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Bordered by the Apennines, Abruzzi’s terrain consists of valley, rugged mountain plains, isolated villages and ancient towns. Skiing, bird watching and hiking make Abruzzi ideal for an active vacation. L’Aquila, the region’s capital, know for the ceramics, lace, copper and wrought-iron craft shops, is a god starting point for exploring the Gran Sasso, the highest of the Apennines. Hiking and camping are available in the National Park of Abruzzi, a huge wild preserve that is haven for wolves, bears and eagles. There is a spa on Lake Scanno at Caramanico Terme, near Pescara; resort areas at Roccarso and Ovindoli; and beaches on Adriatic coast. Abruzzi produces simple refreshing, well-priced wines.
Italy’s smallest region situated on the Swiss and French borders, is ringed by Europe’s highest mountains: Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and Monte Rosa. Sheltered from bad weather coming from the Atlantic by Mont Blanc, the climate is usually dry and sunny, yet with abundant snowfall for the world-class skiing found at resorts like Courmayeur and Breuil-Cervinia. Kayaking, rafting, swimming, rock climbing and long walks in the valleys of the Gran Paradiso National Park are also popular activities. The region is known, too, for its feudal castles. The turreted Fenis Castle is accessible by bus from Aosta, the capital. Issogne, on the Aosta-Turin rail line, is one of northern Italy’s most striking fortresses. Nearby airports are in Milan, Turin and Geneva.
The heel of Italy’s boot is the site of many Frederick II ‘s Swabian castles, among which the octagonal Castel del Monte, located outside of Andria, stands out. Other attractions included the Church of San Nicola, located in the capital, Bari, which is reputed to hold the remains of Santa Claus. Distinctive white conical structures, called trulli, dot the countryside of Apulia, and are clustered in the street of Alberobello, a short train ride from Bari. The city of Lecce is to baroque what Florence is the Renaissance, and its street are lined with stunning architectural monuments. The region also boasts a pleasant resort area along the Adriatic coast.
Lucania, as Basilicata was once called, was part of Magna Grecia and prized colonies. This rural mountainous region enjoys two relatively undiscovered coastlines. Mataponto, a popular beach resort o the Gulf of Taranto, is also the location of Apollo Licius and the remains of a Greek theater. Matera, the region’s cultural stronghold, is the site of the sassi, Paleolithic-age rock dwellings dating from approximately 1500 BC. Matera’s two valleys of sassi, Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano, are now being partially restored and inhabited. Among the prehistoric caves are 6th century rock churches, any of which contain remnats of 12th to 16th century Byzantine frescoes.
This rural region, sandwiched between the lonian and Tyrrhenian Seas, occupies the boot of Italy. The area is relatively new to tourism, and visitors can enjoy everything from sunbathing to archeology in all season unrestrained by streams of tourists. Among the beautiful beaches are Pizzo, Tropea, Palmi, Locri, Capo Rizuto, Capo Colonna and Scilla. The Sila mountain range is the site of Albanian villages clustered in the hills, Cabala’s ski slopes, as well as the Byzantine fortified town of Santa Severina. With its charming old winding streets, Cosenza is good base from which to explore. Reggio Calabria, the capital, is worth a visit to see the 5th century bronze warriors of Riace, discovered under water by scuba divers and now housed in the National Museum.
Capri, Sorrento, Pompei, Paestum and Naples are among the famous names of Campania. Naples, a boisterous city with a complex history, overlooks the Bay of Naples. Outside Naples are the ruins of Pompei and Herculaneum, buried by lava when Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. Popular vacation spots included Capri; Ischia; and the Amalfi Drive, along which lie cliff-clinging town of Positano, Ravello and Amalfi.
The Emilia Romagna Riviera is Italy’s answer to Florida, complete with golden sand, located in such town as Cervia, Cesenatico, Rimini, Riccione and Cattolica. Europe’s oldest university is located in Bologna, the region’s capital. Half an hour from Bologna, in Ferrara, Estense Castle lies in the center of the city, where a music and theater festival is held each summer. Ravenna, has a rich variety of monuments and works of art, in particular the magnificent mosaics, considered the most beautiful and best preserved in the world. Parma is a charming city with a well-preserved historic center.
