Italy

ITALY  

The ancient sun warmed land pulses with secrets and messages from the rich and enigmatic past. In Italy

One peels back the century even as one explores a country wreathed in myth and legend. The nation has spawned intellectual giants in the fields of literature, art and science like Homer, Dante, Columbus, and Michelangelo. The-larger-than-life conquests of Julius Caesar, the magnificent Roman Empire, the creative outpourings of Renaissance… Italy has seen it all. The country morphed into a modern state in the 1800s and continues to be the seat of Christendom.

INFORMATIVE WEBSITES:

www.enit.it or http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/europe/italy/ or website of airports: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Airports_in_Italy

VISA The visa is to be obtained prior to arrival in the country

CURRENCY:

Euro is the official Italian currency. Euro banknotes and coins are in circulation in 12 EU countries including Italy. Exchange offices have business hours similar to those of stores. Banks are generally open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 1:30 pm and from 2:45 to 3:45 pm. Public shops accept all principal credit cards.

GETTING AROUND:

Getting There

Air : The main gateways to Italy by flight is Rome and Milan.

Train : Is the best mode of transport in and out of Italy

Ferry : Ferries connect the country with Greece, Turkey, Tunisia, Malta, Albania, France, Slovenia, Croatia and Spain.

Bus : Italy is well connected by busses to other parts of Europe.

Approx 3 hours is the journey time from one city to another: Rome to Florence is 3 hours, as well as Florence to Venice, Venice to Milan, Rome to Naples. In addition, the train sector ticket by Eurostar is almost the same from one city to another: around 30-35 Euro.

TIME:

Italy is 4 hours and 30 minutes behind India. (Subtract one hour for DST from March to October

CLOTHING:

Bring comfortable shoes, a sweater, clothes you can layer and an all-weather coat. There may be some occasions were formal dress is required. Some religious sites may require modest dress to enter (no shorts or sleeveless tops).

ELECTRICITY:

The voltage used is 220 volts.

DAILING CODE:

00 39

TIPS:

This is a matter of personal discretion. Tips are appreciated and expected for good service in restaurants and other places. Although restaurant bills often include a service charge, this amount is not typically for the waiters/staff. A typical tip is approximately 10%.

LANGUAGE:

Italian is the national language.

SHOPPING and MUST BUYS:

Shops are generally open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., with some variations in Northern Italy, where the lunch break is shorter and shops close earlier. Prices are reasonable and the quality of goods is very high. Department stores such as La Rinascente, Coin, Upim, and Standa are found in many Italian cities and towns. Things to buy: Clothes for men & women (dresses, shoes, gloves, silk ties, shirts); lacework, jewelry, leather goods (handbags, cases, boxes, luggage), ceramics, gold and silver items, alabaster; woodwork, straw, embroidery, glass and crystal ware. It is advisable to carry merchandise purchased with you in order to avoid any inconvenience. All major credit cards are honored in Italy. A proof of purchase (receipt) must be kept.

CITIES: ROME

The eternal city is the seat of the papacy and the capital of the Christian world and combined with it’s more than 2000 years of history, exquisitely rich artistic and architectural patrimony of Rome can often leave a tourist feeling overwhelmed.

Getting There

Air :  International airport Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) airport is 26km southwest of the  city. There are trains every 30mins to the city center Roma Termini Station (40mins ride) . Rome’s other airport is Ciampino, about 20km southeast of the city.

Train :. Rome’s main railway station is Termini Station.

Getting Around

Bus : The city bus company is ATAC, and most of the main buses terminate at the bus station outside Stazione Termini.

Metro : Metro service (which is convenient for many of Rome’s sights) has two lines, both of which go through Termini.

