ITALY
The
pleasures and passions of life — art and
architecture, food and wine — will tempt, delight, and elate
both the soul and the stomach in Italy. From penne to pizza, the
Renaissance and the Romans, Italy is a delicious and delightful
destination. Italy became a nation-state belatedly - in 1861 when the
city-states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were
united under King Victor EMMANUEL. An era of parliamentary government
came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a
Fascist dictatorship. His disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany led to
Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the
monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter
member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at
the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining
the European Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include illegal
immigration, the ravages of organized crime, corruption, high
unemployment, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern
Italy compared with the more prosperous north.
Italy
is truly one of the
cradles of Western
civilization,
with one of the longest histories and richest cultures in Europe.
Rome
was the capital of the ancient Roman Empire. The capital Rome is
said to have been founded in 753 BC, when Romulus, son of the god Mars,
yoked a bullock and a heifer to a plowshare, marked out a boundary, and
built a wall. Be that as it may, the city has at least 2,500 years of
unparalleled cultural accomplishment. The Vatican, the Colosseo,
(Colosseum) and the Spanish Steps are just the beginning of the
treasures preserved here. Florence, home to Leonardo da Vinci and
Michelangelo, was one of the greatest centers of the Renaissance, and is
filled with beautiful art and wondrous architecture. Venice, whose
wealth was built on trade with the East, rose on a series of islands;
canals became its streets, linking piazzas, palaces, and fabulous
churches.
However,
modern Italy is much more than a museum of its past glories. The
mountains of the southern Alps, particularly the Dolomites, and the
peaks and valleys of the Apennines lend Italy a rugged natural beauty.
With thousands of miles of coastline, Italy is also a major resort
destination; its islands—Sicily, Sardinia, and more remote archipelagoes
like the Aeolian Islands—have become popular getaways for those seeking
summer sand and sun.
In spite of its imposing history and its natural beauty, perhaps Italy's
most enduring attractions are its people and contemporary culture. While
the stereotype of the typical Italian is no more accurate than any
other, Italians in general live life with passion and a vibrant sense of
style. Quality food, wine, and design reach heights in Italy rarely
approached elsewhere in the world. Plan on spending at least a few days
in an Italian city—full of cafés, open-air piazzas, and the hustle and
bustle of people going about their lives amidst ancient landmarks—and
take in the flavor of modern Italian culture.
Built
around the river Arno, Florence has
remained a relatively small, compact city with narrow, cobbled streets
making up most of the central area. The Renaissance movement is clear
for all to see, from the design of the buildings to the art and
sculpture galleries. Medieval Florence is a work of art in its own
right. Everybody should see the Uffizi Gallery at least once- leave it
until late afternoon when it's quieter. In the meantime brush up on
Michaelaneglo at the Galleria dell'Accademia, Donatello at the Museo
dell'Opera del Duomo, Titian, Raphael and Veronese at the Palazzo Pitti.
The Duomo is masterpiece in its own right- climb up inside the dome
itself for a fabulous view of the city. Spend an evening at the Teatro
Comunale at one of the concert performances, otherwise there is a
wonderful music festival held between May and July each year.
Set in what was
considered by the Romans to be one of their country's most beautiful
areas, the city of Naples spreads
out like a fan across the bay. At the foot of Mount Vesuvius, it boasts
a wealth of architecture, art treasures and some of the world's finest
archeological remains, making it an interesting base to celebrate the
millennium year. A visit to the ancient remains of Pompeii and
Herculaneum is also possible from here as well as boat trips to the
beautiful island of Capri and Ischia.
The Italian Riviera
is a nature-lover's paradise, famed for its temperate climate and
luxuriant vegetation of silver olive trees, vines, cypresses, pines and
array of beautiful flowers, all of which can be seen in the superb
botanical gardens of La Mortola. The Italian Riviera is a constant
delight with azure seas, green mountains and pretty little villages and
towns. Its history can be traced back hundreds of years to ancient
cave-dwellers. A proud seafaring region with along history of trade and
commerce, it not only attracted the ancient Romans but also the
unwelcome attention of marauding pirates.