|
Europe's kinky over-the-knee boot has it all: popes, painters, polenta,
paramours, poets, political puerility and potentates. Its dreamy light
and sumptuous landscapes seem made for romance, and its three millennia
of history, culture and cuisine seduces just about everyone.
You can visit Roman ruins, gawk at Renaissance art, stay in tiny
medieval hill towns, go skiing in the Alps, explore the canals of
Venice and gaze at beautiful churches. Naturally you can also indulge
in the pleasures of la dolce vita: good Time, good wine and improving
your wardrobe.
Main Places to Visit
Venice
Venezia, Queen of the Adriatic, 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. If this precious place does sink, the world
will be the poorer.
For a thousand years the city was one of the most enduring mercantile
sea powers on the face of the earth. Today the brilliance and influence
have long since faded, leaving a town of tarnished glories, out
of Time and out of place, so achingly beautiful it's hard not to
look for the back of the set.
Milan
The now and the next are invented daily in Milan, Europe's creative
capital. Until Milan led the way, who knew that happy hour could
last four hours, that clothing and household appliances could be
made out of basketry, and that coffee could make a delicious pasta
sauce?
This city is all about worldly pleasures. Shopping is of quasi-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
lifestyle that counts.
Pisa
Briefly a significant port to rival Genoa and Venice, Pisa has
a centuries-old tradition as a university town. Today it draws its
fame from an architectural project gone wrong: the Leaning Tower
(Torre Pendente) - one of a trio of Romanesque splendours on the
green carpet of the Piazza dei Miracoli.
The Piazza dei Miracoli ranks as one of the world's loveliest squares.
Set among its sprawling lawns is one of Europe's most extraordinary
concentrations of Romanesque splendour: the cathedral, the baptistry
and the Leaning Tower, all financed with the loot brought back to
the city after Pisa beat the Arabs in Sicily. The piazza teems with
people: students frollicking, local workers eating lunch, and tourists,
many attempting arabesque-type moves so the shot suggests they're
pushing the tower over. A-hem.
You may also care to indulge in one of the wonderfully kitsch tower
souvenirs, ranging from the inevitable cigarette lighters to the
infinitely more exciting glowing, flashing lamps.
Rome
It's hard to say what you'll find most breathtaking about the Eternal
City - the arrogant opulence of the Vatican, the Timelessness of
the Forum, the top speed of a Fiat Bambino, the gory resonance of
the Colosseum, trying to cross a major intersection, or the bill
for your caffe latte.
Make like the locals and souse your senses in the glut of pleasures
the city has to offer, from the grandiose thrill of feeling centuries
of turbulent history under your feet to the small but potent intoxication
of eating chestnut gelati on a hot day.
When to go
Italy is at its best in spring (April-May) and autumn (October-November).
During these seasons, the scenery is beautiful, the temperatures
are pleasant and there are relatively few crowds. Try to avoid August,
as this is the Time that most Italians take their vacations, and
many shops and businesses are closed as a result.
Fast Facts
Full Name
Italian Republic
Capital City
Rome
Area
301,230 sq km
116,305 sq miles
Population
57,300,000
Time Zone
GMT/UTC +1 (+2 in summer) (Central European Time)
Daylight Saving Start
last Sunday in March
Daylight Saving End
last Sunday in October
Languages
Italian (official)
French (other)
German (other)
Slovenian (other)
Albanian (other)
Religion
84% Roman Catholic, 6% Jewish, Muslim and Protestant
Currency
Euro
Country Dialing Code
39
How to plan your tours:
We are pioneer travel agents and tour operators for International
tours. We also offer most ideal tours itineraries to explore Indian
tourism destinations. For more tour options write us your choice
of destinations to design a tour for you with travel period and
budget to: info@easytravelindia.com
|