Termini Railways station is in the centre of Rome and many hotels are within walking distance. Therefore, if you are traveling by train you can  stay in a nearby hotel. Fiumicino airport is 40 minutes drive from Rome centre. It’s always advisable to  take a private transfer by car to reach the hotel. Instead for the transfer Station-Hotel, a taxi transfer will cost much less (around 10 euro) than a private one (around 45 euro). Sightseeing on SIC basis are always available all year and many have pick-up and drop from/to hotel. Vatican tour on SIC always includes guide and entrance ticket, which now is 13 euro.

MUST SEES:

Capitoline Hill:

Located: Piazza del Campidoglio, Rome, Italy.Tel No: 06-67102071

Of Rome's seven hills, the Capitoline Hill (Campidoglio) is the most sacred. The Capitoline Hill is where the city's first and holiest temples stood, including its most sacred, the Temple to Jupiter and the Capitoline Triad Today, Capitoline Hill is home to the Capitoline Museum, a world-class museum of Roman artifacts. Opening Hours: Tues-Sun 9am-8pm. Free on last Sun each month

Roman Forum (Foro Romano) 

The ruins

The Colosseum

The Colosseum is probably the most famous landmark in Rome. Built in the 1st century AD, this great arena could seat 45,000 spectators and was the largest Roman amphitheater in the world. It hosted gladiatorial combats, spectacles with wild beasts and possibly the execution of early Christians. Throughout the Middle Ages, the Colosseum was believed to be a place of martyrdom and was therefore regarded as a sacred place. Opening Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat 0900-two hours before sunset; Wed and Sun 0900-1300. Winter: daily 9am-4:30pm.Tip: Try to visit late in the evening or early in the morning to avoid the crowds arriving on tour buses.

Parthenon

The Pantheon is widely praised for its feats of architecture and concept of space. At 43m (142 ft) wide and 43m (142 ft) high, it is a perfect sphere resting in a cylinder. The main altar of the church is opposite the entrance, and the original 7th-century icon of the Madonna and Child can be seen above it. This was previously dated to the 13th century, but the 7th-century original was recently recovered under layers of over painting. It is a rare survival of an icon from a period when they were a common feature in Roman churches. Located Between the Tiber and Monte Quirinale in Rome. Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 8:30am-6:30pm; Sun 9am-6pm. Closed Christmas Day, New Year's Day and 01 May.

The Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna)

With its characteristic butterfly plan, the Piazza di Spagna is one of the most famous images in the world, as well as being one of the most majestic urban monuments of Roman Baroque style. It owes its name to the Spanish Embassy, the first to be permanently established in Rome, in Palazzo Spagna by Antonio del Grande (1647). At the foot of the stairs, you will find the famous Barcaccia Fountain, The Spanish Steps consist of 12 flights of travertine steps of varying widths, leading up to the Church of Trinità dei Monti. The best time to visit is in May as the steps are decorated with flowers, making this month a delightful time to visit. While most visitors enjoy climbing the steps, for those who prefer an easier route up, there is a lift/elevator outside of the metro station. In the piazza at the bottom of the Spanish Steps is the 17th century Fountain of the Old Boat (Fontana della Barcaccia), spouting water as she sinks. This fountain, by Pietro Bernini represents the place where a large barge came to rest when the River Tiber overflowed its banks.

Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

Italy’s most famous fountain was built in the back of Palazzo Poli, to make the square appear larger and more sumptuous. Today it is regarded as the most beautiful fountain in the world. A masterpiece of architecture and sculpture, the Trevi Fountain dates back to ancient Rome. Rebuilt many times throughout the millennia, it was completed by Nicola Salvi between 1732 and 1751. The Fountain is a symbolic and fanciful celebration of the Mediterranean civilization.

The rushing water comes from the Acqua Vergine aqueduct. The aqueduct transports the water from the Salone springs, 19 miles away from the city. It is named after the young girl (virgin) who supposedly took thirsty soldiers to its source. The name Trevi literally means three ways: the fountain was constructed at the intersection of three streets.Legend has it that throwing a coin into the Trevi fountain will ensure your return to Rome. (It is important that you do so by turning away from the fountain and tossing the coin over your shoulder.)

