Italy Travel Guide @ TravelNotes.org

Travel Notes: Europe: Italy Travel Notes

Italy tourist information with details about travel to and around the country. Where to stay and what to see is made easier with insider tips and hand-selected Italy links, by dedicated editors and visitors to TravelNotes.org - The Online Guide to Travel.

Italia

Italy is easily remembered by the dumbest of geography students as the country that is shaped like a boot, kicking Sicily further into the Mediterranean Sea.

Countries neighbouring Italy are: France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia.

Weather in Italy

View a graphical weather forecast for the week ahead in places around Italy.

Bari Weather, Bologna Weather, Bolzano Weather, Brescia Weather, Cagliari Weather, Catania Weather, Como Weather, Florence Weather, Genoa Weather, Livorno Weather, Lucca Weather, Messina Weather, Milan Weather, Modena Weather, Naples Weather, Padova Weather, Palermo Weather, Parma Weather, Perugia Weather, Pisa Weather, Ravenna Weather, Reggio di Calabria Weather, Rimini Weather, Rome Weather, Salerno Weather, Sassari Weather, Siena Weather, Sorrento Weather, Taranto Weather, Trieste Weather, Turin Weather, Venice Weather, Verona Weather.

Hotels in Italy

Find and Book a Hotel in Italy.

Hotels in Italy by City:

Amalfi, Assisi, Bologna, Como, Genoa, Florence, Lucca, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Pisa, Rimini, Rome, Siena, Sorrento, Taormina, Turin, Venice, Verona.

Hotels in Italy by Regions:
Apulia Coast, Capri, Chiani Regioni, Cinque Terre, Dolomites, Italian Riviera, Lake Garda, Portofino, Riviera dei Fiori, Sicily Coast and Islands, Tuscany.

Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast, or 'Costiera Amalfitana' (in Italian), is a stretch of coastline in the southern part of Italy (Province of Salerno), extending from Positano in the west to Vietri sul Mare in the east.

The towns lying on the Amalfi Coast are Vietri sul Mare, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Ravello, Scala, Atrani, Amalfi, Conca dei Marini, Furore, Praiano and Positano.

The nearest airports and train stations are in Naples and Salerno.

Starting from Naples, it is possible to reach Sorrento by a local train called 'Circumvesuviana'. The SITA bus company, connects the Amalfi Coast to Salerno, Sorrento and Naples.

Amalfi Coast Accommodation: [Italy]
Choose from a refined selection of self-catering luxury villas and exclusive apartments to rent on Italy's Amalfi Coast; near Sorrento and close to the Isle of Capri.

Florence

Michaelangelo, whose David is a symbol of Florence, is buried in the city's church of Santa Croce.

Uffizi Gallery:
Be prepared for long queues to view the works by Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Mantegna, Correggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo and Caravaggio. German, Dutch and Flemish masters are also well represented with important works by Dürer, Rembrandt and Rubens.

Accommodation in Firenze

Hotels in Florence:
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Milan

Milan, the fashion capital, is the second largest Italian city, after Rome, and home to two of Italy's most famous football clubs, Internazionale and AC Milan.

Fashion in Milan.

Accommodation in Milano

Hotels in Milan:
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Naples

There is lot to see around the Gulf of Naples and the distance between the sights can be deceiving, when trying to organise your visit on public transportation. Allow more time than you think you'll need; if you don't want to be disappointed.

Capri Web:
Collection of photographs and descriptions of tourist itineraries around the Isle of Capri, City of Naples, Isle of Procida and Sorrento Peninsula.

Accommodation in Napoli

Hotels in Naples:
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Pisa

You can fly into Pisa, for easy access to Florence.

Pisa International Airport:
Pisa and Florence International Airport -- Galileo Galilei. Provides real time flight schedules, information about airlines, cargo services, ground transportation, parking, car rental, shops and duty free, restaurants and airport news.

Pisa Travel Guide:
The Cathedral Square is the heart of Pisa and the immortal symbol of the splendour and the power of the golden age of the Republic of Pisa.

Accommodation in Pisa

Hotels in Pisa:
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Rome

Rome is the capital of Italy and once the nucleus of an Empire.

Accommodation in Roma

Hotels in Rome:
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Venice

Discover the wonders of Venice.

Carnival in Venice.

Accommodation in Venezia

Hotels in Venice:
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Independent Countries

Within Italy are two independent countries: San Marino and the Vatican City.

Italian Culture

Summer on the beach is very popular in Italy, but most travellers visit the country for the culture.

Italy holds one of the major positions in world culture. Their nationals have presented us with masterpieces in architecture, painting, sculpture, literature, and opera.

Museums in Italy:
Italian culture at its best.

Italian Food

Pasta, Pizza and Parmigiano...... Please, there's a lot more to Italian Food.

La Culinaria:
Learn the art of cooking and eating with Angeline Davies' seasonal cooking and wine holidays for the culinarily adventurous, in Le Marche - Italy in one region.

Italian Wine

Fancy tasting the grape in Italy?

Then maybe you should try one of the Wine Tours.

Tuscany

Tuscany Travel Tips

Bypass the high-priced, crowded but beautiful Chianti area of Tuscany and instead go to the Etruscan Coast and Pisan Hills area in Western Tuscany.  Accommodations cost a lot less, and fewer tourists come here than the more famous Tuscan spots.  There are excellent places like Volterra and Campiglia Marittima and numerous other worthwhile hilltowns and wine areas to check out.
Sent in by: David Freda.

