Italy has wide variety from snow-capped mountains in the north down to sun-baked
beaches along the Mediterranean coasts. The Italians are fiercely proud of their
nation which they have named the Belpaese – beautiful country. This pride is on
show in their support of world famous football clubs like Milan and Juventus and
the national team which has won many world cups.
Italians are famed for their love of beauty and their culture has given the
world some of its greatest painters, designers, buildings and foods. Leonardo da
Vinci and Michelangelo are just two of the Italian creative geniuses who left a
legacy which will be forever remembered.
Italy is a country of Romance, from the city of Verona about which Shakespeare
wrote to the quaint canals of Venice which can be seen in a Gondola. Tuscany is
one of the most picturesque places in Europe and there are world famous cities
there which must seen such as Pisa and Florence, which Lucca and Siena are less
well known but equally attractive.
Much of the Italian countryside is taken up with olive groves and olive oil is
used for almost all of the cooking, and there are also vineyards everywhere
which are used to make famous Italian wines. Eating is an art form in Italy and
slow food is revelled in as the antithesis of fast food.
The majority of the country is Catholic and Rome is home to the Vatican, the
world's smallest state in which the Pope lives. Italy has a thriving industrial
culture which is prominent in cities such as Milan and Turin.
Car Hire
Italy from Any Airport Car hire is a cheap way to get around and saves you
having to haggle with the notoriously dodgy taxi drivers of Italy. You will need
a car if you plan to see Italy's world heritage sites; it has more than any
other country in the world.