The Ultimate
Guide to Italy

CELEBRATING 500 YEARS OF LEONARDO DA VINCI'S LEGACY

From painter to inventor, the universally recognised Italian genius, Leonardo da Vinci, will be celebrated throughout Italy in 2019, with a rich program of multi-disciplinary events on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of his death.

For further information and to download the entire program:

You simply cannot make a wrong turn in Italy. Europe’s celebrated boot is a veritable trove of striking landscapes, cultural riches and gastronomic delights. And visitors are spoilt for choice with treasures scattered right throughout the star-studded destination.

Each of Italy’s cities and towns fiercely guard a distinct character and charm, with citizens taking special pride in local history, art, commerce, food and life. This makes for a population of passionate hosts. You are not a tourist in Italy. You are a friend.

They say all roads lead to Rome and that’s a good thing because the Eternal City, named for its significance to the history of mankind, isn’t a place you want to miss. Rome, of course, has been the centre of Christianity since Saint Peter first established the Christian Church. And before that, with the establishment of the Roman Empire, it was the capital of the western world. More than 2000 years of history are crowded into its maze of alleys, streets and squares from ancient catacombs to 17th-century palaces, 15th-century churches, and 20th-century monuments.

Notwithstanding Rome’s significance, each of Italy’s chief cities are important for their history; for the fame and wealth of their monuments and museums; for abundant natural beauties; and for the intensity of their social and economic life.

Sprawling Milan is the financial, banking, fashion and design capital of Italy and an art and culture centre. Turin, at the foot of the Alps, is outstanding for automotive manufacturing and baroque architecture. Genoa, birthplace of Columbus, has been Italy’s chief seaport since Roman times. Venice floats dream-like on canals and lagoons. Trieste is a bustling and attractive seaport. Trento is an historic old city that has had many battles fought for it. Bologna, centre of wealth, learning and art, is famous for its university and cuisine.

Florence, ‘the cradle of the Renaissance’, is an art centre to rival any in the world. Ancona, capital of the Adriatic region of the Marche, is a beautifully located seaside resort city. Perugia, hilltop queen of the Tiber plain, is the headquarters of the University for Foreigners, founded in the 13th century. L’Aquila is a mountain centre in the Apennines. Naples, on its justly famous blue bay, is the great city of the south.

Bari, where the bones of Saint Nicholas lie, is a modern city surrounding a tiny medieval town. Palermo, capital of Sicily, merges Norman and Arab history and culture. Cagliari, chief city of Sardinia, bears the stamp of a long and varied history under Romans, Carthaginians, Spanish and French. La dolce vita, indeed.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Art & culture

The great artistic legacy of Italy, unequalled anywhere in the world, is not only distributed throughout Italy’s major cities and their famous museums. In fact, there is no Italian city, however modest, that does not contain and cherish some share of this wealth of art. Tuscany alone possesses more artistic treasures than the whole of Spain, which is the second country in the world for cultural heritage.

There are more than 3600 museums, art galleries and archaeological sites across Italy. Some of the most famous include the Uffizi, the Accademia Gallery and the Pitti Palace, located in Florence; the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Venice; and Palazzo e Pinacoteca Brera and Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. An Italian streetscape, meanwhile, is a museum in its own right.

Italy also brims with magnificent architectural achievements, which can be found in all corners of the country, from Rome’s famous Colosseum and St Mark’s Basilica in Venice to the striking Milan Cathedral and the Tower of Pisa.

Land & sea

Dramatic peaks drop towards crystalline seas, sparkling lakes meet enchanting villages, and such vistas are simply par for the course in Italy. From north to south, beautiful and evocative mountains make for spectacular views and a holiday full of adventure, fun or relaxation…or all of the above.

Italy’s coastline measures 7600 kilometres along which rocky, wooded cliffs are indented by an infinite variety of beaches and bays. To the west lies the Ponente, which includes famous seaside resorts like San Remo, Alassio and Varazze. The eastern Riviera is famous for the towns of Nervi, Portofino, Santa Margherita, Rapallo and Sestri Levante.

Italy’s three largest lakes are Maggiore, Como and Garda. These, along with the smaller lakes of Lugano, Iseo and Idro, make up a second Riviera of resorts with fine hotels and villas providing a busy season of swimming, sailing, golf and tennis from early spring to late autumn.

Jewel-like minor lakes scattered among the valleys of the Alps include Caldonazzo, Molveno, Levico, Carezza, Misurina and Santa Croce while boating, swimming and fishing are specialties of the lakes in central and southern Italy.

Village life

Dotted among the natural beauty, the village is a symbol of Italian culture with artistic and architectural heritage, filled with tradition, and gastronomic treasures. Commonly known as ‘borgo’ or hamlet and dating back to the Renaissance or Medieval ages, villages are usually built around a castle or palace and surrounded by walls, making them both historically and visually appealing. There are hundreds of hamlets spread across Italy. They are welcoming places that offer a unique, authentic Italian experience. It’s not uncommon to stumble upon festivals, exhibitions, fetes, conferences, and concerts that highlight the cultural, historical, and artistic heritage, involving residents, schools, and local artists. To experience the essence of Italy, a visit to a local village should be not be missed.

Foodie delights

Italian is one of the world’s most renowned cuisines. Characterised by its simplicity, Italian food is a celebration of local history and culture, and it is enjoyed with passion and intention. Pizza and pasta are the country’s most famous culinary exports, but there’s nothing quite like the home-soil version, where the freshest ingredients are prepared to perfection. And if you’re still hungry (you won’t be), dessert will never disappoint: think creamy gelato and fresh cannoli. And limoncello to finish? Don’t mind if I do. You’ll find some of the world’s best restaurants in Italy, but expect to be just as impressed by the mouth-watering fare at the casual trattoria down the street. Buon appetito!

