Photo by admin

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.

Photo by admin

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.

Photo by admin

The post A train tour of Italy – enjoy Italian landscape from different perspective appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by schizoform

The most striking feature is the unusual dome’s roof with 135 towers and innumerable statues and gargoyles. In clear weather you can see the Alps with the Matterhorn from the towers. For the lovers of Gothic architecture, the Duomo is a masterpiece of perfectly made ​​decorations.

Cathedral windows dating from the 15th century, are among the largest in Europe. In the nave, near the entrance, you can see the largest sundial in the world (dating back to 1786).

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Jiuguang Wang

Milan Cathedral is considered to be one of the most popular buildings in the whole European continent. It is also known to be the largest cathedral of all cathedrals in Italy and the second largest one in Europe (just after Seville Cathedral). It consists of five naves, which supports 52 columns. The highest point of the cathedral is La Madonnina (the statue of the Virgin Mary) from the 18th century, which is now the symbol of Milan.

The project of cathedral was meant to help all those who are helpless and ordinary people who are suffering or suffered under the ruling of tyrant Bernabò. During the construction of this cathedral a large amount of donations were collected from people and soon the news of construction spread with the people.

View Larger Map

The post Milan Cathedral – the largest cathedral in Italy and 2nd largest in Europe appeared first on Europe Explored.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Alessio Milan

Long after the World War II, people still lived in these “cave homes” and often lived in one room with the pet. Until the late 1980s this was considered an area of poverty, as these houses were, mostly unlivable. Local administration has become more tourism-oriented, and has promoted the re-generation of the Sassi with the aid of the European Union, the government, UNESCO, and Hollywood. Today there are many thriving businesses, pubs, and hotels.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by giuseppe portale

You can park the car near the center of the city completely free of charge. Throughout the city you can see several hiking trails, together with several maps with marked trails. However, it is not difficult at all to get lost in the winding streets.

Do not miss Matera Cathedral at the Piazza dei Duomo, from where you can enjoy a beautiful view. Similar views of the city are also at several other places in the city.

View Matera – one of the oldest settled place in Italy in a larger map

The post Matera – one of the oldest settled place in Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

Positano, Campania, Italy by Stefano Costantini

Positano is one of the world’s most beautiful resorts and, of course, one of the most expensive. The most renowned beaches here are sandy beaches Spiaggia Grande and Spiaggia Fornillo. There is also the rocky beach Scogliera. Of course you can do a wide range of activities here. The most popular is the diving and surfing. However the area is suitable for hiking as well. During the summer season Positano holds many festivals and celebrations. Among the most significant is the celebration of the landing Saraceno – “Festa di Santa Assunta” or Festival of Dance – “Premio Positano“.

The city was an important port during the 16th and 17th centuries, but later in the 19th century many people moved out and those remaining lived very poorly. Around the year of 1950 a poor fishing village has been discovered again and opened to a new and lucrative industry. Today the inhabitants live solely from tourism. Currently Positano has around 4,000 inhabitants.

Positano, Campania, Italy by Jensens

There are several sights that you can find here, but visitors are coming here mainly for romantic sunsets. One of the best ways to enjoy a sunset is sitting on the beach with a glass of Limoncello.

The post Positano – the most beautiful town on the Amalfi Coast in Italy appeared first on Europe Explored.

The city of Florence has been inhabited since the prehistoric times. However, it would not be until 59 B.C. that the city would become part of the Great Roman Empire. Nestled along the banks of the Arno River, Claire Cesar knew that the city would be great one day. Back in those days, Florence was known as Colonia Florentia. It started off as a military colony and grew into one of the most beautiful cities in the entire world.

Sunset over Florence, Tuscany, Italy by Steve

The history of Florence is both rich and very colorful. There are many landmarks and monuments throughout the city which have attracted countless visitors over the centuries. Some say that perhaps the most notable of these landmarks is the 106 meter tall Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore that was built at the end of the 13th century. From the top of the Duomo, you can see some of the best panoramic views of Florence imaginable.

The next most notable monument in Florence is that of the Ponte Vecchio. This old bridge which was built back in 1345 is not just a bridge, it is an entire community. Along the length of the bridge, there are several homes, various shops and boutiques. Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge in Florence that was not destroyed back in the Second World War which makes it the oldest stone arch bridge in the whole of Europe.

Tower of Florence Cathedral, Tuscany, Italy by Ivan Borisov

Of course no one could be allowed to leave Florence without taking the time to stop by the Piazzale Michelangelo. Situated atop a hill, from the Piazzale you can get some of the most awe inspiring views of the city and of course, of the infamous Florentine sunset.

The post Florence – the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance appeared first on Europe Explored.