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Why Italy is the 5th most visited country in the world
Italy is the fifth most visited country in the world and ranks fourth place for highest tourist earner according the World Tourism Organization UNWTO. Italy is a constantly popular destination for tourists and it’s easy to see why.
Lake Garda, Italy
For centuries people have flocked to Italy to admire its beautiful landscapes, vibrant culture and enjoy its rich art and history. Not to mention sample the delicious culinary delights. Italy offers something to suit everyone’s tastes and interests.
History
Italy is home to some of the most famous monuments in the world and full of sights of historical importance.
Since the Roman Empire, Rome has always attracted visitors. They were drawn by its power and influence but even after the fall of the Empire, when Rome was no longer the epicentre of the political and cultural world, religion ensured that Rome remained amongst the most visited places. Base of the papacy, Rome is Europe’s greatest religious centre and continues to draw pilgrims from all over the world.
Pisa in Tuscany, Italy
People have come here for years to admire the architecture of the Coliseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the canals of Venice and many more important and beautiful early structures throughout the country.
Art
Birth place to some of the worlds most distinguished artists, Italy offers an enormous assortment of paintings, statues and other fine masterpieces.
Greats like Michelangelo have contributed to numerous structures across the country with their talent displayed in museums, fountains, churches and other buildings.
Laocoön and His Sons - Michelangelo
Gastronomy
Italy’s culinary expertise is known and praised world wide. The richness of Italian cuisine lies in its diversity. Each region has its own specialities and gastronomic traditions. So whether you try the Pizza in Naples or Spaghetti all’ Amatriciana in Rome or get spicy with chilli-peppers in Calabria, Italy offers you an unforgettable treat for your taste buds. Don’t forget to sample the Chianti wine zones of Tuscany.
Fashion
Boasting stylists of international fame like Valentino, Dolce and Gabbana, Armani, Roberto Cavalli and Versace to name a few, Italy offers a treat for the fashion enthusiast.
Fashion is almost a national passion. The major fashion shows take place in Milan and Milan Fashion Week is attended by celebrities and fashion lovers from all over the world in search of the latest trends.
Via Condotti on Piazza di Spania - Rome, Italy
Tourists are also draw to the big name designers that can be found on famous streets like Via Condotti in Rome.
The Country
The landscape alone draws thousands of tourists to Italy every year. It’s blessed with one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe but also breathtaking mountains and countryside. Not to mention the volcanoes in Naples and Sicily.
Conero Mont - Adriatic Sea, Italy
Cultural artefacts are scattered throughout the country thanks to historically important periods like the Roman Empire and the Renaissance. Northern cities can use the Alps as an attraction for winter sports while coastal southern cities have the Mediterranean sea to draw tourists looking for sun. Italy is also home to an impressive 44 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
With so much to offer, it’s easy to see why so many tourists continue to come here year after year.
Florence, Italy – An Orientation to Florence
Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region of Italy. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. If you are one of the ten million or so people throughout the world who say, “I want to go to Florence” each year and actually do so, then make the most of your trip by getting yourself oriented before you go. Otherwise, there is so much to see and do in Florence that you could end up wasting half your trip just deciding where to go on any given day.
If you are arriving by air, you have a few options. Recently upgraded, Amerigo Vespucci Airport now services over 2 million passengers every year. It only services direct flights from limited European destinations, though. International travelers need to get a connecting flight from Rome. Yet another option is to land in Pisa and take a short train ride into Florence. Amerigo Vespucci Airport (also called Peretola Airport) is only about 2 miles southwest of the city center, so transportation into Florence from the airport is both quick and cheap. There are taxi stands just outside the arrivals area that will whisk you to your hotel within about 15 minutes. If you prefer, there are also regular shuttle bus services to the central railway station of Santa Maria Novella.
