Set in elaborate and beautiful grounds, you would not think that this structure was originally meant to be the home of a retired Vatican priest. La Rotonda is located to the south of Vicenza approximately 15 minutes from the city centre and is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city. What makes this […]
Where to go
Forli is in close proximity to the eastern coast of Italy – this stretch of coast sits on the Adriatic Sea. Cesenatico is a wonderful coastal town that can be reached from Forli in just 40 minutes. Regular buses run between the two cities and there is a train service too. Cesenatico has a fantastic […]
MUSE, the Museo delle Scienze di Trento (Museum of Sciences of Trento) opened in July, 2013 in a stunning building, a major showpiece of Italian architecture created by Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The LEED gold-rated building itself is worth seeing, the dramatic outline of its soaring glass walls echoing the silhouettes of the surrounding mountain […]
Visiting the Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains National Park means experiencing biodiversity, culture and excellent wine-and-food tradition.The dolomitic size of the Gran Sasso overlooks the landscapes and stands out on the mounts, hills, pastures and cultivated valleys. The Lord of the Apennines (2,912 m) towers in a vertical direction eastwards with the majestic „Paretone“, and southwards […]
The Archaeological Park in the western part of Syracuse is undoubtedly one of the main attractions of the region. Within this fantastic area is a series of ancient ruins and the most renowned is the Greek Theatre. Created in 470 BC, this ancient amphitheatre played host to some legendary play writes such as Aischylos and […]
To the south of the Piazza Vecchi, through a small ornate archway is the fantastic Basilica of St. Mary Major. Originally constructed in the early 12th century, the basilica was not completed until the 14th century due to the churches financial problems. The front facade of the church features a plethora of decoration and above […]
After being closed 30 years, the Musei Civici of Monza have reopened to the public in the medieval building named “Casa degli Umiliati”, once the house of the Humiliati, a powerful religious order born in the 13th century and abolished in 1571 by Carlo Borromeo. The exhibition develops on two floors in about 900 m2 and allows the […]
Pompeii is the legendary city that was buried under tonnes of ash during the 79 AD eruption of the magnificent Mount Vesuvius. Due to the volumes of ash that fell on Pompeii, it has been preserved in fantastic condition and much of the city survives. You can walk through this immense metropolis and see some […]
Towering over the surrounding countryside, Mount Vesuvius is a legendary volcano that was responsible for the destruction and burial of both Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 AD. This immense monolithic volcano has an elevation of 1281m and is entitled as a somma-stratovolcano. Whilst driving practically anywhere in Naples and the surrounding region you cannot fail […]
This island has been inhabited since the Roman Empire and has served as an important place of strategic defence. Ischia can be reached by ferry from Naples and the average trip takes approximately 50 minutes. This gorgeous island has numerous points of interest including the dramatic Aragonese Castle, the Gardens of La Mortella, the Villa […]
Sardinia has a plethora of historic coastal towns and one of the most famous is Alghero – this charming town is located 30 minutes to the west of Sassari and offers a fantastic location for a day trip. Nestled on the coast of this town is the historic old centre that has an array of […]
Asinara is the third largest island in Sardinia and is located on the northern coast. Covering an area of 746km, this island has historically served as a prison camp, but is now a protected area and a national park. The rugged and rocky landscape of Asinara is perfect to explore and the island features a […]
Ponza is the largest of the Pontine Islands and is accessible via regular ferries leaving from Naples, Terracina and Anzio. This wonderful rock is the most populous of the islands and is a great place to explore to escape from the busy city life. The main establishment of Ponza is the town of the same […]
This large coastal lake covers approximately 395 hectares and has a maximum depth of around 2-3 metres. The Lago di Fogliano presents a fantastic array of attractions including a bird-spotting area, a well-maintained Botanical Garden and the Villa Fogliano which was constructed in the 19th century. Various footpaths pass around the circumference of the lake […]
Many universities operate and maintain a Botanical Garden for both research and study, and for tourism, and the Ferrara Botanical Garden is one such place. Located oposite the Palazzo dei Diamanti and the Parco Massari, the gardens are beautifully maintained by the university employees and are a great place to explore. Within the grounds of […]
The Amalfi coast is known as one of the most beautiful stretches of coastal landscape in the whole of Italy. Amalfi itself is a small commune that is nestled on the side of the cliffs approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to the west of Salerno. If you are looking for a action packed day […]
Karst cliffs, lush vegetation, crystal clear water, pleasant locations, places of faith and genuine flavors are the main elements defining the area of Gargano (Region of Apulia), the „spur“ of boot-shaped Italy. This small archipelago located off the north coast of the Parco Nazionale del Gargano provides a fantastic opportunity to escape and explore a different way of life. A pearl […]
This national park takes its name from the monumental Mount Gargano and is a protected area on the eastern coast of Italy, approximately 40 minutes’ drive to the north of Foggia. Covering a staggering 118,000 hectares, it is one of the largest in the country, and is renowned for its beautiful landscapes and sweeping stretches […]
