Italy can be proud of its rich past: its history goes back over 2,500 years. An interesting game of numbers and dates: if in the 5th century BC. e. As soon as the powerful Roman Empire began to emerge, by the 5th century AD it had reached its peak, occupying vast territories in Europe, Asia, and even North Africa. At the end of the same 5th century, the Apennine Peninsula was captured by Germanic, Ostrogothic and Gothic tribes, who settled here for several centuries. Then, on the territory occupied by modern Italy, rich city-states began to appear: Venice, Genoa, Arezzo, Milan, Pisa, Florence, Piacenza. These communes existed calmly and serenely until the middle of the 15th century, until neighboring countries began to show aggressive activity, wishing to expand their possessions at the expense of the Apennines.
Already in modern times, namely in 1861, King Victor Emmanuel II, who ruled Sardinia, proclaimed the creation of a unified Italian state, which, however, did not yet include the cities of Rome and Venice. By the 70s of the 19th century, Italy had acquired almost its current borders. In the summer of 1871, the Eternal City, Rome, was proclaimed the capital of the united kingdom. In 1924, dictator Benito Mussolini seized power. Italy actually became the first fascist state in Europe and subsequently the closest ally of Nazi Germany. The Duce regime lasted until 1943, that is, until the death of the holder of this title, Mussolini, who was captured by partisans and executed. That same year, Allied troops landed on the Italian coast.
1946 marked the decline of the monarchy: King Umberto II of the Savoy dynasty abdicated the throne and left the country. The political life of Italy at that time was characterized by frequent changes of governments, sometimes several times a year. Currently, the state is a republic, a member of such large interstate associations as the UN, the European Union, NATO, the OSCE and several others. Separately, it should be noted that in 1929, the Lateran Agreements were concluded between Italy and the Holy See, according to which the Vatican was formed within Rome - an independent state and auxiliary territory of the Holy See and the seat of the Pope and the Roman Curia.
Roman Coliseum
Valley of the Temples in AgrigentoBeautiful views of the Cinque Terre coast
Cave city of Sassi di Matera. There is a town called Matera in the south of Italy, in the region of Basilicata. And Sassi di Matera (sassi translates as “stones”) is its oldest part, a rock settlement. It consists of ordinary caves, located one above the other in the manner of floors. At the same time, the cave city is a real labyrinth, where many different passages and caves hide relics of antiquity in their depths.
Cave city of Sassi di MateraUffizi Gallery
Ancient Pompeii
(Costiera Amalfitana) or Costiera Amalfitana. This is the southern coast of the Sorrento Peninsula in southwestern Italy, which is located on the Gulf of Salerno in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Protected by UNESCO since 1997 as a World Heritage Site. – a real paradise on Earth for vacationers. Directly overlooking the sea surface are the Lattari Mountains, which form jagged edges on the coastline, on which are located wonderful villages surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation. The city of Amalfi itself attracts travelers with its rich history, cultural and folklore traditions.
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St. Mark's CathedralHistorical center of Siena. This city is often called a competitor to Florence in terms of historical and cultural heritage. Siena is truly unique and there is a lot to see here, especially in the historic centre. A visit to the city in the Tuscany region, which is the largest tourist center in Italy, is usually included in various sightseeing tours. The panorama of old Siena is especially impressive when viewed from the Church of St. Clement, Siena Duomo (Cathedral), central square Piazza del Campo.
City of SienaRoman forum
Another recognizable symbol of Italy. Located in the city of Pisa. The uniqueness of the tower is that it is tilted. Moreover, during construction, it didn’t even occur to the architects and builders that this would happen to it. However, the Leaning Tower of Pisa began to sag, due to a poor foundation. Currently, measures are being taken to ensure that the object does not collapse under its own weight, and the tower has been preserved for posterity.
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Assisi Trulli in Alberobello. Commune in the province of Bari (Apulia region). It became famous thanks to the trulli, unique structures included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. Quaint limestone houses, built without cement and topped with original cone-shaped roofs, are found everywhere here.
Trulli in AlberobelloAll sights of Italy
Kitchen
Italian cuisine is so famous in the world that it is often called a separate attraction of the country. Pizza and spaghetti, pasta and risotto, ravioli and lasagne - perhaps not everyone has tried these culinary masterpieces in the original, but there is hardly a person who has never heard of them. Well, there’s nothing to say about wonderful Italian wines: these are real works of winemaking art! It is believed that every third bottle of wine in the world is produced here in the Apennines.
