Italy 🇮🇹
Capital City of Italy:
Rome
Population:
60 Millions (2018)
Official language:
Italian
Currency:
EUR = Euro
Best time to visit Italy
April to June, and September (there are pleasant temperatures and fewer tourists)
Highlights in Italy – do not miss them! 💥
Top things to see
- Ancient Rome: the Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill and Pantheon and all the fountains.
- In Florence the priceless masterpieces of Uffizi and David at the Galleria dell’Accademia.
- Verona the city of the so famous Romeo and Juliet romance.
- Stroll along the canals in Venice and pay properly for a gondola ride (check the official prices before).
- The ruins of Pompeii, a thriving commercial town until Mt Vesuvius errupted in AD 79.
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Florence | Photo: © pixabay/sopwithxii1918
Top things to do
- Walk and get lost in Rome – the city that has swept artists and lovers off theit feet since time began.
- Driving through the beautiful landscape of Tuscany by car – preferably electric
- Party between baroque architecture in Lecce, Puglia’s hip capital slap-bang on Italy’s boot heel.
- Boost your adrenalin: ski the Alps, hike the Dolomites, dive Sardinia’s golden coast or play with Sicilian volcanic fire.
- Savor a night at the opera at Milan’s La Scala, or enjoy an opera in the arenas of Verona
- Lounge over an aperitivo (aperitif) and banquet of sumptuous antipasti in one of Turin’s historic cafe-bars.
Tuscany | Photo: © pixabay/kasabubu
The prettiest islands in Italy 🏝
- Aeolian Islands
- Borromean Islands
- Burano is one of a handful in the Venetian lagoon. Its houses are a kaleidoscope of bright colors, and the shops stock exquisite linen and lace.
- Budelli
- Secluded Caprera, off the forth coast of Sardinia, is part of La Maddalena Archipelago National Park. Visitors go hiking among the shady pine trees that cover the island, with trails leading to deserted coves and gin-clear sea.
- Capri
- Elba is best known as the island on which Napoleon was first exiled. Today, it is quiet compared to many of Italy’s shores, with a string of coves and bays dotted along the coast. Pristine beaches include the often empty Marina di Alberese.
- Giglio
- Ischia
- Lampedusa
- Levanzo
- Panarea
- Ponza
- Procida
- Sardinia is the foodie island. The culture here is Italian at its core, but more rustic and stripped back. On the north-east coast, Costa Smeralda is known for its crowd of billionaire jet-setters and Russian oligarchs. But the mountainous mainland disguises pretty villages, too.
Burano | Photo: © pixabay/gabmarjan
Sardinia | Photo: © pixabay/Lars_Nissen
Traditional Italian Food
- Artichokes alla Romana (wonderful tasty sautéed artichokes) in Rome
- Bistecca alla Fiorentina (T-bone steak) in Florence
- Pizza in Naples
- pastas everywhere and anyway
- Spaghetti aglio olio peperoncino (Spaghetti with olive oil, garlic and fresh chilli)
- Cornetto Crema (Sweetly filled croissant)
- World’s best Gelati (ice creams)
- Tiramisu (cream pastry)
- Espresso (Strong coffee in a cup)
- Vinsanto (Tuscan sweet wine)
- Grappa (grape brandy)
Pizza | Photo: © pixabay/mynorbejarano
Most popular Festivals in Italy
- Carnevale: usually falls in February. Venice has one of the top carnival festivals in the world, but Carnevale is celebrated in many Italian towns.
- Il Palio di Siena: One of Italy’s most famous Palio competitions. The horse race takes place in both July and August with other events taking place prior to the races.
- Festa della Madonna Bruna: The Madonna Bruna festival, on July 2 in Matera, is one of the most interesting processions in Italy.
- Summer Music Festivals: Going to a music festival or outdoor concert during summe can be a highlight of a trip to Italy. You’ll find many outdoor concerts in squares and public places throughout the country.
- The Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics is a historic boat race in boats called gozzi, each rowed by a team of eight rowers from one of the four maritime republics: Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa, and Venice.
What is Italy famous for?
- Renaissance art
- Ancient ruins
- Pizza, pasta and olive oil
- Pavarotti
- Honking fiat and howling vespas
- Ferrari and Lamborghini
- Prada, Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana
Explore Italy through our blog posts
Western Dolomites
Passo Pordoi (2239 m) Sella Group Cimitero militare tedesco del Passo Pordoi (Deutsche Kriegsgräberstätte Pordoi) Passo Gardena (Grödner Joch) Lago di Carezza (Karersee) Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) Moena Passo di Lavaze...