Where to visit in Italy

Whether it’s the food, the weather, the skiing or the cultural history you’re after, Italy has all the ingredients for a memorable family holiday. This country has a variety of terrains, from skiing in the Alps in the north to the warm coastlines of the south, and the country’s two biggest cities, Rome and Milan, have much to offer.

Milan is located in the north of the country, and is famous for being one of the fashion capitals of the world. However there’s much more to the city than this, it has some fantastic architecture such as the huge Duomo di Milano, and you can see the sights such as La Scala Theatre and the Royal Palace on a private walking tour of the city, that allows you to let the guide know in advance of any special interests you may have so the tour can be customised to you. Milan is also famous for something else besides fashion- football, and fans of the sport will no doubt leap at the chance to go on a tour of San Siro Stadium , which is home to A.C. Milan and F.C. Inter. 

One of the most famous works of art in the Western world is housed in Milan – Da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’at Santa Maria delle Grazie, which you can visit by yourself or as part of a wider tour of the city. If you fancy something completely different away from the city for a day, you can take a ride on the Bernina Express Train in the Alps of nearby Switzerland, which travels through a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As for accommodation, ebookers.com have a host of centrally located hotels in Milan, such as the Dei Cavalieri Hotel and the Brunellschi Hotel.

To the south of the country and to the capital Rome: the city is unparalleled in its history, art and architecture. As the saying goes, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’, and equally it’s impossible to see all of Rome in just one day, so it’s advisable to spend a couple of days in the city to get the most out of your stay. If you’re interested in the ancient city of Rome, then a visit to the Roman Forum is a must. You can take a half day tour of the rich historical area as well as the Colosseum, which is located right beside the Forum. And as of 2011 the public can now visit the Colosseum’s legendary underground chambers and its third tier, if you can handle an early morning start time of 8:30am for your tour.

Of course the Vatican is also situated in Rome, and its spectacular St. Peter’s Basilica is well worth a visit – you can skip the line on a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel with its legendary ceiling painted by Michelangelo, and St. Peter’s itself. Outside of Rome but within driving distance are the ruins of the city of Pompeii on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, devastated by the eruption of the volcano in 79 AD. You can take a day trip from Rome to visit Pompeii with the option of a hike up to Vesuvius on a thirteen hour day trip, which could make for a break from the hustle and bustle of Rome.

Of course you won’t be stuck for a choice of restaurants in Rome, but if you fancy heading somewhere quieter for a true taste of the Italian countryside, you can go on a Taste of Italy food tour to Umbria and Chianti, where you’ll get to experience foods such as cheese, salami and olive oil in the towns of Cortona and Montepulciano.