Around the fountain you find most picturesque streets, with beautiful churches, and also charming shops and restaurants. The most famous is Via delle Muratte, which begins with the quarters' old baker (Forno).

Basilica of St. John Lateran

Dedicated to John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, the Basilica of St. John Lateran (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the first among the four major basilicas of Rome, Founded 318 AD. It is also the cathedral of the bishop of Rome, the Pope, and is thus known as: "Cathedral of Rome and of the World." Built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century, San Giovanni in Laterano was the first church to be built in Rome. It contains several important relics, a lovely 13th-century cloister and an ancient baptistery. The Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano is guardian to a host of cultural, historic, architectural and artistic treasures. Contained in its complex are Rome's largest Cloister and the 4th century octagonal Baptistery, the first constructed in Rome. Also in the complex is the church of San Lorenzo, containing the Sancta Sanctorum (the private Chapel of the Popes), and the Scala Santa or Holy Staircase. The Holy Staircase was walked on by Jesus on his way to trial by Pontius Pilate and brought from Jerusalem in the 4th century by Emperor Constantine’s mother, St. Helena.                                                                                                                             
Opening Hours: Summer daily 7am-6:45pm (off season closes to 6pm) Location Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano 4. To get there by Metro: San Giovanni and Bus 4, 16, 30, 85, 87, or 174

Castel Sant'Angelo

With its unmistakable cylindrical contour and particularly scenic position along the shore of the Tiber River, Castel Sant'Angelo is one of the town's most famous landmarks. Indeed, we must try and imagine an enormous cylinder positioned on a square plan, with a garden top covered with tuff, travertine and copious trees. The popes also commissioned the construction of a covered fortified corridor connected to the Vatican Palaces, which was to be used in the event of danger as an extreme escape route. Castel Sant'Angelo also guarded the riches of the popes: the treasury room in the centre of the fort was a kind of safe for Rome during the Renaissance. The castle was also used to store enormous reserves of food, which were to be used in the event of an attack. There were wineskins set in the walls, enormous water tanks, granaries and even a mill. Today it is visited by tourists from all over the world and is home to the National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo. There are collections of weapons and documents about the history of the castle. All rooms can be visited, from the jail to the pope's apartments and all the numerous fully adorned rooms.A very dear landmark of the town is the statue of Archangel St. Michael, high up on the enormous terrace, from which the castle takes its name. It was created in memory of an ancient legend that speaks of the terrible plague that struck Rome in 590 AD, which ended thanks to the apparition of an angel that appeared above the castle and conceded grace to the town when he sheathed his sword.

Museo e Galleria Borghese:

The original sculptures and paintings in the Borghese Gallery date back to Cardinal Scipione's collection, the son of Ortensia Borghese - Paolo V's sister - and of Francesco Caffarelli, though subsequent events over the next three centuries entailing both losses and acquisition have left their mark. Exhibition dates: from 18th October 2007 to 3rd February 2008. Opening hours: daily from 9.00 a.m to 7.00 p.m., closed Monday.

Location: GEBART SRL
Via Prenestina, 685
00155 Roma

Official website- www.galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/edefault.htm

The Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums (Cappella Sistina & Musei Vaticani)

Explore the world's smallest country, its largest church and an impressive collection of fine art. The Vatican is one of the most interesting and breathtakingly beautiful sites in the world. In 1508, Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II della Rovere to repaint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. This is where you can see on of his most well known frescoes, the Last Judgement. This fresco covers the entire end wall of the chapel, and is one of the highlights for visitors to the Sistine Chapel. It has a history full of dark tales of deceit and even lust! A world of discovery awaits you.An awe-inspiring glimpse of Michaelangelo’s depiction of The Creation is worth the queues and crowds that go hand-in-hand with a visit to the Vatican City. The swirling Old Testament scenes have been recently restored, amid great controversy. Michaelangelo grudgingly accepted Julius II’s commission to paint frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel – built as a private chapel of the popes between 1475 and 1480. Work began in May 1508, the frescoes were unveiled in August 1511, and completed in October 1512. 21 years later, a reluctant Michaelangelo painted the Last Judgement on the wall behind the altar, adding his own aged face below the figure of Christ. Pope Pius IV was scandalised by the display of nudity and the offending genitalia had to be concealed by hastily painted loincloths (most have been removed during restoration work). Although eclipsed by Michaelangelo’s artistry, the Renaissance paintings that line the walls are fine works, created by the masters – including Michaelangelo’s own teacher: Ghirlandaio. 

