Rome
The overwhelming impression of Rome is sheer beauty. Spacious piazzas, a graceful Renaissance edifice, beautiful churches. Each narrow alleyway leads to yet another splendid work of art scattered prolifically, as though by a careless, abundant hand. It is an extraordinary city of innumerable and remarkable buildings of all ages, from pre-Christian to the present day, resulting in an amazingly harmonious urban achievement.
This "Eternal City", basically comprises of 3 different cities: Ø Ancient Rome lies at its heart, east of the River Tiber, on the Seven Hills. The Forum of Augustus, the Pantheon, the Colosseum, the Baths of Caracalla and the Basilica of Maxentius are relics of this period.
Ø Renaissance Rome is a city of great palaces; churches and piazzas built in the richest times of papal pomp.
Ø Modern Rome is the city that emerged after 1870, when Rome became the capital of a united Italy.
This composite of Rome combines spectacularly, history, art, and culture with exciting nightlife, entertainment and shopping.
Pompeii
A lively city in Roman times. Pompeii was buried in 79 A. D. under the stones and ashes of erupting volcano Mount Vesuvius. The remarkably well preserved ruins and excavations enable one to visualisize the way of life of the one-time inhabitants.
Sorrento
Sorrento is one of the best known resorts in Italy. It is situated on a tract of coastline of unrivalled beauty, on the northern slope of the Sorrentine Peninsula, in a sheltered spot, surrounded by luxuriant hills where vines, olives and above all high quality citrus fruits are grown. The site of patrician villas during Roman times, it has been a highly prestigious retreat since 700. Sorrento has been nicknamed "La Gentile" because of the gentleness of its climate, the refinement of its streets and gardens, and the friendliness of its inhabitants.
Capri
Capri with its unparalleled scenic beauty is a fashionable, quaint dream-island, a true pearl of the Bay of Naples. With its charm the island of Capri has fascinated emperors, poets, painters and scholars for centuries. The Blue Grotto, the Faraglioni, "la Piazzetta", Marina Piccola, Anacapri and Villa Jovis, the ancient residence of Emperor Tiberius, await you in one of the world's most exclusive vacation spots.
Assisi
Assisi is in central Italy, in the Umbria Region, near Perugia. Assisi is a tourist and religious center, famous as the home of St. Francis of Assisi. Had the man not been born here in 1182, the town wouldn't be thronged with tourists and pilgrims for ten months of the year, but then neither would it have the Basilica of St Francis, one of the greatest monuments of thirteenth- and fourteenth-century Italian architecture. . One of the chief points of interest is the Basilica of San Francesco, consisting of two churches built one above the other. It was begun in 1228 and completed in 1253. Inside are frescoes by the Florentine artist Giotto and others. The tomb of St. Francis is in the crypt of the basilica. The basilica was severely damaged in two earthquakes that shook Umbria in September 1997. Another landmark is the Basilica of Santa Chiara, or St. Clare, built between 1257 and 1265. St. Clare, who with St. Francis founded the Order of Poor Clares, is buried in this church, a massive Gothic structure. The Cathedral of San Rufino, a 9th-century Romanesque edifice, is noted for its handsome facade.
Naples
Naples, lying by one of the world's most picturesque gulfs, offers striking contrasts. The third largest Italian City, it occupies one of the most beautiful natural settings of any city in Europe. The city is a complex pot-pourri of tenements and traffic, street vendors and crumbling palaces. Above it is the bare cone of Mount Vesuvius, an active volcano and beside it the broad sweep of the Bay of Naples and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The poignant charm of Naples has attracted famous visitors such as Goethe, Wagner and Ibsen to its celebrated bay. Time goes by but the fascination of this town remains unaltered. A beguiling landscape, remarkable art treasures and remnants of by-gone ages, the peculiar phenomena of nature: they all combine to make a visit to beautiful Naples and its unequalled environs a never-to-be forgotten experience. Indeed, the famous saying "See Naples and die!" implies that there is no place else in the world that can surpass the allure of this acclaimed corner of the earth.
Venice
Venezia (Venice) has a position, which gave it unique economic and defensive advantages over its trading rivals. Venice must be counted as one of the highlights of any tour of Italy. The city's main monuments - the Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Square and the Bridge of Sighs - have gained fame through the innumerable paintings representing them, but the whole city is in many ways a work of art. Away from the main thoroughfares, it is characterised by little canals, small squares) often containing remarkable Gothic churches) and above all, since it contains no motor traffic, by serenity - the city's ancient name was La Serenissima.
The impact of Venice, is best felt at night. Little clusters of candy-striped mooring poles emerge from the dark; a gondola approaches with a lighted lantern hung from its bow, while an accordian player and the pole-pushing driver strain out sweet operatic tunes in harmonious unison; the reflection of slate-grey buildings bathed in the water as you pass by. This is Venice in its most romantic state.
If time permits, visit Venice's neighbouring islands. Within the lagoon, the prime targets are smaller islands: Murano for its glassware, Torcello for fine Byzantine churches and Stra for its legendary frescoes.
Orta San Giulio
This romantic little town is set on the tip of a peninsula on the eastern shore of Lake Orta. Orta San Giulio's picturesque cobbled streets are lined with pretty pastel-coloured houses and palazzos with wrought-iron balconies. The locals congregate in two main squares; Piazzetta Ernesto Ragazzoni and Piazza Motta, which directly overlooks the beautiful island-village of Isola San Giulio (reachable by boat).
San Mamete
One of the prettiest villages on Lake Lugano, San Mamete is just a couple of miles from the Swiss border. It has a fairy-tale castle and the peaceful valley of Valsoldo, is its backdrop. The shores of Lake Como are just half an hour's drive away. Luxuriant vegetation and a wonderfully relaxing environment.
