Popular Travel Cities 0 comments

Florence is one of the most popular travel cities in Italy and one of Italy's most important Renaissance architectural and art centers. Florence, in the heart of Tuscany, has top museums, beautiful cathedrals and churches, lively squares, and elegant buildings and shops. Here are the top sights in Florence.

Best of Rome in Three Days 0 comments

Rome is one of Italy's top travel cities. Full of historic places and interesting things to see and do, the visitor to Rome should spend at least three days savoring the city. Our suggested itinerary takes in ancient Roman sites, lavish Renaissance fountains, a few of Rome's neighborhoods, and stops for gelato and dining. Here's how to get the most out of your Rome visit

Best Italian Riviera Villages 0 comments

Italian Riviera villages like the Cinque Terre are popular coast destinations, especially in summer. With a relatively mild climate, most villages can be visited almost any time of year. Public transportation is good and most of the area can be visited using trains, buses, or ferries. You can use one town as a base and explore the rest of the coast on day trips. Besides beaches and spectacular scenery, there are castles and good seafood, too. Here are travel suggestions for seaside resort villages between Genoa and Tuscany.

Amalfi Peninsula and Bay of Naples 0 comments

Southern Italy's Amalfi peninsula has some of Italy's most spectacular coastal scenery. In summer it's very crowded but its mild temperatures make it a year-round destination. Sorrento is easily reached by public transportation and makes a good base for those without a car. During high season, ferries are the easiest way to get around but buses run along the peninsula all year. There's good shopping here and nearby Bay of Naples attractions such as Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius can be visited, too. Take a look at the Amalfi Coast and Bay of Naples.

Italy's Green Heart 0 comments

Dinesh Kawan

Umbria, often called the Green Heart of Italy, has medieval hill towns, Etruscan sites, and nature parks. Umbria also has one of Italy's largest lakes, spectacular waterfalls, and an interesting mummy collection. A little less expensive than neighboring Tuscany, Umbria is becoming more popular as a tourist destination.

Top Umbria Hill Towns and Sights

Best of Italy 0 comments

Use our best of Italy guide to help you plan your Italy vacation. Italy has many picturesque destinations. You can choose from historic cities, hill towns, seaside villages, and wine regions.

Below you'll find our picks for where to go in Italy including top cities, romantic destinations, hill towns in Tuscany or Umbria, Amalfi Coast and Italian Riviera villages, and top places in Rome and Florence. Click on a heading to see the full page of suggestions.

You can also share your best of Italy pick or read what others say in Readers Respond: Top Places to Go in Italy.

The Central Square in Italian Towns 0 comments

The Central Square, or piazza, has always been very important in towns and cities in Italy. Life centers around the piazza, the heart and soul of the city. Project for Public Spaces lists their picks for the Best Squares in the World and it should come as no surprise that 3 of the 16 are in Italy. Piazza Navona in Rome is ranked as third best square in the world, Piazza del Campo in Siena is fourth, and sixteenth place goes to Campo Santa Margherita in Venice.

One of my favorite squares in Italy is in Mantua in northern Italy. Mantua was recently chosen as the Most Livable City in Italy by Legambiente, Italy's non-profit Environmental League. The Olympic torch will be visiting Mantua on January 15.

Since the piazza is such an important part of Italian life, the Winter Olympic organizers have decided that Olympic medals will be presented in Piazza Castello, the main square of Turin, integrating the culture of the host country into the Olympic spirit.