Lakes
Lake Garda is one of Italy’s largest lakes and provides
several resorts such as Limone, Riva, Gardone, Malcesine and
Garda itself. Being inland, the lake is surrounded by mountains
to the north and beautiful scenery elsewhere. It is very relaxing
to take one of the many ferries and cruise up and down the lake
stopping off at the picturesque old towns with their cobbled
streets full of cafés and colourful shops. An interesting
time to visit is on market day
when a variety of goods are on offer including many leather items
at reasonable prices. Whilst in this region you may wish to visit
Verona, home to many fine examples of classic medieval churches
and museums or, in the evenings during July/August, spend a night
at the opera.
Cities
Venice is Italy’s most beautiful and romantic city. There
is so much to see, and the famous Venetian landmarks such as the Grand
Canal, St. Mark's Square, the Basilica and Rialto Bridge, will not
disappoint. It is wonderful to dine out by the canal in one of
the many restaurants and then finish off the evening by taking
a romantic ride on a gondola.
Florence is situated in beautiful Tuscany on the River Arno
and is world famous as being the birthplace of the Renaissance
movement. It was home to Leonardo De Vinci and Michelangelo and
is recognised as being a treasure for history and art lovers
with a host of incomparable museums and galleries. The main architectural
attraction is the Duomo Church, built between the 13th and 15th
centuries, which is said to be the fourth largest in the world,
its imposing dome towering over the main square. For art lovers there
are many famous works to be found at the Pitti Palace, Uffizi & Accademia
galleries where Michelangelo’s statue of David stands.
In the evening there are many restaurants and trattorias serving
traditional Tuscan dishes which will help you appreciate the
special qualities of this city.
Rome, the eternal city with a glorious past and an exciting future
- a vibrant modern city full of chic and style. Its shops
and cafés are amongst Europe’s finest, and
this together with its fashion and opera, make
for a really exciting combination, ideally suited for short city
breaks. Rome has historic sights
everywhere, and one way of making sure you visit most of them
is to take one of the many excursions that are on offer, and you
can choose whether to see Rome by day or night .
Neapolitan Riviera
This is one of Italy’s most breathtaking coastlines
and includes the well known resorts of Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi
and Ravello.
Sorrento is situated on a headland and gives spectacular
views across the bay towards Naples. For the tourist there is
much too see in the old medieval part of the town with its narrow
streets, tiny antique shops and numerous restaurants. For those
wishing to take advantage of the elegant boutiques, these are
situated in the main street - the Corso Italia. The Piazza Tasso is
the main square where people congregate in the evenings enjoying
a pleasant stroll around the centre of the town. Not too far
from Sorrento, and which can be reached by popular excursion, is
the historical site of Pompeii which famously became buried beneath the lava
of Mount Vesuvius in the first century. Other places of cultural
and historic interest in this region include the Herculaneum,
the Royal Palace of Caserta, and the island of Capri, all of which
can be reached by excursion.
Sicily
This island is a mixture European and African cultures and can
be enjoyed for holidays where you can relax on the beach
or, if you prefer, indulge in a spot of sightseeing. The most attractive resort
on the island is Taormina, which is located on the eastern side
on the slopes of Monte Tauro and overlooks two sweeping bays.
The main beaches are in the bays of Mazzaro and Isola Bella.
Unusually the beaches are reached by cable car as Taormina
is 200m above sea level. In between June and September the
Arts and Film Festival is held in the Greek Theatre and this
attracts a wide number of international visitors. This fashionable
resort is also very near to one of the world's most active volcanoes,
Mount Etna, and this is a very popular sightseeing destination. The
main town on the island is Palermo, which is built around an
interesting natural harbour and boasts many fine churches and
monuments in addition to its bustling centre, with its shops
and restaurants. Close by are the picturesque fishing
villages of Valderice Mare and Cefalu, both perfect
sandy beaches where you can enjoy a relaxing break.
Sardinia
This is an ideal holiday destination for those wishing to relax
and spend their time enjoying glorious sandy beaches and the
crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean. Sardinia is a contrast
of long stretches of sandy beaches in the south and rugged
coastline in the north. Inland the countryside is wooded and
very mountainous with many ancient rock formations that are
of great interest to geologists. Cagliari is the island's capital
and main port and has many interesting old buildings for
the visitor to see, especially the Bastione San Remy from where
spectacular views can be seen of the port and lagoons beyond.
The resorts of Santa Margherita di Pula, Villasimus and Chia
are a short drive from the capital and give you access to modern
hotels, shops, restaurants and bars and most importantly all
have long, white sandy beaches where you can relax and
enjoy yourself in privacy and peace.
