Italy for Everyone
We all know someone who has Italy high on their travel bucket list, and I have to say it is with good reason.
Colosseum at night
Are you looking for great works of art, awe-inspiring ancient architecture, fantastic scenery that is forever changing or gastronomic delights?
Italy has something for everyone: beautiful mountains, glimmering coastlines and mazes of cobblestoned streets in ancient towns. The hardest thing to do is decide where to start exploring. Did you know there are more UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy than in any other country on the planet? There are 58 sites throughout the country.
Whether you love history or can give it a miss, Italy’s cultural depth will draw you in and leave you with a sense of awe. As the home of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, Italy has an incredibly rich history ready to explore. If that leaves you looking for more Italian food is sure to satisfy the pickiest of eaters.
Close your eyes and imagine Italy’s sites, smells and textures; what comes to mind? Perhaps the silky smooth freshly made gelato from the old Gelateria? Or perhaps the authentic Italian pasta or hand-made pizza is what gets you dreaming? Picture strolling through a piazza and being met with the smell of freshly brewed espresso coming from the cafe, calling you in for a quick pick me up. Maybe you are wandering through an outdoor market full of vibrant colours and aromas of fresh vegetables, meat, cheese, herbs and spices. Italians take their food seriously; each meal is like a work of art for your eyes and taste buds! A meal in Italy is something you will never forget.
What to find in this post
Amalfi Coast – Stunning Coastal Italy
Milan – Italy’s home of business
Get to know the Basics
Currency: Euros (€)
Weather:  a mostly Mediterranean climate with mild, often wet winters and hot, dry summers. Italy covers a large area, so you’ll find plenty of regional changes and micro-climates.
Best time to visit: Holidaying during the shoulder season in April-May or September-October, during these you will enjoy pleasant weather, the prices are low, and the crowds are thin. Just check that the places you want to visit are open.
Let’s check out these five places in Italy and what is on offer for you.
Rome – Italy’s Capital
Looking up out of Forum Rome Italy
Starting at the capital your senses are in for a treat. Rome has a history stretching back nearly three millennia. The mythology of Rome’s founding dates from around 753 BC. So expect history and expect it everywhere. You have places like the Roman Forum, the colosseum and the Trevi Fountain come to mind, but we can forget the Pantheon, the longest continually used place of worship in the world. The structure, completed around 126-128 A.D and in 609 A.D, became a Catholic Church. When walking the streets of Rome there is no escaping the history it is everywhere, around pretty much every corner.
Art lovers are not left wanting either; you have the greats like The Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo, amazing statues and museums and galleries like Museo e Galleria Borghese or any open church in Rome. We stumbled into some open churches while walking in the city and were blown away by their decor, very impressive.
The foodie will not be left out either; every Piazza seems to beckon for you to choose a seat in one of its cafes to sit and enjoy people-watching and the food. Just as it is with history it seems you don’t have to travel far between the tempting restaurants and an experience that could become the trip highlight.
Venice – Fairy Tale Italy
San Marco, Venice Italy
Venice, 100 islands linked by over 300 bridges, is a delight to explore; winding through the narrow streets and crossing over the canals, getting lost and turned around has never been so much fun. For something unique, ride a gondola through the narrow canals, taking in the city’s majesty from the water level.
Wandering, the allies will reward you with private little piazzas, views you would miss on the main tourist walks and time to enjoy this magical city.
Water taxis easily get you to different stops along the Grand Canal and the nearby islands of Marano and Burano. Marano is home to the famous Glass blowers who have been creating masterpieces to adorn houses since the late 13th century. Burano is a pretty little island whose canals are lined with colourful houses. It is also home to the Burano lace Museum, and lace has been produced there for centuries.
Tuscany – Rolling Italy
Tuscany hills
If driving is more your style, then why not rent a car and drive through the rolling hills of Tuscany, stopping at local wineries to taste some of the world’s best vino Tinto (red wine) or a Prosecco or visit hilltop villages or Etruscan ruins.
Tuscany is home to many great towns to visit, such as Florence, home of the renaissance, and Verona, a lovely city in its own right but better known as the home of the fictitious Romeo and Juliet. A trip to Tuscany is not complete without taking in a hilltop town or two. So many towns can be reached from Florence by train or as part of a tour (we have visited a few this way). Sienna, Cortona and Lucca are just a few we have visited, and each visit has left us wanting to explore more.
You have to try some Tuscan dishes while in the area. Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a slow-cooked beef steak, and I still dream about this dish. Didi you know Florence claims to be the place gelato was invented? Yep, so it would be sad not to try some while in town.
Amalfi Coast – Stunning Coastal Italy
Amalfi Italy
Known for its scenic road trip along a stunning coastline, the Amalfi coast is home to precariously placed villages. The villages often look like they are clinging to the steep cliff faces for fear of toppling onto the pebble beaches that are lapped by beautiful, inviting waters.
Sorrento is a great base for exploring if using a guide or being based in a bigger place. Home to restaurants, shops and Hotels for every budget. Sorrento is also a great place to find ferries heading to the island of Capri, throughout the Amalfi, Naples and other destinations in Italy.
The Amalfi coast is home to some great towns worth a visit. The most popular towns are Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, but you have 13 towns to choose from if getting away from the hotspots is your thing. Finding a place to watch the rolling water is easy, and doing it while sipping on Lemoncello is even better.
Milan – Italy’s home of business
Italy’s home of banking and finance, Millan in the country’s North, is also known for its fashion and style. A city with opulent buildings like the opera La Scala, the medieval Sforza Castle, and the impressive Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade. The Milan Duomo is outstanding, to say the least; construction of the Duomo began in 1386 and was completed in 1965. 3,400 statues, 135 gargoyles and 700 figures decorate the Duomo.
Milan is also home to some great art, including the prized Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci. Located in the Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery. The Kiss by Francesco Hayez is found at Pinacoteca di Brera, another masterpiece worth your time.
 Here are a few local foods to try. Panettone, Christmas Cake. Milan is the capital of Lombardy, the birthplace of risotto. Milan has its own recipe for risotto, with bone marrow, beef stew, lard, cheese, and saffron for the colour.
Walking the streets of Milan opens you up to stunning buildings, beautiful people and a different side to the Italian way of life.
Florence Duomo Italy
With so much history and culture, Italy is a country that will call you back time after time. Italy, where discoveries always abound.
Where are you going next? If you had to advise a person on now a place to go in Italy, where is it, and did I mention it?
Looking for something a little less visited? Here is our blog on Five of the least visited countries in Europe