Central

Heavenly landscapes, artistic heritage and world renowned cities make Tuscany an unquestioned protagonist of international tourism. The most typical sceneries of the region are those that merge the beauty of nature with the millenary work of man. The charm of Florence is evident along the Arno River, on the picturesque Ponte Vecchio, and in the workshops of artisans that liven up the lanes of the old town. Other extraordinary destinations include: Pisa, famous for its leaning tower; San Gimignano, the city of towers; and the walled city of Lucca.

Ever-changing, untouched landscapes in the green of winding valleys make Umbria a region that will never fail to amaze. The charm of Umbria is derived from its fusion of art, nature, peace and calm, and its various villages that present as genuine masterpieces. Medieval towns such as Assisi, Gubbio and Spoleto are a showcase of historical and artistic heritage.

Surprising and wonderfully diverse, The Marches shows off its beauty through cliffs and caves overlooking unforgettable beaches, hills steeped in history, and rich traditions and cultures, all set against a backdrop of mountains. The Marches protects the natural environment through its national and regional nature reserves while the Monti Sibillini and Monti della Laga National Parks’ scenery and trekking offerings are peerless.

Lazio is the cradle of occidental civilization and Christian culture, of lakes and legends, of thermal spas and history, of ancient roads and verdant hills. This region has different yet complementary features, unblemished scenery and spectacular horizons. Lazio is home to the Italian capital of Rome, a sprawling and globally influential city.

Islands

A voyage over an emerald sea, past characteristic coves and beaches of snow-white sand… this is Sardinia, an island that strikes its visitors with natural contrasts. The sea reigns over this region with its colours that migrate into coves, along coasts, and towards the beaches and popular resorts. An example is the Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast), with Porto Cervo set as its gemstone, which unites the history and culture of ancient traditions with a joyful and colourful nightlife.

Sicily is one of the pearls of Southern Italy and can be experienced and enjoyed through a lens of nature, history and tradition. Experience the crystal-clear waters of San Vito lo Capo, Mondello, Cefalù, Marina di Ragusa, Taormina, the Aeolian Islands, Pantelleria, Lampedusa, and Ustica – just some of the many places where the sea reigns supreme.

For more information on the 20 regions of Italy:

Close to nature

Immerse yourself in Italy’s rough and wild environment and you’ll uncover innumerable treasures, and maybe a few well-kept secrets, too. Italy’s lush and diversified environment is best illustrated in its wildlife parks, an ideal setting for those keen to get amongst nature, discover Italy’s flora and fauna, visit its sunny islands and be surrounded by the typical Mediterranean landscape.

There are many national parks well worth exploring: the Gran Paradiso, Circeo, Stelvio, Dolomiti Bellunesi, Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga, Cilento and Vallo di Diano, and Gargano National Parks; the parks of Calabria and Aspromonte; not to mention the Maddalena and Tuscan Archipelagos, the Vesuvius, the Cinque Terre National Parks, and many other protected areas, nature reserves, and marine parks.

Sports & adventure

Italy offers endless opportunities for those seeking a holiday dedicated to physical activity – the breathtaking backdrop is an added bonus. Italy’s countless marinas and ports, and various tourist organisations offer opportunities to indulge in water sports, while mountain lovers are well and truly catered for with peaks piercing the skyline right across the Italian landscape.

During the winter, those mountains become a powder-lover’s paradise. Visitors are invited to experience a wide array of cultural and outdoor activities each season: skiing, alpine skiing, snowboarding, trekking and Nordic walking, mountain biking, ice skating, swimming, tennis, horseback riding… the list goes on. Whatever the season, whatever the passion, Italy is the place for a sports-related adventure beyond compare!

For further information, please visit:

• FEDERVELA - The Italian Sailing Association
• The Italian Federation for Fishing and Underwater Sports
• Italian Federation for Sport and Orienteering
• Italian National Olympic Committee
• National Italian Paralympic Committee
• Italian Equestrian Federation

Health & wellness

Feeling good in Italy is easy. The restorative powers of mineral waters and mud baths that bubble up from Italian springs have been around since Roman times. Italy boasts the largest number of thermal spa centres in the world and many have become fashionable resort centres, with excellent hotels, casinos, golf courses and theatres. Throughout the country, visitors can experience a unique holiday centred on general wellbeing. There are ancient baths that have remained intact for centuries and take visitors back in time, offering a primitive appeal, with their natural saunas, hidden caves surrounded by vegetation, and hot steam with a pleasantly ferrous scent – excellent for reinvigorating the body and treating the skin.

Italy has various world-famous thermal spas: Saturnia, Montecatini, San Gimignano, Abano, Salsomaggiore and Ischia, to name just a few. Special consideration should be given to the wellness centres in Trentino Alto Adige, Umbria and Tuscany, where innovative treatments provide guests with a holiday dedicated to physical wellbeing and relaxation.

Business & study

Italy is the ideal destination for business tourism with excellent infrastructure set among inspiring landscapes. Surrounded by rich layers of culture and history, delegates will be challenged and motivated by their Italian locale while high-quality infrastructure, from airports and hotels to event facilities, help deliver a seamless experience. Cities both small and large are equipped to host international fairs, congresses, meetings and conventions, while students are equally supported. Every year, Italian Universities welcome thousands of students from all over the world, organising courses at various levels and encouraging participants to learn the language or explore the vast, fascinating world of Italian art and culture.