What best characterizes Italian cuisine is its diversity. The “variegation” of dishes is noted not only at the level of parts of the country, but also at individual regions. That is, the set of the most popular products, the cooking methods, and signature dishes can be different. In the north, for example, recipes with veal, chicken and lean pork are popular. Minced meat is usually used to prepare sauces, and in other dishes it is usually served in whole portioned pieces. In Venetian cuisine, the “queen of the table” is fish. Here, fish soup, rice with fish, shrimp on a rasp, sardines in oil and vinegar, cephalopods with cornmeal porridge (polenta) and others are held in high esteem.
Common to all of Italy are the aforementioned ravioli (resembling Russian dumplings, only square in shape), risotto, pasta and pizza. The latter has become a world “celebrity”, but you probably won’t taste such delicious pizza as in Italy anywhere else. There are about a dozen of its species alone. These are “Margherita”, “Pepperoni”, “Carciofi”, “Napolitana”, pizza in the form of a roll with watercress, “Mason”, “Go-go”, “Calzone”. And this popular dish, which “grew up” from flatbreads with filling for the poor, is not limited to the named varieties.
As for pasta, this word in Italy refers to various dough products. In addition to the pasta we know, there are many other types of pasta: farfalle and fettuccine, cappelletti and tortellini. Local restaurants serve pasta colored in the green, white and red colors of the national flag, as well as... black, with the addition of cuttlefish ink. Well, sauces are not only a whole science, but a huge number of varieties. It is believed that there are about 10 thousand of them in Italy. Just add sauce to the pasta, and it will turn into a different dish - both in appearance and in taste.
Italians love lasagna and cannelloni. The first is a casserole made from broad dough with the addition of meat, tomatoes, basil, parmesan and bechamel sauce, and the second is dough tubes, similar to our pancakes, filled with cheese, ham, spinach or eggs. And among the first dishes that Italians eat not for lunch, but for dinner, the most famous is Minestrone soup. Its preparation is a whole art, and the composition of the ingredients is “everything in seven”. This means using seven types of meat, the same number of different vegetables and the same types of seasonings. Why 7? There is a legend about this: it is believed that this is the number of virtues a Catholic cardinal has.
It would be wrong to talk about the national gastronomy of Italy and not remember its famous cheeses. This is a real treasure of the republic! The most famous of the many types is Parmesan, produced in the province of Emilia-Romagna. It matures in cellars for a long time, at least two years, becoming dry and crumbly. Pasta, omelettes, marinated meat "carpaccio" - it is impossible to list all the dishes that are sprinkled with Parmesan. Other famous Italian cheeses: mozzarella (used in making pizza), gorgonzola (it’s hard to imagine a creamy sauce without it), ricotta (an integral component of delicious desserts).
Video: 10 things we love Italy for
Recreation and entertainment
Tourists come to this or that country not only to get acquainted with history and sights, but also to have a great time, relax, gain impressions and positive emotions. Italy is no exception in this regard: its beaches and parks, attractions and concert halls attract travelers from all over the world. Below we offer the TOP 10 popular places that vacationers most often include in their stay program.
Each of us has our own images when it comes to Italy. For some, the country of Italy is historical and cultural monuments, such as the Forum and the Colosseum in Rome, the Palazzo Medici and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, St. Mark's Square in Venice and the famous Leaning Tower in Pisa. Others associate this country with the directorial works of Fellini, Bertolucci, Perelli, Antonioni and Francesco Rosi, the musical creativity of Morricone and Ortolani, and the incomparable acting works of Giulietta Masina, Monica Bellucci, Sophia Loren, Adriano Celentano. Someone, having heard about Italy, will immediately remember the famous Italian pizza, pasta, fritatta and minestrone. The country of Italy is one of the oldest in the world, although it appeared on the political map of the world only a little over a hundred years ago.
A little history
Italy had a great influence on the social and cultural development of not only European countries, but also of all humanity.
Archaeological artifacts have been found in this country, proving the fact that the territory was inhabited by ancient people. It can be argued that ancient Italy became the starting point in the development of human civilization. The Roman Empire managed not only to conquer large territories and create a powerful state, but also brought its cultural and economic traditions and knowledge to the conquered lands.
Under the onslaught of the Goths, the Western Roman Empire fell in 476, as a result of which many small appanage states were formed on the Apennine Peninsula.
Modern Italy emerged only in 1871 thanks to the efforts of his associates. It was in this year that Rome was declared the capital of the state, which included small kingdoms and duchies.