Rimini’s beach is justifiably famous throughout the world – stretching more than 15 km with fine sand and facilities. From early May through to Late September tourists and locals alike flock to the beachfront. When the temperatures rise in July and August life transfers itself to the beach – the elderly go in the early […]
At the southern end of Corso di Augusto, Rimini’s main street, stands northern Italy’s oldest known Roman triumphal arch, built in 27 BC to commemorate the construction of the Via Flaminia. Part of a ring of defensive walls that were torn down in the 1930s, the arch is unusual in that its extra-wide opening cannot […]
From the bastions near the museums, you can look down into a Roman amphitheater dating from the end of the first century, set into a natural curve in the hillside’s rocky slope. This is the city’s most important Roman remain, and when it is not closed for archaeological study or restoration work, it is used […]
Begin your tour of Cagliari by climbing the marble steps of Passeggiata Coperta (or taking the free elevator) from Piazza della Costituzione to Bastione San Remy. Although this and other bastions, such as the higher Bastione Santa Caterina, were built to defend the Castello quarter, stronghold of the Pisans and Genoese and briefly home to the Savoy royal family, today […]
This wide promenade along the waterfront at the southern part of town overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea and is a favorite spot for locals to stroll and meet in good weather, as well as for joggers and runners. The 8,700-square-meter terrace is paved in a dramatic chessboard pattern of more than 34,000 black and white tiles, […]
The Mausoleum was built by Theoderic in 520 AD, as his burial place. Entirely made of Istrian stone, its structure is divided into two decagonal orders placed one on top of the other. The upper level is topped by a big monolithic dome with twelve square arches bearing the names of eight apostles and four evangelists. Its […]
The National Gallery of Umbria, on the third floor of Palazzo dei Priori, contains paintings by Perugino; Pinturicchio; and other artists of the Umbrian school, including Benedetto Bonfigli and Bartolomeo Caporali; as well as sculptures by di Cambio and di Duccio. It demonstrates the development of painting in Umbria from the Middle Ages to the 20th […]
It is the largest „terramara“ in Europe, made up of a village with two inhabited areas, covering an area of approximately seven hectares dating back to a period between the XVI and the XII centuries b.C. Few people know that the Po Valley near the river, like other Italian regions but with a particular density […]
In front of the promenade you can find a stretch of public beach and many locals and tourists visit to simply relax and enjoy the blistering Mediterranean heat. Although the beach is a mixture of sand and small pebbles, it is still a pleasant location and the promenade has a plethora of amenities that you […]
Balsamic is made from fresh grapes, which are cooked almost to a syrup and aged in wooden barrels to mellow and improve in flavor for two decades or more. The balsamic made at Villa San Donnino is not mass-produced, but a fine aged product to use on fresh fruits or to sprinkle onto freshly cut […]
The house where Enzo Ferrari was born, and the adjoining contemporary exhibit hall, tell about his life and work through multimedia exhibits, an art gallery, and an extensive collection of the racing cars themselves. Semi-professional simulators give visitors a taste of what it’s like to drive a Prancing Horse F1 single-seater, with a choice of […]
Whilst most museums feature hisotrical art from centuries past, the Luigi Pecci museum is dedicated solely to contemporary and modern art and is a fine establishment to visit. Located to the south of the historic town centre, the museum is housed within a fascinating building that looks something like a spaceship! Collections within the museum […]
Undoubtedly one of the finest sights in Taranto, the Aragonese Castle stands in the south east corner of the island of Borgo Antico and can be seen when entering the bay surrounding the city. Parts of the castle actually date back to the 900’s when the Byzantines rule this region of Italy. The main walls […]
Four generations of the Ferrari family of Parma have carved, painted, strung, and dressed puppets by hand, and this free museum beside the Camera di San Paolo, on the ground floor of the Monastery of San Paolo, displays those and other marionettes from elsewhere in Italy. In each room, a little theater displays the marionettes, […]
Rising on a hillside, and originally reached by a pair of stairways, the temple must have made a dramatic background to the hub of Roman activity. Today, only six of the Corinthian columns stand, their original white marble parts contrasting clearly with the 19th-century brick restoration that holds them in place. Built in AD 73, […]
Trieste spreads around and above its harbor like a giant amphitheater with the Adriatic as its stage. Wide boulevards run along its perimeter connecting the four piers and long breakwater of the old port of Punta Franco Vecchio on the north with the Campo Marzio station and the Punto Franco Nuovo (New Free Port) and large shipyards to the […]
Padovans love this enormous square, the largest in Italy and one of the largest in Europe, and call it simply Il Prato. It was once a big swamp, then a grounds for jousting tournaments when, in the late 1700s, Andrea Memmo, whose palace still overlooks the square, conceived of a large plaza and park, and […]
The astronomical clock of Messina is an astronomical clock constructed by the Ungerer Company of Strasbourg in 1933. It is built into the campanile of Messina Cathedral. The mechanism was designed by Frédéric Klinghammer, with the artistic design based on plans by Théodore Ungerer. Parts of the design are similar to the Strasbourg astronomical clock. It was commissioned by the Archbishop of Messina (Angelo Paino) […]