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Rome
Rome or the ‘Eternal City’ as it is known, is the capital of Italy and is one of the oldest cities in Europe. The grandeur and majesty of this city that ruled over almost all of Europe for centuries is reflected in the classical architecture dotting its landscape, the treasure trove of sculptures and paintings that grace its museums and the tangible sense of history that is such an integral part of Rome.
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Rome
Top Attractions in Rome
The Colosseum: The Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheatre is located in the heart of Rome and is one of the most enduring symbols of the city. It is a gigantic arena that seats 50,000 people and was built as the arena for conducting games in ancient Rome. These extremely popular ‘games’ were watched with great enthusiasm by the ruling class and the commoners, alike and consisted largely of gladiatorial combats and hunts.
The Roman Forum: The Roman Forum was the centre of the ancient city of Rome, with large triumphal arches, temples and basilicas built there. It was here that the Roman Senate held their meetings (in Curia Julia), elections were held and grand victory marches were made. The Temple of Saturn, the Arch of Septimus Severus and the Rostra, or the Speaker’s Platform are some of the buildings of note in the Roman Forum.
Pantheon: One of the largest domes in the world is found atop the Pantheon, which started out as a temple for Pagan gods built by Emperor Hadrian. It was later converted into a church with the growth of Christianity in Rome. It stands tall among the ruins of ancient Rome as the most intact ancient monument in the city, with massive 60 ton columns adorning its entrance.
Piazza di Spagna: The Piazza di Spagna literally meaning the Spanish Square, is one of the most popular meeting places in Rome. It is made up of a flight of 137 stairs called the Spanish Steps, which lead up to a French church built in the Gothic style, called the Trinita Dei Monti. The Piazza also houses a column called the Colonna dell’Immacolata that commemorates the Catholic belief in immaculate conception. This column is aptly crowned by a statue of the Virgin Mary.
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Trevi Fountain: The imposing Trevi fountain dominates the small square of Trevi and stands at the end of one of the many aqueducts crisscrossing Italy – the Aqua Virgo. Legend has it that tossing a coin into the waters of the fountain of Trevi ensures that the person will definitely return to Rome. One of the largest Baroque fountains in Rome, the Fountain of Trevi owes its place among the most visited monuments in Rome to its stunning representation of Neptune, the God of the Sea riding a clam shaped chariot drawn by sea horses. The waters of the fountain at the base of the sculpture are representative of the oceans that Neptune lords over.
Palatine Hill: One among the famed ‘Seven Hills’ of Rome, the Palatine Hill is where Romulus founded the Roman Empire, as per legend. The hill is littered with ruins of palaces and stadia, which bear testimony to the fact that the Palatine Hill was a fashionable residential complex by the Republican period in Rome.
Campidoglio: The Campidoglio, also called the Capitoline Hill houses several important ancient temples, the most prominent of those being the Temple of Jupiter, which together with the hill was a symbol of Rome as the ‘capital of the world’ or ‘Caput Mundi’. Michelangelo designed the square on the Capitoline Hill called the Piazza di Campidoglio. The piazza consisted of several political buildings like the Palazzo dei Conservatori, the Palazzo Senatorio, and the Palazzo Nuovo. A majestic flight of stairs called the Cordonata leads up to the Piazza di Campidoglio.
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Vatican City
Vatican City- the independent city-state, that is the seat of the Catholic Church and home to the Pope, is located within Rome.
Vatican City - Top Attractions
St. Peter’s Basilica: St. Peter’s Basilica, located in Vatican City, is the largest church in the world. It also boasts of the largest dome in the world, designed by Michelangelo. Michelangelo’s masterpiece- the Pieta, finds pride of place in St. Peter’s Basilica. St. Peter’s tomb rests below the altar of the Basilica and makes it one of the principal places of worship in the Christian faith. The Swiss Guards, who form a part of the Vatican army, guard the entrances to the Basilica and are unmissable in their jaunty, colourful outfits.
