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MONEY & ENTERTAINMENT
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Discover the World: Italy
Italy has many beautiful and historic cities worth a visit. Travel to cities is best done by train as driving in Italian cities may be very difficult and the extensive Italian train system is inexpensive. Most city centers are well-suited to walking and parts of the city centers may be closed to transportation. Large Italian cities generally have good public transportation, too. But what can you visit if you choose to visit Italy? Here are some of the most important sites which you must see if you travel to Italy.
Rome Rome is the capital of modern Italy. Rome is full of history everywhere you look. It has many ancient monuments, interesting medieval churches, beautiful fountains, museums, and Renaissance palaces. Modern Rome is a bustling and lively city and has some excellent restaurants and nightlife. The world famous profile of the Colosseum remains dramatic, but you need to tour inside for a revealing look into its history. The arena was designed to hold more than fifty thousand spectators while the lions and gladiators did their work. The area beneath the floor of the Colosseum is a complex of cells, holding areas and paths that were designed to allow animals, gladiators and human sacrifices access to the arena, all without mixing together. The ruins of the Forums mark the historical center of the city and contain the remnants of the seats of power of ancient Rome. Excavations continue as archaeologists labor to expose the area's long hidden secrets. There are numerous sites to examine, but the best include the Forum of Caesar, the Temple of Peace (Forum of Vespasian) and the Forum of Trajan (the best preserved of all of the forums). The ancient Romans worshipped various gods and goddesses and built imposing temples to honor those they particularly feared. Examples of the most important of these include the temples of Saturn, Castor and Pollux, and one commemorating the goddesses Venus and Roma. Some temples were named for emperors who were deified and the most important of these are the ruins of the Temples of Caesar and Vespasian. The Temple of the Pantheon is on of the true glories of ancient Rome. One of the best preserved sites in the city, the Pantheon is located where Agrippa had located an earlier tribute to the Roman Gods. I recommend a visit to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica as one of the highlights of a trip to Rome. The Vatican City is compact and the areas open to the public are relatively limited. A thorough tour of the Vatican Museums will take at least half a day. If you are interested in attending a general Papal audience, they are held in St. Peter's Square, the Paul VI Hall (Aula Nervi), or in Saint Peter's Basilica. During the summer, general audiences may be held Castel Gondolfo, the pope's summer residence (approximately thirty miles outside of Rome).
Venice Travel in Venice oozes romance and history. Canals, beautiful buildings, world famous landmarks - Venice is an experience unique in the world of travel. Whether taking a gondola down the Grand Canal or gazing at this romantic city's unique setting and architecture, Venice is a vision that you will never forget. If you get to Venice, make sure you visit Piazza San Marco, host to the most well-known attractions in tourist Venice. You can also visit St Mark’s Basilica, Campanile (the tallest structure in Venice), and Dodge’s Palace, also known as Palazzo Ducale (Ducal Palace.)
Florence Florence was the art center of western civilization. A list of past residents of the city represents the "Who's Who" of the Masters, including: Dante, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, among others. Culture seems to ooze from the frescoes and statues; perhaps that is why Florence and its museums tend to be incredibly attractive to tourists. The Piazza San Giovanni and the adjacent Piazza del Duomo provide famous sights, including the Baptistery, the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, the campanile known as Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Duomo itself (the Cattedrale di San Maria del Fiore). Florence also has several interesting museums with many famous paintings and sculptures. There are also Medici palaces and gardens. Florence is in Tuscany.
Turin
Milan La Scala is one of the world's most famous opera houses and you can find it in Milan. Milan is in northern Italy, about 30 miles south of the Alps, and near Lakes Como and Maggiore. If you get to Milan, be sure you visit Castello Sforzesco and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. These are the most important cities which you can visit if you choose to travel to Italy. Here are some very nice regions which you can visit in your trip.
Tuscany Tuscany is an attractive agricultural area, replete with vineyards, inviting small towns, and a lazy but appealing pace of life.
Umbria Predominately an agricultural area, Umbria is appealing from a variety of perspectives. Its attractions are interesting and several towns have noted architectural or artistic treasures, but you do not feel compelled to rush from here to there as you do in Florence, Venice or Rome.
Italy's Lake Country Sicily is an island of many splendors that relate to its rich but complex history. Situated as one of the main stepping stones between Europe and Africa, Sicily has been coveted by many civilizations for its strategic location and natural resources. Sicily is approximately the size of Maryland or about 1/9th the size of the island of Great Britain. And if you saw ‘Godfather’ and you liked it, Sicily is an ideal place to visit, as it is said that the Mafia still exists here. Wherever you choose to go in Italy, you will find a country with a rich history, welcoming people and beautiful landscapes.
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