|
Cultural Tours: Most people's first thoughts when
asked about Italy would be culture and cuisine. The cultural
attractions are numerous, and vary from the archaeological
sites of antiquity through to the renaissance splendours of
the middle ages. From the Greek Cities on Sicily and Etruscan
tombs of Tuscany, to the profligation of Roman remains most
famously seen in Rome itself and the preserved town of Pompeii,
the archaeology enthusiast will have plenty to occupy them.
Likewise for those interested in art and architecture, the
cities of Florence, Venice and Verona amongst others are all
spilling over with museums and character.
Mountain Biking/Touring: Running the length of the
country are the Apennine Mountains, home to the Italian wolf
and with much of their slopes covered in indigenous Chestnut
and Beech forest. The network of tracks and paths that wind
their way through these peaks make them the ideal destination
for the mountain biking enthusiast, while the road tourer
may be more tempted by the more rolling hills of southern
Tuscany and Umbria.
Religious/Spiritual Tours: Italy's culture is steeped
in religion and across the country you can witness magnificent
monuments to the beliefs of the Italian people. Rome's Sistine
Chapel in the Vatican is of course the place which would be
first though of for religious and spiritual trips but Rome
is also home to the Basilica of San Clemente which is not
one but three churches built on top of each other enabling
visitors to take a spiritual journey back into time. The Badia
in Florence is the oldest monastery in the area, it's foundation
dates back to 978 and the bell-tower was built between 1310-1330
in two different styles. No visit to Milan would be complete
without seeing the Milan Cathedral, work began in the 1380's
and included the co-operation of several different architects
and consultants (including Leonardo). In Milan you can also
see St. Maria delle Grazie which is the home of Leonardo's
Last Supper and the St. Ambrogio Cathedral which is said to
be the only church in the world with two bell towers. Another
magnificent church in Italy is the Santa Maria della Salute
in Venice which was constructed in gratitude for the end of
the plague and features a series of steps leading out of the
water to the church entrance.
Walking/Trekking: On Italy's northern border are the
Alps and to the south east of these are the spectacular Dolomite
range with their "via ferrata" footpaths. These
"high routes" cling in places to near-vertical rock
faces and are ideal for the more adventurous walker, as it
is necessary to clip your harness onto fixed cables where
the paths get narrow. Other places of interest include the
Alpi Apuane, the marble topped mountains that provided the
stone for many of the beautiful cathedrals and churches and
offering superb walking on their steep slopes. In Sicily you
can walk up the famous volcano Mt.Etna (depending just how
active it is at the time) while for those who enjoy the coast
there is the Cinque Terre, five beautiful villages perched
on a spectacular stretch of rocky shore.
More travel resources and information on Italy Holidays
from Holiday Junction:
|