Vatican Palace: The Vatican Palace has been the official residence of the Pope since the 13th Century A.D. It has over 1400 rooms and chapels and is counted among the most historically and artistically significant palaces in the world.
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Sistine Chapel: Reminiscent of Solomon’s Temple in the Old Testament, the Sistine Chapel is the most famous among the Vatican chapels. Its walls bear frescoes of Renaissance masters like Michelangelo, Raphael, Boticelli and Bernini. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel depicting over 300 biblical scenes is considered one of the landmark works of Michelangelo and includes iconic works like the Creation of Adam, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden etc.
Vatican Museums: The Vatican complex contains 13 museums, each with a distinctly different treasure of paintings, sculptures and artefacts collected over the centuries. These Vatican Museums are home to one of the largest and most important collections of Renaissance and Classical art in the world.
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Venice
Famed as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Venice is represented in the mind’s eye by the endless canals winding through it and the gorgeous gondolas drifting along on their placid waters. Venice is located on a lagoon and such is the romance of the place that at any given point of time, Venice boasts of more tourists than local residents!
The architecture of Venice is a unique fusion of its mercantile past, its Byzantine history and Gothic influences. One of the few cities in the world where cars are non-existent, the most popular way of getting around Venice is on foot or by the 150 or so canals that crisscross the length and breadth of this city.
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Top Attractions in Venice
The Grand Canal: Made famous in India by images of Bollywood stars serenading each other on gondolas on the Grand Canal, this canal winds around across the city of Venice forming a giant ‘S’ and is lined by hundreds of buildings built in the Venetian Gothic and Renaissance styles all along its length. It is the arterial canal connecting important parts of the city and has regular traffic on it in the form of water taxis, water buses or ‘ Vaporettos’ , private boats and gondolas. Do not miss the Regata Storica – a traditional boat race that happens on the Grand Canal on the first Sunday of September each year with the oarsmen dressed up in colourful traditional costumes.
St. Mark’s Square: The Piazza San Marco is the largest square in Venice and undoubtedly the grandest. The centerpiece of St. Mark’s Square is St. Mark’s Basilica, an opulent mixture of Byzantine and Gothic styles with a bell tower called the Campanile that is over 300 feet high.
The Doge’s Palace is located in St. Mark’s Square, and was the power center of Venice in a bygone era. The exterior of the Palace is heavy adorned with carvings and sculptures, while the inside stucco walls have ceilings covered in intricate paintings. The southern façade of the Doge’s Palace overlooks the waterfront.
The Bridge of Sighs: This covered bridge connects the Old Prison in the Doge’s Palace with the New Prison across the Grand Canal. It’s still hailed as one of the finest examples of bridge architecture in the world and has inspired copies around the world, like the ones in Oxford and Cambridge in England. There are two different theories on the origin of its name. One says that prisoners that crossed over from one prison building to the other ‘sighed’ at a glimpse of the free world. Another theory harks back to the legend that lovers who kiss in a gondola under the bridge will enjoy eternal togetherness. The ‘sighs’ here refer to passionate sighs uttered by lovers under the bridge.
Galleria dell’Accademia: A huge wooden bridge called the Ponte dell’Accademia, built across the Grand Canal leads into the Galleria dell’Accademia , a museum that houses some of the best Renaissance and Venetian paintings in the world.
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Excursions to Murano, Burano & Torcello: Explore the beauty and heritage of the islands that dot the Venetian Lagoon on a scenic boat tour. Visit Murano, world renowned for the exquisite glasswork. Proceed to the island of Burano, which is famous for its lace industry. Visit the delightful island of Torcello, home to Santa Maria Assunta cathedral, a masterpiece with its mosaics and Byzantine architecture structure.
Florence
As a medieval business center and seat of power, Florence's architecture reflects the past wealth of its citizenry and their evergreen obsession with beauty. Travel to Piazzale Michelangelo, for a bird’s eye view of the city of Florence. Continue to the historic centre for a walking tour of the Piazza del Duomo, Giotto’s bell tower, the Baptistery with its bronze doors and the Cathedral with the magnificent Cupola del Brunelleschi. Carry on to the Galleria dell’Accademia and admire the famous David by Michelangelo.
