Tuesday 11 August 2009

Learn Your 8 Musts In A Must-See Tour Of Italy!

By Cristiano Rubbi

Amalfi Coast - The most famous stretch of the Italian coastline lies south of Naples. It takes its name from the town that during the Middle Ages was one of the Italian Sea Republics and vied for supremacy at sea with Venice, Genoa and Pisa. The area is dotted with tiny little villages and larger towns like Positano, Ravello and Sorrento, located on hilly slopes facing the Tyrrhenian Sea. The visual impact is breathtaking as the colors of the houses create a unique contrast with the deep blue color of the sea.

Pompeii - Just imagine: its late in the evening, people are either going to sleep or doing their ordinary chores at home and all of a sudden there is a terrible noise, ashes and gas invade streets and houses; in a matter of minutes the whole city is dead. People have been caught unprepared and their bodies will remain forever in exactly their position at that time. This is what happened in Pompeii about 2000 years ago and now you can see casts that have been made of both men and animals, in addition to whole streets with buildings particularly well preserved.

Rome - The Ancient Capital of the Roman Empire, the focus of Christianity and the present Capital of Italy, this city has so much to offer visitors that its pointless to try and list all that there is to be seen here. You will marvel at the majestic sight of the Colosseum and at the massive, but perfectly proportionate, size of St. Peters. But you will find the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Bocca della Verita just as fascinating, each in its own delightful way. Rome is a city that will steal your heart forever!

Florence - This city is truly a Renaissance jewel that has managed to preserve itself from the ravages of time so that visitors can admire its splendid architectural style and the countless artworks of its great artists. This becomes apparent the minute you arrive at Piazza della Signoria, with the splendid patrician palaces facing each other in magnificent competition. Collections of sculptures and paintings are exhibited at the Uffizi and Academy Gallery, but it's no exaggeration to say that all of Florence is in fact an open-air art exhibition.

Chianti Region - Are you a wine connoisseur or do you like wine, in any case? Then you cant miss a tour of the Chianti area. The countryside is covered with beautiful vineyards and the soft colors of the landscape add charm to extremely enjoyable trip. Obviously wine-tasting must be part of the tour, as will a stop at a farm to be introduced to the secrets of the art of wine-production by experts on the field.

Pisa - Piazza dei Miracoli, or Miracle Square, is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Once you are there, you realize why. In addition to the world-known Leaning Tower, three other marvelous buildings share the privilege of looking on to the square. They each represent a stage in mans life: the Baptistery, birth, the Cathedral, maturity, the Cemetery, death. The whole picture is extremely impressive and leaves visitors absolutely stunned for its impeccable layout and design.

Siena - Would you be disappointed if you were to go to Siena, but could not attend the Palio? You probably would, and this would be quite understandable, considering the prominence given to the Palio by all international media. However, even if you didn't manage to watch the ceremony of the Palio, Siena, you would soon find out, has in store many fine surprises. Its buildings and the layout of its streets are truly admirable examples of Medieval architecture and they are equally impressive as their more famous counterparts in Florence.

Venice - Surely its canals and gondolas need no introduction? The city has been like this for centuries and it has long been a favourite haunt of tourists from all over the world. Its charm obviously is not only due to the gondolas quietly sliding along the greenish waters all the city buildings look on. Many of the palaces in Venice have a particular style and are extremely well preserved. Whats more, St. Marks Square with the beautiful Church facing it and the Bell Tower of St. Mark make an indelible impression on anyone arriving there for the first time.

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