The twentieth century turned out to be quite difficult and tragic for the Italian Republic. Between 1922 and 1945, the country was under fascist rule led by Benito Mussolini and was involved in World War II. In 1946, the last one, Umberto, abdicated the throne, after which a rather long crisis followed. The decline of industry and agriculture, a streak of unsuccessful reforms - Italy experienced all this. Europe, like the rest of the world, watched in amazement at the transformation and the so-called Italian economic miracle. The development of the country was accompanied by many high-profile political scandals, trials of members of mafia groups, as well as terrorist actions of the “red brigades”.
Today, the country of Italy is one of the highly developed European countries that exports to most countries of the world. Films, cars, fashionable clothes and shoes, excellent wines created in this country are in demand all over the world. The hospitality and cordiality of the Italians, coupled with beautiful nature and a developed hotel business, contribute to the thriving tourism here. Italy annually receives many tourists from different parts of the world.
Geographical position
The state of Italy, located in the south of Europe, due to its outlines, is one of the most recognizable in the world on a geographical map. The mainland part of the Italian “boot” occupies the Apennine Peninsula and a small part of the Balkan Peninsula and points “toe” to the west, towards the islands of Sardinia and Sicily. In addition to these islands, the Italian Republic owns the islands of Capri, Ischia and Elba. It shares borders with countries such as Austria, Slovenia, France and Switzerland. The Vatican and San Marino are two miniature countries that are enclaves and are located on the territory of the state of Italy. The sea washes this country on three sides: from the south - the Mediterranean and Ionian, from the east - the Adriatic, from the west - the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian.
Relief
The largest part (almost ¾ of the entire territory of Italy) is occupied by hills and mountain ranges. The Apennine Mountains with the Corno peak stretch from south to north. The Alps mountain range is located in the northern region of the country. The highest mountain of this massif - Mont Blanc - has a height of 4807 meters. The country of Italy is one of the few in Europe where seismic activity of the earth's crust is recorded and active volcanoes such as Stromboli, Vesuvius and Etna are located.
The plains occupy only 1/5 of its total area, which is 300 thousand square meters. km. The largest in area is the Padana Plain, located between the Apennine mountain range and the Alps. There are also small plains on the sea coast.
Rivers and lakes
The rivers of Italy are concentrated mainly in its northern region. The largest of them - the Po - flows from the slopes of the Cottian Alps and ends its path in is the second largest, and it is connected to the Arno River through channels and a system of canals. Both of these rivers, the Arno and the Tiber, are unpredictable and notorious for their devastating floods.
Most Italian rivers are short mountain streams that form small river systems or flow directly into the sea. Only Northern Italy can “boast” of a developed river system, fed year-round by large amounts of precipitation and meltwater flowing from glaciers.
Most Italian lakes are located on the Adriatic coast, in the foothills and mountainous alpine regions. The largest lake, Garda, with an area of almost 370 km 2, is located in the Alpine outskirts. Lakes such as Albano, Bracciano, Bolsena, Vico and Nemi, located in the central region of Italy, were formed due to the filling of extinct volcanic craters with water. Lakes Lesina, Varano, and Valli de Comacchio were formed as a result of the closure of the lagoon waters with sand barriers. Their depth is shallow, and the water is salty.
Administrative division
The whole country can be roughly divided into three main regions: north, south and center. Officially, as stated in the Constitution of the Italian Republic in Art. 116 of December 11, 1947, it is divided into 20 regions, each of which is divided into provinces. Five of the 20 regions are autonomous entities where ethnic and linguistic minorities live. In Sardinia, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sicily, Valle d'Aosta and Trentino Alto Adige, other official languages are used in addition to Italian.
The provinces of Italy are divided into communities (comunes), the total number of which is 8101. Communes, like provinces, vary quite noticeably in territory and the number of people inhabiting them. The largest community-commune is the city of Rome, located in the Lazio region, which is also the capital of the entire state. It is located almost in the center of the western region of the Apennine Peninsula, on the banks of the Tiber River, not far from its confluence with Rome in Italy - it is not only the capital, but also a political, historical, cultural, and tourist center of world significance.
Economic-geographical differences
Trentino-Alto Adige
Known for its stunning landscapes and ski resorts, this autonomous region borders Austria and Switzerland. In the south, this region neighbors the Veneto, in the west - with Switzerland and Lombardy, and in the north - with Austria, with the border running along the Alpine mountain range. This region consists of two provinces - Bolzano and Trento. This region is interesting because in each of its provinces the culture, traditions and even the main language are different. In Bolzano the official language is German, while most residents of Trento speak only Italian. The region's main income comes from tourism. Trentino-Alto Adige is famous for its ski resorts, such as Madonna di Campiglio.
