The Best Ways to Tour Italy

Visit the Cinque Terre, where the rugged coastline and five villages (inaccessible to cars) are both national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Trains, ferries and walking trails connect the villages, offering breathtaking vistas and superb seafood. The Isle of Capri, with its famous Blue Grotto, and Sardinia, with its elegant Emerald Coast and wild interior, average 300 days of sunshine each year. In the north, Lake Garda is a glacial lake surrounded by mountains, castles and spas, and Val d'Aosta is a winter playground with some of the most dramatic alpine scenery in Europe.

All roads lead to Rome, the Eternal City, capital of the Roman Empire. The city's existence spans over 2500 years, and layers of history stand side by side on the famous 7 hills. In the Veneto region, Padua, Verona and Venice tell tales of the Venetian Republic, a major maritime power from the middle ages through the Renaissance and the starting place for Crusading knights. Glimpses of the competing city-states can be had throughout the medieval walled towns of Umbria and Tuscany. If you prefer even older civilizations, explore the Etruscan territories from the Po River valley in the north to Roma and Campagna in west-central Italy, and don't forget Pompeii, buried by an erupting Mount Vesuvious in 79 AD.

According to UNESCO, two thirds of the world's historical artistic heritage sites are in Italy. Practically all major styles of Western architecture can be found there. Florence, cradle of the Renaissance, is synonymous with Art and Architecture. Renaissance masterpieces abound in Pisa, Lucca, Carrara (famous for its marble), Perugia, and Venice. For neo-classical and romantic art, go to Rome, Naples and Milan. And don't forget the Venice Art Biennale, one of the most important contemporary international art events, held every two years.

No place on earth can match Italy for the sheer number and varied styles of churches, chapels, convents and monasteries. Designed and adorned by some of the world's most famous artists, they can be appreciated by art and history buffs, as well as Christian visitors. The Vatican City, seat of the Roman Catholic Church and Assisi, birthplace of St. Francis, are two of the most visited locales, followed closely by St. Mark's in Venice and the Duomo in Florence.

Milan, Venice, Naples and Verona are home to fantastic opera houses. Opera was born in Italy when Claudio Monteverdi wrote L'Orfeo in 1607, and no one does it better to this day. Throughout Italy, even the smallest towns have concert halls, and live music is available at reasonable prices. Some of the most famous music festivals take place annually in Spoleto, Verona, Florence, San Remo and Ravello.

Fashion is nearly a national passion, and if you share it, Milan is your top destination. This world capital of fashion and design rivals Paris and is home to the world's oldest shopping mall, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele designed in 1861. Eating well is definitely a national passion, and for local specialties, look for trattoria or osteria signs rather than the more formal ristoranti. Be sure to ask about local fare as each region has its own cuisine.