things to do in Florence.
It’s a jaunt through the middle of the Po Valley and across the heart of north-western Italy when you go from the fashion-mad metropolis of Milan to the romantic canals of Venice. In a straight line, the distance you’ll need to cover is just over 150 miles, but the direct motorways and trainlines run a … Read more
Milan and Rome are the two largest metropolises of Italy. One is known for its fashion and finance, the other for its ancient heart and endless museum collections. Both should be part of any bucket-list adventure through The Boot of Europe. That said, nearly 370 miles separates them, with the craggy Apennine Mountains, the Tuscan … Read more
Prepare for an overload of art and culture as you move from the famous Tuscan capital to the great Eternal City. This isn’t just a trip through the heartland of Italy; it’s a journey from the epicentre of the Renaissance to one of the ancient metropolises of Europe. You’ll trade visions of the carved and … Read more
No Italian odyssey could possibly be complete without exploring both Rome and Venice. In the famed capital, you’ll wander under the soaring arches of the Colosseum and glimpse the babbling Trevi Fountain. Further north, the Grand Canal beckons as it snakes by the stunning dome of Saint Mark’s Basilica in a haze of gondolas and … Read more
Naples is loud, a little gritty, and overflowing with its own personality. While the traditional tourist sees it as a spot for pizza before heading elsewhere, independent travelers let the city share itself with admirers. Visitors to Naples who bring a keen eye and an open mind will see the city’s true inner beauty and independence. A visit to Naples might not seem complete without calling on most, if not all, of these Top 10 things to do in Naples.
The capital of the island of Sicily, Palermo is the fifth largest city in Italy, and, like many of its Italian counterparts, it is steeped in history, culture, and architecture. At over 2,700 years old Palermo is a city you will want to visit to experience its history, but it is also a great destination for lovers of gastronomy, and it’s graced with an excellent Mediterranean climate. Full of beautiful landmarks, the only problem you will have when visiting Palermo, is having enough time to see everything. To help you along, we have compiled a list of the top 10 things to do in Palermo.
Turin is a very elegant city, filled with stately buildings, grand boulevards, and attractive parks that some might say rival Paris. But with Turin, it’s only in more recent years that this city, the capital of the Piedmont region of Italy, has become a tourism hot spot for visitors from around the world. Turin is not just a place where you can wander along its streets and soak in its atmosphere; it’s the home city of the FIAT motor company, and it gave the world the first saleable hard chocolate. Come discover all that this appealing city has to offer, while enjoying the scenic backdrop of the snowy Alps. Our top 10 things to do in Turin will have you packing your bags, ready to go!