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- The grand Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore or the Duomo Cathedral's 375 feet high dome was a revolutionary design by Brunelleschi. Completed in 1436, Brunelleschi's dome stands undefeated as the world's largest masonry dome. Built at the site of a 5th century church, the Cathedral bears the mark of the city's most distinguished architects and artists across 3 centuries, starting with the original design by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1296 to the ball and cross designed by da Vinci in the early 1600s.
- Ponte Vecchio bridge is a quaint old fashioned stone bridge with shops lining either side. A pretty place to pause in a walk across the city while you pick up souvenirs from the jewelery and art stores.
- Giorgio Vasari's idea of an administrative building was the Uffizi Gallery is now better known for its artwork than paperwork as it was originally intended. A treasure house of Italian sculpture and paintings, it is a compulsory stop.
- Hidden behind a mob of giggling school girls and busy art students sketching frantically away, Michelangelo’s famous statue of David and proud and perfect at the Galleria dell’Accademia.
Turin
La Parigi d’Italia (the Italian Paris).
Turin could turn out to be one of the most rewarding experiences in Italy, for over the years, the city has become dramatically accessible, inviting, and navigable for tourists. It is the baroque capital of Europe. Throw in a splendid view of the snow-crusted Alps with a fascinating stretch of the River Po and you have a little paradise on earth. The periodic viewings of the Shroud (the cloth that Jesus' body was wrapped in) draw millions of worshippers to the city. While the Egyptian Museum is second only to the one in Cairo (it contains more than 8,000 objects - large statues, papyruses, sarcophagi and mummies), Galleria Sabauda boasts of canvases by Italian and Flemish masters.
The palaces of the House of Savoy and Turin, streets filled with stylish shops, spectacular cafes with wine and cheese from the surrounding hills and the mountains of Piemonte… these are some of Italy's best offerings. Hot wheels enthusiasts love to browse in the Museum of the Automobile which has one of the world's greatest collections of antique cars. Ferret out the local treats in the city such as its highly regarded coffee - after all Italy's largest coffee roaster is headquartered in this city.
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Milan
Milan is the financial capital of Italy and is the second largest city in Italy after Rome. The city is also one of the two fashion capitals of Europe – the other being, Paris. The bi-annual Fashion Weeks in Milan are eagerly awaited events on the world fashion calendar and dictate the fashions that clothe the world for the rest of the year. Milan is also home to the wildly popular football club - A.C. Milan.
Museum hopping, shopping and visiting the opera are among the most popular touristy activities in Milan. This mecca of fashion also holds its own against the rest of the cities in Italy in architectural and artistic brilliance.
Top attractions in Milan
Santa Maria delle Grazie: This church is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper, may be viewed at the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. This was one of the few murals in the church that survived the aerial bombing during World War II by the Allied forces.
Duomo: One of the largest and most striking Gothic cathedrals in the world, this masterpiece in marble has hundreds of spires, a fascinating array of sculptures on its exterior and a world famous façade. The Duomo is the principal church of Milan.
Castello Sforzesco: A former fortress, it houses several museums on fine and applied art, prehistory, Egyptian art and more, within its walls.
La Scala Opera House: The La Scala Opera House was founded by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, to replace the Royal Ducal Theatre and remains the undisputed world capital of opera.
Verona:
Verona is the setting of the most famous romance in the world - Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Located in North East Italy, Verona has strong Roman heritage and some of the best Roman art and architecture, north of Rome. Owing to the vast collection of historical monuments across the city, the whole city was granted the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Attractions in Verona
Casa di Giulietta (Juliet’s House) attracts thousands of visitors each year.
Roman Arena: built in AD290, is the site of an annual opera festival.
