Holiday Locations - Italy

About Italy

Italy is located in Mediterranean Europe and has land frontiers with Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland and France. Being a peninsula, Italy has many beautiful coastal resorts and also boasts two mountain chains, the Alps and the Apennines. In total, Italy covers 116,303 square miles and has a population of just under 57 million. The capital city is Rome with a population of 2,775,000. The main religion in Italy is Roman Catholic and the main language spoken is Italian. In general, Italy has a temperate Mediterranean climate, with warm summers and cool winters in the north and hot summers and mild winters in the south.

Italy - Bella Italia, the Bel Paese - is a country of extremes, with something to offer every visitor: from snow-iced mountains to hot lazy Mediterranean beaches, from unspoilt hill villages to cities that have bustled for thousands of years. This website is designed to help you plan a holiday in Italy, or to research Italian vacation options.

Rome is the capital city of Italy and the country’s largest city, Rome, littered with relics of over 2000 years of history, exerts an enduring fascination over its countless visitors. The monuments of ancient times and the splendors of the Baroque are the backdrop to the hectic buzz of swarming scooters, bellowing motorists and animated street cafes.
The streets contain reminders of all the eras in Rome’s rich history – the Colosseum and the Forum are the most famous from the classical period and ancient basilicas bear witness to the early Christian era. The influence of the 17th century can be seen through the work of architects such as Bernini, Borromini and Maderno. Magnificent squares and flamboyant façades mask a wealth of painting and sculpture by some of the greatest High Renaissance and Baroque artists – Caracci, Caravaggio, Michelangelo and Raphael, to name but a few. Across the River Tiber is the Vatican City . Close by stands the circular hulk of Castel Sant’Angelo, burial place of Emperor Hadrian and the papal city’s main fortified defense in later times. Moving south, the district of Trastevere is the city’s alternative focus and is home to numerous bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

On the west bank of the Tiber, the Vatican City is an independent sovereign state, best known for the magnificent St Peter’s Basilica. The Basilica is approached through the 17th-century St Peter’s Square, a superb creation by Bernini, enclosed by two semi-circular colonnades, with an Egyptian obelisk in the center. To the right of St Peter’s stands the Vatican Palace, the Pope’s residence. Among the principal features of the Palace are the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum. The Vatican Gardens can be visited only by those on guided tours.

Venice (Venezia) stands upon a series of islands in a lagoon at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea, a position which gave it unique economic and defensive advantages over its trading rivals. Much of the wealth generated was, of course, invested in the construction of monuments to the glory of both God and the merchants, and Venice must be counted as one of the highlights of any tour of Italy. The city’s main monuments – St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace overlooking St Mark’s Square – have gained fame through innumerable paintings by such artists as Canaletto, but the whole city is in many ways a work of art. The city’s most important thoroughfare is the Grand Canal, lined with fine Gothic and Renaissance palazzi (buildings) and crossed by the bustling Ponte di Rialto (Rialto Bridge) and the wooden Ponte dell’Accademia (Academy Bridge). Nearby, the Galleria dell’Accademia displays hundreds of Venetian paintings dating from between the 14th and 18th centuries, while the Collezione Peggy Guggenheim exhibits international 20th-century art including works by Picasso, Giacometti and Ernst. Away from the main thoroughfares, Venice is characterized by narrow canals, small squares (often containing remarkable Gothic churches) and above all, since it contains no motor traffic, by serenity – the city’s ancient name was ‘La Serenissima’.
The Venetian islands of Burano (famous for lacemaking), Murano (famous for glassmaking) and Torcello (noted for the magnificent Byzantine Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta) can be visited by boat. The city is linked to Mestre, on the mainland, by a causeway which can be crossed by road or rail. Although there is a large car park in Venice, at the end of the causeway, it is easier and cheaper to park in Mestre and continue by train.

