Travel guide Italy
Italy is a great seductress. If you try it, you'll have more, of course! From one end of the Italian boot to the delightful island of Sicily, this transalpine country has such a richness from each region, such diversity and so many assets that it is very difficult to summarize it in a few lines. If we had to choose, it is perhaps his gastronomy that we would remember or rather his gastronomy and slow food which highlights the know-how of the products and the know-how of the terroirs. Italy is all about cooking, eating and sharing. Delicatessens, cheeses, wines and local dishes alone reflect the diversity of the regions. What a wealth of fishing ports and mountain villages, from the oldest historical districts to the agriturismo estates. Italy is pizza and pasta, risotto, antipasti and tiramisù, fish and shellfish, not to mention coffee. This southern European country, bathed by the Mediterranean and Tyrrhenian seas, undoubtedly knows how to live. Blessed by the gods, he cultivates olives and citrus fruits, celebrates saints and harvests. If you come to stay there, it's to enjoy it. Of course, there is also the sun, the beauty of the landscapes, the richness of the heritage and the Italian hospitality. For the rest it is a festival: Rome and the Vatican, Venice the serene one, Florence the divine and its Tuscany, Siena the wonderful, the Dolomites and the Cinque Terre, Sardinia! Many large cities have preserved an intact historic centre, which gives each of them a unique character. Its nature rivals the historical heritage, judging by the beauty of the water bodies known throughout the world such as Lake Maggiore, Lake Como or Lake Garda, or the bay of Naples married to the bubbling volcano of Vesuvius! You will bring back an Italian coffee maker, but at home, it will never taste the same as at a Catania counter! This destination is undoubtedly the destination of happiness, and promises you unforgettable memories. Your travel guide will be your best ally before starting a tour in Italy.
What to see, what to do Italy?
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When to go Italy ?
You can stay in Italy absolutely all year round. Depending on the season, there will always be two or three regions suitable for your trip. Winter sports or seaside resort? Wine tourism or cultural tourism? Opera season or hiking in Valle d'Aosta? Moreover, to go through the whole country in one stay to discover its wonders is impossible. Or it's a very long journey! Even for a 15-day vacation in Italy, you will have to choose this or that region, or even this city, and come back another time to discover another one. Of course, in the middle of the summer in the seaside resorts, local tourists and foreign tourists alike are very busy. The same is true all year round in Venice or Rome. If you want a little peace and quiet, avoid the summer and the most touristy sites. Isolate yourself in the mountains, go to Sicily, plan a trek in a natural park, visit a bird sanctuary, discover the wine cellars and vineyards in the spring before the rush. The country is very touristy, the infrastructure is developed, you will always find accommodation. Tourist establishments and attractions are open most of the time.
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En Italie, chaque région mérite qu'on y organise un séjour plus ou moins longs. Il y a les grandes incontournables, comme la Toscane ou la Vénétie, où une ou deux semaines ne seront pas de trop. Et puis, certaines villes justifient à elle seules un voyage dans la péninsule. Si on découvre en quelques jours les incontournables des centres historiques de Florence ou Venise, il vous faudra un peu plus de temps pour Rome, ville éternelle, qui recèle de quartiers et de monuments à visiter. Pour une escapade le temps d'un week-end, Milan, pour son dynamisme et son centre historique moins étendu, reste particulièrement conseillée. Enfin, si vous rêvez d'un séjour au bord de la mer, les Pouilles, haut lieu du tourisme balnéaire, mais aussi la côte amalfitaine en Campanie, sont particulièrement indiqués. Vous trouverez ici quelques suggestions pour organiser au mieux votre prochain séjour en Italie.
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How to go Italy
How to go alone
Italy is a destination where it is very easy to travel alone, to get around, to make yourself understood and to draw your own itinerary. Moreover, except in very touristy areas - but there everything is organized so that you don't get lost! - you will always find someone to show you the way, a gas station, a restaurant, an inn...
How to go on a tour
The tours and stays organized in Italy are limited to one or two regions and generally have a theme: culture, hiking in the Dolomites, discovery of Florence and Tuscany, Rome and Lazio, the carnival of Venice, etc... Some of them include flights, others include bus transportation from France, Switzerland, etc...
How to get around
Domestic airlines are numerous and quite expensive. The companies, two or three main ones, connect the country's main airports. Given the good rail access to the regions, with the exception of Basilicata and central Calabria, the bus is not the most comfortable or fastest way to travel. Whether renting a vehicle can be an effective way to travel in the regions. In the city, you will use public transport.
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Discover Italy
Italy is a multiple country, where the landscape and cultures evolve from region to region, and the traveler is never indifferent. He often arrives with images in his head, shaped by the cinema or the common culture. From north to south, there is no shortage of must-sees and certain cities such as Venice, Florence or Rome are like open-air museums. La grande bellezza is around every corner, and Italy is the country with the most sites listed as Unesco World Heritage. From the Roman Empire to the Renaissance, it is a dive into history that awaits you. Throughout the pages, we will guide you from region to region, indicating the main points of interest. Italy is full of treasures, and it was impossible to concentrate everything in one book. Thus, Sicily and Sardinia are not covered in these pages, and are the subject of their own guide.