Friuli Venezia Giulia
It is the easternmost region of Northern Italy, bordering Croatia, Austria and Slovenia. Friuli-Venezia Giulia is located on the Adriatic coast and has the status of an administrative region consisting of two historical provinces - Venezia Giulia and Friule, which due to various circumstances had to unite. Despite quite a long coexistence, each of the regions has retained its own characteristics and individuality. Today there are four provinces in this region: Gorizia, Pordenone, Udine and Trieste. It is here that the most famous white wine, Pinot Grigio, is produced.
Emilia-Romagna
It is considered one of the richest Italian regions. It is bordered in the south by the Apennine Mountains, in the east by the Adriatic Sea, and in the north by the Po River. The region is divided into two parts - northwestern Emilia and southeastern Romagna, which borders the Republic of San Marino. The region is famous not only for such popular tourist cities as Modena, Ravenna, Reggio, Rimini and Ferrarra. Factories of such famous automobile concerns as Dallara, Ducati, De Tomaso, Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Morini and Malaguti are located in this area. And major international competitions are regularly held at local racing tracks.
The central regions of Italy include:
- Abruzzo;
- Lazio;
- Marche;
- Molise;
- Tuscany;
- Umbria.
Abruzzo
This Italian region is located in the center of the country, between the Adriatic coast and the Apennine mountain range. It borders areas such as Molise, Marche and Lazio. Abruzzo includes the provinces of Teramo, Chieti, Pescara and L'Aquila.
Abruzzo is distinguished by a high standard of living and economic stability, which was made possible thanks to the attention of the authorities both to the development of tourism and to the support of the agricultural sector. In this area, both fans of mountaineering and skiing, as well as fans of beach holidays will find relaxation to their liking.
Lazio
This central Italian region is also the capital. It is in Lazio that Rome is located, which is also the main city of this region. There are five provinces in this area: Viterbo, Latina, Rome, Rieti, Frosinone. This region contains a small group of volcanic islands in the center of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Marche
In the very center of Italy, on the Adriatic coast is the Marche region. It consists of six provinces: Ancona, Macerata, Ascoli Piceno, Pesaro, Urbino and Fermo.
What attracts tourists to this Italian region is primarily the beaches, small and cozy in Sinigalia or spacious and wide in San Benedetto del Tronto. This region is also interesting for speleology lovers: many caves, such as Frasassi, are available for visits.
Molise
Located in southern Italy, between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennine mountain range. Molise borders Campania to the south, Abruzzo to the north, Lazio to the west and Apuli to the east. There are only two provinces in this area: Isernia and Campobasso. Molise is one of the most industrially underdeveloped regions of Italy. The exception is the Termoli region, which is home to a small FIAT company and a bell factory in Agnon. There are no large cities in the Molise region, and small villages are located mainly in the foothills.
Tuscany
This region of central Italy is bordered by the Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas to the west and bounded to the east by the Tosco-Emilian Apennines. Tuscany is bordered to the east by Umbria and Marche, to the north by Emilia-Romagna, and to the south by Lazio. Off the coast of Tuscany there are several islands that form the Tuscan archipelago: Gorgona, Giglio, Giannuti, Montecristo, Pianosa, Sapraia and Elba.
Tuscany consists of 10 provinces: Arezzo, Grosseto, Lucca, Livorno, Massa Carrara, Prato, Pisa, Pistoia, Siena and Florence, each of which has its own capital of the same name.
This Italian region, in addition to picturesque landscapes, has many cultural and historical monuments, the most famous of which are concentrated in such provinces as Florence, Siena, Livorno and Pisa. It was in Tuscany that such famous personalities as Leonardo da Vinci and Petrarch, Dante Alighieri and Michelangelo and many others were born and worked.
Umbria
This is a unique Italy. There is no sea or sea coast. It borders only Marche, Lazio and Tuscany. Umbria has only two provinces: Terni and Perugia.
Most of the entire territory is made up of hills and mountains. The plain can only be found in the valleys of rivers such as Velino, Nera and Tiber. On the Velino River, near the city of Terni, there is the most famous man-made Marmore waterfall, built by the ancient Romans.
Large industry in the region is poorly developed, with the exception of the city of Terni, where metallurgical, chemical and mechanical engineering enterprises are located. Perugia has small food, textile and handicraft factories.