Valle d’Aosta is a ruggedly scenic region, sitting at the foot of Europe’s highest mountains – Cervino (Matterhorn), Gran Paradiso, Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa – bordering France and Switzerland, Valle d’Aosta is politically autonomous and to some extent culturally distinct from the rest of Italy; French is spoken as a first language by most of the inhabitants. The picturesque ruins of countless castles (some of which are open to the public, eg Fenis and Issogne) testify to the region’s immense strategic significance before the era of air travel, it being the gateway to two of the most important routes through the Alps, the Little and Great St Bernard Passes. However, the Mont Blanc Tunnel has largely superseded the St Bernard Passes as a major overland freight route. The Gran Paradiso National Park, home to wildlife including the chamois and ibex, is a popular destination for hillwalkers and climbers. There are several fine ski resorts in the area, most notably Breuil-Cervinia and Courmayeur. One of Italy’s few casinos is found at St Vincent.

Aosta is the principal city of Valle d’Aosta has many well-preserved Roman and Medieval buildings. The massive Roman city walls remain mostly intact and, within them, the old town retains the grid-iron street plan characteristic of all such military townships. An impressive gateway, the Porta Pretoria, formed the main entrance into the old Roman town. During the Middle Ages a noble family lived in the gatehouse tower, which now houses temporary exhibitions. Further ancient Roman sites include the Teatro Romano, where theatrical performances are still staged throughout summer, and the Arco di Augusto, erected in 25 BC to honor Emperor Augustus, after whom the city is named (Aosta being a corruption of Augustus).

Turin (Torino) is the largest city in the region and the fourth-largest in the country. Through the early years of the 20th century, it was the automobile capital of the world. It was here that the Futurists became so excited with the potential of mechanized transport that they declared Time dead – henceforth, they naďvely declared, everything would be measured in terms of speed alone. The city still remains the focus of Italy’s automobile industry. Fiat offer guided tours of their headquarters, where a full-scale test track may be found on the roof, while the Museo dell’Automobile (Automobile Museum), traces the history of the car on an international level. Turin does, of course, add up to far more than an infatuation with motor cars. The inhabitants boast that, with its broad, tree-lined avenues flanked by tall, handsome townhouses, it is La Parigi d’Italia (the Italian Paris). Uptown Turin is centered on the main shopping street, Via Roma, which links the city’s favorite square, the Piazza San Carlo, with its most dramatic building, the Baroque Palazzo Madama, which houses the Museum of Ancient Art, one of several nationally important museums in the city, and the Egyptian Museum, the second-largest in the world after Cairo. The famous Turin Shroud may be viewed in the 15th-century white marble Cathedral.

The great northern lakes lie in a series of long, deep valleys running down onto the plains from the Alps. Lake Como is perhaps the most attractive, Lake Maggiore the most elegant (and populous) and Lake Garda the wildest and most spectacular. On the south shore of Lake Garda lies the peninsula of Sirmione, renowned for its mild, Mediterranean climate, its beautiful countryside and the Caves of Catullo, an archaeological site of a former Roman villa situated on the tip of the peninsula. The Sirmione Spa, the largest privately owned thermal treatment center in Italy, whose sulphurous waters originate from the depths of Lake Garda, has long been one of Sirmione’s main attractions. There is plenty of accommodation available as well as frequent boat services to other lakeside towns and villages.

Lombardy is a prosperous region with fertile soil, a temperate climate and, for the tourist, the spectacular lakes of Como, Garda, Maggiore (shared with Piedmont) and Lugano. As in Piedmont, the Po Valley is the site of much heavy industry. High mountains in the north, marking Italy’s frontier with Switzerland, provide excellent skiing and climbing. Lombardy’s most famous culinary inventions are minestrone soup and osso buco – literally, ox knuckles.