This compact region shares borders with Austria, Slovenia and Croatia. Its cultural diversity is almost matched by is geographical complexity. The Carniche and Giulie Alps offer skiing, while the world’s largest accessible cave, the Borgo Grotta Gigante is found in the limestone uplands of the Carso. One of the biggest attractions, near Trieste, the region capital, is Miramare Castle, commissioned by the Hapsburg Emperor, Franz Joseph of Austria, in the 19th century and presently used for cultural events. For those interested in antiquity, buses depart frequently from the capital to Aquileia, a city rich in Roman remains and early Christian art. Resort and beaches, like Grado and Lignano Sabbiadoro, about along the Adriatic Sea.
Across the regions of Piedmont, Lombardy, The Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige lie almost 40 alpine lakes. The lakes generally enjoy a mild climate and beauty vegetation. The best know are Lake Maggiore, the lake Orta, Lake Como, Lake Garda and Lake Iseo. Lake Maggiore runs 43 miles along the Piedmont-Lombardy border. Lake Orta, smaller, than the other, has cozy feeling about it. Lake Como, surrounded, by mountains rising right up from its shores, is circed by attractive towns such Como, Varenna, Maneggio, Lecco and Cernobbio. Lake Iseo is a 16 miles long glacial lake with waterfalls. Lake Garda is the largest Italian lake, covering over 150 square miles, it lies at the border of Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige and the Veneto.
The capital of Latium is Rome; rich is historical and artistic treasures and home of Vatican City. Just outside the city are the baths of Caracalla, the Via Appia Antica, the ruins of Ostia Antica, and the Catacombs. Beaches at Anzio, Nettuno, and San Felice Circeo dot the coast.
The Liguria coasts, knows as the Italian Riviera, and enjoys a mild climate year-round, resulting in lush, sometimes tropical, vegetation. The region is divided into two stretches of coastlines: the Riviera di Ponente to the west and the Riviera di Levante to the east. The Riviera di Ponente, well know for growing flowers, is also famous for towns such as San Remo and Bordighera, which attracted aristocracy from around the world at the turn of the century. The Riviera di Levante is home to well-know resorts such as Sestri Levante, Rapallo, Potofino and Santa Margherita Ligure. Genoa, the region’s capital and birthplace of Christopher Columbus. Genoa is an important center of trade today, as it has been throughout its long history. It is a modern city with the largest medieval center in Europe. Narrow cobbled streets, medieval churches and cloisters surrounded by high stone walls, characterize the Old Center. Much remains of the glorious past of Genoa, whose wealth dating back to Genoa’s ascendancy as a maritime republic in the 1200s is still found in its architecture and museums, art galleries and historical places. The Palazzo Ducale has been restored to reflect the evolution of Genoese architecture from 1294 to the 19th century. The museums in the Palazzo Rosso and Palazzo Bianco house the works of great artists such as van Dyck, Il Grechetto, Strozzi and Caravaggio. With its theaters, the Carlo Felice and the Teatro della Corte, Genoa is fast becoming the site of world-class musical and theatrical events.
The Riviera di Levante ~ Stretching from Genoa to La Spezia, the Riviera di Levante is renowned for its resorts where celebrities frequently visit. Among the famous of the resort towns are Nervi, Camogli, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Sestri Levante, Lerici and Portovenerre. Portofino has a pictured-perfect harbor close by, is the village of Santa Margherita Ligure, a popular seaside resort on the Gulf of Tigullio. The Cinque Terre are the ancient resort villages of Monterosso, Riomaggiore, Vernazza, Manarola, Corniglia, where small family-owned hotels provide charming, restful accommodation.
The Riviera di Ponente ~ The stretch of the Italian Riviera that extends westward from the city of Genoa to the French border is know as the Riviera di Ponente. A southern exposure makes the Riviera di Ponente ideal for growing flowers and palm trees.
Riviera dei Fiori- this coast is dotted with picturesque, historical coastal towns and villages. Among the larger of these towns are Ventimiglia, Bordighera, Imperia, Alassio, Savona and Varazze. San Remo, the heart of the Riviera di Ponente has its own casino, small cozy restaurants, is located along the Italian Riviera only 20 miles from Monte Carlo, and 35 miles from the Nice International Airport. Bordighera is an elegant Riviera resort near the French border; the town has a charming boardwalk bordered by cafes and restaurants.
