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Going to travel in Italy?
It might sound trite but Italy can truly be all things to all people. For some the Italian experience is full of passion and excitement, a hubbub of urbanity, crowds and noise. For others it is a quiet rural idyll where the traditional life of years gone by can be glimpsed and experienced.
Unarguably Italy is one of the cultural centres of the world and one of the few places where ancient and modern society live side by side. Its great cities are replete with fantastic works of art ranging from the crumbling remains of the Romans to the fine canvases of the Renaissance. Even then, many visitors will forego the rich attractions of culture in favour of some of the most unspoilt beaches and spectacular mountains in the world.
From the historical and cultural centres of Rome, Florence, Milan, Naples, Bologna and Venice, to the ski resorts of Courmayeur and Cortina d'Ampezzo, the sun-kissed beaches along the coast and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, Italy can't fail to charm even the most demanding of tourists.
Transport...go there, travel in the country and after
Italy has a comprehensive and reliable transport infrastructure, with good public transport options within the larger cities. Certain public holidays may affect your journeys.
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Alitalia Italy Sale from $463 RT 
Things to see & do in the regions
Italy is a land blessed with an endless variety of highlights, from its unparalleled cultural heritage to the accessibility of its natural splendour. It's worth noting that during Italian Culture Week, which takes place annually in April or May, many of the country's main attractions offer free entry to visitors.
Tuscany
Tuscany is the most well known Italian region world wide, famous for its art, history and evocative landscapes. Strategically placed in the centre of Italy, it stretches over the slope of the Apennines and reaches the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Tuscan landscape, mainly mountainous and hilly, is one of the most representative images of Italy in the world, but the region also has a plane (the Maremma), long sandy beaches and headlands as well as the small enchanting islands of the Tuscan archipelago.
Agri Turismo
Agriturismo - a combination of the words for "agriculture" and "tourism" in Italian - is a style of vacationing in farm house resorts codified into Italian law in 1985. An agriturismo vacation is suitable for the whole family.
Many abandoned buildings and estates were restored, some for vacation homes, and many for agritourismo.Especially in Tuscany Its a great way to discover the beautiful countryside and doing beautiful daytrips to historical cities such as Florence, Sienna, Lucca and San Gimignano.
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Florence
Life wouldn't be the same without Florence -- literally. The city gave birth to the Renaissance and, with it, to the spirit of the modern Western world. The city, which graces the Arno River in central Italy's Tuscany region, has captured the hearts and minds of just about every visitor who has ever made his or her way here. It casts a spell in the way that few cities can -- perhaps because it's an artistic treasure trove of incomparable proportions; perhaps because of the views of the Ponte Vecchio and the Arno at sunset; perhaps because Florentine food and wine delight the palate. Maybe it's because the city has not changed all that much since the 15th century.
Great things to visit and see in Florence are: Il Duomo, Uffizi Museum, Ponte del Vecchio.
You can find detailed information & more spots at the Florence page (just click)
Convinced already? Click for direct information below
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Siena
In a country in which every region is filled with small, historic towns, Siena is still something special. At the heart of Tuscany it is simply one of the most beautiful cities in the whole of Italy.
The city owes much of its splendour to the local bank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which for centuries has plied its profits into the conservation and enhancement of the town. A perfectly preserved medieval settlement retaining its original walls, the town is criss-crossed by small alleys and streets lined with Gothic palaces and houses.
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The Grand Canal - Venice
No matter how many times Venice has been seen in pictures and film, nothing can detract from the impact of the visitor's first journey down the Grand Canal.
The overwhelming beauty of this famous waterway lined on both sides by palaces, churches and museums is truly breathtaking. Disembarking in front of the Doge's Palace visitors are further enthralled by the elegant majesty of St Mark's Square with its basilica filled with Byzantine mosaics.
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Rome
Today's Rome, Roma, is a vibrant and lively city with reminders of its past everywhere. In Rome you will encounter ancient monuments, medieval and Renaissance buildings and fountains, and great museums. Rome is the capital of modern Italy and boasts many fine restaurants and cafes, good nightlife, and lively steets and squares. Although Rome is a huge city, its historic center is small.
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Ravenna
Early in the 6th century Ravenna came under the rule of the Byzantines who set about beautifying the city in their own distinctive style. The result was one of the crowning glories of their civilisation, and Ravenna became famous the world over for its artistic magnificence.
Today, Ravenna is still home to some of the world's most beautiful mosaics, which undoubtedly exhibit the pinnacle of Byzantine artistic achievement. Many of the town's churches are enriched with these masterpieces.
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Napels and surroundings
Naples, Napoli in Italian, is the third most-populated city in Italy and the biggest city in Southern Italy. Its close proximity to many interesting sites, such as Pompeii and the Bay of Naples, makes it a good base. Naples is a lively and vibrant city, full of wonderful historical and artistic treasures and narrow, winding streets with small shops, making it worth at least a few days visit. The name comes from the Greek Neapolis meaning new city.
Amalfi Coast
South of Naples the short stretch of coast between Positano and Amalfi, known to locals as the "Costiera Amalfitana", is one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe.
Mountains plunge vertically into the azure sea and, at intervals, small bays and creeks provide secluded beaches and intriguing inlets for exploration. The brightly coloured towns and villages that cling precariously to the mountainsides enhance the outstanding natural beauty of the area.
Pompeii
In 79AD the city of Pompeii was completely covered by lava following the eruption of Mt Vesuvius. Since the mid-1800s organised excavation of the site has revealed perfectly preserved sections of this once thriving Roman city that has been buried under feet of ash and dust for centuries.
Among the highlights are the House of the Vetti family with its pillared central courtyard, the House of Mysteries with its astonishingly vivid frescoes, and the amphitheatre. It is a fascinating opportunity to see a genuine Roman city almost 2000 years on.
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Sicily
The Valley of the Temples - Agrigento
It is said that even the Greeks themselves are envious of this astonishing collection of wonderfully preserved temples, all dating back to Greek rule in the area in the 5th century BC.
Set in a verdant valley in the south of Sicily, the extensive complex includes the ruins of the Temple of Juno, the Temple of Zeus and the Temple of Vulcan. Perhaps the most important and inspiring of the many temples is the Temple of Concordia, which ranks as one of the finest examples of ancient Greek architecture in the world.
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The Basilica of St Francis - Assisi
Standing on an escarpment to the western end of the medieval town of Assisi, the basilica of St Francis, on which work started in 1228, is one of the greatest glories of medieval architecture.
There are, in fact, two churches - one having been built directly over the other. In the lower church is the tomb of St Francis. The ceilings and vaults are covered with 13th-century frescoes, including works by Cimabue and Simone Martini. The Gothic basilica above, recently restored following a devastating earthquake, is filled with Giotto's great frescoes depicting scenes from the life of St Francis.
Valle d'Aosta
In the Northwest of the country bordering France and Switzerland, the Valle d'Aosta region is a scenic jewel - the magnificent mountain landscape of pyramidal peaks and dizzying arêtes is dissected with narrow passes, lakes and green valleys.
Towering above the surrounding mountains is Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco to the Italians), the highest point in the whole country. The region offers endless opportunities for country hiking during the summer months and in winter is home to some of the most famous ski-resorts in Europe including Courmayeur, La Thuile, St Vincent and Cervinia.
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