Unlike in America, trains are a major mode of public transportation in Italy, including Florence. If your plane lands in Rome, for instance, you don’t need to worry too much about train schedules, since there are 52 trains per day from Rome to Florence. However, bear in mind that not all train trips are alike. If you want to save money, then take an “IC” or “Inter City” train. It will take about twice as long, but will also be much cheaper than the “E” or Express train. Neither the “IC” nor the “E” trains require reservations, but the “ES” or Eurostar Italia first-class train does. Depending upon which service you choose, the ride from Rome will take between 1 1/2 hours to 3 hours.
A good place to find information about how to get to Florence Italy by car, train or by air is from the official Dipartimento di Sistemi e Informatica website. It only gives the basics, but also includes links to timetables and other valuable independent information. Another good source of information about everything Florentine, including how to get there, is the aptly named Visit Florence website.
WHERE TO STAY IN FLORENCE
Once you have arrived in Florence, your next hurdle will be finding a place to stay. That in itself is not a problem, since there are hundreds of places to choose from – everything from cheap backpackers lodges to 5 star hotels. Start by choosing your price range and then explore your options. If you ask a taxi driver, he is likely to try to take you to his preferred accommodation (the one that pays him a commission). Then again, the majority of online accommodation sites also work on a commission basis, so you should avoid most of those as well. So where do you look?
If you are looking for a hotel room, a good source is the official Florence Hotels Association website. This site includes many price ranges and also includes a number of B&Bs. If it’s a backpacker’s hostel you’re after, check out Backpackers World. While we’re on the subject: backpackers hostels have a reputation for being for young travelers only. They’re not. Some of them can be noisy party hostels, but others have quiet single rooms for budget prices and even dorms for families.
GETTING AROUND IN FLORENCE
On foot is the best way to see Florence, because it is such a beautiful city. Be sure to keep a business card from your accommodation with you. Then, if you get lost, you have something to show people when you ask for directions. If you happen to have a GPS device, you can download a Florence map and find directions from wherever you are to wherever you happen to want to go. Failing that, consult Google maps before you set out on your journey and take notes. Then there is the ever-popular Lonely Planet guidebook. Finally, there is the option of just getting temporarily lost and discovering all the ancient streets and alleys of Florence with no particular destination in mind.
EXPLORING FLORENCE
Now it’s time to unpack your bags and start exploring the city. This will be your biggest challenge. Give up on the idea of seeing and doing everything and focus on getting oriented first. One way to do that is to go to Piazalle Michelangelo. Every panoramic photo of Florence you have ever seen was taken here. Getting there is a no-brainer, since it’s the highest point in Florence, everyone knows where it is and there is plenty of public transportation to get you there if you don’t want to walk.
If you’re feeling up to it and happen to be in the vicinity of the Arno River, which bisects the city, a great walk up to Piazalle Michelangelo is “via” (Latin for “way” or “road”) Via di San Niccolo. It’s not a direct route, but it is only half a mile and you shouldn’t be in a hurry anyway. Another nice thing about this route is that there are numerous bars and cafes along the way. Any way you approach it on foot will finally lead to Via Piazza Poggi. This winding road bears the name of its designer, Giuseppe Poggi. who also designed the Piazalle Michelangelo.
If there is one must-see gallery in Florence, then it has to be Uffizi Gallery. Give yourself plenty of time and be ready to be swept away by the magnificent works of art by the superstars of the Renaissance. These are guys like Raphael, Da Vinci, Rubens and Botticelli – and that’s just for starters. Words can’t begin to do it justice. Just go. It’s on the opposite side of the river from Piazalle Michelangelo. One nice way to get there is via the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, which is lined with fashionable shops. If you’re looking for a new Rolex or some gold “trinkets,” this is a good place to go.
HOW TO GET TO FLORENCE
There are so many sights to see in Florence that you can’t possibly take them all in. A much better idea is to choose a few and savor them. The Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiore), the Bargello National Museum and the Accademia (where you can see Michelangelo’s David) all rank high on any “must see” list of Florence sites. Instead of trying to cram them all into a day, take them one at a time. Afterwards, spend some time savoring the city itself. Let it seep into you. Then, when you finally have to leave, Firenze (Florence) will stay with you forever.
