MAJOR ATTRACTIONS & DESTINATIONS IN ITALY

NORTHERN ITALY

ORTO BOTANICO DI PADOVA  The Orto Botanico di Padova is

a botanical garden in Padua, in the northeastern part of Italy.

Founded in 1545 by the Venetian Republic, it is the world's oldest academic botanical garden that is still in its original location.

The garden, affiliated with the University of Padua, currently covers roughly 22,000 square meters, and is known for its special collections and historical design.

The Botanical Garden of Padua is the original of all botanical gardens throughout the world, and represents the birth of science, of scientific exchanges, and understanding of the relationship between nature and culture.

It has made a profound contribution to the development of many modern scientific disciplines, notably botany, medicine, chemistry, ecology and pharmacy

UNESCO

VINEYARD LANDSCAPE OF PIEDMONT

Vineyard Landscape of Piedmont: Langhe-Roero and Monferrato is the official name of a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising "five distinct wine-growing areas with outstanding landscapes" plus the Castle of Grinzane Cavour in the region of Piedmont, Italy.

The site, which extends over hilly areas of Langhe and Montferrat, is one of the most important wine producing zones in Italy.

Located in the center of Piedmont region (North West of Italy).

The site is inscribed as a "cultural landscape", since it is a result of the combined work of nature and man.

BOLOGNA

Bologna is a historical city, with around 380,000 inhabitants. Called “La Rossa” for its red brick buildings and tile roofs. Bologna is the capital and largest city in Northern Italy’s Emilia-

Romagna region. It’s also an architecture lover’s dream. Although Bologna is best

known for its medieval towers and extensive porticoes, thanks to extensive restoration,

Bologna’s architecture includes Etruscan and Roman structures as well.

Founded in 1088, the University of Bologna also demands a visit. It’s the world’s oldest institution of higher learning and still enrolls thousands of students each year.

No trip to Bologna is complete without a visit to Piazza Maggiore where the still-unfinished façade of the Basilica of San Petronio makes its beautiful interiors appear all the more remarkable.

GRAN PARADISO NATIONAL PARK One of Europe’s largest and best

preserved wilderness areas. Gran Paradiso National Park is

named for Italy’s highest peak, Gran Paradiso, the only mountain

in the Alps that lies entirely within the country’s boundaries.

The area was designated Italy’s first national park in 1920, in part to protect the dwindling population of ibex, a mountain goat best known for horns that can grow up to 3 feet long.

The park is a hiker’s paradise in late spring and summer when the flowers are in bloom.

It’s a great holiday destination for cross-country skiing and snowshoe hikes during the winter.

BERGAMO Nestled against the foothills of the

towering Bergamese Alps, Bergamo is comprised of two

distinct cities. The Città Alta, or upper city, is a

medieval town surrounded by 16th-century walls.

The lower section known as Città Bassa is a relatively modern city.

Most visitors head straight to the old town to explore the beautifully preserved Medieval and Renaissance architecture and picturesque piazzas, including the ornate Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, the final resting place of the composer Gaetano Donizetti.

With its extensive collection of paintings by Raphael, Botticelli and Canaletto, the Accademia Carrara is a can’t-miss attraction too.

VERONA Best known as the setting for

Shakespeare’s play “Romeo and Juliet,”.

Verona is a picturesque city filled with Roman ruins, Renaissance palaces and medieval buildings.

Located between Milan and Venice.

Verona offers visitors the chance to enjoy all of the charms of an ancient Italian city without constantly battling crowds.

Although the first stop for many visitors is “Juliet’s House” with its recently added balcony.

GENOA Genoa nevertheless is one of

Italy’s true hidden gems. As the capital city of the Liguria

region on the northwest coast of Italy, Genoa is most associated as the birthplace of Christopher Columbus.

The city’s shining crown is its historic center, which features narrow, winding streets that reveal surprising gems at every turn like marvelous architecture and artistic treasures.

At the base of the city center is the historic seaport. Docked with cruise liners, yachts and fishing boats,

Genoa’s seaport today sports a trendy renovation of new features such as a bustling marina, waterfront bars and the Aquarium of Genoa

PORTOFINO With its picture-perfect harbor,

verdant scenery and haphazard rows of hilltop and waterfront homes, Portofino is one of the prettiest towns on the Italian Riviera.

Located just a short drive south of Genoa, the little village has been a popular day-trip destination for centuries.

It’s a favorite stopping point for cruises along the Italian Riviera too, and the cluster of yachts floating in the harbor only adds to Portofino’s visual appeal.