The Vatican Museums alone could easily take up a day or two of a trip to Rome. Highlights include the Raphaele Stanze (Raphael Rooms), the Etruscan Museum – depicting Italy before the Romans – and the Pio-Clementino Museum – containing the world’s largest collection of Classical statues. 
Viale Vaticano 
Website: www.vatican.va 
Transport: Metro Ottaviano; bus to Piazza del Risorgimento. 
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0845-1530, Sat 0845-1230.                                    

The Pincian hill lies to the north of Quirinal, overlooking the Campus Martius. It was outside the original boundaries of the ancient city of Rome, and was not the one of the Seven Hill of Rome, but it lies within the wall built by Roman Emperor Aurelian between 270 and 273. Casina Valadier, a magnificently decorated templelike Neoclassic building perennially due for renovation and reopening as a restaurant.

Location Parks, Squares, Villa Borghese

St Peter’s Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro

St. Peter's Basilica (Italian San Pietro in Vaticano) is a major basilica in Vatican City, an enclave of Rome. St. Peter's was until recently the largest church ever built (it covers an area of 23,000 m² and has a capacity of over 60,000), and it remains one of the holiest sites in Christendom. Whoever arrives in Saint Peter's Square feels immediately welcomed by a spiritual embrace. The Basilica of Saint Peter (Latin: Basilica Sancti Petri), officially known in Italian as the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano and commonly called Saint Peter's Basilica, is one of four major basilicas of Rome. It is the most prominent building inside the Vatican City and built on the ruins of Old Saint Peter's Basilica. Its dome is also a dominant feature of the Roman skyline. Optional extras include a trip (via lift or stairs) into the dome, the Vatican Gardens (tours are organised by the Vatican Tourist Office), and the Vatican Grottoes, containing papal tombs. Access to the Necropolis below the Grottoes – the legendary site of St Peter’s remains – is allowed with written permission only.  Tel: (06) 6988 4466. Fax: (06) 6988 5100. 
Website: www.christusrex.org 
Transport: Metro Ottaviano; bus to Piazza del Risorgimento. 
Opening hours: Daily 0700-1900 (Apr-Sep); daily 0700-1800 (Oct-Mar). 
St Peter’s Dome
Opening hours: Daily Oct-Mar 0800-1700; Apr-Sep 0800-1800. 
Necropolis 
Opening hours: Applications should be made to the Uffizio degli Scavi several days prior to visit. 
Vatican Gardens:
Tel: (06) 6988 4466 (Vatican Tourist Office) 

Just like the opera house, it was restored a few years ago and reopened in 2004 with a new display. Besides being a meeting place for the general public, the Museum is a point of reference for opera enthusiasts and for scholars, thanks also to the Simoni Library, located in the Palazzo Busca (on Magenta Avenue), which has collection of more than 120,000 books. It also provides musical training for the new generations. The museum regularly hosts temporary exhibition.

 Lake Como

Lake Como is 25 miles north of Milan and 388 miles north of Rome. The train to Varenna is the quickest Milan connection to any mid-lake point. Trains run between Milan Centrale train station and Varenna every two hours. The Milan train schedules list Sondrio and Lecco, but not Varenna. Since Varenna is a small stop, you must ask directions so you don’t miss it. Villa Carlotta is one of the best of Lake Como’s famous landmarks

Bergamo 45 km form Milan. Elegant walled hilltop university town. Regular trains (from Centrale, Porta Garibaldi and Lambrate stations, about 1 hour trip time) and buses.

