MAIN Travel Europe Italy

Its legacy of scenic wonders, great art and architecture, music, food and Italian wine - plus a unique talent for living la dolce vita - puts Italy forever at the forefront of great travel destinations.

For lovers of art and music, there are numberless ways to be fascinated.

These include the vast holdings of the Vatican in Rome, to timeless masterpieces found in Michelangelo's Florence - along with Milan and the world mecca of all grand opera at La Scala.

For scenery alone, the Amalfi Coast is a breathtaking ride down Italy's west coast.

Further north, legendary Tuscany is a gourmet's heaven holding picture-postcard views at every turn.

Then there's the other-worldly beauty of Venice which always properly falls under the category "has to be seen to be believed."

Turin and the Piedmont region were in the world spotlight as the home of the Winter Olympic Games in 2006, but even today continues to draw interest to this unusually beautiful and scenic area - even by Italy standards!

Top tourist attractions in Italy include (left to right) the Colosseum in Rome, tours of the
Amalfi Coast, the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral in Florence, the Leaning Tower of Pisa,
St. Mark's Square in Venice, and the breathtaking vistas of Lake Como.

The beauty and sunshine of the Italian Riviera draws many tourists. The unsung gem of Italian cities, Genoa, with its world class aquarium, university, hillside climbing streets and architectural treasures surprises many visitors who come for the sun and stay for dinner and the opera. The nearby Cinque Terra, five hillside villages strung together by paths carved into the mountainsides, draws visitors to the spectacular views.

DID YOU KNOW? Italy Travel Fun Facts

There she blows: Mt. Etna

• Italy is home to Europe's only three active volcanoes: Vesuvius, Etna, and Stromboli. Among the three, Mount Etna also happens to be the world's tallest and most active volcano.

• At outdoor markets throughout Italy it is considered bad manners to touch the fruits and vegetables without first asking “Posso?” – may I? 

• The oldest film festival in the world is the Venice Film Festival, established in 1932.

• One of Italy's most popular desserts, tiramisù has only been around since the 1970's. The coffee and chocolate flavored concoction literally means "pick-me-up".

• Located in Palermo, Sicily the International Puppet Museum boasts a collection of more than 6,000 puppets.

• Many famous Italians have been born in Venice including the famous lover Casanova, explorer Marco Polo, and music composer Antonio Vivaldi.

More about Italy travel & tourism around the Web:

Around the Web, discover more about the sights, sounds, aromas and the friendly locals that make up Italy, with top online guides offering special looks by region, related photo galleries, travel video, and more reasons why a trip to Italy should be on any travelers must-see list:

Italian Tourism - The official tourism site offering an updated schedule of events, feature stories, pictures, guides to Italy by region, practical travel tips, extensive photo galleries, related links.

Rome Guide - A complete guide to the Eternal City with listings of hotels and accommodations, plus news and updates on theater, entertainment and museum exhibits, guides to Vatican City, city tours, shopping and restaurants, Rome for kids and an extensive collection of photos, maps and related links.

Florence Tourism and Tourist Information - Your complete guide to Florence with facts, information and tips on hotels and accommodation, art museums, restaurants & shopping, Florence markets, event calender, nearby attractions, maps and pictures.

also see -> Christmas in Italy