Short climbs up the hillside to the medieval Castello Brown, the historic Church of San Giorgio or the lighthouse at Punta Portofino offer photographic views of the charming city.

LAKE GARDA The largest of the glacial lakes of the

Lombardy province, Lake Garda is bordered by Alpine peaks to the north and flat plains to the south.

Gardens, orchards and forests rim the shore, providing a scenic backdrop for visitors seeking rest and recreation.

The southernmost town of Sirmione features natural hot springs, a small castle and the Grotte di Catullo, the largest collection of Roman ruins in Northern Italy.

On the northern shore of lake lies Riva del Garda, which is the destination of choice for visitors interested in outdoor activities, including sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and swimming.

MILAN CATHEDRAL Milan Cathedral (Italian: Duomo di

Milano) is the cathedral church of Milan in Lombardy, northern Italy. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, currently Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi.

The Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete. It is the 5th-largest church in the world and the second largest in Italy

It is 157 metres long and 40,000 people can fit comfortably within.

Construction of the Cathedral in Milan, in Gothic style, started in 1386 by the archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo, on the site of the former cathedral Santa Maria Maggiore.

In 1572 Saint Carlo Borromeo reconsecrated the church. The main spire, built in 1769, is 109 meters high and has on top a golden laminated statue of the Madonna.

The main construction of the cathedral including the west facade were finished in 1813. The cathedral has a nave with five aisles and contains around 3400 statues.

MANAROLA (CINQUE TERRE) Mestled in the Italian Riviera,

Manarola is one of the oldest towns in Cinque Terre.

The “Five Lands” comprises of five villages noted for their beauty.

Part of Cinque Terre charm is the lack of visible modern development.

Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach it from the outside.

The towns sprout out of the mountainside to provide a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean sea.

ST MARK'S BASILICA

The Patriarchal Cathedral Basilica of Saint Mark (officially known in Italian as the Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco and commonly known as Saint Mark's Basilica) is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, northern Italy.

It is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture.

It lies at the eastern end of the Piazza San Marco, adjacent and connected to the Doge's Palace.

Originally it was the chapel of the Doge, and has only been the city's cathedral since 1807, when it became the seat of the Patriarch of Venice, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice, formerly at San Pietro di Castello.

For its opulent design, gold ground mosaics, and its status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power, from the 11th century on the building has been known by the nickname Chiesa d'Oro (Church of gold).

GRAND CANAL The Grand Canal  is a canal in

Venice, Italy. It forms one of the major water-

traffic corridors in the city. Public transport is provided by water buses and private water taxis, and many tourists explore the canal by gondola.

One end of the canal leads into the lagoon near the Santa Lucia railway station and the other end leads into Saint Mark Basin; in between, it makes a large reverse-S shape through the central districts of Venice.

It is 3.8 km long, and 30 to 90 m wide, with an average depth of five meters (16.5 ft).

The best time of the day for a gondola ride is in the early morning when the canal shimmers with golden light.

The banks of the Grand Canal are lined with more than 170 buildings, most of which date from the 13th to the 18th century.

SOUTHERN ITALY

PAESTUM This ancient Greek city was

originally called Poseidonia for the god of the sea.

The side boasts three well preserved Greek temples.

The oldest temple in Paestum is the Temple of Hera, built around 550 BC by Greek colonists.

Paestum is often visited as a day trip, as the sites to see are limited.

Besides the three ancient Greek temples there is a museum, and some enchanting buffalo farms.

However, hotels are good here, and so is the food, so it’s worth an overnight.

ALBEROBELLO World’s best example of Trullo

architecture. Trulli homes are known for their

conical stone roofs that are made without mortar.

These dry-stone buildings are made from local limestone; none are older than the 14th century. Though the homes can be found across the Itria Valley in Apulia, Alberobello is the only town truly marked by this type of construction.

Trulli were generally constructed as temporary field shelters and storehouses or as permanent dwellings by small proprietors or agricultural labourers.

visitors here can also stay in trullo homes, drink in trullo bars and shop in trullo shops.

UNESCO

TROPEA This ancient and stunning town sits

among sugar sand beaches and stark cliffs.

Once believed to be founded by Hercules,

Tropea’s natural beauty still maintains an otherworldly draw for lovers of sand and sun.

Not to miss are the town’s two most notable churches- the Santa Maria del’Isola, a medieval church that was built on its own island just off the coast (though siltation and years has built a land bridge between it and the mainland).

The second church to see is the local cathedral, with two unexploded bombs from WWII sitting right outside their front door.

It was believed to be protected by the local patron saint.