Italy’s most sophisticated city, Milan (Milano) is a financial and commercial center of world importance and a rival to Paris in the spheres of modern art and fashion. Its international character is marked by a concentration of skyscrapers found nowhere else in Italy, contrasting and competing with the landmarks of historic Milan, but built in the same boastful spirit of civic pride that, 500 years ago, gave the city its splendid Gothic Duomo (Cathedral). Even today, this is one of the world’s largest churches, yet despite its size, it creates an impression of delicate and ethereal beauty due to its pale color and the fine intricate carving that covers its exterior. The whole fabric of the city – its many palaces, piazzas and churches – speaks of centuries of continuous prosperity. The Castello Sforzesco, in the west of the city, is a massive fortified castle, which now houses a number of museums. The Pinacoteca di Brera displays some of the city’s most valuable artistic treasures, while the Museo Poldi-Pezzoli houses a private collection of paintings, ancient jewelry and Persian carpets. Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper, may be viewed at the convent of Santa Maria della Grazie. The Teatro della Scala (Scala Theater) remains the undisputed world capital of opera and is well worth viewing for its magnificent opulence.

just south of Milan, the town of Pavia is home to several interesting churches and the 14th-century Castello, housing an art gallery, archaeology museum and sculpture museum.
The Certosa di Pavia, 10km (6 miles) outside of town, is a monastery famous for its lavish design. Originating as the family mausoleum of the Visconti family, it later became the dwelling of a Carthusian order of monks sworn to deep contemplation and silence. However, a chosen few are allowed to give visitors a guided tour and tell the story behind their palatial surroundings.

Verona, in the Veneto, is one of Italy's loveliest towns. A thriving town in its own right, it's also an appealing tourist destination for weekend breaks. It's rich in archeological sites and has a beautiful medieval centre. The Roman Arena, where concerts and operas are performed in the summer, is the city's grandest sight (original capacity 20,000), but the so-called 'Juliet's balcony' is also a principal port on the Shakespearian tourist trail. You can spend a long time exploring the narrow streets lined with palazzi that make up the historic centre (there's also a mini-train tour if you're feeling lazy). Some of the churches contain fine works of art, while the ruined Teatro Romano over the river has excellent views from the terraces where the ancients watched plays. If you're planning a longer stay, or want to see more of Italy, Verona is usefully located for Venice or for the lovely Lake Garda. It's easy to travel by public transport from the lake to Verona (bus or train), so combining the two destinations makes an interestingly varied holiday.

Sorrento is situated on a plain above the sea, overlooking the Bay of Naples. The view from Sorrento stretches back to the north, encompassing Vesuvius, the city of Naples, and the island of Ischia. The town is exceedingly popular with tourists, particularly the British - indeed, English appears at times to be Sorrento's first language. It has a pretty old town, a harbour with ferry departures to Capri, Amalfi and Naples, and is within easy reach of the Amalfi Coast, Pompei, Herculaneum and the city of Naples. There is some good walking in the peninsula, and plenty of restaurants and bars for the less energetic.

Bergamo nestled at the foot of the Bergamese Alps, Bergamo is made up of two cities – the old and once Venetian-ruled Upper Bergamo (Bergamo Alta) and the modern Lower Bergamo (Bergamo Bassa). The old city is well appreciated for its ancient Venetian fortifications, palaces, towers and churches, including the 12th-century Palazzo della Ragione, the Torre del Comune, the Cathedral, the Colleoni Chapel and the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The modern city’s main attraction is the Accademia Carrara, one of Italy’s largest art collections, with paintings by Bellini, Botticelli, Canaletto, Carpaccio, Lotto and Mantegna, amongst others. The two cities are connected by a funicular railway.

Liguria is a region of 320km (200 miles) of rocky, wooded coastline running from France to Tuscany, where the Italian ‘boot’ begins. This is the Riviera, Italy’s answer to the Côte d’Azur, and there are ample facilities for tourists even in the smallest of ports. The coastal hills are less developed.

