Italy Travel Guide

Their own travelers have a reputation as loud and somewhat obnoxious, but - having been an iconic travel destination since the days of the British aristocracy’s ‘Grand Tour’ - Italy itself is certainly no stranger to tourism. That’s hardly surprising, as it’s all but untouchable internationally in terms of art, food, lifestyle, romance, wine, and, of course, coffee (if you’re American, be prepared to be mocked viciously over the ‘Americano’ - in fact, try and avoid ordering one altogether).

In capital Rome you’ll find abundant traces of the Roman Empire in th… read moree Colosseum and the countless crumbling monuments spread throughout the city. Vatican City, a tiny country within the city’s boundaries, inspires visitors with the art of the Sistine Chapel, the reverence of St Peters and the history of the Vatican Museums, as well as the harlequin colors and staunch demeanor of the famous Swiss Guard. Then there’s the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Imperial Forums, Piazza Navona…

Romantics will find riding the rising waters of Venice and exploring its renaissance architecture an irresistible draw, stepping out of their hotel directly onto a curving longboat. So long as they avoid the increasingly common floods, that is. Florence, and its endless rows of red-roofed houses aren’t far behind. The nightly flirtatious promenade is enjoyable, as are the potent selection of coffee houses, but it’s the sensational selection of old-world art that keeps the city’s international tourist trade ticking over.

Hiring a Vespa and heading out into the vineyards of the Italian countryside is another quintessential experience, perhaps finishing with a crawl up into the Alps and a gentle walk amongst the summer flowers and jangling cow bells, before heading to a hillside village to sample the world’s creamiest ice cream.

In fact, there’s so much to see in Italy, you’d best book a whole summer. Once you’re finished soaking up the above – and wallowing in the beauty of the sing-song language - there’s always the wilds of Mediterranean Sardinia, the Tuscan vineyards, Milan with its fashion and its 2 famous football teams, Pompeii and its infamous volcano, one of the world’s most beautiful languages to play with, hiking the Dolomites, Gucci, the Amalfi Coast, Bologna’s foodie wonderland…