Italy

Bell’Italia! Italy has Europe’s richest, craziest culture. After all, this nation is the cradle of European civilization — established by the Roman Empire and carried on by the Roman Catholic Church.

Exploring Italy

Bell’Italia! Italy has Europe’s richest, craziest culture. After all, this nation is the cradle of European civilization — established by the Roman Empire and carried on by the Roman Catholic Church. As you explore Italy, you’ll stand face-to-face with some of the world’s most iconic images from this 2,000-year history: the Colosseum of Ancient Rome, the medieval Leaning Tower of Pisa, Michelangelo’s David and Botticelli’s Venus, the playful Baroque exuberance of the Trevi Fountain … and the elegant decay that surrounds the canals of Venice. Beyond these famous sights, though, Italy offers Europe’s richest culture. Traditions still live within a country that is vibrant and fully modern. Go with an eye open to both the Italy of the past and of the present.

Little bit of … history!

The migrations of Indo-European peoples into Italy probably began about 2000 B.C. and continued until 1000 B.C. From about the 9th century B.C. until it was overthrown by the Romans in the 3rd century B.C., the Etruscan civilization was dominant. By 264 B.C., all Italy south of Cisalpine Gaul was under the leadership of Rome. For the next seven centuries, until the barbarian invasions destroyed the western Roman Empire in the 4th and 5th centuries A.D., the history of Italy is largely the history of Rome. From 800 on, the Holy Roman Emperors, Roman Catholic popes, Normans, and Saracens all vied for control over various segments of the Italian peninsula. Numerous city-states, such as Venice and Genoa, whose political and commercial rivalries were intense, and many small principalities flourished in the late Middle Ages. Although Italy remained politically fragmented for centuries, it became the cultural center of the Western world from the 13th to the 16th century.

Eating and Drinking: Italian Foods and Drinks You Have To Try:

Italian cuisine is food typical from Italy. It has developed through centuries of social and economic changes, with roots stretching to antiquity. Italian cuisine is known for its regional diversity, especially between the north and the south of the Italian peninsula. It offers an abundance of taste, and is one of the most popular and copied in the world. It influenced several cuisines around the world, chiefly that of the United States. Italy is famous for its beautiful cuisine; the Italian food and drink will definitely be an added pleasure of your holiday. Breakfast in Italy normally involves a cup of rich Italian coffee or a cappuccino and a croissant. For lunch look out for sandwich bars or the local store (alimentari) where you can get delicious toasted ciabatta sandwiches which are called ‘pannini’. A full sit down Italian dinner will consist of an appetizer (anti-pasto), a pasta/shop (primo), meat/fish (secondo) which is normally accompanied by a salad and sometimes vegetables (contorno). Alternatively you can grab a pizza in one of the countries many pizzerias – a cheap and tasty option every time as Italy is the home of pizza. Finally beware as Italian food can be quiet spicy and very often dishes are tomato based.

– Risotto

This deliciously creamy rice dish hails from the north of Italy and is made by toasting rice with butter and onion, adding stock and cooking until soft. Risotto can be prepared with a variety of ingredients such as seafood, porcini mushrooms and sausage. However don’t miss the traditional Risotto alla Milanese which is made with meat stock, bone marrow, cheese and a hefty dose of saffron to give it its trademark vivid yellow hue.

– Ragù alla Bolognese

Those who come to Italy looking for Spaghetti Bolognese may be disappointed to learn that technically it does not exist. The closest thing Italians have to a ‘spag bol’ is Ragù alla Bolognese which is a meat sauce in the Bolognese style, prepared with a carrots, onion, celery, beef and pork in a tomato sauce. Oh and it is never served with spaghetti, only tagliatelle!

– Carbonara

Traditional Roman Carbonara is made with just four basic ingredients: guanciale (cured pork jowl), eggs, pecorino romano cheese and black pepper. That means no cream, ever! Instead, the mixture of eggs and cheese provide the creaminess of the dish. The origins of Carbonara are unclear but the name is thought to be derived for the Italian word for charcoal and many believe it was prepared as a filling meal for coal miners.

– Pizza

Although pizza can be found everywhere nowadays its true home is Naples and no trip to the city would be complete without eating an authentic ‘pizza napoletana’. With a thicker crust than its Roman counterpart, the toppings are kept simple with most Italians opting for a patriotic Margherita with tomatoes, mozzarella and basil-the colours of the Italian flag.

– Prosciutto San Daniele

Although Parma ham is perhaps more famous on an International level, the area of San Daniele in the north-eastern region of Fruili Venezia Giulia produces some of the most delicious, melt-in-the-mouth prosciutto in all of Italy. The area’s particular microclimate and the quality of the meat combine during the curing process to produce a soft, sweet ham unlike any other.

– Pesto Genovese

Traditional Genoan pesto is a tribute to two of the wonderful fresh ingredients of the Liguria region: small leaves of fresh, local basil and excellent, aromatic, Ligurian olive oil. Add garlic, parmesan, pecorino, salt, pine nuts and a hefty dose of patience to grind it all together in a pestle and mortar. The authentic Genovese way to serve pesto is with pasta and the addition of potatoes and green beans.

– Parmigiano Reggiano

Traditional Genoan pesto is a tribute to two of the wonderful fresh ingredients of the Liguria region: small leaves of fresh, local basil and excellent, aromatic, Ligurian olive oil. Add garlic, parmesan, pecorino, salt, pine nuts and a hefty dose of patience to grind it all together in a pestle and mortar. The authentic Genovese way to serve pesto is with pasta and the addition of potatoes and green beans.

