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DestinationsOther |
ItalyINTRODUCTION Ciao! Italy is home to great food and great history. You can visit Roman times by heading to the ruins in Rome. Visit the Roman Forum, The Colosseum, and Circus Maximus. There are also numerous other areas for tourists. The Isle of Capri is one of the most beautiful places in the world. There is also Milan, Napoli, and The Island of Sicily to see. Furthermore, there are the great cultural cities like Florence, Verona, inimitable Venice, the great port of Genoa, which is close to the French border, Mount Vesuvius, and the two towns it destroyed in the eruption of 79 A.D. Herculaneum and Pompeii. Both these sites will take many more years to excavate carefully and who know what wonders may still be found. There are also dozens of smaller towns to be explored like Orvieto on its hill with winding roads, Siena, with its colorful festivals and beautiful church, and Ravenna, whose magnificent old church was recently badly damaged. There are too many wonderful sights to mention here, but anyone who loves history or art will find untold treasures. Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. I recommend taking a wine tasting tour while staying in the area and touring the other areas in Tuscany is a must. If you're looking for something off the beaten path, the small coastal town of Positano will delight to no end. If you have the time, money, and nerves of steel, you can rent a car and marvel at the views along the Amalfi Coast. Another magical spot is the Cinque Terre, which is a series of five small towns perched on cliffs above the Mediterranean. There's great hiking between the towns, and you can drink crisp locally made white wine while you daydream into the distance. Major cities include: Assisi Florence Genoa Isle of Capri Milan Montepulciano Napoli Orvieto Pisa Ravenna Rome Sicily Siena Venice Verona HISTORY Italy is a land littered with history. Ancient Rome was an expansive empire that included Italia as a territory. In the 5th century, the declining empire broke off into Hispania, Gaul, and Italy in the West and the Byzantine Empire to the East. During the Middle Ages, Italy was broken up into fueding city-states. This Communi, or commune-state, eventually fell to a more unified Signoria, or dynastic state. Beginning in the 12th century, Italy entered a Renaissance that resulted in many cultural achievements. This was a rebirth of classical learnig fueled by the discovery of ancient texts. Cities were built up and trade flourished in Italy. The 16th century saw the battle for ownership of Italy between France, Spain, and Austria. Italy was under rulership from each of them until the mid-19th century when the Kingdom of Italy was established. The devastations of WWI led to the rise of fascism and the rule of Benito Mussolini. This led to violence and strife until Italy was liberated in 1945 and the Republic of Italy was established. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Climate: Beautiful country, beautiful climate - hot and dry in the south and has an cooler climate in the far north Capital: Rome Languages: Italian, English, German and French Power: 230 V, 50 Hz Currency: Euro - Currently 1 EUR € = 1.2139 USD LODGING Hotel Al Sole - This beautiful Hotel is rated 3 Star and can be found in the heart of Venice. It has an inhouse bar and only a short distance to dining, shopping and attractions La Griffe This is a 4 Star Hotel located in the centre of Rome, it has an inhouse bar and restaraunt and is in close walking distance to everything. Hotel Leonardo Da Vinci - This is a 3 Star Hotel found on the borders of Florence. The hotel is built into a palace and has an in house bar PERSONAL STORIES Veronica Hackethal 
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