ITALY
Italy is style all the way. It’s shaped like a boot and no ordinary boot this! Italy’s fashions are enduring, its cars snazzy, its cathedrals calm, its landscape awesome, its pizzerias packed and its pizzas…lip smacking-phenomenal!
For the visitor, Italy is a feast for the senses. You can’t go through Italia without a heightened consciousness of beauty. Whether in the glorious hues of the Tuscan landscape, in the seamless amalgamation of the riches of the past, the reality of the present and the hopes of the future, or in the majesty of the Alps, Italy is all one elegant casket of flavourful stuff. You may choose to do the popular circuit of Rome, Florence and Venice where there are more than enough museums, churches, piazzas and gondolas on canals to keep you happy. Or you may choose instead to strike out into the countryside where the pleasures derived from the scenery and the passionate people are enormous.
At any rate, on any trip, Italy promises lots and delivers more.
Capital : Rome
Best Time to Visit :
- The best time to pay Italy a visit is surely March through October, save July and August.
- July to August is the peak tourist season.
- The summer season (June to August) is scorching and dry while the winter season is known to be mild and foggy. If you are visiting Northern Italy such as cities of Bologna, Verona, Venice and Milan- spring season (April and May) is the perfect time for arriving at these destinations.
- You also get to be a part of Settimana della Cultura, which takes place annually in April.
- Southern Italy, on the other hand, experiences Mediterranean climate, which makes the region intolerable during summers.
- If you are looking for respite, it’s best to visit the mountains, forests and coastal areas of Italy.
- Winters in Alps and Apennies are lengthy and cold, with the Ski Season opening in December and lasting till April.
- But if you are looking to visit the beaches of Amalfi Coast, make sure to avoid November through March as the beaches remain closed during this time.
Min Days Required : 7 days
Places of Interest :
- Rome – Coliseum, St Peter’s Basilica, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Sistine Chapel, Roman Forum
- Florence – Uffizi Gallery, Florence Cathedral, Palazzo Vecchio, David, Boboli Gardens
- Venice – Piazza San Marco, Grand Canal, Doge’s Palace, St Marks Basilica, Murano
- Naples – Mount Vesuvius, Teatro di San Carlo, Royal Palace of Naples, Naples National Archaeological Museum, Parco Virgiliano
- Milan – La Scala, Milan Cathedral, Sforza Castle, Navigli
- Verona– Lake Garda, Verona Arena, Castelvecchio, Verona Cathedral, Torre dei Lambert
- Sicily– Palermo, Aeolian Islands,Tindari, Etna
- Amalfi Coast – Positano, Ravello, Ponza
- Pisa- Leaning tower of Pisa, Bapistry, Knights Square, Orto botanico di Pisa, Piazza del Duomo
- Capri – Faraglioni, Casa Axel Munte, Via Krupp
- Milky Way
- La Polsa
Climate :
- With 7600 kilometers of coastline, the Italian climate is predominantly Mediterranean.
- July and August are hot and humid, and marked by thunderstorms that strike in the afternoons. Inland areas in the north are the most susceptible to this phenomenon.
- Both summers and winters are warmer and drier in the south than in the northern and central parts of Italy.
- The mountainous areas near the Alps experience heavy snowfall in the harsh winters.
Currency : Euros
Things to carry :
- Pack your walking shoes and preferably they should be ones that are well worn or at least ones that you’ve broken into.
- Countless travellers have to deal with the woes of shoe bite and don’t underestimate how big that can be.
- Pack your clothes according to the season and purpose of your visit.
- Business travellers should pack formal clothing.
- Carry a light jacket even if you’re visiting in the summer.
- The Alpine regions are fairly cool even in the summer.
How to get there :
Air :
- There are international airports at Rome, Milan and Florence.
- Most international airlines fly to destinations in Italy and it’s possible to get a flight to Italy from most major cities in the world