Best of Italy

As all roads lead to Rome, this city does not need an introduction. Here is one anyway. The Eternal City will always overwhelm with its sheer imperial scale - packed full of temples, residences, basilicas, churches, squares, parks, museums and fountains - Rome is breathtaking. Whether it is the unbelievable opulence of the Vatican, or the simplicity of a trattoria serving humble fare, you will always feel the city's timelessness and millennia of rich history on the very ground you walk upon. The city has many layers that correspond to periods in its history: such as Ancient Rome, Medieval Rome, Christian Rome and Renaissance Rome to name a few. The capital of Italy, the Rome's modern layer is also quite evident, and it is dynamic and efficient, always blending the old with the new.

One the largest cities in Italy, Milan is in modern times considered to be one of the homes of fashion in the world. A picturesque tourist destination, Milan is an ancient city that once served as the capital of the mighty Roman Empire. You can still see the ruins of ancient Roman colonies, sprawled across the city. So, when in the city, apart from eating the great food and visiting the thousands of designer boutiques, you must also visit the third largest cathedral in the world, the Milan Cathedral, which is a superb example of Gothic architecture. Other monuments worth visiting include: the Basilica of Saint Lawrence, Castello Sforzesco - a castle originally built in the 14th century and now it houses renowned museums and art galleries of Milan, and the Teatro alla Scala - one of the world's most famous opera houses. The modern Pirelli Tower and Velasca Tower are also worth a visit.

Also pay a visit to Central Railway Station, which is a beautifully designed building, as well as San Siro Stadium, one of the biggest football stadiums of Europe. For shopping, do visit Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, which is known as world's oldest shopping mall, housing elegant shops selling almost everything from clothes to books. The shopping mall also has fine restaurants, bars and cafes, where you can savour local cuisine of Milan. You can also shop at Lombard Metropolis, which is popular for its fashion shops and houses.

Often described as one of the most romantic cities in the world, Venice lives up to that appellation. However, this does not mean that the city is only for lovers. Somewhere between dream and reality, present and past, it is romantic in the imaginative sense, its beauty somehow more, and less than real. It is also one of the most historic cities in Italy, and its varied architecture and rich culture offer plenty to see and explore, even to the most intrepid traveller. A city of canals, it is literally on water, and people own boats instead of cars, and maybe flippers instead of boots! Venice is built on an archipelago of 118 islands formed by about 150 canals in a shallow lagoon. These islands are connected by about 400 bridges. The resulting waterways and walkways are the chief circulatory systems of beautiful Venice, and to facilitate smooth and ordered movement, certain speed limits are enforced on boats. Venice is one of the few European cities to remain largely unchanged with the turn of the century, and for this reason the feeling of displacement with reality never seems to quite fade away. Gothic, Roman, and Venetian architecture impose themselves on you, and the canals' coruscating light reflects magically on the edifices. World renowned for its superior and artfully created glass, Venice's masks are also a highlight, and they can be seen everywhere during the Carnival.

Florence (Firenze), the city that was the centre of the Italian Renaissance, is a place of beauty and splendour. Every street is a masterpiece of statues, cobblestones, and imposing edifices, all of which further cement the legendary Florentine love of display. There are rich galleries, even richer churches, impressive domes, corresponding to different periods of history, from early medieval, to neoclassical. It is hard to measure Florence's cultural and historical impact, and even the most conservative estimate concedes it a world-changing status. A visitor can be overwhelmed by this, and needs constantly to be reminded that the reason for such elegant opulence is that Florence was the hub of most activity during the rebirth of art, philosophy, and science in Europe, largely spurred on by the Medici family.

Weather:
Spring: March to May 9-20 C
Summer: June to August 18-31 C
Autumn: September to November 11-21 C
Winter: December to February 3-11 C

Shopping:
Florence, through its years of experience, has a very well developed sense of style and luxury, always insisting on superior craftsmanship of every aspect. There are innumerable shops, boutiques, and stalls, full to the brim with clothes, shoes, leather goods, ceramics, stationery, wine and decorative goods. Located around the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the San Lorenzo Market is one of the most important, and here you can find an excellent variety of clothing, leather products, and souvenirs. The Mercato Centrale is located in the San Lorenzo Central Market, and it is the best food market in the city. The Mercato Delle Cascine is also a great place to look for antiques, souvenirs, telephone cards, and shoes. There is the large and beautiful Parco Delle Cascine (park) located here. Mercato Delle Pulci is the famous flea market of Florence, where you can find various antiques, furniture, prints, jewellery, books, and coins.

Must Do:
It is nearly impossible for one to get bored in Florence, where delightful spectacles and spectacular delights await your every step. This medieval wonderland contains some of the best of truly stunning architecture and art in the entire world. The list of wonders is long, and what follows are just the most important. Gawk incredulously at the graceful Ponte (bridge) Vecchio, the Duomo's (cathedral) wondrous dome, the splendour of Basilica di San Lorenzo and the unbelievably rich Uffizi gallery. A Medici family institution, the Uffizi Gallery has many masterpieces, including works by Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo Da Vinci. The Boboli Gardens, with its sculpted paths amidst verdant greens give pleasant succour to the tired sightseer. A visit to the Piazza (Square) Della Signoria is a must, for it is there that Michelangelo's David resides. Churches like the fortified hulk of the Palazzo Vecchio, and ancient Palazzo dei Pazzi are also must visits. Florence's skyline is picturesque and uplifting, evincing the city's elegance against the sunset. On the food front, Florence is much like its Italian counterparts, and offers a wide variety of delectable fare at its trattorias, ristorantes, osterias and pizzerias. The local Tuscan and Enoteca cuisines are delightful, with fresh ingredients cooked in simple ways. The seafood and the Italian sandwiches are also must tries. Florence's nightlife also offers something for everyone, the classic taverns the best choice to experience local flavour, the Chiantis (wine).

Travel Tools:
ISD Code: +39
Currency: (EUR) 1 EUR is approximately 65 Indian Rupees (INR)
Time Zone: GMT+1 hour. IST -4:30 hours. Summer (Daylight Savings): GMT+2 hours
Voltage: 220V - 240V