By S. Herlihy
Italy is a densely populated country in southern
Europe. This small nation is jam-packed with cultural, religious and culinary sites of universal interest. There are many ways to see one of the world's most visited destinations. A week is ample time to see many places. You may choose to tour the country by train. You may want to take a cruise ship to various destinations. You may wish to get exercise, flex your muscles and see the land close up from the seat of a bike.
Rail Trips
Italy has a very well developed rail system. Nearly all Italian cities are connected to each other via Trenitalia, the national rail system. You can go from Venice in the north all the way to Brindisi in the far south in a day. A week should allow you to see at least two or three regions.
Start with a trip to Venice. Venice is connected by train to the mainland. Spend three days exploring Venice. Then take the train half an hour to Padua. Padua is one of Europe's oldest cities and home to a famous university. Spend two days exploring the back alleys. Get on the train again and visit Verona. Less than two hours will bring you to one of ancient Rome's favorite cities. Tour one of the best preserved coliseums where operas are still performed today. High-speed rail service can bring you back to Venice's airport for a flight home.
Cruise Ships
The Italian coastline is much admired. Visitors flock to see the tiny towns of the Cinque Terre, the terraces of Positano and the quaint island of Sicily. A cruise can be an ideal way to see many Italian sites. A cruise allows you to see many places without having to take transportation to get there or make hotel arrangements. Italy has two coastlines. A week can allow you to start with a visit to Genoa and then to the Cinque Terre. After that you might spend two days in Rome and then two more exploring the Amalfi Coast.
Ships dock at nearby ports. You can take shore excursions via small boat. Many popular cruise companies, such as Carnival and Costa cruises, have cruises along the Italian coastline.
By Bike
Biking is a very good way to get to know a region very closely. Italy is very suited for travel by bike. Distances between towns are often very easily traversed in less than hour. A bike can make better financial sense than a car. Narrow streets may make parking hard to find. Fees for gas and car rental can add up.
Tuscany is the area in central Italy surrounding Florence. Tuscany is very suited for bike travel. Begin in Florence. Florence is a very compact city. You can get around very quickly by bike. There are many places to safely leave your bike in the city. After Florence, bike 45 miles to the city of Lucca. Lucca is a charming city dating back to Medieval times and surrounded by a wall. There are numerous bike paths in the city. Spent two days there and then bike to Pisa. In addition to the famous leaning tower, Pisa is also home to many other attractions, including a thirteenth century church and adjacent museum about the church. The older parts of Pisa are easy to explore from behind a bicycle seat.
Resources
About the Author:
S. Herlihy has been a freelance writer since 2001. Her work has appeared in many publications, including "USA Today," "The Women’s Independent Press," "Big Apple Parent" and "ComputorEdge Magazine." Herlihy earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the City University of New York.
