Italy is undoubtedly synonymous with art, history and laid-back living. In fact, artistic beauties can be found on almost every corner of the country and so it is no surprise that 55 Italian sites have been included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Many of our customers choose to visit the popular cities of Rome, Florence and Venice so they can experience world-famous attractions such as the Colosseum in Rome, the stunning art galleries of Florence and the peaceful canals of Venice. However, there is so much more to see and do in this country, making it the ideal destination for you if you want a diverse vacation in Europe. For example, a vacation in Italy allows you to not only see the world-famous cities, but also spend a few days visiting thought-provoking archaeological sites, such as the ruins at Pompeii, before moving on to an idyllic coastal resort, such as the Amalfi Coast, Sardinia or Sicily.
With so much culture and diverse attractions on offer, you can visit Italy at any time of the year. In the spring and summer months, coastal resorts are popular, while autumn is a wonderful time to visit the popular cities as they tend to be a little quieter. Meanwhile, the ski resorts around the Dolomites in Italy are perfect to visit in the winter. If you’re thinking about a vacation in Italy, we highly recommend considering a multi-center tour that allows you to visit more than one city on a single vacation. There is simply so much to see and do in the country and a multi-center vacation is the best way to explore the diversity of Italy!
Italy offers a wide range of wonderful destinations to visit and every region has its own unique culture, history and cuisine to explore. Tuscany, for example, is famous all over the world for its fine wines, including Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Prosecco, and you can easily enjoy a wine-tasking tour of the wine regions on your Italy vacation. Tuscany’s landscapes are also simply idyllic, with rolling green and golden hills dotted with quaint farmhouses and hilltop villages. Must-see destinations include Florence (and its world-famous art galleries), Pisa’s Leaning Tower and the picture-perfect city of Siena. We also love the lesser-known gems, such as Lucca, San Gimignano and Monteriggioni.
Lazio is another popular region as it is home to Rome and the Vatican City. The latter is the smallest country in the world and is the heart of Catholic life. It attracts millions of pilgrims from all over the world, who come every year to gather in prayer and seek the blessing of the Pope. The Basilica overlooks St Peter’s Square and was designed by Bernini in the 17th century. The main dome is, of course, one of the main attractions of the Vatican City as it was famously designed by Michelangelo, and the glorious Sistine Chapel is undoubtedly a treasure of this spiritual place. Visiting Rome, meanwhile, is like taking a journey back in time as you witness iconic attractions, such as the Colosseum and Roman Forum. There are truly magnificent examples of unparalleled architecture at every turn in Rome, including the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps, but we also recommend escaping into the countryside around Rome to see the idyllic Castelli Romani villages.
No vacation to Italy would be complete without a visit to the Floating City. Thanks to its network of peaceful canals, Venice has a sort of magical atmosphere that you can’t experience anywhere else. It also boasts world-famous architectural masterpieces, such as Doge’s Palace and St Mark’s Basilica. We also recommend taking a day trip to the nearby islands, such as Murano and Burano, or taking a Prosecco tour of the Veneto wine region!
While Italy’s cities offer a wealth of cultural attractions and are surrounded by picturesque landscapes, perhaps a beach escape is what you want. For this, we recommend visiting the south of Italy and staying in the sun-kissed resorts of Sorrento or Capri. The latter is a charming island that is most famous for its romantic and mystical Blue Grotto, which is a sea cave with magical natural blue lighting. From Sorrento or Capri, you can easily visit Naples, as well as the archaeological site at Pompeii. For the adventurous, take a walking tour of Mount Vesuvius – one of Italy’s volvanoes.
Besides these iconic destinations, there is plenty more to enjoy on a vacation in Italy, such as the Amalfi Coast, Sicily, Sardinia and the untouched villages on the southeast coast. We specialize in tailor-made vacations to Europe and, as a part of our unique travel service, we will take the time to understand what you want from your Italy vacation and will then recommend the best cities and resorts for you.