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Italy Tourist Attractions and Sights |
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RomeSightseeing in Rome is exhilarating and exhausting. That it wasn't built in a day is quickly evident when you start exploring the temples, residences, basilicas, churches, palazzi, piazzi, parks, museums and fountains. All this and the Vatican too! The Coliseum in Rome - It was definitely not the place where the good Christians were thrown to the lions. Nevertheless it is one of Rome's most spectacular structures. The place where the rulers 'garnered' approbation of the public, it featured endless games specially designed to tickle the sadistic nature. And as the Empire became larger and the problems became more acute and immediate, the games increased their cruelty quotient. After all, a public, distracted from the quotidian problems proves to be an invaluable asset. more .... Hotels Rome - Most Popular Rome Hotels |
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Stretching for 50km (31mi) along a promontory from
Sorrento to Salerno is
some of Europe's most beautiful coastline. The road hugs the zigzagging
bends and curves of the cliffy coast, overlooking intensely blue waters and
passing picture-postcard villages that cling to the cliff walls like
matchbox houses. |
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Assisi Walled Assisi is miraculous: it has somehow managed to retain some
tranquil refuges amid the tourist hubbub. Perched halfway up Mt Subasio,
looking over Perugia, the visual impact of its shimmering white marble
buildings is magnificent. The town's many churches include Santa Maria
Maggiore, San Pietro and St Clare.The city is dominated by the massive 14th-century Rocca Maggiore - a hill fortress that offers fabulous views over the valley and back to Perugia. St Francis was born here in 1182, and work began on his basilica two years after his death in 1228. It's a magnificent tribute to the patron saint of animals, with frescoes by Giotto, Cimabue and Martini. Relics from Imperial days include the excavated forum and the pillared facade of the Temple of Minerva; Roman foundations are a common feature of many buildings. Hotels Assisi |
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Florence The cultural and historical impact of Florence (or Firenze if
you're looking to impress) is overwhelming. Close up, however, the city is
one of Italy's most atmospheric and pleasant, retaining a strong resemblance
to the small late-medieval centre that contributed so much to the cultural
and political development of Europe.
Hotels Florence - » FLORENCE Sightseeing Tours Events & Attractions |
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Milan The
hard-working Milanese run their busy metropolis with efficiency and aplomb.
Milano is the country's economic engine room, home to Italy's stock market
and business centers. This stylish city is also the world's design capital
and rivals Paris as a leading fashion center.Milan is all about worldly pleasures. Shopping is of almost religious significance. Theatre and cinema flourish in this fashionable milieu, as does a hopping club scene and a slew of tempting restaurants. Apart from a few gems, the city is not renowned for its looks; it's the lifestyle that counts. History is achingly prominent here. The breathtaking Duomo is one of the world's largest, most striking gothic cathedrals, while Milan's art galleries, many housed in former palaces, are home to a host of significant works that include Da Vinci's "Last Supper". You may even find yourself sinking your morning espresso in the same cafe that composer Verdi frequented. Milan receives more visitors than Venice or Florence, yet manages not to be a tourist trap - perhaps that's the real secret to Milan's style. Hotels Milan - » MILAN Sightseeing Tours Events & Attractions |
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Naples Naples (or Napoli if you want to blend in like a local) is
raucous, polluted, anarchic, deafening, crumbling and grubby. It's also a
lot of fun. Superbly positioned on a bay, Naples has a little - and often a
lot - of everything. It pulsates with noisy street markets and swarms of
people buzzing around on Vespas with no regard for traffic rules.Naples' historic centre features a church-encrusted piazza and some seriously elaborate architecture. In addition to the usual Italian quota of castles, museums and palazzi, Naples has the priceless treasures of Pompeii and Herculaneum at its doorstep. Hotels Naples - » NAPLES Sightseeing Tours Events & Attractions |
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Siena Walking
within the old city walls is a unique experience. The centro historico is
nicely sized to get a great ambiance wherever you go. No visitor's cars are
allowed to go into it's narrow streets. I simply adored waking there even
with my two small kids and we took frequent pauses at the main piazza (Piazza del
Campo). This is really a nice place to get the feel of historic Italy.
