Attractions
Lake Como Region:
Lake Como (Lago di Como or Lario) lies 50km (31 miles) north of Milan between Lugano and the Bergamo Alps. Narrow and fjord-like, the lake fills the glaciated valley of the Adda, which flows through it from end to end.
Villa Carlotta: Villa Carlotta is a place of rare beauty, where masterpieces of nature and art live together in perfect harmony in over 70,000 square meters of gardens and museum. The beautiful villa in a natural basin between lake and mountains and faces the Dolomite Grigna mountains and the peninsula of Bellagio, with an Italian garden decorated with sculptures, stairs and fountains. The last kiss of Romeo and Juliet are only some of the masterpieces that enrich the extraordinary collection. The gardens are worth a visit in every period of the year: the wonderful views of the lake make it still today “a place of heaven.”
Bellagio: Bellagio (229m/756ft), a very popular spa on the west side of the Punta di Bellagio, one of the great beauty spots of the north Italian lakes. On the promontory, is the Villa Serbelloni, with views of the three arms of Lake Como. Farther along the road are the park of the Villa Melzi and the gardens of the Villa Trotti.
Enoteca Cava Turacciolo: Located in a narrow street, Via Salita Genazzini, beside Hotel Splendide in Bellagio on the shores of Lake Como, you can find this gem of a wine bar. The premises consist of three small rooms cut into a cave with bottles of wine lining the walls. A must for a true taste of Italian culture.
Milan:
Milan,one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy,is one of the most highly developed urban centers in Europe. Milan is also renowned as one of the world capitals of design and fashion..
Inhabitants of Milan are referred to as ”Milanese” or informally Meneghini or Ambrosiani.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele: Reputed to be the world's oldest shopping mall.it is one of the most beautiful covered galleries in Europe. Began in 1865, it was the first of its kind to make use of an iron and glass structure. In 1867, Giuseppe Mengoni, the architect, fell to his death from the heights of the glass dome while scrutinizing decorative details two days before King Vittorio Emanuele II led the opening ceremony. It was built not only to connect the Piazza Duomo with Piazza della Scala, but also to represent a connection between church and state.
The Gothic Duomo: There is no better place to begin a tour of Milan than at its spiritual hub, the Duomo, described by Mark Twain as "A poem in marble". Situated at the very heart of Milan, the Duomo is one of the largest gothic churches in the world-- 12 thousand square meters large it can hold one and a half football fields.
Castello Sforzesco: The castle in Milan that now houses several of the city's museum and art gallery collections. The original construction on the site began in the 14th century. Following the unification of Italy, the restoration of the castle was started following its transfer from military use to the city of Milan.
La Scala Museum: The Teatro alla Scala Museum was founded in 1913. Just like the opera house, it was restored a few years ago and reopened in 2004 with a new display by Pier Luigi Pizzi. Besides being a meeting place for the general public, the Museum is a point of reference for opera enthusiasts and for scholars. The Teatro alla Scala Museum tells the life of the opera house through a vast collection of music instruments, portraits, busts and documents dedicated to the greatest musicians, from Giuseppe Verdi to Arturo Toscanini.
Venice:
Once you arrive and are stunned by all the architectural wonders and riches of Venice, its vivid colors and unique people, you will understand that Venice is one of the greatest cities ever created.
Basilica di San Marco (St. Mark’s Basilica): Through the centuries (much of what you see was constructed in the 11th century.), wealthy Venetian merchants and politicians alike vied with one another in donating gifts to expand and embellish this church, the saint's final resting place and, with the adjacent Palazzo Ducale, a symbol of Venetian wealth and power. Exotic and mysterious, it is unlike any other Roman Catholic church.
Canal Grande (Grand Canal): A leisurely cruise along the Canalazzo from Piazza San Marco to the Ferrovia (train station), or the reverse, is one of Venice's (and life's) must-do experiences. Hop on the no.1 vaporetto in the late afternoon (try to get one of the coveted outdoor seats in the prow.)
Torre dell’ Orologio (Clock Tower): Finally, in 2005, the Clock Tower has been reopened to the public after a lengthy restoration project. As you enter the magnificent Piazza San Marco, it is one of the first things you see, standing on the north side.
Palazzo Ducale and Ponte dei Sospiri (Ducal Palace and Bridge of Sighs): The pink-and-white marble Gothic-Renaissance Palazzo Ducale, residence and government center of the doges ("dukes," elected for life) who ruled Venice for more than 1,000 years, stands between the Basilica di San Marco and St. Mark's Basin. A symbol of prosperity and power.