SASSI DI MATERA The Sassi di Matera are cave

dwellings situated in the old town of Matera in the region of Basilicata.

The Sassi originate from a prehistoric settlement, and are among the first human settlements in Italy.

Many of the houses, which are dug into the tufa rock, are really only caverns, and the streets in some parts of the Sassi often are located on the rooftops of other houses.

These dwellings were inhabited by farmers and their livestock until the 1950’s.

Today, the jumble of stone buildings and their interior caves are a haunting and beautiful site.

AMALFI COAST  In 1997, the Amalfi Coast was

listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a cultural landscape.

Like the rest of the region, the Amalfi Coast lies in a Mediterranean climate, featuring warm summers and mild winters.

The only land route to the Amalfi Coast is the 40 kilometres (25 mi) long Strada Statale 163 which runs along the coastline from the town of Vietri sul Mare in the east to Positano in the west.

Thirteen municipalities are located on the Amalfi Coast, many of them centered on tourism.

There are many small towns in which to stay, shop, and eat, with their own beautiful white-walled stone cliff dwellings.

The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline on the southern coast of the Sorrentine Peninsula in the Province of Salerno in Southern Italy. The Amalfi Coast is a popular tourist destination for the region and Italy as a whole, attracting thousands of tourists annually.

POMPEII & HERCULANEUM

POMPEII On August 24, 79 AD, the volcano Vesuvius erupted, covering

the nearby town Pompeii with ash and soil, and subsequently preserving the city in its state from that fateful day.

Everything from jars and tables to paintings and people were frozen in time. Its excavation has provided an extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of people living two thousand years ago.

Archaeologists found the remains from 3,000 holdouts from this town of 20,000 who had refused to flee and paid the price. The ash buried the town, but in many ways preserved a day in the life of Roman times.

Today Pompeii is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy, with approximately 2,500,000 visitors every year.

HERCULANEUM Located in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, Herculaneum was an

ancient Roman town destroyed by volcanicpyroclastic flows in 79 AD. Its ruins are located in the commune of Ercolano, Campania, Italy As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is famous as one of the few

ancient cities that can now be seen in much of its original splendour, as well as for having been lost, along with Pompeii, Stabiae, Oplontis and Boscoreale, in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 that buried it.

Unlike Pompeii, the deep pyroclastic material which covered it preserved wooden and other organic-based objects such as roofs, beds, doors, food and even some 300 skeletons which were surprisingly discovered in recent years along the sea shore as it was thought until then that the town had been evacuated by the inhabitants.

Herculaneum was a wealthier town than Pompeii, possessing an extraordinary density of fine houses with, for example, far more lavish use of coloured marble cladding.

CAPRI Located in the Bay of Naples,

Capri is an island rich in mythology and history.

The Roman emperor Tiberius lived here until his death in 37 A.D. Villa Jovis, the emperor’s imperial residence, is one of the island’s most popular attractions.

Capri’s most famous natural attraction is the Blue Grotto, a waterfront cave that’s accessible by boat when the tide is right.

Riding the Seggiovia chair-lift in the city of Anacapri to the summit of Monte Solaro is a favorite activity too.

The 15-minute trip offers spectacular views of the island and sea.

CENTRAL ITALY

LEANING TOWER OF PISA

Location: Pisa,Italy District : Tuscany The construction of world famous Pisa Tower was started in the year

1173 by Bonanno Pisano. When the tower had reached its third story the works ceased because of the war starting with Florence and the tower began to sink due to a poorly laid foundation.

The tower remained unfinished for 90 years. When the construction resumed the engineers built higher floors with

one side taller than the other to compensate for the tilt. It was completed by Giovanni di Simone, and Tommano Simone (son of

Andreo Pisano) by half of the 14th century.

The top of the Leaning Tower can be reached by mounting the 294 steps which rise in the form of a spiral on the inner side of the tower walls.

COLOSSEUM

Location: Rome Built in:70–80 AD Built by/for: Vespasian, Titus Type of structure:

Amphitheatre The Colosseum in Rome is the largest and most famous

amphitheater in the Roman world. Its construction was started by emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty in 72 AD and was finished by his son Titus in 80 AD.

Its construction was a symbol of the Vespasian’s new rule after his predecessor, Nero. The Colosseum was built in the former gardens of Nero’s palace. It was opened by Titus (Vespasian’s son) and started with one hundred days of games.

At the end of the Roman Empire, the Colosseum was the place where gladiators, lions, and those accused of crimes were put to the test. Since the end of the Empire, the Colosseum has suffered from many destructive forces, but is still a frequently visited historic site.