The magic of Tuscany
I was browsing the net today looking for a video about Tuscany and… you guest it, I found a great one. Actually it’s a slideshow and not a real video but I bet you will feel the magic of the region. I am watching it over and over again and still can’t get enough of it.
You will see some stunning moments captured in Florence, Pisa, Siena and Populonia while listening to some of the best Italian music hits from the 80′s 
Enjoy!
Genoa – the birth place of Christopher Columbus, blue-jeans and the ice cream
As the oldest capital of one of the maritime republics, Genoa nowadays belongs to the “Industrial Triangle” with Milan and Turin, and it’s one of the main ports in Europe. It’s symbol is the lighthouse of the old port known as “La Lanterna” (the lantern).
Famous also for being the birth place of Christopher Columbus, Genoa is a melting pot and an important center for culture and scientific research.
Portofino Genoa, Italian Riviera
The name “Genoa” comes from the loyalty to the roman empire: Janus was the double-faced god of the roman’s paganism, and Genoa, which looked the mountain from the back and the sea from the front, was called in this way, rendering homage to the god.
A Few Words of History
Genoa was led for about eight centuries by many types of government: republic, oligarchy, dukedom, and doges. The neutrality led the republic to fund a commercial empire that controlled the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, from Iraq to Palestine and from North Africa to the Spanish coasts. Genoa was able to control the economies of important empires: Swabia, of the Habsburg and Byzantine, until the rise of Napoleon that conquered the republic and looted the Bank of San Giorgio, the national institute and the eldest bank in the world.
The flag of the Republic is the famous Union Jack, used nowadays by the Royal Navy. In 1190, due to its authority in the Mediterranean Sea, the King of England asked the permission to the Doge to hoist the genoan flag on his ships to prevent the pirates’ attacks.
The famous Union Jack, used nowadays by the Royal Navy
What to see in Genoa
The old city of Genoa is a must-see, with its narrow alleys (carrugi) and little squares; one of the most famous areas is named “Boccadasse”, with its multicoloured boats and the long promenade, sprinkled with ice cream kiosks. Another interesting spot is the fountain of Piazza De Ferrari, the core of the town. And don’t miss a visit at the Aquarium, the second largest in Europe, built in the Expo Area in 1992 and inaugurated for the Colombian Celebrations 500 years after the journey of the famous navigator who discovered the New World.
One of the many narrow alleys called 'Carrugi'
In the suburbs there are two locations, Nervi and Pegli, respectively the Gates of the Eastern and Western Riviera.
The Palazzo Ducale, old headquarter of the Lords of the city, now a cultural center, is worth a visit; the old port and the Carlo Felice’s Theatre, damaged during the Second World War, was restored in the 90′s.
The Promenade Anita Garibaldi a path through the rocks above the sea, is absolutely wonderful. It leads the visitor along the three villas, Grimaldi-Fassio, Serra-Saluzzo and Gropallo, which are all connected to create a stunning park.
Witnesses of the ancient role of the city, Genoa has many forts: Forte Diamante, Forte Begato, Forte Tenaglia, Forte Giuliano, Forte San Martino, as well as others.
Fine Italian Ice-Cream
Some of them are totally abandoned, while some were transformed into cultural centers or used for the rock concerts and other musical events.
Ever wonder where the ice cream came from?
Genoa is the homeland of the Italian habit of aperitives, of the blue-jeans (jeans comes from Genes, the french name of Genoa), the national game of lotto (a national lottery). The Genoans are also considered the inventor of the ice cream.
Genoa is the native country of the Italian pesto, a kind of sauce for pasta obtained by mixing pine kernels, garlic, pecorino cheese, basil and olive oil; moreover, it was the homeland of soccer in Italy. James Spencer, a British doctor, founded the Genoa Cricket and Football Club in 1909, a legendary team that won nine Championships and one National Cup after the Second World War.
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