The 12 keywords Italy
1. #Aperitivo
The Italianaperitivo does not only come with peanuts! Along with your drink, you will usually be served several appetizers (pizzette, cheese...). The Milanese aperitivo, with its all-you-can-eat buffet, is like a real aperitif dinner! Among the most popular cocktails, the indisputable spritz. Salute!
2. #Arte
Italy is the cradle of countless artists, its museums and churches are full of masterpieces that can be discovered from city to city, from street to street. So much so that some travelers would have been affected by the Stendhal syndrome, or Florence syndrome, in front of so much beauty! Botticelli, Da Vinci, Caravaggio... We stop and admire!
3. #Calcio
Soccer is the national sport and often animates the conversations of Italians, especially during the derbies that oppose two great rival teams! On match days, many fans bet on their team. For an electric atmosphere, in any city, don't hesitate to go to the stadium to see a partita!
4. #Carnevale
In February, Italy is celebrating during the carnival. Masks and confetti are out! The most famous is, of course, the one in Venice. Among the most popular, let's also add the one of Ivrea, near Turin, with its great battle of oranges, or the one of Viareggio, with its papier-mâché caricatures that sometimes exceed 20 m in height.
5. #Chiese
Italy is home to the Vatican, the capital of Catholicism, and the largest church in the world: St. Peter's Basilica. Throughout Italy, visiting the chiese is part of the trip, and they are full of priceless works of art. Be aware that, to enter them, appropriate clothing is required: shorts and tank tops are forbidden.
6. #Gelato
Every town and every neighborhood has a gelateria where you can stop in winter or summer! You can enjoy a cono or a coppetta of ice cream with panna (whipped cream). On the hottest days, eating your ice cream before it melts on the cone is an art!
7. #Moda
Gucci, Prada, Valentino, Fendi, Cerruti, Armani, Versace... Italy is one of the world's fashion hubs. The country produces clothing and accessories, especially leather, in thousands of artisanal companies and large family-owned brands, recognized worldwide. The famous made in Italy is a guarantee of quality.
8. #Passeggiata
The passeggiata is a ritual that reflects the Italian way of life. It's the walk you take at the end of the day, after a hearty Sunday meal, for example. You stroll through the streets of your neighborhood, in the squares, along the port or the beach, simply to get some fresh air and take a walk.
9. #Pasta
A serious business. In Italy, pasta is cooked al dente, is part of the heritage and traditionally introduces the meal as a primo. Supermarkets have entire shelves full of pasta varieties(trenette, bucatini, conchiglie...). Every region has its own recipes: alla napoletana, alle vongole, alla norma, alla carbonara...
10. #Pizza
Classified as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, pizza is a true art. A symbol of Italian cuisine, it was born in Naples, where the best pizzaioli come to train today. The margherita pizza is unbeatable, with its tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil, which recall the colors of the Italian flag.
11. #Storia
Heir to the Roman Empire, Italy is home to some of the most beautiful remains of the ancient world on the planet. From the Colosseum to the Forums, the capital, a veritable open-air museum, has the most! But all over the country, archaeological sites such as Pompeii or Paestum in Campania are to be discovered. A real journey through time...
12. #Vespa
Vespa means "wasp" in Italian. And when you hear the sound of the engine of these characteristic scooters, you quickly understand why! Like Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday or, more recently, Nanni Moretti in his Diary, the Vespa makes it possible to ride comfortably through the streets of big cities.
You are from here, if...
You are not kidding with the calcio ! Soccer is sacred, whether you support Juventus, A.S Roma or Milan A.C.!
You drink your coffee, strictly espresso, in a hurry and at the counter. Cappuccino is reserved for breakfast!
Aperitivo or pizza with your friends on weekends is a ritual you never give up.
You've mastered the art of cooking pasta to perfection . And would never add parmigiano to fish pasta, of course!
Your region is the most beautiful, and you never forget to remind it! You know every corner of it and its best addresses.
You speak with your hands, and master all the codes of this language. So, if you like a dish, you will not fail to mention it by turning your index finger on your cheek!
You take your vacations in August, no matter if the beaches are crowded at that time!
Other destinations Italy
- Liguria - Cinque Terre
- Amalfi Coast
- Italy - Dolomites Of Venetia
- Italy - Dolomites Of Trentin-Upper Adige
- Italy - Dolomites Frioulanes
- Italy - Great Lakes
- Italian Great Lakes
- Elba Island
- Italy - Naples - Islands Of The Gulf Of Naples
- Italy - Italian Alps And Dolomites
- Italy - Italian Lakes
- Italy - Puglia-Calabria-Basilicata
- Vatican
- Lac De Côme
- Rome
- Florence - Firenze
- Assise - Assisi
- Lac Majeur
- Turin
- Venise
- Pompei
- Ravenne
- Herculanum - Ercolano
- Milan
- Lecce
- Verone
- Parme
- Îles Borromées
- Aoste
- Sanremo
- Sienne - Siena
- La Maddalena Archipelago
- Pérouse - Perugia
- Bosa
- Pise - Pisa
- Naples
- Ferrara
- Agrigente - Agrigento
- Taormina
- Cagliari
- Syracuse - Siracusa
- Positano
- Bologne
- Gênes