The world’s design capital’, Milan is famous for fantastic landmarks including beautiful cathedrals. Notable among them is the beautiful Duomo di Milano or Milan Cathedral that took nearly six centuries to complete. Tourists are forbidden to carry bags inside the churches and visitors are not allowed on Sundays or religious holidays. Restrictions extend to dress code. Therefore visitors cannot enter with shorts or sleeveless tops. As a result, both men and women have to cover their knees and shoulders. Besides the elevator, which covers a major part of the ascent, you still have to climb 50 steps to reach the very top. The climb is worth the effort as it gives a view of the golden Madonnina statue and the Italian Alps.
One of the most aesthetically pleasing shopping malls on the planet. Its impressive 19th-century glass ceiling is worth a look..
The La Scala Theater and adjoining museum tour is a fun way to get a close look at one of the most famous opera houses in the world. Do not miss out on the tour La Scala Museum which includes intricate outfits, musical instruments, and various stage props. A stroll through the foyer of the theatre takes you through an 18th-century auditorium with its ornate stage that glistens under crystal chandeliers. Gaze down at the orchestra pit from the public box..
Marvel at The Last Supper fresco and admire the ethereal colours and detail of the masterpiece. A visit here makes you realize the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. The refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria Delle Grazie which is a UNESCO World Heritage site houses the famous mural. You get 15 minutes in front of the masterpiece, so use it wisely. Make sure you step back and see the painting in a larger context.
Venice is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals. Sail through the Grand Canal thoroughfare and enjoy the Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs.
How can you not take a gondola ride with a serenade, cruising through the Grand Canal in the evening? Sit back and let your ears take in the gorgeous songs and lose yourself in the sound and the look of Venice. Enjoy the sites of the main landmarks of Venice. Lose yourself in the romantic melodies as you soak up the passing sights including the Grand Canal and Palazzo Barberino.
Visit Torcello, Murano, and Burano – three islands in the Venetian Lagoon. Take a motorboat ride from Venice to Murano. Visit a glass factory to watch glass being blown. See the historical Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and the Church of Santa Fosca at Torcello and admire exquisite handmade lace at Burano. While you visit local shops and a museum to admire exquisite lace on display, also admire the island’s brightly coloured fishermen’s houses.
As you explore the inside of St. Mark’s Cathedral, get special access to the first-floor terrace where you can see the famous horses stolen from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. Also, enjoy amazing views over St Mark’s Square and the city.
At Doge’s Palace visit the opulent apartments and the Hall of the Great Council. Here matters of state were decided under beautiful frescoes by Veronese and Tintoretto. See the Armory and the New Prisons. Learn about the grim lives of those unlucky enough to be taken a prisoner, and the secret behind the mysterious black veil that interrupts the official series of Doge’s portraits.
Florence, the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture. One of its most iconic sights is the Duomo, a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto. The Galleria dell’Accademia displays Michelangelo’s “David” sculpture. The Uffizi Gallery exhibits Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and da Vinci’s “Annunciation”. Explore the vine growing Tuscany region of Florence.
Another city in the Tuscany region is the city of Siena. Italy’s loveliest medieval city, and a trip worth making even if you are in Tuscany for just a few days. Siena’s heart is its central piazza known as Campo, known worldwide for the famous Palio run here which is a horse race run around the piazza two times every summer. Then move on to Chianti hills olive groves and vineyards for a Tuscan lunch and wine tasting. San Gimignano with its medieval towers, cobbled streets and squares is fun all the way. Enjoy travelling through Italy’s Arno Valley on your way to Pisa, best known for its iconic Leaning Tower.
Rome, is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city and the capital of Italy. The city has inherited nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture and culture. Ancient ruins such as the Forum and the Colosseum evoke the power of the former Roman Empire. The headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church has St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, which house masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes.
Vatican City is home to the Pope and a trove of iconic art and architecture. Do the Holy tour of the St Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums. Vatican Museums house ancient Roman sculptures such as the famed “Laocoön and His Sons” as well as Renaissance frescoes in the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo’s ceiling. Walk through the Gallery of the Maps and Gallery of Tapestries. Gaze at artefacts such as timeworn yet fascinating Italian maps, and admire the sculptures and candelabras of the Gallery of Candelabras.
Sistine Chapel which is the pope’s personal place of worship and a highlight of any Vatican trip. Stand beneath Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam, which cloaks the ceiling, and you can admire his colourful “The Last Judgement”, mural adorning the wall.
St Peter’s Basilica is the symbolic heart of the Catholic Church. See more Vatican art including Michelangelo’s La Pietà, which was sculpted when the maestro was only 24 years old. On Wednesdays, if there is the papal audience the Basilica remains closed until 12:00 PM.
Rome, is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city and the capital of Italy. The city has inherited nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture and culture. Ancient ruins such as the Forum and the Colosseum evoke the power of the former Roman Empire. The headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church has St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, which house masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes.
Walk down the amphitheatre’s underground chambers and the arena floor. Learn about the gruesome gladiator battles which were decided by power-hungry emperors. You’ll have the rare chance to walk through the tunnels, stand where gladiators stood and enjoy a panoramic view.
Explore the Roman Forum to see the ancient ruins of the temple of Julius Caesar. Walk up Palatine Hill and enjoy views of Nero’s Circus Maximus, once home to Ancient Rome’s wealthy residents. See Circus Maximus, where chariot races once took place. The Borghese Galleries exhibit sculptures, paintings and the masterpieces by Italian artists like Caravaggio, Bernini, Canova, and Titian. After your gallery tour, head outside into the Villa Borghese Gardens for a walk around the peaceful park, perched above Rome’s busy Piazza del Popolo. Admire the monuments, fountains and diverse flora. End your tour at the Pincio terrace for a view of Rome’s rooftops and plazas overlooking Piazza del Popolo.
Visit Italy’s largest and most vibrant city or Mount Vesuvius. You have to walk uphill at a 14-degree angle and it takes roughly 25 minutes one-way. Temperatures on the volcano are usually lower so a sweater or light jacket is needed.
Explore historical Pompeii, and marvel at the impressive ruins to witness the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79, evidence of those ancient streams of lava is still evident in the area. See incredibly preserved fossils and other ruins, plus plaster imprints of the town’s victims who were buried for years.
Take a beautiful break at one of the most beautiful villages in southern Italy. Positano, Sorrento, Ravello, and Amalfi give you a true taste of the region’s rich history, architecture, cuisine and more. The trip concludes with a drop-off back in Naples.
Explore the coastal town of Sorrento in south-western Italy. It faces the Bay of Naples on the Sorrentine Peninsula. You will love the town as it is perched atop cliffs separating the town from its busy marinas. Sorrento has been a favourite resort since Roman times.
The Cliffside village Positano on southern Italy’s Amalfi Coast is a scenic holiday destination. Its enchanting town centre of delightful pastel-hued houses surrounds the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta. Its world famous numerous beaches and quaint, colourful shops line the laneways. Enjoy strolling on a pebble beachfront and steep, narrow streets. The boutiques and cafes are good for souvenirs.
Amalfi is a town in a dramatic natural setting below steep cliffs on Italy’s southwest coast. Marvel at scenic mountains plunging into the sea in a vertical scene of crags, and verdant woodland. Amalfi’s typically Mediterranean architecture, made up of lanes and characteristic white houses piled one upon the other, makes it one of Italy’s most famous resorts
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