Genoa (Genova), capital of Liguria, has long been an important commercial and military port. Ferries depart daily from the port for Sardinia. The Medieval district of the city holds many treasures, such as the Church of Sant’Agostino (next to the Museo dell’Architettura e Scultura Ligure), the beautiful Church of San Donato, the 12th-century Church of Santa Maria di Castello, the Gothic Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the Porta Soprana (the old stone entrance gate to the city). Outside the Medieval district, Via Garibaldi, where many of the city’s richest inhabitants built their palaces, is a beautiful walk, with Palazzo Bianco (now an art gallery with paintings by Rubens and Van Dyck), Palazzo Podesta and the magnificently decorated Palazzo Rosso (adjacent to Palazzo Bianco and housing paintings by Caravaggio, Dürer and Titian). The Acquario (Aquarium) presents underwater ocean life, with 1000 species housed in 50 vast tanks, making it the largest center of its kind in Europe.

Cremona is the birthplace of the Stradivarius violin is a charming haven of historic architecture. A walk around the Medieval Piazza del Comune offers various architectural treats: the Torazzo, one of Italy’s tallest Medieval towers; the Cathedral, with its magnificent astronomical clock; and the Loggia dei Militia, the former headquarters of the town’s Medieval army. There are also two interesting museums: the Museo Stradivariano, housing a wealth of Stradivarius musical instruments, and the Museo Civico, displaying mosaics and relics from the Romanesque period.

Bologna is one of the oldest cities in Italy and the site of Europe’s oldest university. Often overlooked as a tourist destination, it nevertheless possesses a distinctive charm, due largely to the imaginative use of brickwork. A total 45km (28 miles) of arcades flank many of the streets, and a 3.6km- (2.3 mile-) stretch leads all the way out of town to the hilltop Basilica di San Luca. The main square, Piazza Maggiore, is dominated by the huge Gothic Church of San Petronio, while on Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, the Torre degli Asinelli and the leaning Torre Garisenda are the only survivors of numerous towers that were built across the city in Medieval times.

Tuscany is a fertile region lies between the northern Appennines and the Mediterranean Sea. The landscape of Tuscany is, typically, one of vine-covered hills, cypress woods, fields of sunflowers and remote hilltop villages. Chianti, the best-known Italian wine, is made in the area north of Siena, and several wine cellars are open to the public. There are a number of volcanic spas, most notably Monsummano Terme and Montecatini Terme. Regarding the coast, the Versalia, to the north, offers a 30km- (18-mile) stretch of organized bathing establishments, while the beaches to the south are less exploited.

The principal Tuscan city, Florence (Firenze) is the world’s most celebrated storehouse of Renaissance art and architecture. Set on the banks of the Arno below the wooded foothills of the Appennines, this beautiful city has long been the focus of Italian arts and letters. Alberti, Boccaccio, Botticelli, Brunelleschi, Dante, Donatello, Fra Angelico, Giotto, Leonardo da Vinci, Masaccio, Michelangelo, Petrarch and Vasari are among the many associated with establishing the pre-eminence of the city. Brunelleschi’s revolutionary design for the dome of the Duomo (Cathedral) is generally accepted as the first expression of Renaissance ideas in architecture. This dome still dominates the city’s roofscape, just as the great Piazza del Duomo at its feet dominates life at street level. The square is ringed with cafés and is a popular meeting point. Between there and the river are many of the best-loved palazzi (palaces), whilst close by to the north are the churches of San Lorenzo and Santa Maria Novella. The shop-lined Ponte Vecchio bridge scans the river to arrive at Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. Just along from the bridge, at via Maggio, is the St Marks English Church, built in 1881. Here, visitors can find a portion of wall stencilling by G.F. Bodley (1827-1907), the famous Victorian Neo-Gothic architect and designer, pupil of Sir Gilbert Scott. The Uffizi Gallery houses one of the world’s most celebrated art collections including masterpieces such as Botticelli’s Birth Of Venus, Caravaggio’s Young Bacchus, Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation, Michelangelo’s Holy Family and Titian’s Urbino Venus. Some of the country’s most important sculptures are found within the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, notably works by Michelangelo and Donatello. Michelangelo’s famous statue of David may be viewed at the Accademia di Belle Arti near the University.

The third-largest Italian city, Naples is famous as the place where pizza was invented. Set on the Bay of Naples and overshadowed by Mount Vesuvius, the city occupies one of the most beautiful natural settings of any city in Europe. Frequently criticized for urban decay and delinquency, it is a city where splendid churches and palaces stand aside squalid tenement blocks, and where street markets sell high-quality food produce, plus counterfeit designer goods. Notable monuments include the 17th-century Palazzo Reale, built by the Bourbons, the massive stone Castel Nuovo, overlooking the sea, and the San Carlo Opera House. The impressive Museo Archeologico Nazionale houses an excellent collection of Greco-Roman artifacts, including mosaics from Pompeii and Herculaneum. The Museo di Capodimonte displays porcelain and majolica pieces, plus paintings by Dutch, Italian and Spanish masters.

Mantua (Mantova) is the birthplace of a number of renowned Italians, ranging from Virgil (a statue of whom overlooks the square facing the Broletto, the Medieval town hall) to Tazio Nuvolari, one of Italy’s most famous racing drivers (a small museum pays tribute to his accomplishments). Its churches, Sant’Andrea (designed by Alberti and the burial place of Mantua’s famous court painter, Mantegna) and the Baroque Cathedral in the Piazza Sordello are both important works of architecture. However, the most famous sites of Mantua are its two palaces: the Palazzo Ducale and the Palazzo del Te. The Palazzo Ducale, once the largest in Europe, was the home of the Gonzaga family, and has a number of impressive paintings by artists such as Mantegna and Rubens. The Palazzo del Te was built as a Renaissance pleasure palace for Frederico Gonzaga (known as a playboy) and his mistress, Isabella. The decorations by Giulio Romano are outstanding and well worth viewing.

Trentino & Alto Aldige is a wholly mountainous regions on the Swiss border straddle the valley of the River Isarco, which flows from the Brenner Pass, into the River Adige and thence into the Mediterranean. Germanic and Italian cultures blend here to the extent that, towards the north, German is increasingly found as the first language. The Dolomites to the east are a range of distinctively craggy mountains, isolated to such an extent from both Italy and Switzerland that, in the more remote valleys, the inhabitants speak Ladin, an ancient Romance language not much different from Latin. The area is traversed by clearly marked mountain paths and served by numerous hostels, making it ideal for hiking and climbing.

Italian Food

One of the greatest prides of the Italians is their food. The major meal in Italy is eaten in the middle of the day. Large meals always consist of many courses. The Italians may have a pasta course followed by a course of fish or meat. The Italians sometimes have a course called antipasto, which is Italian for appetizers, before they eat their pasta course. The antipasto course may contain a large variety of vegetables and cold meats like prosciutto, which is a ham with spices on it. The antipasto may also consist of salami, olives, and artichoke hearts.

The foods of Italy are greatly varied, depending on which region you are in. For example, ribbon-shaped pastas are the most popular in the northern region of Italy. In the southern region of Italy, macaroni with tomato sauce is the most popular and favorite pasta. Risotto, which means rice dish with vegetables, is a first course, as well. Pizza is also a popular food in Italy. Wine is served with every meal other than breakfast.

Italians also have desserts after a meal. Fresh fruit is often a dessert. Cakes are most likely the most popular dessert. Cakes include spumoni cake, which is all ice-cream, tiramisu cake, rum cake, cannoli cake, and cheesecake.