The Colosseum was capable of holding some 50,000 spectators who could enter the building through no less than 80 entrances. Spectators were protected from the rain and heat of the sun by sails called the “velarium”, that was attached around the top of the attic.

ST. PETER'S BASILICA

Location: Vatican City Year consecrated: 18 November 1626 In this city of outstanding churches, none can hold a candle to

St Peter's (Basilica di San Pietro), Italy’s largest, richest and most spectacular basilica. Built atop an earlier 4th-century church, it was completed in

1626 after 120 years' construction. Its lavish interior contains many spectacular works of art,

including three of Italy's most celebrated masterpieces: Michelangelo’s Pietà, his soaring dome, and Bernini’s 29m-high baldachin over the papal altar.

TREVI FOUNTAIN

Location: Trevi, Rome Construction started:1732 Construction ended:1762 Designed by: Nicola Salvi Material: Stone Completed by:  Pietro Bracci Standing 26.3 metres (86 ft) high and 49.15 metres (161.3 ft) wide.  It is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous

fountains in the world. The Trevi Fountain is one of the oldest water sources in Rome.

The fountain dates back to ancient Roman times, since the construction of the Aqua Virgo Aqueduct in 19 B.C. that provided water to the Roman baths and the fountains of central Rome. It’s said that the Aqua Virgo, or Virgin Waters, is named in honor of a young Roman girl who led thirsty soldiers to the source of the spring to drink.

The fountain was built at the end point of the aqueduct, at the junction of three roads. These three streets (tre vie) give the Trevi Fountain its name, the Three Street Fountain.

A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome.

The fountain has appeared in several notable films.

VATICAN MUSEUMS

Established: 1506 Location: Vatican City, Rome The Vatican Museums (Italian: Musei Vaticani) are the museums of the Vatican

City and are located within the city's boundaries. They display works from the immense collection built up by the Popes throughout the centuries including some of the most renowned classical sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world.

Pope Julius II founded the museums in the early 16th century. The Sistine Chapel with its ceiling decorated by Michelangelo and the Stanze della Segnatura decorated by Raphael are on the visitor route through the Vatican Museums. In 2013, they were visited by 5.5 million people, which combined makes it the 5th most visited art museum in the world.

There are 54 galleries, or salas, in total, with the Sistine Chapel, notably, being the very last sala within the Museum.

SISTINE CHAPEL Location: Rome Year consecrated: 15 August 1483 Home to two of the world’s most

famous works of art – Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes (1508–1512) and his Giudizio Universale (Last Judgment; 1535–1541) – the Sistine Chapel is the one part of the Vatican Museums.

Michelangelo's ceiling design, which is best viewed from the chapel’s main entrance in the far east wall, covers the entire 800-sq-m surface.

With painted architectural features and a cast of colourful biblical characters, it's centred on nine panels depicting scenes from the Creation, the story of Adam and Eve, the Fall, and the plight of Noah.

SAN GIMIGNANO Nicknamed the medieval

Manhatten, San Gimignano is a village in Tuscany famous for its 14 stone towers.

At the height of San Gimignano’s wealth and power, more than 70 towers were built to defend the town against enemy attacks.

After the plague devastated the city in 1348, San Gimignano’s power faded, which kept enemies away and preserved many of the city’s medieval towers.

UNESCO

LAKE COMO (ITALIAN LAKE DISTRICT)

Lake Como is part of the Italian Lake District an area popular with visitors for well over 100 years for its combination of fresh air, water, mountains and good weather.

The lake is shaped much like an inverted ‘Y’, with two branches starting at Como in the south-west and Lecco in the south-east, which join together half way up and the lake continues up to Colico in the north.

The lake is famous for the attractive villas which have been built here since Roman times.

Many have admirable gardens which benefit from the mild climate and are able to include tropical as well as temperate plants.

PIAZZA DEL CAMPO One of Europe’s greatest

medieval squares, the Piazza del Campo is the principal public space of the historic center of Siena, Tuscany.

It is renowned worldwide for its beauty and architectural integrity.

The Palazzo Pubblico and its famous tower, as well as various palazzi signorili belonging to the wealthiest of Siena families surround the shell-shaped piazza.

The twice-per-year horse-race, Palio di Siena, involves circling the Piazza del Campo, on which a thick layer of dirt has been laid, three times and usually lasts no more than 90 seconds.

SANTA MARIA DEL FIORE Begun in 1296 in the Gothic

style and completed in 1436. The Basilica di Santa Maria del

Fiore is Florence’s beautiful cathedral and symbol of the city.

The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white.

The basilica is one of Italy’s largest churches, and until the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed.