Italy Travel Guide

Since classical times Italy has been the seat of Italy Travel Guide Flagcivilization in the Western World, so it is fitting that Europe was brought out of the Dark Ages when the Renaissance started in Italy. The most interesting thing is that after the Roman Empire fell Italy was divided into many powerful city states and did not unify into a country until 1861, which was very late by European standards.

Italy Travel Guide - Venice CanalMy Visit

Back in 2014 my college roommate, who is a doctor for the military, got stationed an hour north of Venice. When I visited him and his family I also took the train into Venice for three consecutive day of exploring. After a week with them I toured northern Italy spending time in San Marino, Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terre, Genoa, and Milan.

In 2017 I returned and visted Rome and Vatician City for four days. I spend a day and a half exploring the Vatician and two and a half in Rome itself with half that time around the Colosseum, where most buildings are from the Republic and Empire time. This area is southwest of the Termini Rail Station. The rest of the time I spent in the part of Rome built during the medieval and renaissance period.

Helpful Info
Population – 60,500,000
Money – Euro (as of Sept 2018 US$1 = €0.85; current rate available at XE.com)
Language – Italian
Religion – 74.5% Catholic and 22.5% non-religious
When to go – Anytime but July & Aug can be busy
World Heritage Sites – 54 – Agrigento, Alberobello, Aquileia, Assisi, Caserta, Castel del Monte, Cerveteri & Tarquinia, Cinque Terre, Costiera Amalfitana, Crespi d’Adda, Dolomites, Ferrara, Florence, Forests of Carpathians, Genoa, Isole Eolie, Ivrea, Longobards, Mantua & Sabbioneta, Matera, Medici Villas, Modena, Monte San Giorgio, Mount Etna, Naples, Padua, Palermo, Piedmont & Lombardy, Piedmont vineyards, Pienza, Pile dwellings, Pisa, Pompei, Ravenna, Rhaetian Railway, Rome, San Gimignano, Savoy, Siena, Su Nuraxi di Barumini, Syracuse, The Last Supper, Urbino, Val d’Orcia, Val di Noto, Valcamonica, Vallo di Diano NP, Venetian defensive works, Venice, Verona, Vicenza, Villa Adriana, Villa d’Este, Villa Romana del Casale
Country formed – Unified in 1861

Likes, Dislikes, and RecommendationsItaly Travel Guide - Leaning Tower of Pisa

I feel like three days in Venice was enough time to see almost everything, but I would love to go back and actually stay in the city over night. Given that Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance, you could spend as much time as you like here and not run out of things to see. Pisa on the other hand, is not worth really exploring outside of the Leaning Tower and related church, so you Italy Travel Guide - Duromo in Florenceonly really need six hours or so. It is pricy, but I recommend climbing the tower since the lean will really throw you off as you climb. Cinque Terre is a hiking paradise and spending a day here was great, but you could do a few days and stay in the little hamlets also. If you are going to Milan, make sure you get your tickets online to see the Last Supper two weeks ahead of time.

Let me just tell you, I loved Rome!!!!! Everywhere you look you will find beautifully built old churches filled with masterpieces of art. It really is the City of Fountains and around every corner you will find a plaza, fountain, or sculpture. There really is no bad way to spend your time in Rome, but if you read the blogs I wrote you can see my itenerary. I really feel like I got the most out of my time here and would recommend using the blogs as your Italy Travel Guide.

Below you can get even more helpful hints by watching the travel videos I made for Italy. Also, you can read my blog posts located below the video.

All Blogs From Italy

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