Southern regions of Italy
These regions of Italy are located in the southern region of the Apennine Peninsula and include such large islands as Sardinia and Sicily, which occupy about 40% of the country's area. These are the following regions:
- Apulia;
- Sardinia;
- Basilicata;
- Sicily;
- Campaign;
- Calabria.
Apulia
Bordered by the Ionian and Adriatic seas, Apulia is the easternmost Italian region. There are five provinces in this area: Brindisi, Bari, Lecce, Tarento and Foggia. It is a traditionally agricultural region of Italy and ranks first in the production of olive oil and wine.
The territory of this area contains many traces and monuments of various civilizations, from Paleolithic times to the end of the Renaissance.
Basilicata
This southern Italian region is washed in the southeast by the Ionian Sea and in the southwest by the Tyrrhenian Sea. In the south, Basilicata borders on Calabria, and in the east and north on Puglia. The region is divided into two provinces: Potenza and Matera. Basilicata is a rather harsh region, and almost half of its territory is mountains, only 1/10 of the entire area is plains. The entire flat part is crossed by rivers, which swamped it. Today, most of the swamps have already been drained.
This southern region of Italy is not spoiled by the attention of vacationers, since the development of tourism has only begun in the last few years. The Pollino National Park and resorts with thermal waters in Rappola are already operating. Many interesting historical and cultural artifacts can be seen in the natural archaeological park of Murgia, as well as in the museums of Metaponto, Venoso and other cities in the region.
In addition, Basilicata has many ski resorts, with the main tourist center in La Sellata Perfaone.
Calabria
This area is located at the very “toe” of the Italian “boot”, mostly on the peninsula of the same name. Calabria borders on the north with Basilicata, on the west it is washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea, and on the east and south by the Ionian Sea. This region is separated from the Strait of Messina. There are five provinces: Vibo Valentia, Catanzaro, Crotone, Cosenzo and Reggio Calabria.
The region has long been known as an agricultural region, and today it is actively developing as a tourist region. There is everything you need for this: beautiful nature and warm seas, as well as numerous historical monuments left after the Greeks, Romans and Normans.
Calabria, among other things, is also the most seismically active region of Italy. The largest number of earthquakes over the past three hundred years have occurred in this region.
Campaign
From the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the borders with the regions of Basilicata and Lazio stretches the southern Italian region - Campania. This entire area is divided into the following provinces: Avellino, Caserta, Benevento, Naples, Salerno. The most typical areas of activity for the region are agriculture, winemaking and fishing. Shipbuilding is actively developing in port cities. The tourism business is also represented in this area. The Campania region, in terms of the pace and level of its development, is in the top ten and is considered one of the most promising Italian regions.
Sicily
Sicily is located on the island of the same name, as well as on the adjacent Lipari, Pelagian, and Aegadian islands. The region's territory is divided into nine provinces: Agrigento, Catania, Messina, Caltanissetta, Ragusa, Palermo, Trapani, Syracuse, Enna. Sicily is separated from mainland Italy by the Strait of Messina.
Today, only Sicily in the entire Italian Republic has its own parliament, located in Palermo, the capital of the island. There are many historical and cultural Greek and Byzantine monuments and attractions here. But the main object of tourist interest is the active volcano Etna, in addition, the beautiful beaches of Pozzallo and Isola Bella and magnificent landscapes and landscapes.
Sardinia
The island of Sardinia, the second largest, is located between Corsica and Sicily. Sardinia is an autonomous region of Italy, very different both in its main language - Sardinian - and in the ethnic composition of the population. On the western side the island is washed by the Sardinian Sea, and on all other sides by the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The autonomy has eight provinces: Medio Campidano, Cagliari, Nuoro, Carbonia Iglesias, Sassari, Ogliastri, Oristano and Olbia Tempio. The main port and capital of Sardinia is Cagliari. There is no industry on the island, which is conducive to nature conservation.
Capital of Italy
“The Eternal City” is what Rome is called. It was founded on April 21, 753 BC. e. in the very center of the Apennine Peninsula. It stands on seven hills: Aventine, Viminale, Quirinale, Palatine, Caelia, Esquiline and, of course, the most famous - Capitoline. It was Rome that was destined to become the center of one of the greatest civilizations of mankind.
From Roman civilization came to us law and architecture, philosophy and principles of management, the Latin language, which formed the basis of a whole group of languages. According to legends, the very first village was built by Romulus on Palantine Hill. Romulus is one of two twin brothers, sons of the god Mars, who were saved and nursed by a she-wolf. Many books and scientific studies have been written about the history, rise and fall of Rome. The city received its modern status as the capital of Italy in 1861, but actually became it in December 1870.
