Background information, travelling around the country
Italy is all about living and enjoying a social life. The family and being with other happy people is important. Food and drinks play a central role. In 2025, Italian cuisine was listed as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. Italy is the world's largest producer of wine. The Italian cuisine is more than Spaghetti, Cannelloni, Cappuccino, Gelato and Pizza.
Italy is also home to the opera with famous composers like Verdi, Rossini and Puccini. Many operas are sung in the Italian language.
Italy is a modern country with internet, good roads and public transportation. Travelling through Italy by car is an option and directions are usually available (except for country side). Do keep in mind that it can be crowded on the roads with traffic jams even on toll roads. Also, driving in major cities like Rome, Milan or Florence can be horrendous: too many cars, side-by-side driving, no parking possibilities and one-way traffic everywhere. Not funny whatsoever.
Trains are fast and comfortable giving an excellent alternative. Of course you will need to get to the station first, but these are centrally located. Some long distance trains may require advance ticket reservation.
Guided tours on comfortable buses solve all these issues, where you will be dropped off at and picked up from your hotel every day. No need to lose time looking for that attraction or nice restaurant. No Italian language skills needed. Most tour operators conduct group tours or private tours to Italy with itineraries lasting 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks only in Italy or in combination with other European countries.
Capital Rome and the Vatican
Rome is a must-visit destination in Italy. It is full of history, dating back thousands of years. When walking through Rome, you don’t only see a lot of people and traffic, but you can also feel the times of the Roman Empire in every corner, almost 2000 years ago.
Highlights include of course the Colosseum, where gladiators fought for their lives in front of a huge crowd. Throwing a coin into the Trevi fountain for good luck, walking down the Spanish Steps, as well as having a nice Italian meal with a glass of Chianti at Piazza Navona should also be on this shortlist. There are so many nice spots in this incredibly historic city.
Within Rome’s borders is a completely independent country: Vatican City, the home of the (catholic) Pope and the smallest country on the planet. Do spend a day here. The St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum are really worth it. You can take a picture with the Swiss Guard and may even participate in a solemn mass led by the Pope.
Northern Italy, Milan and the Mountain Lakes
Northern Italy is the richer and a very touristy part of the country. Here you’ll find the fashion capital Milan with attractions like the Duomo, Art Galleries and football (the “other” Italian religion). Not far north from Milan is the lake region with Lago di Garda being the largest. Its location in the Southern Alps is beautiful. Even more north, in the German speaking part of Italy, are the famous Dolomite Mountains.
Romantic, but overly touristy, Venice is certainly worth a visit, but keep in mind that there are far more tourists than permanent residents. A gondola ride may seem idyllic, but too many can also cause jams on these very picturesque canals. Over-tourism greets you.
Verona is also up north, but less well known. Here you may find two main attractions. First there is the beautiful Arena (similar to the Colosseum), where open-air operas and concerts are held. Second there is Juliettes Balcony, where Romeo keeps singing and giving roses from below.
Tuscany, Florence, Sienna and Cinque Terra
Tuscany is a beautiful wine region with romantic cities, rolling hills, grand estates and hot springs. The region is featured in many movies and seems like a superb place to live. There are many destinations, but here I mention only a few.
Florence (Firenze) is the capital and known for its history and very famous citizens, creators, thinkers and explorers: the Medici family, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo, Amerigo Vespucci (who named America), Machiavelli and Dante. They are all honoured in the Uffizi Galleries, not far from the iconic Ponte Vecchio Bridge. The Florence Cathedral is another must-visit attraction.
Historic Sienna is a city shaped around the central square, the Piazza del Campo, where horse races are held annually. Sienna is one of my favourites, even though I got several parking / driving fines with my rental car here (3 in 30 minutes!). The oldest bank in the world, founded 1472, can also be found here.
Cinque Terre is known for the five (“Cinque”) coastal villages (“Terre”). They look great and picture-taking is guaranteed. You can walk between all of them on a long day, or travel by train between them. Cars are not practical, because you cannot park anywhere and have to walk anyway.
Pisa with its famous tower is also not too far away.
Southern Italy, Naples, Amalfi Coast and Sicily
Southern Italy, south of Rome, is the warmer, dryer and poorer part of the country. There is lots to see here as well.
Naples is the largest city in the south. It is the birthplace of the original Pizza with Margarita (for the Queen) and Napolitano now being the most famous.
The Vesuvius Volcano that destroyed Pompeii city in the year 79 AD is just south of Naples. You may find figures in stone, covered in the ashes. The area around Naples (going all the way to Sicily) is still full of seismic activity, above ground and underwater. One day, some day in the future, it will erupt again.
The Amalfi Coast, a famous coastal area with small villages on its hills, as well as the islands of Capri and Ischia are nearby. It is very similar to Cinque Terre up north, except for the through-road.
Further south, in the “heel” of Italy’s boot, you can find treasure like Matera, Alberobello and Lecce. Fortunately pictures are now all digital, because your photo camera will keep on clicking.
The island of Sicily is the final stop in Italy, a special one. A former colleague at work always told me that he was from Sicily, not from Italy. It is (still) an island hat can only be reached by airplane or boat. It has a long history where Greeks, Romans, Arabs and Normans played a role. Main attractions are capital Palermo, Syracuse, the Valley of the Temples (Agrigento) and Europe’s most active volcano the Etna. The volcano named "Volcano" is also located here. Sicily has its own cuisine and was home to the infamous Mafia.
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