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Pisa
Pisa's biggest claim to fame may be its Leaning Tower, but the rest of its architecture is definitely worth a see. Not common ‘tourist’ knowledge, Pisa is a university town with approximately 60% of its population comprising of students at the University of Pisa. Walking is the best way to soak in the sights of this pretty university town and mingle with the locals, as most attractions are within walking distance of each other.
The Campo dei Miracoli or ‘Field of Miracles’ is the most popular attraction and comprises of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, The Baptistery and the Duomo or Cathedral of Pisa.
The Leaning Tower, is a free-standing campanile or bell tower and owes its fame to its tilt of 3.99 degrees due to weak foundations.
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Naples
With its cobblestone streets, breathtaking bay, elaborate Baroque churches, the Royal Palace and rambunctious people, Naples is as intriguing as a great motion picture of love and life. The streets bustle with shoppers and café hoppers and swirl with local colour and flavour imparted by its people and cuisine. Start with the historic centre of Spaccanapoli, where the Chapel of St Januarius houses the relics of the patron saint. Shop at Via San Biagio Dei Librai, lined with goldsmiths and jewellers and pick up items such as the presepi and pastori (elaborate depictions of nativity scenes) for which Naples is famous.
The city has a unique attraction in its Napoli Sotterranea (Underground Naples) unveiled in a tour through a portion of the city's labyrinth of tunnels, well shafts, and subterranean halls. For opera lovers, San Carlo, with its breathtaking ceiling fresco by Giuseppe Camarano, compares favourably with La Scala in Milan.
The Castel dell'Ovo, with its rock tunnels, stands tall on the bay overlooking this grand city. Here in June, the courtyard of Castle Nuovo is filled with love and romance as young couples register their marriage vows! Before leaving Naples feast on la vera pizza napolitana, namely the real Neapolitan pizza! In this city, there are official documents stating how pizza should and should not be made. Wayside cafés also serve delicious misto di frittura (deep fried pieces of vegetables). At the colourful and animated flea markets, pick up vintage antiques, prints, pictures, clocks and books.
Attractions Around Naples
The Island of Capri, the beautiful coastal towns of Sorrento and Positano, and the bewitching Amalfi Coast-the region of Campania is studded with luminous attractions!
One of the jewels of the Gulf of Naples is Capri. This weathered coastal island is as much the playground of the rich and famous as it is for day trippers who go there in droves to explore its tantalizing sea caves. The most stunning of them all is the Blue Grotto, where the sunlight refracts magically off the water and imparts a breathtaking blue hue. A boat ride with a singing sailor is an absolute must!
Sorrento is named after the Sirens, the beautiful 'mermaids' whose irresistible singing was believed to be the cause of many shipwrecks. Today, it is the view and the intense fragrance of oranges and lemons that will lure you to an unforgettable holiday.
The ancient town of Positano, once the favourite destination of great artists such as Pablo Picasso and Paul Klee, and writer John Steinbeck, is dotted with churches like Santa Maria Assunta with its glistening ceramic dome and spectacular vistas.
The bewitching landscape of the Amalfi Coast, a 50 km stretch from Sorrento to Salerno, is laced with winding roads that wrap themselves around cliffs that drop perilously to the sea
Pompeii
While in Naples, visit the ruins of Pompeii. Frozen in time, lie the remains of Pompeii, a city some believe cursed by the excesses of its people. And a city, unfortunately built at the foothills of the Vesuvius, a dormant volcano that burst to life. Excavations here have revealed well preserved and unspoiled details of the ancient Roman Empire at its peak. Understand how first-century Romans lived their daily lives at the remains of Pompeii and Herculaneum, engulfed in the great eruption of AD 79.
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Sicily
Sicily is a captivating island as it has had a glorious, multi-cultural past that is evident in everything from its architecture to its food.
Attractions in Sicily
- The most important ancient Greek sites include the temples of the Valle dei Templi at Agrigénto, said to be better preserved than any in Greece itself.
- The catacombs at the Capuchin Monastery contain thousands of mummified bodies.
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