The center of modern Rome is Piazza Venezia, located at the foot of the Capitoline Hill. In the very center of this square there is a monument to the first king who stood at the head of a united Italy - Victor Emmanuel II. The Italians themselves call this monument a “wedding cake”, due to the huge number of different details and decorations.
The western part of the square is decorated with the Palace of Venice, built in 1455. Today it houses the National Museum of the Palazzo Venezia and the Cere Museum. Chera presents wax figures of famous political and historical figures, cultural and artistic figures. The National Museum of the Palace of Venice exhibits a collection of works by artists of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, as well as various household items and weapons.
Piazza Venezia gives rise to all the main Roman streets: Plebiscita, Fourth of November (leading to the Colosseum), Vittorio Emmanuel Avenue (leading to St. Peter's Basilica), Via del Corso. If you walk along Via del Corso and then along Via Condotti, you will come to Piazza di Spagna.
In order to describe all the monuments, squares, palaces and sights of Rome, a multi-volume encyclopedia is not enough. Remembering the folk wisdom that it is better to see once than to hear a hundred times, shouldn’t you look at Rome and all of Italy with your own eyes?
The Italian town of Campione d’Italia is comfortably located on the shores of Lake Lugano in Switzerland. Around the town, wherever you look, Switzerland is everywhere. And although the distance from the enclave to Italy in a straight line is less than a kilometer, taking into account the difficult terrain, the distance to the nearest Italian city is just over 14 kilometers.
On the opposite side of the lake is the Swiss city of Lugano. From here you can easily reach Campione d'Italia via a road and railway bridge.
When purchasing property in Campione d'Italia, you can obtain a residence permit valid throughout Europe.
In 1917, the local casino began operating, and to this day it is the main attraction of the city and one of the main sources of its income. The casino employs 15-20% of the total population of this amazing town. The history of its creation is attributed to the secret services, which needed to recruit foreign diplomats. It is interesting that the gambling establishment received an official license only in 1933.
The Italians are the descendants of the sages, politicians and military leaders of antiquity, and yet the Eternal City remains young, full of energy and life today. A traveler visiting the Apennine Peninsula for the first time should begin his acquaintance with this country from its capital, because not only ancient heritage and modern attractions are located here - right in the center of Rome is the dwarf state of the Vatican.
Catholics from all over the world come to Italy to see the head of their faith - the Pope, God's vicar on earth. Travel companies offer pilgrimage tours to this country, which is directly related to the formation of early Christianity. In Loreto, seekers of spiritual enlightenment are invited to visit the House of the Virgin Mary, brought from Nazareth; in Bari, they are invited to attend the liturgy in the Basilica of St. Nicholas; in Amalfi, according to legend, the relics of St. Andrew the First-Called himself are kept. A huge number of Christian shrines are located in Rome, Florence, Padua, and Venice.
Italians know a lot about good wine and hearty healthy food. Gastronomic tours to Italy offer tourists to attend cooking classes in Tuscany and Liguria, get acquainted with local cuisine and wines in Lazio, Piedmont, Veneto, Trentino, and take part in tastings in Sardinia, Lombardy, Umbria. Lovers of the classics will find it in abundance in Pisa, romantics flock to Venice and Juliet's homeland - Verona, flirtatious fashionistas gather in the world capital of haute couture - Milan.
The peninsula is surrounded on three sides by warm seas, so it is not surprising that Italy is considered a Mecca for beach holidays. The main resorts are located on the islands: Sicily, Sardinia, Capri, Ischia and Elba. In Rimini, mostly young people gather to “hang out” at a beach disco all night long, Abruzzo is ideal for eco-tourists who prefer peace, quiet and complete fusion with nature, brave adventurers flock to Puglia, and exotic lovers come to Calabria.
Ski resorts in Italy are no less popular than the beaches: you can try yourself as a skier or bobsledder in Bormio, Cervinia, Sestriere, Val di Sole, Passo Tonale. Children are crazy about thematic amusement parks located in the Emilia Romagna region in the resorts of Milano Marittima, Riccione, Cesenatico. Lovers of spa holidays choose the small town of Fiuggi and the resort of Montecatini, not far from Tuscany. “Lone wolves” also have something to see in the homeland of Celentano, Boccaccio and Fellini: Pesareo, Ravenna, San Marino - these and other cities have a lot to offer even the most experienced traveler.