Within its borders lie vast mountain ranges, glacial lakes, and hill country. Milan, the region’s capital, is a world-class center of finance and fashion, as well as the side of such famous monuments as La Scala, the famed opera house; da Vinci’s Last Supper; and the Duomo, one of the world’s largest gothic cathedrals. There are also small charming towns with ancient, twisting roads such as Mantua and Cremona. Just north of Milan are Lakes Como and Maggiore, to the east of Milan is Bergamo, walled medieval city.
This is a mountainous and hilly region with beautiful beaches facing the Adriatic Sea. There are attractive winter resorts in the Apennines, and hours away are bathing resorts all along the Adriatic, including the Riviera del Conero and Gabicce. The famous painter, Raphael, was born in the small town of Urbino, a prime example of Renaissance architecture. The capital, Ancona, is on the Adriatic coast, a ferry away from Venice. Other culturally interesting towns include Pesaro, the birthplace of Rossini, and Ascoli Piceno, The region’s most important historic center. Ancient ruins are found in Urbis salvia and Macerata.
Some of Italy’s most unspoiled wilderness, where bears, wolves and boars still roam, is found in Molise. The Matese Mountains, which stretch between Molise and Campania, are full of falcons and hawks. The15th century Castello Monteforte and stone Romanesque church of San Giorgio adorn Campobasso, the region’s capital. Saepinum, one of Italy most complete examples of a Roman provincial town, is close to the border with Apulia. There are more Roman ruin in Pietrabbondate. Termoli, a resort on the Adriatic Coast, has a medieval neighborhood that is home to Castello Svevo, built by Fredrick II in 1247. The town of Agnone, famous for thousands of years for producing church bells, makes for an unusual detour.
A favorite destinations for winter sports lovers. Piedmont shares the highest of the Alps with the Switzerland and France. Mount Rosa offers excellent skiing. Turin, the regional capital and headquarters for Fiat, is a major commercial cultural and industrial center. Outside of Turin in the province of Asti is a fine example of a medieval ecclesiastic architecture dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Asti celebrates its Palio horse race in medieval costume the third Sunday every September as since 1275.
Piedmont has a fine regional cuisine, which makes extensive use of locally grown truffles. The medieval Castiglione Castle located right outside Asti houses a culinary school and wine cellar.
The second largest island of Italy demonstrates the influence of many different civilizations from the Bronze Age onwards. It is characterized by impressive seaside landscapes, notably the Costa Smeralda, lined with posh luxury hotels, shops and restaurants. The island of Caprera, as a short boat ride away from Palau, harbors Garibaldi’s home and resting-place. The Grotta del Bue Marino, is a one kilometer illuminated expanse of caverns, stalagmites, and lakes. The town of Alghero, with its cobblestone streets, has kept its old rhythms as a fishing village. Cagliari, the region’s capital, is the site of Roman ruins, beaches, and a large pink flamingo population. Of interest are nuraghi, cone-shaped stone huts, which date back over 3000 years.
The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily is one of Italy’s most interesting regions. The Sicilians have been influenced by all the cultures of the Mediterranean. It is well know for its ancient historical sites such as those found at Agrigento, Selinunte, and Segesta. The medieval town Taormina, perches some 700 feet up on its own mountain above beautiful beaches in view of Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe. In Syracuse, founded by Corinthians in the eight-century BC., is an archeological park containing the Temple of Apollo and a Roman amphitheater. The region’s capital, Palermo is just a few Kilometers from the medieval castle of Monreale.
A mountainous region bordering Switzerland and Austria, Trentino-Alto Adige reflects both Italian and German Culture, where the people of Trentino speak mostly Italian, while those of Alto Adige speak mainly German. The vast mountain ranges of the Dolomites make this the ideal location for skies and mountain climbers. The region also has almost 300 lakes and rivers popular for sealing and windsurfing. At the same time, great effort is put environmental conservation resulting in a pristine quality of the area. The main cites are Bolzano, capital of the province of Alto Adige, and Trento, capital of the province of Trentino. Merano is a well spa resort.
Every city and town in Tuscany is blessed the finest monuments of art. The best of the artistic world from the 13th to the 16th centuries is found in Florence, Siena, Pistoia, Lucca, Pisa, and elsewhere where artists such Giotto, Pietro della Francesca , Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo are familiar. Florence, the capital of Tuscany, an interesting metropolis that has preserved is medieval street plan while carrying on a 20th century life. Montecatini and Chianciano are among Europe’s most famous health spas. Among the famed seaside resort of Tuscany are Forte dei Marmi, Marina di Pietrasanta, Viareggio, Castiglioncello, and Punta Ala.