Lake Garda  

Lake Garda is roughly halfway between Venice and Milan with a lot of beautiful small cities, the best is Sirmione. Two big theme parks are nearby: Gardaland, This park has more than 40 different rides and waterslides, making it Italy's largest amusement park. It's 12 km (8 mi) east of Sirmione, home of Movieland (a movie theme park) and a water park. Regular trains (02 km from Peschiera train station on the Milan- Venice railway line. Very crowded during summer and weekends. 
VENICE 

City of canals and palaces… Venic’s nature is dual: water and land, long history, For thousands of years the city was one of the most enduring mercantile sea powers on the face of the earth. Today the brilliance and the influence have long since faded, leaving a town of tarnished glories, out of time and out of place, so beautiful it’s hard not to look for the back of the set.

Getting There

Air : Flights land at the Aeroporto Marco Polo, 7km north of the city on the mainland. The special ATVO airport shuttle bus connects with Piazzale Roma not far from Venice’s Santa Lucia train station in about 20 minutes.

Train : Trains from Rome (4 1/2-7 hr.), Milan (2 1/2-3 1/2 hr.), Florence (3 hr.), and all over Europe arrive at the Stazione Venezia- Santa Lucia. To get there, all must pass through a station marked Venezia-Mestre, gateway to Venice.

Ferry : The most fashionable and traditional way to arrive in Piazza San Marco is by sea.

the Cooperative San Marco/ Alilaguna operates a large shuttle boat service from the airport with two stops at Murano and the Lido before arriving after about 1 hour in Piazza San Marco.

Getting Around:

Walking in Venice can be a rewarding pursuit.

Vaporetto (water bus) is the quintessential method of getting around Venice.

The classic gondola ride with the opera-warbling operator is pretty touristy.

Regular buses run from Piazzale Roma to Mestre and other mainland destinations, but it’s probably the least exciting way to get around.

In Venice there are 2 main localities: one is Venice Island and one is Venice-Mestre. Venice Island is the main place to be visited. Venice-Mestre is a town near Venice (around 20 minutes) where many hotels are, but on the mainland not on the island. A bridge connects Mestre with Venice Island. From Mestre are available regular bus, or taxi or private transfers which takes you to the port from where there are regular ferry transfers (Vaporetto) which takes you to St. Marc Square or on others islands of Venice.

Staying in Venice Island is better, since you are already near all the main attractions but it’s always more expensive and hotels many times are fully booked and with exorbitant prices. Therefore for budget clients is always advisable to stay in Venice-Mestre, cheaper and not far from the Island. All regular sightseeing starts from St. Marc Square. In Venice Island there are no cars, so all transfers will be by private boat or ferry. Railway station is in Mestre but also on the Island (Santa Lucia Station). In Venice Island there are no Indian Restaurants, you can find them only in Venice-Mestre.   

Attractions:

The Grand Canal (Canalazzo)

Venice's main waterway splits the city in half with sestieri in equal parts to the west and east of it. It is the hub around which much activity in Venice is concentrated and is encircled with elegant facades of the palazzi, which testify to the city's past opulence. The best way to explore the architectural splendour of these Renaissance buildings is on board a vaporetta. Pedestrian access across the canal is only provided along bridges situated at the station, Rialto and Academia. Gondolas cross the canal at regular intervals and provide a romantic interlude to the sightseeing itinerary.

St Mark’s Square

The St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco), which was called "the drawing room of the world" by Musset, has been the centre of the religious and social life in the Venetian republic for almost one millennium.

Rialto

The Rialto bridge has long been the commercial core of Venice and is famed as the place where the first bridge over

Academia

The Gallerie dell'Academia houses one of Europe's finest art collections.                                                                 
Address: Dorsoduro 1055;                                                                                                                              
Website: www.gallerieaccademia.org; Opening time: Tuesday to Sunday 8.15am to 7.15pm, Monday 8.15am to 2pm.

