| DESTINATION: ITALY
The superlatives heaped on Italy are endless so we're not even going to start... let's just agree you're going to be blown away by the food, coffee, art, old towns and Roman ruins. Now we've agreed on that let's think about where you could go in the shoe-shaped country - kind of funny in itself considering the Italians renowned fashion sense. While we're on the topic make sure you pack a stylish pair of shoes or get some while you're here. It's important!!
Winter is not the best time to visit unless you like snow and rain so if you can hold off for a month or two there's prime weather just around the corner. Spring is absolutely beautiful with fresh flowers everywhere and the end of the winter chill. Summer is glorious although it can be more expensive and crowded. Autumn is the harvest season in many parts of the country. Here's a few itinerary ideas for a flying visit or longer stay:
For those interested in how to take a sabbatical, click on the following Italian Link:http://www.annosabbatico.it/index.html 1-3 days
If you're only here a few days you should base around the city you land in; ideally this should be Rome. Visit the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican museums. There's also the Spanish Steps, underground catacombs, numerous churches and lots of good eating!
1 week
Spend a few days in Rome visiting the famous sights and consider interesting day trips to the old cities of Ostia Antica and Tivoli. You could also take a fast train up to Florence for a few days to visitthe numerous art galleries and museums. You can see the famed Duomo and Piazza della Signoria, eat a gelati on the Ponte Vecchio, walk up to Piazza Michelangelo for city views and see Botticelli's masterpieces in the Uffizi gallery. The quaint medieval Tuscan towns of Siena and San Gimignano are easy day trips from Florence. If you'd prefer to head south from Rome you can be in bustling Naples in two hours. The gorgeous Amalfi coast is just a hop away as is Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius.
2 weeks
Use the Rome-Florence itinerary above and add a few days further north in watery Venice. Make sure you visit the San Marco Square, the islands of Murano and Burano, wander the narrow alleyways and sleepy piazzas and take a ride on the grand canal by gondola or ferry. You could also visit the romantic city of Verona and the bustling student-life of Bologna on the way. The fabulous Dolomite mountain range are not far from Venice either.
3 weeks
With a three week itinerary you can comfortably fit in all the above and journey over to Milan visiting the lakes of Como and Lugano. You may also squeeze a journey in to Turin near the French border or to the wonderful Cinque Terre coastal region on the north-west coast. Alternatively take a trip further south of Naples down to the Aeolian Islands or to Sicily.
4 weeks
A month long foray to Italy will allow you to comfortably visit many places. You could easily cover the north using the options above and then consider an additional island stop like Sardegnia off the west coast and other islands like Elba and Capri (off Positano). Or spend more time in Sicily with highlights like the markets of Palermo, the temples of Agrigento and lovely coastal towns like Cefalu, Taormina and Siracusa or the volcanic covered Catania.
To help you plan your journey use our website to book your Italian hostel and get a VIP card for savings on tours and services. Buon viaggio!
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