Siena had been a bustling economic centre based on its textiles, saffron
and wine in the 12th century. At this time many buildings were created in
Sienese Gothic style, giving this town its distinctive style. Visitors enjoy
the cafe-lined square Il Campo and the imposing St Dominic's Church. |
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Venice Venezia, La Serenissima, Queen of the Adriatic, captivating city of
canals and palaces...or tawdry sewer alive with crowds and charlatans?
Venice's nature is dual: water and land, long history and doubtful future,
airy delicacy and dim melancholy. When this precious place sinks, the world
will be the poorer.Take time to meander - losing yourself in the maze of canals and lanes is
one of Venice's principal pleasures. The cluster of sights around the
Piazza
San Marco are heart-clutchingly beautiful, but the more secret pleasures of
the hushed backstreets are just as entrancing.Hotels Venice - » VENICE Sightseeing Tours Events & Attractions |
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Leaning tower of Pisa The
tower is actually only a bell tower of a cathedral but has always been
considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It leans and almost seems
to be on the verge of toppling over. But somehow the perpendicularly
challenged tower has survived for centuries. Innumerable efforts to correct
its tilt have proved fruitless. So what gives? It is the shifting subsoil
foundation that cannot bear such heavy marble. Various solutions were tried
out once the architect took notice of the lean in 1185. It took centuries to
build thereafter and dropped out public imagination till a certain home
grown genius -Galileo Galilee dropped some wooden balls leaning side to
prove to the world that gravity works the same irrespective of size.The bell tower is unique both in its intrinsic artistic value as well as its location on what is commonly known as Piazza De Miracoli. Unlike other bell towers, it occupies a side that is disproportionately to one side. It assumes an inimitable significance if you see it in the context of its surroundings. In medieval times, if you were traveling down the junction between the Piazza and the via Santa Marie, the tower would loom large. Moreover, strangely there is an architectural continuity between the ground floor of the tower and Cathedral. Apparently the tower was the focal point of the town- visible from all sides- even from river. It was the connection between the city and the outside world- a point of reference as well as a symbol of pride of Pisa. Hotels Pisa |
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BolognaUntouched by mass tourism, Bologna is the capital of the prosperous Emilia Romagna region.Discover why Bologna has many nicknames: La Dotta (The Learned), for its ancient university, La Rossa (The Red) for the warm colors of its roofs and houses and La Grassa (The Fat) for the wonderful food! See some of the most important buildings in the city such as Palazzo Accursio, Palazzo del Protesta, The Sala Borsa, Palazzo re Enzo and the famous Fountain of Neptune which dates back to the 16th century. Also see the Medieval Market and Loggia Dei Mercanti, The Anatomy Theatre (closed Saturday afternoon and Sunday), Basilica of San Petronio, the Archiginnasio, Two Towers and the Complex of Santo Stefano. For centuries Bologna was an important papal city, second only to Rome. It is therefore only natural that Bologna has a large number of important religious buildings. Whether your interest lies in Romanesque, Gothic or Baroque, Bologna has plenty to offer the visitor. Popular choices include S. Stefano, S. Petronio and S. Domenico. Bolognese women are famous for their beauty, what a shame it would be to leave the city without visiting the neighborhoods such as via Fregatette and via Delle Oche, which for centuries have been home to the bordellos and their lusty madams. Hotels Bologna - » BOLOGNA Sightseeing Tours Events & Attractions
AgrigentoThe great row of seven Doric temples in the Valley of the Temples - strictly speaking a ridge - makes this one of the most breathtaking sites in the ancient world. The highlight of this Greek colony, founded in Sicily in the sixth century BC, is the night-time illumination of the Temple of Concord.Agrigento was founded around 582 BC and is famous for it's Valley of the Temples, which are included on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Continue to Sciacca, a picturesque seaside town overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, well known for ceramics, thermal baths and beautiful beaches. Later, visit the city of Selinunte, an Archaeological Park which is the biggest in Europe. Hotels Agrigento |
Amalfi Coast