Top Attractions in Italy

Top Attractions in Italy Venice There's no escaping it, Venice is unique. A pedestrian city on a very human scale, cars are almost nonexistent and beguiling narrow paths take the place of ugly city roads. The harmonious architecture seems to have sprung uniformly from somewhere between the 12th and 16th centuries and its secretive walls and enticing balconies sparkle with flashes of water glimpsed through cracks and windows. Dark paths suddenly emerge into the clear, bright daylight of a church-filled square or cross the city's myriad of canals by way of numerous and wonderful little bridges. The atmosphere is magical, and inexplicably festive. The city is built on 117 small islands and is linked to the mainland service town of Mestre by a road and rail causeway. The Grand Canal winds itself around the city, emerging at the unforgettable vista of Piazza San Marco. The Bridge of Sighs links the palace to the gloomy old prisons and the bobbing gondolas are overlooked by the stunning Santa Maria della Salute, San Giorgio Maggiore and del Redentore churches. Whatever you do in Venice, you’re sure to fall in love with it. Pompeii Easily accessible from Naples, Pompeii was the thriving resort town for wealthy Romans buried under ash and mud during the devastating eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 79 AD. The ruins provide a fascinating insight into how the ancient Romans lived and include impressive temples, a forum, one of the largest known Roman amphitheatres and luxurious houses with frescoes. Pompeii was discovered in 1748 and excavations continue to this day. Website: Pompeii The Leaning Tower of Pisa No visit to Italy is complete without a trip to see the celebrated Leaning Tower of Pisa. Construction of the tower began in 1173 but had to be interrupted because the ground was giving way which lead to its famous tilt. In the 14th century, Giovanni de Simone finished the work with the creation of the Bell Room. It is about 56 meters high and is inclined in relation to the vertical by 4 meters. Cylindrical in structure, it has six rows of loggia and a row of blind arcades on the lower floor posed on semi-columns. The Tower is situated behind the Duomo, which is considered to be the most important expression of Pisan Romanesque. Its construction began in 1064 by Buscheto and was completed by Rainaldo in the 12th century. The facade is articulated on the lower level with arches and on the upper level with four rows of loges. On its bronze doors the stories of the Madonna and Christ are incised. Inside, the five naves showcase paintings by Beccafumi, Ghirlandaio, Andrea del Sarto and Sodoma. Website: The Leaning Tower of Pisa Ravenna Situated halfway between Venice and Ancona, Ravenna is one of the outstanding smaller sites of the Western world. No other city can compete with its wealth of Byzantine architecture or its unique mosaics, ecclesiastical treasures, Dante's tomb, and Theodoric's tomb. The city is an art lover’s paradise. Website: Ravenna The Palio in Siena Il Palio is held twice yearly on 2 July and 16 August in the historic city of Siena. The festival is held in honour of the Virgin Mary and dates from the Middle Ages and involves a series of colourful pageants, a wild horse race around the town’s main square Il Campo, and of course lots of eating, drinking and partying in the streets! If you’re in Italy on these dates, it’s well worth getting involved in this colourful and exciting festival. Website: The Palio in Siena The Island of Capri The enchanting island of Capri has been long been considered southern Italy's finest jewel where the extraordinary beauty of the land and sea and the frequent presence of prestigious visitors imbue it with a magical atmosphere. Overlooking the stunning Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius, it has always been one of the favorite resting places for the privileged. Once home to the Roman Emperor Tiberius, today Capri offers a perfect get-away-from-it-all holiday destination. Check out the island’s magical Blue Grotto. The strange and unique refraction of light causes the water in the grotto to glow an ethereal blue. While away some hours in the charming towns of Capri and Anacapri. Check out the ruins of Emperor Tiberius’s villa east of Capri town. Assisi Perched halfway up Mount Subasio, the visual impact of Assisi’s shimmering white marble buildings is magnificent. The city is dominated by the massive 14th-century Rocca Maggiore - a hill fortress offering fabulous views over the valley and nearby 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. The town's many churches include Santa Maria Maggiore, San Pietro, St Clare and the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Parco Nazionale del Gran ParadisoThe Gran Paradiso National Park in northwestern Italy was the first national park established in Italy and is an oasis of larch woods and firs, wide alpine prairies, rocks and glaciers. It has rich and varied flora and fauna. The park was originally the hunting grounds of the ruling House of Savoy who donated the first 5000 acres to the people in 1919. Today the park covers 173,000 acres of perennially snow-capped mountain peaks, tiny glacial lakes, wooded slopes and vast flowering meadows. The lord of this heavenly manor is lo stambecco (the ibex), a chunky white mountain goat with massive horns. About 3000 ibex live in the park and there are also large populations of chamois and marmots, smaller numbers of fox and golden eagles, and clouds of colourful butterflies. Website: Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso SicilyThe sunkissed island of Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean and occupies a strategic position at the toe of Italy. The island has long been a magnet for invaders - all of whom have left their mark in the form of Greek temples, Roman ruins, Norman castles, and Byzantine domes. Visiting these relics of the past, swimming off the island’s beautiful golden beaches, marvelling at Mt Etna – Europe’s largest live volcano – and sampling first-rate seafood are all part of the Sicilian experience. RomeCheck out our guide to the top ten attractions in Rome