Florence ~ center of the Renaissance, flourished under the Medici’s patronage, culminating with Lorenzo the Magnificent, who was patron and friend of Florence’s most famous artists, and today the city is still the center of great artistic wealth. Among the important sights is the immense Duomo – the fourth largest church in the world built around the 14th century. The dome, designed by Brunelleschi, is the first of its kind. The Uffizi is the most famous museum in Florence housing the great artistic of the Renaissance. Other sights in the "must see" category are The Accademia to see
Michelangelo’s statue of David, The Pitti Palace, the church of Santa Croce and Boboli Gardens.
Siena ~ about 40 miles south of Florence lies Siena, Founded around the time of the birth of Christ. Siena is a Gothic city, laid out over the slopes of the three steep hills and not much changed since medieval times. Its main square, the Piazza del Campo is the site of the famous Palio, a horse race in which all of the city’s neighborhoods compete twice a annually in July and August. In the piazza is Palazzo Pubblica, Siena town hall since the 1300s. The Duomo of Siena is considered one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Italy.
Umbria, is a picturesque, mystical region made up mostly of towns, where visitors have less of a sense of seeing a series of museums than visiting places where people live today. The main cities are Perugia, the capital, Assisi; Orvieto; Todi; and Spoleto. The shrine of the famous saint, St. Francis, is located at Assisi. Perugia is one of the best medieval hill towns. Torgiano, just south of Perugia, is home to the Lungarotti winery and a fascinating wine museum. Less traveled is the small medieval town of Gubbio, known as the City of Silence, for its peacefulness. Spoleto is a quaint town located in the wooded countryside, quiet except when hosting the Festival of Two Worlds, the annual arts festival held year from mid-June to mid-July
The region of the Veneto stretches from the peaks of the Dolomites from the shore of the Adriatic Sea. Its principal attractions are the Dolomites, the most spectacular rang of the Alps with both downhill and cross-country skiing at Cortina; the cities of Verona, scene of Shakespeare’s Romeo e Juliet; Padua, with its famous frescoes by Giotto and Mantegnis; and of course, Venice. The city is characterized by gondola, which dates back to the 11th century as the most typical from transportation, Byzantine architecture and sumptuous palaces. The famed Palladian villas designed by the 16th century architect Andrea Palladio are found in and around the city of Vicenza. The spa resorts of Abano and Montegrotto are set in the hills south of Padua. Concentrated in a 100-kilometer radius are many unique sights for visitors to explore and enjoy: the refinement and romance of Venice, the historical air of Verona, Palladian Vicenza, Padua, steeped in learning: the hills around historical Asolo; the breathtaking heights of the Dolomites; lagoons harboring varied aquatic life; hundreds of kilometers of broad beaches; the pleasant shores of Lake Garda, largest lake in Italy.
Venice ~ is well know as a wonder of the world. The islands of the Venetian lagoon are magnet for visitors from all over the world. From the gondola to the Byzantine architecture, from narrow alleys to sumptuous palaces, Venice offers visitors a unique experience. The city is made up of 118 tiny islands, separated by canals. The only way to see Venice is to explore it on foot over its 400 footbridges and through its narrow streets and alleys.
Verona ~ Less then 100 kilometers away, Verona boasts Roman remains such as the Arena and the Old Theater. The romantic setting for Romeo and Juliet, the city has its own rich share of art and architecture such as the church of San Zeno and the Castelvecchio.
Padua ~ Half way between Venice and Verona lies Padua, the site of one of the oldest university in the world, where Gallileo made his discoveries, Padua’s history often unfolded in the elegant surroundings of the Caffe Pedrocchi or the great Salone della Ragione. Its art treasures include the Cimabue frescoes of the Cathedral Baptistery and the celebrated Giotto Fresco cycle in the Scrovegni Chapel.
Vicenza ~ Some 20 miles west of Padua is Vicenza, where a significant part of the Veneto’s architectural wealth is to be found in the elegant villas designed and built in the 16th century by the famous architect Palladio. In the mid-16th century, Palladio, who left a legacy of private and municipal architecture in the classical tradition, rebuilt Vicenza in a great part. In the heart of the city lies the Palladian Basilica, one of the famed Veneto architect’s finest examples.
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