– Spritz

The Italian’s favorite aperitivo, the spritz is made with sparkling Prosecco wine and a dash of liqueur such as bitter Campari or the orange-flavoured Aperol served with ice and a slice of orange. Spritz was invented during the 1800s when soldiers from the Austrian empire were stationed in the Veneto region. Not being used to the higher alcohol content of the local wines, they would ‘spritz’ a little water into them (spritzen means splash in German). Now the spritz is one of the most common pre-dinner drinks all over Italy.

– Chianti

Tuscan wines are popular all over the globe but the best-known is without a doubt Chianti. Produced in the Chianti region between Florence and Siena, there are now many restrictions in place to ensure the quality of the real Chianti from the areas where it is produced to the combination of the grape varieties used. To ensure you are drinking an authentic Chianti, look for the black rooster symbol on the label.

– Limoncello

Anyone who visits the beautiful Amalfi Coast cannot fail to notice the gigantic lemons which grow in the area. These form the base of one of Italy’s most popular digestivi or after-dinner drinks, Limoncello. The bright yellow drink is made by steeping the lemon zests in alcohol until the oil is released and then mixing with a sugar syrup. The flavour of Limoncello can vary depending on the sugar/alcohol levels and the quality and flavour of the lemons used.

What to See and Do

Visit the Valley of the Temples: If you are going to visit charming Sicily as part of your travels then your first stop needs to be the Valley of the Temples which is located in Agrigento. Here you will find a huge archeological complex that has some of the most intact Doric temples that were built here in the 5th century.

Cinque Terre: Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as being designated as a national park. Nestled in Liguria, the ‘Five Lands’ is made up of five distinct villages that sit atop craggy cliffs overlooking the famous Italian Riviera.

Take to the waters of Lake Como: Lake Como in Lombardy spans an amazing 146 square kilometers and is the perfect place to get out on the water and explore Italy by boat. The area around Lake Como has houses owned by some of the richest celebrities in the world, which tells you everything to know about the kind of views you can expect here. The landscape surrounding the lake is covered with alpine forest and traditional villages as well as dainty ornate houses that make you feel as if you are in a picture postcard version of an Italian masterpiece.

Stand on Juliet’s Balcony: Verona is home to what is said to be the balcony of Juliet, the character made famous in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. Unfortunately the reality is that the city of Verona bought the home featuring the balcony in 1905 with the purpose of making it into a tourist attraction and sadly the characters in Romeo and Juliet never existed in real life.

Marvel at the Coliseum: You can’t come to Rome and not visit one of the most famous attractions in the world, the mighty Coliseum. The ruins of what was once a magnificent amphitheater are one of the greatest historical relics of our time and once it would have had a capacity of over 50,000 spectators. The amphitheater is most well known for the gladiator matches that would have been showcased here and you can sit in the stands and imagine the violent spectacles that used to be performed here for the enjoyment of the crowds.

Take a boat trip along the Amalfi Coast: The gorgeous Amalfi Coast is one of the most scenic spots in Italy and if you want to experience as much of it as possible in the shortest amount of time then consider taking a boat trip along the shore line. A number of companies offer boat rental and you can take in sights such as the towering Lattari Mountains as well as various cute coves and inlets. Seemingly out of nowhere traditional Mediterranean villages will appear and boat tours usually come with food and drinks included so that you can snack on local produce as you take in the views.

Take to the water at the Grand Canal: The Grand Canal in Venice is one of the most famous waterways in the world and there are a variety of ways that you can enjoy it. One of these is to take a water bus known as a vaporetto along the various parts of the canal where you can marvel at the little bridges and traditional Venetian homes that back onto the water. Another more romantic way to travel around the canal is to take an iconic gondola ride where you can imagine that you are back in the Venice of a different time.

Throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain: No trip to Rome is complete without a trip to the Trevi Fountain, and in fact if you want to return here then it is considered an absolute necessity. Local legend has it that anyone who tosses a coin into the fountain will get good luck that will mean that they will one day return to this great city.

Climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa: The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Pisa is a fluke of architecture, as when the tower was constructed it immediately started to sink into the marshy ground beneath it. This gave the tower its signature crooked stance, and at various times in its existence it has been both open and closed to the public as architects struggle to asses if it is safe to enter.

Admire Milan Cathedral: Some people may be surprised to know that the largest church in Italy is not in Rome or even in Vatican City, but actually in Milan. The cathedral here also known as the Duomo took an impressive six centuries to build and is dedicated to Saint Mary of the Nativity. The interior is simply stunning and features marble decorations and a pretty alter, but one of the main attractions here is actually the roof area and you can climb a staircase to the top of the Duomo and look out across all of Milan as far as the eye can see.

How to Get Around

Travellers wishing to visit Italy can use a bus, train, plane, ferry or cruise ship to get there.

Buses: The bus travels on the motorway with travellers eating and sleeping aboard. There are stops every so often to allow some stretching and buying of refreshments at service areas.

Hiring a car: If you want to wander off the beaten track a bit more, hiring a car is an option. To hire a rental car there are agencies at every international airport, but it is best to arrange the rental with your travel agent at home or on-line through an agency. Some of the Italian rental agencies are affiliated with international agencies that you may be familiar with such as Hertz, Avis, Budget, Milan Car Hire, Sixt, Thrifty, or you can use a brokerage website.

Trains: The railway system is good and inexpensive. Owned by the state, it’s called Ferrovie dello Stato (abbreviated FS), but trains are operated under the brand name “Trenitalia”. Most trains carry first and second class.

Share this tour