We have put together some ideas on what to experience either before you leave or while you visit this beautiful and enchanting country. From literature to cuisine, accommodations to historical attractions, or simply souvenirs, you will find it here. Simply click on a tab above to read more about the topic.
The Colosseum (Piazza del Colosseo)-Rome
This great amphitheatre was started by the order of Vespasiano in 72 A.D., on the site of the Domus Aurea of Nero, and finished by his son Titus, eight years later. It was called Colosseum because of the gigantic statue of Nero that was erected nearby, with the help of 24 elephants.
Within the amphitheatre there were houses, shops, a cemetery, a church, a theatre, and a hospital. From the highest levels one has a beautiful panorama of Rome, especially of the Forum.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower is the bell tower of Pisa's Duomo. It leans due to the poor construction of its foundation. They actually tried to compensate for the lean by building slightly taller floors, however, it began to tilt the other direction. This project took centuries to complete and it was well worth the effort because it is truly a magnificent site.
St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) - Venice
St. Mark's Square is one of most beautiful sites in Italy. With its gorgeous Basilica, colossal bell tower, and the grandeur of Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Square will truly take your breath away. Here you can feed the pigeons that gather or just sit and listen to the music that seems to float through the square.
This great amphitheatre was started by the order of Vespasiano in 72 A.D., on the site of the Domus Aurea of Nero, and finished by his son Titus, eight years later. It was called Colosseum because of the gigantic statue of Nero that was erected nearby, with the help of 24 elephants.
Within the amphitheatre there were houses, shops, a cemetery, a church, a theatre, and a hospital. From the highest levels one has a beautiful panorama of Rome, especially of the Forum.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower is the bell tower of Pisa's Duomo. It leans due to the poor construction of its foundation. They actually tried to compensate for the lean by building slightly taller floors, however, it began to tilt the other direction. This project took centuries to complete and it was well worth the effort because it is truly a magnificent site.
St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) - Venice
St. Mark's Square is one of most beautiful sites in Italy. With its gorgeous Basilica, colossal bell tower, and the grandeur of Doge's Palace, St. Mark's Square will truly take your breath away. Here you can feed the pigeons that gather or just sit and listen to the music that seems to float through the square.
Grand Hotel Quisisana
Grand Hotel Quisisana, Capri's most prestigious luxury hotel, is located in the heart of town, just a few steps from the Piazzetta. Surrounded by its own enchanting garden, the property offers the most up-to-date conveniences and comforts while maintaining its classic style. Features to enjoy include an outdoor and indoor swimming pool, whirlpool bath, two tennis courts for day/night use, gymnasium, sauna, massage, Turkish bath, beauty parlor, bridge room.
Grand Hotel Quisisana, Capri's most prestigious luxury hotel, is located in the heart of town, just a few steps from the Piazzetta. Surrounded by its own enchanting garden, the property offers the most up-to-date conveniences and comforts while maintaining its classic style. Features to enjoy include an outdoor and indoor swimming pool, whirlpool bath, two tennis courts for day/night use, gymnasium, sauna, massage, Turkish bath, beauty parlor, bridge room.
The most famous dish of Italian cuisine, pasta, has more than 400 different varieties. There are also many different kinds of sauces, which are undisputed counterparts of pasta dishes. Each sauce, cream, tomato, cheese, meat or fish has a matching form of noodle. Pizza is also a very famous Italian dish that America has embraced. Most of the great Italian dishes come from peasant heritage and the common characteristic is that they can be prepared very quickly and economically.
Italian handicrafts are one of the fundamental characteristics of the Italian lifestyle. Hundreds of families continue the traditions passed down from previous generations, without any loss of quality. From the most delicate laces, glasses and papers of the Veneto to the hearty wines and leather goods of Tuscany, Italian handicrafts offer something for everyone.
Italian culture enjoyed a profound renewal with the conclusion of WWII and the return to freedom. There was a new vitality and a neo-Realism which prompted writers to look to their surroundings for inspiration. The innovators were Cesare Pavese and Elio Vittorini, "discoverers" of contemporary American literature which they subsequently developed into an original lyricism and autobiography, always based on the lessons of Realism.