Bed and Breakfast in Florence:
Provides rooms and apartments for holiday rentals in the historic centre of Florence, as well as accommodation in typical Tuscany villas located in the Chianti countryside.

La Nievolina:
Rent a self catering villa in Tuscany; with swimming pool and three hectares of olives. Montecatini Terme is close to Florence, Siena, Chianti, Lucca and Pisa -- an ideal base to discover Tuscany at your leisure.

Nostra Toscana:
Eva Lipps and David Freda offer custom villa vacation packages in hidden western Tuscany for family, groups or corporate retreats. Day tours and cultural tourism also included.

Around Italy

The Northern part of Italy is generally more prosperous, and most Italians associate themselves with their particular region.

Some of those around Lombardia even want a federal republic of Padania, independent from Rome and the rest of Italy.

Autostrada:
How to make motorways interesting? The Italians do fine; with interactive maps, traffic forecasts, and even suggestions of games to play when stuck in a jam.

Gira Bologna:
Bologna was founded by the Etruscans under the name of Felsina. As a Roman metropolis it was known as Bononia. Later Bologna became a free Commune and then a papal city. Today, Bologna offers visitors one of the best preserved historic centers in Europe.

Italian Tourism:
Regional listings for Italian tourist boards; mostly just an address and telephone number.

Siena - The Palio:
Continuing in ancient tradition, the contradas compete on horses around the town square of Siena, Italy, every July 2nd and August 16th.

Travel by Train:
Italian train timetables can only give you a rough idea, as the long distance trains often run late.

Welcome to Italy:
As stylish as the passagio on a Sunday. Stroll through the site by itinerary, region, or province. (In English, Italian, German, and Japanese).

Cinque Terre

Eighteen kilometres of sheer rocky coastline in northern Italy, terraced hills and vineyards sloping steeply down to the sea. Five little villages are built into the rocks between the beach and the hills.

Emilia Romagna

Emilia Romagna:
From the Apennines to the Adriatic Coast.

Local Sites in Emilia Romagna (some in Italian only):
Bagno di Romagna; Bologna; Brisighella; Cervia; Ferrara; Lizzano; Modena; Parma; Piacenza; Ravenna; Reggio Emilia; Rimini Commune; RiminiTurismo; Santa Sofia; Sestola.

Parma

Verdi Country

Giuseppe Verdi was born in Roncole, on the 10th of October, 1813.

Castles of Parma:
Constructed in strategic points throughout the province of Parma, the castles are a wonderful sight.

Parma Tourist Information:
From the Parma Municipal Administration Tourist Information and Assistance Offices; not all of it in English.

Parmesan Cheese:
The world's favourite cheese to top spaghetti comes from Parmigiano-Reggiano; a true aristocrat among cheeses. And doctors claim it's good for you.

Accommodation in Parma

Hotels in Parma:
Find hotels in Parma with special online rates.

Ravenna

Getting Around Ravenna:
One of the best ways to get around Ravenna is by bicycle. Four locations where you can get one of the yellow tourist bikes for the day.

The City of Ravenna:
Ravenna boasts many sights in the World Heritage List: The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, Neonian Baptistry, Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Arian Baptistry, The Archiepiscopal Chapel, Mausoleum of Theodoric, The Basilica of San Vitale, Sant'Apollinare in Classe.

Accommodation in Ravenna

Hotels in Ravenna:
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Lago di Garda

The Lake Garda region is very popular with Germans.

Lake Garda:
A whole collection of Lake Garda websites rolled into one Garda World.

Marche

Le Marche is Italy's secret region. Everyone has heard of Tuscany. Le Marche is near by, and more rugged. Actually, it is more everything. We have higher mountains, more lakes, more truffles, more mushrooms, more wild boar, more sheep, more small farmers, more beautiful scenery, more delicious fish....the only thing we have less of, is people and tourism! Fly to Ancona (with cheap flights from London). Visit Urbino, Loretto, Ascoli Piceno, Macerata, Tolentino, Camerino and Matelica for art, culture, churches, food and wine, but don't forget to visit the rural parts too. Stay in agriturrismi (farm house hotels run by a local family) to sample the rustic way of life.
Sent in by: Angeline Davies.

Marche Holidays:
With beaches, mountains and medieval villages, holidaying in Marche can be planned at anytime of the year; depending on your interests.

Italy Vacations

5-Day Italy Trip: Florence, Pisa and Venice:
If you're short on time and fancy a taste of Italy, then five days exploring three of Italy's most romantic cities - Florence, Pisa and Venice - is the perfect way to combine aspects of Italy's rich culture: art, history and authentic cuisine.

A La Carte Italy Tours:
Luxury exclusive tours across all areas in Italy with your private driver-guide.

Alps by Motorbike:
Beach's Alpine Adventure takes in the mountains of Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France. You may not hear the cow bells through your helmet, but the scenery is breathtaking.

Italy Farmhouse Rentals:
Not just farmhouses, but villas, castles, cottages, apartments, houses in Tuscany, Umbria or Lazio. The site also offers useful tourist information about Italy.

Ville in Italia:
Exclusive villa rentals in some of the best areas around Italy: Amalfi Coast, Apulia & Basilicata, Piedmont & Liguria, Rome, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany & Umbria, Veneto, Lake Garda & Adriatic Coast.

Italy Travel Guides

More detailed travel destination information for:

Florence, Milan, Naples, Rome.

Books on Italy Travel:
Browse Amazon's best-selling list of books on travel in Italy.