Italy and things to do
The special richness of Italy for the tourist is that centuries of regional rivalries have left the country with no dominant capital like London in Britain or Paris in France. Rome may be the political capital, but culturally, other major cities Florence, Venice, Milan or Naples in no way feel overshadowed.
But let's start in Rome anyway, since so much of Europe itself started there, too. It's certainly not a town to 'do' in a couple of days. Take its cultural riches slowly the ancient splendours of the Coliseum, the Roman Forum in its noble ruins; the artistic treasures of the Vatican, not just Michelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, but also the serenity of the Raphael Room and the grandeur of St. Peter's and its vast square.
Combine them with the enjoyment of Rome's wonderful street life, from the famous Spanish Steps of Piazza di Spagna and the lovely Piazza Navona, to the old working class neighbourhood of Trastevere, Fellini's Rome across the Tiber River. Throw your three coins in the Trevi Fountain, seek out the last vestiges of a few dolce vita dinosaurs along the Via Veneto. You should shop or at least window shop around the stylish luxury of Via del Corso.
Via Condotti, Frattini or Borgognonafor knitwear, silks and leather goods. Cool off with a granita di caffe (iced coffee). Fill up with one of the great simple Roman pasta dishes, olio, aglio, peperoncino (spaghetti with oil, garlic and pepper) or carbonara (bacon bits, egg and cheese), together with a local Frascati white wine. Above all, try to see this town at dawn and sunset, when the light is mellow, mellow, and mellow.
Milan car hire
Car hire in Milan can be prebooked at Milan Airport. Milan is the country's major business centre, home of its stock exchange, but also a leading focus for fashion and the arts. The Milanese tend to regard themselves as more sophisticated than the provincials of Rome or Florence.
These days, men will find English suits and coats on the Via Monte Napoleone better cut than in most shops in London.
When you visit the cathedral, get up on the roof to wander around the, yes, 135 white marble steeples. The Pinacoteca di Brera has a magnificent collection of old Italian masters and in the little galleries of the surrounding neighbourhood, you'll find the country's principal avant/garde artists.
Things to do in Venice
Do it right and Venice will never disappoint you. Even at the busiest moments of the year, in July and August when you might think that La Serenissima, as she is known, will succumb to the onslaught of the hordes of her admirers, you walk just 100 yards away from the crowds and you'll find yet another blessed quiet spot of Venetian magic.
For this town perched on a lagoon is magic, like no other on earth, and its canals and bridges, palaces and little churches, artisan's workshops and galleries, all contain a part of the potion.
Your gondolier you must try one at least once is well enough paid to know exactly where to take you away from the mob. If the Piazza San Marco with its cafes and bandstands, splendid basilica and cheeky pigeons, is too crowded in the middle of the day, go back at midnight or first thing in the morning.
The shopping district of the Rialto is nearly always packed but It would be much less fun when deserted, so just plunge in. The great Venetian artists Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto and Veronesecan be seen at the Accademia, but also in the Doge's Palace. One painter, Carpaccio, had a famous beef dish named after him, another, Bellini, is honoured with a peach champagne cocktail.
There's something awe inspiring about the towering reputation of Florence, but there's no better place to go to sense Europe's achievements. Less boisterous than the Romans and less bustling than the Milanese, the Florentines today have an elegance and dignity appropriate to their city's prestige. Women travelers insist that there is no more handsome man in the world than an upright,.
silver haired 60 year old Florentine gentleman strolling on the fashionable Via de Tornabuoni with his cashmere coat nonchalantly draped like a cape over his shoulders, a Medici reincarnate.
Each visitor comes away with his own favourite memory the Masaccio frescoes in the church of Santa Maria del Carmine, the Ghiberti bronzes on the Baptisery's Doors of Paradise, the Fra Angelico paintings for the monastery of San Marco.
The masterpieces of the Uffizi and Pitti galleries are beyond counting don’t try to 'do' them all, just seek out a dozen and you'll still leave dazed and happy. For your best first or last view of Florence go up to the hillside town of Fiesole. From here, you'll get a taste of the rest of Tuscany of which
Florence and Pisa Italy
Florence is the capital. The vineyards and cypress trees will lead you west to Pisa, where you'll find the leaning tower more poetic than comic in the cathedral square understandably named Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles). A few miles north of Pisa, Lucca offers a charmed moment in the exquisite medieval streets inside its ramparts.
Don't be frightened of Naples. Cynics say that the old adage See Naples and die is exaggerated and should really only be See Naples and have your pocket picked. In this respect, Naples is in fact not so very different from American port towns. You'll avoid trouble with the elementary precautions of leaving your valuables in the hotel safe deposit and holding firmly on to your handbag. The rewards of a visit to this unique south Italian city far outweigh the risks. Many of Pompeii’s treasures are on display in the museum.
Naples and car hire
Car hire in Naples is easy to pre-book from the airport.