Doge’s Palace

The Doge's Palace is a gothic palace in Venice. Located on the eastern end of St. Mark's Square right next to St. Mark's Church, the Doge's Palace is a beautiful Gothic building that used to be the home of the Venetian doges. Today, the building it open to visitors on most days. Inside the palace, visitors can view the Great Council Hall, the Chamber of the Council of Ten, the torture chamber, prison cells and other rooms. The famous Bridge of Sighs connects the Doge's Palace with the state prison.

Excursions

Murano & Its Glass 

The island of Murano has long bveen famous throughout the world for thr products of its glass factory. A visit to the Museum of Glass, will put the island’s centuries-old legacy into perspective.

Location: 8 Fondamenta Giustinian 30141, Italy.To get to the “glass island” you must go to Fondamenta Nuove where you can take a motor boat nos 41 or 42 that reaches the glass island in about 10 minutes.

Burano & Its Lace

Burano can be reached from the Fondamenta Nuove or from the Murano Faro stop, taking the LN line.
Burano is one of the prettiest islands in the lagoon: it is a miniature Venice where all the houses are painted in bright colors. Burano is famous for its lace work, an art carried out since the sixteenth century and which is famous worldwide.

Torcello

It is possible to reach the island of Torcello from the Fondamenta Nuove, taking the line N vaporetto , or by taking the line T motor boat from Burano.
Torcello is an extremely romantic and charming place. Venetians love to go there once in a while as they are attracted by its calm and the greenness of the island. Unlike Murano and Burano, Torcello is practically uninhabited and still has a lot of archeological proof of its glorious past.

Padova

About 35 km west of Venice, Padua is a thriving town, singled out by her ancient university and the home of Giotto’s ground frescoes. The basilica of San Antonio echoes the Byzantine influence of St. Mark’s. But the most popular attractions is The Scrovegni chapel. Padua is just 20 min. by train west from Venice.

Verona                  

Julliet’s Balcony

About 100 km west of Venice. Wandering around the romantic streets, wistfully swooning past the balcony where Romeo wooed Juliet, visit to the tomb of the young lovers reached its fatal conclusion, it is easy to get caught up in the drama of the world’s most famous lovers. Situated between Milan and Venice, Verona can be reached by a 1 hour 45 min. train journey from Santa Lucia n Venice.

FLORENCE

Air : Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci Airport, also called Peretola, just 5km northwest of town. The regularly city bus 62 connects the airport with Piazza della Stazione downtown,taking about 30 minutes. More expensive but without the local stops is the half-hourly SITA bus to/from downtown’s bus station behind the train station.

The closest major international airport is Pisa’s Galileo Galilei Airport 97km west of Florence.

Two to three trains per hour leave the airport for Florence (70-100 min).

Train : Florence is Tuscany’s rail hub, with connections to all the region’s major cities. From Rome it takes 1.75 hrs, from Milan 3 hrs and from Bologna 1 hr. Most Florence-bound trains roll into the Stazione Santa Maria Novella or S.M.N.

Getting Around

Buses leave from a variety of terminals scattered about the main train station, Stazione di Santa Maria Novella

Florence is a small city. Staying near the station (SMN Santa Maria Novella) means to be a very short distance from the main attractions.

The Uffizi (Gallerie degli Uffizi)

The Galleria degli Uffizi is the most visited (over 1.5 million people a year, closely followed by Michelangelo's David) tourist attraction in Florence, and is home to the finest collection of paintings and pictures in Italy - it is undoubtedly one of the finest museums in the world. Uffizi Gallery is closed on Mondays. Other than that its open on Tuesday to Sunday from 8.15 AM to 6.50 PM.

The Accademia Gallery

Michelangelo’s David stands self assured above the crowds that flock around to admire him. In the hallway leading up to the famous sculpture .In the heart of the city, it hosts the examples of paintings and sculptures by the great masters of the Florentine 14th and 15th centuries who have made Florence the capital of art.

