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Venice

Venice is one of the most romantic and idyllic cities on earth and incredibly crowded in the summer months thanks to its beauty. It’s a great place to start your journey into this beautiful country and one of the most idyllic places in the world. The architecture is sublime and the Grand Canal is everything you expect it to be and more. Wandering around the streets is a great pastime and you should visit the Ducal Palace, the Treasury and the waterways – just bear in mind everything is expensive. From Venice you can jump on the train at Sant Lucia and head towards Florence. The journey takes you through the heart of northern Italy through the beautiful agricultural landscapes and past small towns and villages basking in the warm suns.

Florence

As a stop on the way to Rome Florence is an incredible city and stunningly beautiful; the spirit of the renaissance is still much in evidence here and the sheer beauty of the city is incredible. Stroll to the Duomo and Uffizi before wandering the streets and admiring the architecture. From the Santa Maria Novella train station you can begin the short journey to Rome across some of Italy’s most beautiful hills.

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Rome

Rome is the perfect place to holiday and definitely will set the scene for your journey across the country. Rome has the most famous monuments of Italy and lives up to its well-deserved reputation as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Within Rome you need to explore the Colosseum, the stunning Trevi fountain and the vast ruins of temples and Roman villas. The city is stunningly beautiful and has a great atmosphere. But of course the biggest draw is the separate state – Vatican City. The Vatican is the world’s smallest state and incredibly luxurious and beautiful. The Sistine chapel is a must stop and the paintings are incredible. From Rome Termini Central Station we head south across the Lush Mediterranean landscapes to Naples and Sicily.

Naples and Sicily

Heading south brings us to the end of our journey and the perfect destination for some well-deserved rest and relaxation. The bay of Naples is beautiful and nearby you can explore Pompei and some of Italy’s most beautiful landscapes. Naples itself is a vibrant colourful city with a distinct atmosphere and fantastic architecture. Sicily in turn has a completely unique identity with beautiful Mediterranean beaches and an abundance of culture and beauty. Villas in Sicily make a great place to unwind and enjoy the local culture and there are some great resorts and hotels as well. Finally you can fly home from Naples or take the train along the coast back to Rome.

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Lucca, Tuscany, Italy by Myrabella

The city of Lucca was founded as a Roman colony in 180 BC and its urban structure is a relic of the period of Roman domination. It has became the Free City-State in the early 12th century and has retained its freedom until 1847. During the reign of the Goths and Langobard, Lucca was the capital of Tuscany. In the Middle Ages, its importance has even increased due to trade with silk. Also now, the city is a huge luxury linen exporter. In the 14th century Lucca conquered Pisa, Pistorius and almost conquered Florence. However the period of decline came soon, the city still managed to retain its independence until the coming of Napoleon. Until the unification of Italy, the city was ruled by the Bourbons.

In 1805, Lucca was taken over by Napoleon, who put his sister Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi in charge as “Queen of Etruria”.

Cathedral of San Michele Arcangelo in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy by echiner1

Everything worth seeing in Lucca, you will find within the massive brick fortifications with gates and bastions intact, which are preserved in its original form. Walking on the ramparts that surround the whole city is really very interesting. To the centre you can get through the gate Porta San Donato, which takes you to the main Piazza San Michele. Upon it rises a magnificent church of San Michele in Foro, built on the site of the old Roman forum. It has a beautiful facade consisting of streaked marble. Furthermore, the church completed miniature balconies, blind arcades and imaginatively twisted columns.

Near the church of San Michele in Foro, the famous Italian composer Giacomo Puccini was born here, whose native home was remodelled into a museum. Also another cathedral Duomo di San Martino standing in Piazza San Martino boasts beautiful facade.

Great artistic importance is the tomb of Ilaria del Carretto stored in the sacristy. Ilaria was the wife of an important medieval ruler Guinigiho Paola.

Piazza dell’Anfiteatro – Lucca, Tuscany, Italy by Kevin Poh

What to see in Lucca

• Piazza dell’Anfiteatro
• Piazzale Verdi
• Piazza Napoleone
• Piazza San Michele
• Duomo di San Martino (St Martin’s Cathedral)
• The Ducal Palace
• The ancient Roman amphitheatre
• Church of San Michele in Foro
• Basilica di San Frediano
• Torre delle ore
• Casa and Torre Guinigi
• Museo Nazionale Guinigi
• Museo e Pinacoteca Nazionale
• Orto Botanico Comunale di Lucca, a botanical garden dating from 1820
• Palazzo Pfanner
• Villa Garzoni

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In the city of Modena you will find the factories for all of the top sports cars in Italy. The Ferrari and Lamborghini are the most notable of these manufacturers. But the town is also home to De Tomaso, Maserati and Pagani. The corporate headquarters of all but Lamborghini are also located in Modena.

Palazzo Comunale e Duomo, Modena, Italy by Hierakares

The first inhabitants of Modena were the Villanovans. They would be followed by the Ligurian tribes as well as the Etruscans. While the exact date that Modena was founded is not known, the existence of the town has been known since the 3rd century B.C. The Gaulish Boii were known to have revolted against Hannibal shortly after his invasion of Italy.

In 183 B.C., the area would be re-founded and called Mutina. It was at first used as a military stronghold and as a result, was sacked by the Ligurians in 177 B.C. then rebuilt once again.

Today the largest military academy in Italy can be found in Modena at the Baroque Ducal Palace; most officers in the Italian service are trained at the palace. The nearby University of Modena which is also a popular university in the nation dates back to 1175.

There are many different museums located throughout the city of Modena. However, perhaps the most popular of these are those which house the collections of the finest and most exotic sports cars that the world has ever known. There is also a museum which is dedicated to the many fine archeological finds in the area surrounding Modena.

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Parma Baptisterium, Italy by Philip Schäfer

Up until the middle ages, the town of Parma was regularly attacked, plundered and destroyed. There were many such occasions in which the entire town was rebuilt from the ground up. However, there are still a number of beautiful sites in this small Italian town that dates back to the 11th century. The most famous attraction in Parma is a pink marble tower which can be found in the town’s center. Taking more than 60 years to construct, the Parma Baptisterium has become a symbol of the city. Shortly after its completion, the tower had been damaged by an earthquake requiring it to be rebuilt.

Anyone who visits Parma will have to make their way over to the Teatro Regio which is the city’s own opera house. Arturo Toscanini, the famous conductor was born in Parma and the Theater is now a museum which is dedicated to the life and genius of Toscanini.

Of course we would not have parmesan cheese if it were not for the town of Parma. The town is also known for its special ham recipes too. Today, Parma stands as the European Association for Food Safety’s official home. One cannot go to Parma without trying the many local delicacies which are world renowned. While the town may not have a lot in architectural attractions, the cheese and hams of Parma are an attraction in their own right.

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