Florence:
Florence has an attractive historic centre, with some amazing architecture, including fine Renaissance palaces and the famous shop-covered bridge, the Ponte Vecchio. Florence is home to some of the world's finest art and the birthplace of the Renaissance. Florence is the perfect place to see some of the most iconic attractions, sights and views. Whereas Venice is ideal for relaxing, Florence is made to be seen and heard.
The Ponte Vecchio: The Ponte Vecchio is the most beautiful of the bridges that cross the River Arno as it flows through the city of Florence. Its original structure dates from Roman Times, and the sides of the bridge are lined by gold & silversmiths shops. It is a popular tourist attraction because of the views it offers from the central part of the bridge. On the other side of the Ponte Vecchio you'll see the Medieval Mannelli Tower.
Uffizi Museum: Uffizi Museum is probably Florence's most visited tourist attraction and features works by all the great Renaissance artists of Florence, as well as masterpieces by other world-renowned artists. The oldest museum in Europe, it was created from the core of the Medici art collections from the late 16th century. The museum features over 1600 pieces of art that are exhibited in 45 rooms of the previous Palace of the Medici's.
Accademia Gallery: One of the major sightseeing attractions of Florence is the Accademia Gallery which is home to a very important collection of Florentine paintings, dating from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Nowadays it's more famous for being the home of Michelangelo's David which was moved here in 1873. For many visitors to Florence, this statue is the symbol of the Renaissance movement. Like the Uffizi museum, reservations are strongly recommended.
Boboli Gardens: The Boboli Gardens (Giardino di Boboli) are rich and extravagant pleasure-gardens with large expanses to explore, and photogenic views over Florence. The garden is dotted with statuary, fountains and a variety of features commissioned specially, or taken from the fabulous Medici art collections. The Boboli Gardens spread over the steep hillside behind the vast Pitti Palace, over the Arno from central Florence. Ideal for visiting if your tour takes place in the warmer months. The gardens are extremely vast, so be prepared to walk.
Il Duomo: Located in the Piazza del Duomo, right in the heart of the city, this ancient cathedral stands adjacent to its bell tower, both available to climb; and if you don’t mind stairs, the view is worth the climb. You will be able to overlook the city and snap pictures that look like postcards from the highest building in Florence.
Assisi:
Assisi is a good town for wandering and exploring. Its narrow and steep lanes are picturesque and conceal plenty of surprises: a hidden restaurant, a faded fresco, a stunning view. Occasional olive groves are dotted among the stairways and rooftops. After the earthquake it suffered in 1997, Assisi has been carefully rebuilt and restored; the town has a well-kept and well-off feel to it.
Via San Francesco: The town's attractive main street is the Via San Francesco, which runs from the Basilica up to Piazza del Comune. There are many interesting buildings along the way, including the frescoed Oratorio dei Pellegrini (Pilgrims' Oratory), and the town's art gallery, the Pinacoteca Comunale. The latter contains a number of interesting paintings and frescoes, many of which decorated the walls and gateways of the town.
Rocca Maggiore: For the best view over the town, follow signs to the Rocca Maggiore, the large fortress towering above Assisi. As well as the town itself, there are spectacular views over the surrounding plains, hills and valleys.
Rome:
Colosseum: The Roman Colosseum is a tremendous amphitheater, the embodiment of both the grandeur and cruelty of the great Roman Empire. Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum hosted spectacular games that included gladiator exhibitions, fights between animals, prisoner executions and—strangely enough—naval battles.
Roman Forum: Towering Ionic columns stretch proud and fragmented into the Italian sky and ancient porticoes stand guard over the empty shells of buildings that were once the centers of commerce, justice and worship for the city.
Pantheon: Of all the great buildings constructed during the crest of the Roman Empire, only this one still stands. Pantheon history states that the interior of the roof is intended to symbolize the heavens, and the giant hole above is supposedly the eyes of the gods.
Trevi Fountain: The Trevi Fountain dominates a small square in the heart of the city near the Spanish Steps. The fountain entered pop culture thanks to the nighttime bathing scene in the film "La Dolce Vita" by Fellini, or for many Americans, the popular 1954 film “Three Coins in A Fountain.” This huge Baroque construction, inspired by sea mythology, took 30 years to build.
The Sistine Chapel: The piece de resistance of the Vatican museum, the Sistine Chapel is the culmination of Michelangelo's finest work. Frescos detailing the life and times of both Jesus and Moses line the walls beneath the benevolent portraits of former popes.
The Vatican Museum: Deep in the holy center of Vatican City, the Vatican Museum houses an enormous collection of art collected through its centuries of history, from Egyptian pieces to Etruscan ruins to Renaissance paintings and, of course, the legendary Sistine Chapel. Of all of the museums, not just in Italy but the world over, this one is not to be missed.