Italy Land Marks

The Pantheon, Rome - The Pantheon is one of the greatest of all Rome's sights and is Italy Heaven's personal favourite. One of the most beautiful and evocative buildings in the world, it has stood through centuries of change. The interior is simply breathtaking and awe-inspiring, exuding a sense of peace and an air of calm, despite the tourists flocking in and out through the great doorway. For nearly two thousand years this building has stood in this spot, while around it battles have been fought and lost, carts and litters have given way to cars and scooters. It's fascinating to stand in this oasis of calm, and to reflect on the changes that have taken place in the noisy city outside. Whatever else has changed, the Pantheon is one sight that would be thoroughly familiar to an ancient Roman transported into the twenty-first century. Nowadays the Pantheon is still a consecrated church and used for occasional services, concerts and poetry readings. It's free to enter, and is usually open during daylight hours. Outside, in Piazza della Rotunda, as well as a fountain sporting one of Rome's trophy obelisks, there are several restaurants and bars (not cheap, but worth it for the view) and even a Macdonalds. The bus and tram stops of Largo Argentina are a couple of minutes walk away, Spagna metro station is about fifteen minutes on foot. The Pantheon is in the heart of the Centro Storico, and fits in well to a scenic walk.

The Colosseum, Rome - The Colosseum is without a doubt the most famous of Rome's many sights. You'll probably never forget your first glimpse of the Colosseum (Colosseo), one of the world's most famous buildings. As you get to know Rome, the huge arena may slide down your list of Rome priorities, but its initial impact is overwhelming. The building, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, received its more common name from a giant statue, or colossus, of Nero, which stood close to the spot. Designed to replace the excesses of Nero's unpopular Domus Aurea (or Golden House), the Colosseum was begun by Vespasian and inaugurated after his death in 79AD by his son Titus. Up to 50,000 spectators enjoyed immense gladiatorial shows of death and violence. They entered through numbered arches - the Roman numerals above the entrances are still visible in places. Later the Colosseum was denuded by popes who wanted to use its marble elsewhere; it was also damaged by an earthquake. The Colosseum is located at the foot of Mussolini's Via dei Fori Imperiali; from Piazza Venezia head past the Roman Forum. Colosseo Metro station (Linea B) is right opposite. The Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum are next to the Colosseum, as is the Arch of Constantine, cobbled together from earlier monuments. The Circus Maximus is a short walk away; the Baths of Caracalla are a little further.

Piazza di Spagna or the Spanish Steps - A series of steps with Trinita' dei Monti church on top and Fontana della Barcaccia fountain at the bottom, this piazza is popular with tourists and local vendors, especially in the summer.

Leaning Tower of Pisa - The Cathedral's bell tower is the Leaning Tower of Pisa located in Pisa, Italy. The building of the Leaning Tower of Pisa started in August, 1173. The construction lasted for 2 centuries. It was believed in the past that the shape of the Tower of Pisa was planned all along, since the start of the construction. Today, we know that that is not the truth.

The Tower of Pisa was planned to be straight, but it began to lean in the middle of construction. Because of the shape and the beauty of the Tower of Pisa, from 1173 to today, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the center of special attention and attraction from sightseers. During the building of the Tower of Pisa, people tried to stop the Tower from leaning using different devices. The Tower leans because the soil underneath cannot support it. Certain construction things are done to prevent the Tower from falling over. This way, the Tower of Pisa will stay standing for a long time so many more people from around the world can visit it.

The Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica - The Vatican City includes the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, Vatican gardens, St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square. Find more information about visiting the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.

Fontana di Trevi - A legend says that whoever throws a coin into this fountain will return to Rome. Fontana di Trevi was built in 1700s and is a popular tourist spot.

Villa Celimontana - Villa Celimontana is one of Rome's loveliest, and most hidden, public gardens.This piece of land on the Celio (Caelian) hill, previously a vineyard, was acquired by the Mattei family in the sixteenth century and converted into gardens and a building that was to be used for entertaining and for housing the family's collections of art and antiquities. Peaceful, safe and beautiful, the park is an oasis of greenery and birdsong in chaotic Rome. Pieces of ancient carved marble (part of the Mattei family's collection) litter the pathways. There's a small concealed obelisk, a couple of fountains, and a fishpond to fascinate children. It's a lovely spot for a picnic, and makes a good break from sightseeing duties - although you may find it hard to get up and leave. The park is a favourite location on the endless Italian wedding photo-shoot circuit, and on summer days you'll often come across bride and groom on posing duties.

