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Italy is one of the most exciting and romantic vacation destinations in the entire world. A testimony to that fact is that thousands of newlyweds flock there for their honeymoons each year. There are so many attractions to see in Italy that you need a good two weeks to get a feel for it and see a decent amount of beauty and culture. Many people are wary of traveling to another country and if this is the case, a guided tour may be your best bet for your first visit to Italy. Guided tours provide the advantage of having someone who knows the area, the language and the customs and can keep you out of trouble by avoiding any potentially regrettable mistakes. You should familiarize yourself with the money and the language before visiting to make your stay more enjoyable.
One of the great attractions in Italy is its capital, Rome. At first glance, Rome looks like any other city, crowded, dirty and bustling. Rome is jam-packed with history though, the city being over two thousand years old. In Rome you will find the famed Colosseum. This giant ancient ruin towers above you and you just want to stand there and stare at it. Not surprisingly, you will find vendors outside of the Colosseum selling sunglasses and umbrellas, much like a New York City street vendor. This four story ampitheater once held 45,000 people on its marble seats, where they would watch persecuted Christians being fed to animals and fearsome gladiators fighting to the death. Most of the Colosseum is still standing, though it has been damaged by age and earthquakes.
Also in Rome, you can visit the Forum, Palatine Hill, and the Tiber river with its many beautiful ancient bridges. The Vatican is also in Rome where you might catch a glimpse of his holiness if you arrive on the right day or during a holiday season. St. Peter’s Basillica, the Pantheon and many, many more historical attractions, art, sculptures, etc. can keep you busy in Rome for months. Choose what you’d like to see most before you go.
Another beautiful city in Italy is Venice. When we think of Venice, we probably think of the gondolas with the red and white striped gondoliers. The streets are made of water in Venice and if you want to go anywhere, you must travel by boat. Venice is home to some of the finest artisans of glass blowing in the world and you can see their work in the shops that line the streets. Venice also specializes in jewelry made from shells and you can go for beautiful and leisurely rides on boats and gondolas, not all driven by red and white striped shirts. Venice is also home to thousands of pigeons, in the town square they look like a great white and black carpet, only moving just as they are about to be kicked by your feet. Venice is also home to many beautiful bridges and you should visit as many as possible.
One of Italy’s treasures that should not be missed is Sorrento. Sorrento is one of the quainter Italian villages with breathtaking views of the Isle of Capri. One hotel in Sorrento is built into the side of a mountain and juts out over the water, providing a spectacular view. Sorrento is home to some of the most skilled artisans of wood inlay in the world and you can find beautifully crafted boxes, tables and other artwork made with inlay that will astound you. With many cappuccino bars, outside cafes and discos, Sorrento is a lovely place to spend a few days on our journey through Italy.
The ruins of Pompeii are some of the most amazing archaeological finds in Italy. The city of Pompeii was destroyed by an erupting volcano, instantly killing its villagers, their livestock and anything in its path. You can see plaster molds of actual volcano victims including dogs, children and household objects. These molds were made by pouring cement into the indentations of the lava rock that was found on the site. Remains of the buildings still stand and you can see a great deal of artwork, pottery, etc. The story of Pompeii is a sad one and being there will make a great impact on your sense of life.
Of course, when visiting Italy, there are some things you just can’t miss. The leaning tower of Pisa, the statue of David, the Sistine Chapel where Michelangelo’s paintings on the ceilings can be seen, these are just a few of the many wondrous works of art that can be seen in Italy. There are also many grand churches, state buildings, monuments and fountains to be seen and a guided tour can ensure that you see the most famed of them all. Italy is so rich with culture and history that it really is the perfect place for a vacation.
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