The bay really is as beautiful as the poets and singers say, the Mount Vesuvius volcano makes a spectacular backdrop and the people are the most colourful in all Italy. The Certosa (charterhouse) di San Martino gives you a lovely view of the bay.
But let's start in Rome anyway, since so much of Europe itself started there, too. It's certainly not a town to 'do' in a couple of days. Take its cultural riches slowly the ancient splendours of the Coliseum, the Roman Forum in its noble ruins; the artistic treasures of the Vatican, not just Michelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel, but also the serenity of the Raphael Room and the grandeur of St. Peter's and its vast square.
Combine them with the enjoyment of Rome's wonderful street life, from the famous Spanish Steps of Piazza di Spagna and the lovely Piazza Navona, to the old working class neighbourhood of Trastevere, Fellini's Rome across the Tiber River. Throw your three coins in the Trevi Fountain, seek out the last vestiges of a few dolce vita dinosaurs along the Via Veneto. You should shop or at least window shop around the stylish luxury of Via del Corso.
Via Condotti, Frattini or Borgognonafor knitwear, silks and leather goods. Cool off with a granita di caffe (iced coffee). Fill up with one of the great simple Roman pasta dishes, olio, aglio, peperoncino (spaghetti with oil, garlic and pepper) or carbonara (bacon bits, egg and cheese), together with a local Frascati white wine. Above all, try to see this town at dawn and sunset, when the light is mellow, mellow, and mellow.
Milan car hire
Car hire in Milan can be prebooked at Milan Airport. Milan is the country's major business centre, home of its stock exchange, but also a leading focus for fashion and the arts. The Milanese tend to regard themselves as more sophisticated than the provincials of Rome or Florence.
These days, men will find English suits and coats on the Via Monte Napoleone better cut than in most shops in London.
When you visit the cathedral, get up on the roof to wander around the, yes, 135 white marble steeples. The Pinacoteca di Brera has a magnificent collection of old Italian masters and in the little galleries of the surrounding neighbourhood, you'll find the country's principal avant/garde artists.
Things to do in Venice
Do it right and Venice will never disappoint you. Even at the busiest moments of the year, in July and August when you might think that La Serenissima, as she is known, will succumb to the onslaught of the hordes of her admirers, you walk just 100 yards away from the crowds and you'll find yet another blessed quiet spot of Venetian magic.
For this town perched on a lagoon is magic, like no other on earth, and its canals and bridges, palaces and little churches, artisan's workshops and galleries, all contain a part of the potion.
Your gondolier you must try one at least once is well enough paid to know exactly where to take you away from the mob. If the Piazza San Marco with its cafes and bandstands, splendid basilica and cheeky pigeons, is too crowded in the middle of the day, go back at midnight or first thing in the morning.
The shopping district of the Rialto is nearly always packed but It would be much less fun when deserted, so just plunge in. The great Venetian artists Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto and Veronesecan be seen at the Accademia, but also in the Doge's Palace. One painter, Carpaccio, had a famous beef dish named after him, another, Bellini, is honoured with a peach champagne cocktail.
There's something awe inspiring about the towering reputation of Florence, but there's no better place to go to sense Europe's achievements. Less boisterous than the Romans and less bustling than the Milanese, the Florentines today have an elegance and dignity appropriate to their city's prestige. Women travelers insist that there is no more handsome man in the world than an upright,.
silver haired 60 year old Florentine gentleman strolling on the fashionable Via de Tornabuoni with his cashmere coat nonchalantly draped like a cape over his shoulders, a Medici reincarnate.
Each visitor comes away with his own favourite memory the Masaccio frescoes in the church of Santa Maria del Carmine, the Ghiberti bronzes on the Baptisery's Doors of Paradise, the Fra Angelico paintings for the monastery of San Marco.
The masterpieces of the Uffizi and Pitti galleries are beyond counting don’t try to 'do' them all, just seek out a dozen and you'll still leave dazed and happy. For your best first or last view of Florence go up to the hillside town of Fiesole. From here, you'll get a taste of the rest of Tuscany of which
Florence and Pisa Italy
Florence is the capital. The vineyards and cypress trees will lead you west to Pisa, where you'll find the leaning tower more poetic than comic in the cathedral square understandably named Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles). A few miles north of Pisa, Lucca offers a charmed moment in the exquisite medieval streets inside its ramparts.
Don't be frightened of Naples. Cynics say that the old adage See Naples and die is exaggerated and should really only be See Naples and have your pocket picked. In this respect, Naples is in fact not so very different from American port towns. You'll avoid trouble with the elementary precautions of leaving your valuables in the hotel safe deposit and holding firmly on to your handbag. The rewards of a visit to this unique south Italian city far outweigh the risks. Many of Pompeii’s treasures are on display in the museum.
Naples and car hire
Car hire in Naples is easy to pre-book from the airport.
The bay really is as beautiful as the poets and singers say, the Mount Vesuvius volcano makes a spectacular backdrop and the people are the most colourful in all Italy. The Certosa (charterhouse) di San Martino gives you a lovely view of the bay.
Labels: Naples and car hire
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