Teatro di Marcello, Rome - The Teatro di Marcello, or Theatre of Marcellus, is a structure which illustrates the last two thousand years of Roman history. The theatre was begun by Julius Caesar, but finished by Augustus, the first of Rome's emperors, who claimed that he had found Rome in clay and left it in marble. He dedicated the theatre to his favourite nephew Marcellus. Instead of inheriting Augustus's empire, Marcellus died young and was the first to be laid in Augustus's mausoleum. Today when you look at the Teatro di Marcello, you can see the high arches of the ancient theatre, medieval fortified walls and the more elegant additions of Baldassare Peruzzi, who undertook the conversion to a Renaissance palazzo. The theatre is on Via del Teatro di Marcello, downhill from the Capitol, on the way to the Mouth of Truth.


Roman Houses, the Celio - On the Celio hill, the Roman Houses (Case Romane) have recently been restored and re-opened to the public, along with a room displaying archaeological finds. Traditionally the church of SS Giovanni e Paolo stands on the site of the dwelling of the two saints, John and Paul, who were Roman military officers put to death for their Christian faith. Later the property is believed to have belonged to a Christian senator called Pammachius, who converted his home into a church.In the nineteenth century, an enterprising monk excavated underneath the church, and found a series of decorated rooms dating back to the third century. Archaeological investigations have assigned various dates to the remains here; which belong to different stages of the site's development. Once a number of humbler dwellings and shops stood here, before the buildings were incorporated into a more sumptuous villa, whose frescoed walls can still be seen.

The Italian Lakes - The most famous Italian Lakes are in the Italian Lake District, in the north of the country not far from the Alps. The name 'Italian Lake District' is evocative of the area's poetic and literary connections. Beloved of the romantic poets as well as later writers, statesmen and royalty, the northern Italian lakes are beautiful and atmospheric, where mountains descend to meet the lakeshore, and stately grand hotels dominate pretty lakeside towns. Lake Garda, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore are particularly famous and have been popular for centuries with English, American, German and other international tourists. Several firms organise package holidays in the Italian Lakes, but in these days of budget flights you may well benefit from saving money and exercising more hotel choice if you book your own holiday. Milan Bergamo Airport, Brescia and Verona are all good jumping-off airports for holidays in the lake district, and the towns on the lakes are all well-connected so travel is easy.

To many, the northern lakes are the 'Italian Lakes', but in fact they are not the only attractive enclosed expanses of water in the Italian peninsula. Lakes don't come much more dramatic than Lakes Garda and Como, but further south in rather tamer surroundings the independent traveller may find some placid gems.

Castel Sant'Angelo - For the first-time visitor, Castel Sant'Angelo is one of Rome's finest sights. It also has a history more varied and interesting than most of the city's other monuments, and it's well worth getting to know it better. The building was originally constructed by the Emperor Hadrian between 123 and 139AD to serve as his mausoleum.

Like the earlier Mausoleum of Augustus, the cylindrical tomb would have been topped with statues: a grand reminder of the emperor and his dynasty. Inside you can still walk up the wide spiral passage designed for the ascent of the funeral cortege. As well as the glorious frescoes, the papal apartments often house temporary exhibitions. Spend some time wandering to make sure you don't miss anything - such as the small but prettily-decorated bathroom of Pope Clement VII. There are fine views over Rome from the terraces around the upper level, and even a small cafe where you can sit and admire the panorama. The best views of all are from the large terrace beneath the building's crowning statue. Tosca threw herself off this terrace in Puccini's opera. In the summer there are sometimes special evening events held here, which have in the past included medieval warfare displays and folk music recitals, as well as a bar on the highest terrace.

Castel Sant'Angelo is located on the banks of the Tiber in the heart of Rome. It's close to the Vatican, and the same bus services serve both destinations (including the 40 express from Stazione Termini).