Opening: Tuesday to Friday from 8.15 to 18.50
Closure: Monday, December 25th and January 1st

Cathedral Square

Santa Maria del Fiore, the duomo or Cathedral of Florence is set in the heart of the city and perches above the metropolis. Its most distinctive features is the enormous dome. Visitors can climb between the two shells of the cupola for an unrivalled panorama of the city. The Campanile (bell tower) was built according to Giotto’s design in 1334 and is an elegant prop to Brunelleschi stout Cathedral. The neighbouring Baptistery is with its famous doors is one of Florence’s oldest buildings and was originally a pagan temple.

The Bargello

This Gothic Palazzo shelters a treasured national collection of Renaissance sculpture.

Open Tuesday through Saturday 8:15 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. Also open (same times) first, third, and fifth Monday of month and second and fourth Sunday.

Location: 4 Via del Proconsolo, Florence, Tuscany 50022

Sante Croce

The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church of Florence, Italy. Situated on the Piazza Santa Croce to the east of the Duomo, it is best known for its Florentine artwork and its tombs of illustrious dead, including Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli. Address- Piazza Santa Croce 16, Florence, Italy opening hours: Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm; Sun 1-5:30pm

Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio ‘s status as the oldest bridge in Florence saved it from destruction during the Nazi retreat from Italy in 1944. To one side of the bridge is the majestic bust of the famous Florentine  goldsmith, Benvenuto Cellini. Perched above the shops is a secret passageway, the Vasari Corridor, providing an elevated link to the Palazzo Pitti via Uffizi.

Excursions:

Fiesole

Sooner or later everbody needs a break from Florence. Visitors n search of those ‘cool uplands’ should head for the lush olive groves and valley of Fiesole. Situated 8kms from Florence, it is just a short bus ride away- bus 07 from Piazza del Duomo. The Archaelogical park also features Roman baths, a Roman temple and an Etruscan temple. 

Siena

Located 50 km south of Florence, medieval Siena is often seen as the female counterfoil to Renaissance Florence. At her heart lies the magnificent shell like piazza, II Campo. Must sees include the humbug striped cathedral and the majestic Palazzo Pubblico (town Hall) No visit is complete without a wander through Siena’s cool, warren-like streets that wind around II campo. From Florence, Siena is best reached by Bus. Coaches depart from the station on Via Santa Caterina (journey around 1 hr)

Leaning Tower of Pisa

45 min from Florence. Welcome to the world’s greatest architectural cockup. Its creator, Bonanno Pisan, was in trouble with its three tiers tower began to tilt badly to the south. Things got worst at the rate of 1mm a year, but at least gave Galileo a chance to throw a rocks from the bell tower to test his history of gravity. Today it’s 4.1m (13.5ft) off the perpendicular. Pisa is only 40 min by train from Florence.

San Gimignano

Distances: Siena 36 Km - Florence 50 Km – Pisa is a small walled medieval hill town in Tuscany, Italy, about a 35-minute drive northwest of Siena or southwest of Florence. It is mainly famous for its medieval architecture, especially its towers, which may be seen from several miles outside the town. The town is known for the white wine grown in the area

Sicily

The island of Sicily is a place of contrasts from the crumbling grandeur of its capital, Palermo to the Greek ruins at the Syracuse, volatile Mt. Etna and the Aeolian Islands. It’s the largest island in Italy leaving a historical detritus that includes Greek temples, Roman ruins churches and castles, Arab domes.

In Eastern Sicily lies the Mt. Etna (3350mts) Europe’s  largest volcano and  one of the world’s most active.

Erruptions occur frequently, & visitors should be aware that the excursions are at the mercy of volcanic activity. People are no longer allowed to climb the craters. The volcano’s  and its slop has been a part of the national park with alpine forest.

Naples can be easily reached by very efficient road and train network that connects the city with the rest of Italy.