Acquario Romano - This rather grand building was designed as Rome's aquarium (and its name is still the Acquario Romano, Roman Aquarium). Located close to Stazione Termini, the building is now used for exhibitions. The only fish and other sea creatures left are those painted and carved on the walls of the building. It's an interesting setting, and the exhibitions within can be worth a visit if you're in the area.

Opened in May 1887, the aquarium building was designed by architect Ettore Bernich. A large circular gallery under central the dome provides a light-filled space for looking at exhibits, and an internal gallery offers more viewing options.

In the garden you can see some Roman ruins which have been exposed. These are remains of the Servian Wall, which was built to circle the city in around the fourth century BC. Other parts ofthe wall can be seen nearby at Stazione Termini. The Acquario Romano is located in Piazza Manfredo Fanti, on Via Principe Amadeo (and is generally closed at lunchtimes). Ring the bell by the gateway for admittance.

Italy Arts & Museums

Museo di Roma, Palazzo Braschi - Palazzo Braschi is a lavish palazzo overlooking Piazza Navona, which is now home to the Museum of Rome.The Museo di Roma has a vast collection dedicated to the history of the city from the Middle Ages to the early twentieth century. Only part of this assortment of drawings, paintings, sculptures, frescoes, costumes etc. is on display at any one time. There is an eclectic feel to the display, which is rather like a book whose text is missing, leaving only the illustrations. From busts of popes to paintings of peasants, the different human experiences of Rome are illustrated through the stately rooms of Palazzo Braschi.

One of the oddest exhibits is a sequence of portraits (1667-1669) of a young scion of the Rospigliosi family (Pietro Banchieri), obviously the apple of his aristocratic family's eye, dressed up in a range of costumes: a dancer, Cupid, a Swiss Guard and even a lady. There is more than a trace of a fed-up expression on the poor boy's face. Some of the most interesting exhibits are the large scenic paintings of Rome, showing grand events. The artists have carefully included hundreds of small details of the crowd: the nobles in their carriages, the cardinals in all their finery, the youths who may be about to pick the pocket of a distracted gentleman. Palazzo Braschi itself is a solid and elegant palace dating to the eighteenth century, with a grand staircase boasting red granite columns once belonging to Caligula. The building's original frescoes can still be seen in many of the rooms of the museum.

Uffizi Gallery - Florence - Uffizi Gallery includes paintings by Giotto, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raffaello, Tiziano, Tintoretto, Rubens, Caravaggio, Rembrandt and other famous painters. Find out more about visiting the Uffizi in Florence.

Museo della Civiltŕ Romana, Rome - Projected by Mussolini as part of his grand exhibition, now the suburb of EUR, this museum uses replicas and models to create a history of Rome.If it weren't for space restrictions in the city, this museum would be an ideal visitor centre to the Roman Forum. As it is, the trip to EUR, although fascinating, deters short-stay tourists and means they miss out on a helpful and interesting account of the development of Rome.

In a grand purpose-built palazzo, the Museo della Civiltŕ Romana (Museum of Roman Civilisation) tells the story of Rome: from a collection of huts on the seven hills, to a huge city of temples and palaces. Models of the city and monuments at different stages of history help to give a good idea of Rome as it was; more than you can get from surveying ruins and fragments. Replicas of the most important artefacts and monuments (such as the carvings from Trajan's column), are chronologically-arranged, although a lack of background knowledge may make you feel as though you are reading an illustrated history book minus the text.

Italian Theme Parks & Zoos

Rome Zoo - Bioparco - Rome's Zoo is located in the Villa Borghese park area, on Viale del Giardino Zoologico. It's close to the route of trams number 3 and 19. Alternatively you can walk across the park from the Spanish Steps or Piazza del Popolo (Spagna and Flaminio on Metro Linea A). The zoo provides a nice alternative activity for tourists, and entertainment for children who may be bored of static sights. There are plenty of shady spots to sit and rest, complete with drinking water fountains and picnic benches. There's a small cafe by the zoo entrance, and up on the rooftop there is an expensive restaurant (open in the daytime and evenings) with a fine view over the giraffes.