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Featured Destination - Milan
Milano is the country's economic engine room, home to Italy's
stock market and business centers.
This stylish city is also the world's design capital and rivals
Paris as a leading fashion center.
Regions, Towns and Villages of Italy
Abruzzo (13) Regional Capital is
L'Aquila -
A relatively untouched part of Italy but the "Tuscany Bunch" are starting to
find their way there so hurry before it becomes a popular as its northern sister.
This part of Italy is fraught with medieval towns and castles.
Towns in Abruzzo:
L'Aquila, Pescara
Basilicata (17) Regional capital is
Potenza - This is a mountainous area of Italy just
above the arch of the boot.
Towns in Basilicata:
Potenza
Calabria (18) Regional capital is Catanzaro -
While Liguria is more famous for its coastline, Calabria has some of the most
beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean. It also has lovely hotels in the
mountains.
Towns in Calabria: Cosenza,
Lamezia Terme,
Reggio Calabria
Campania (15) Regional Capital is
Naples - Home of the pizza, Campania has a long history
of conquest, dating back to the third century B.C. It is located on the
south-west coastline of Italy.
Towns in Campania:
Amalfi,
Massa Lubrense,
Naples,
Positano,
Sorrento
Emilia Romagna (8) Regional Capital is
Bologna - This region in the north-central part of
Italy was part of the first major culture in Italy, the Etruscan civilization.
Towns in Emilia Romagna:
Bologna,
Cesenatico,
Rimini
Friuli Venezia Giulia (6) Regional
Capital is Trieste - Because of its location at the
extreme north-east of Italy, Friuli Venezui Guilia, much like Switzerland, has
a collection of cultures represented and languages spoken.
Towns in Friuli Venezia Giulia:
Trieste
Lazio (12) Regional Capital is
Rome - This region is dominated by Rome but also features
beautiful farmland once you are released from the confines of the eternal
city.
Towns in Lazio:
Rome
Liguria - Italian Riviera (7) Regional
Capital is
Genoa - Merely a brush stroke on the north-west corner
of Italy, Liguria hosts some of the most beautiful hotels and villages in
Italy.
Towns in Liguria:
Genoa,
Santa Margherita Ligure
Lombardia (3) Regional Capital is
Milan - This heavily populated and wealthy region of
Italy is well known for its high fashion industry and buzzing economy.
Towns in Lombardia:
Como,
Desenzano del Garda,
Milan,
Sirmione
Marche (11) Regional Capital is Ancona
- Ignored by most mainstream tourists, Marche has an abundance of beautiful
hotel, striking beaches and is one of the art centres of Italy.
Towns in Marche:
Ancona
Molise (14) Regional Capital is Campobasso - With
its low population and agrarian lifestyle, Molise allows the visitor to
experience an unhurried holiday in Italy.
Piedmonte (1) Regional Capital is
Turin - This north-west region of Italy is a major
industrial and agricultural area.
Towns in Piedmonte: Acqui Terme,
Turin
Puglia (16) Regional Capital is
Bari - The heel of Italy's boot, Puglia consists mostly
of farmland and has strong ties to ancient Greece.
Towns in Puglia:
Alberobello,
Bari,
Brindisi,
Lecce,
Gallipoli,
San Giovanni Rotondo,
Taranto
Sardinia - Sardegna (20) Regional Capital is Cagliari
- Sardinia is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Europeans. It
boasts beautiful resorts, enchanting beaches and is the second largest island
in the Mediterranean.
Towns in Sardinia:
Arbatax,
Alghero
Sicilia - Sicily (19) Regional Capital is
Palermo - In spite of Sicily's reputation for being the birthplace of some rather
unsavory characters, it is, in truth, a haven for the arts and poetry.
Towns in Sicily:
Palermo,
Taormina
Toscana - Tuscany (9) Regional Capital is
Florence - Tuscany has received some notable
attention in recent years as a Mecca for toruism but it is deservedly one of the
best destinations in Europe. The beautiful countryside and charming
towns have lost little under the assault of the Izod masses.
Towns in Tuscany:
Florence,
Lucca,
Pisa,
San Gimignano,
Siena
Trentino Alto Adige - Trentino South Tyrol (4)
Regional Capital is Trento - Somewhat more German and Austrian then Italian,
this former portion of the Austria-Hungarian Empire is an alpine paradise.
Towns in Trentino Alto Adige:
Merano
Umbria (10) Regional Capital is Perugia - Located
in the centre of Italy, Unbria consists of rolling hillsides and quaint
villages.
Towns in Umbria:
Assisi,
Baschi,
Bettona,
Citta di Castello,
Corciano,
Gubbio,
Montefalco,
Norcia,
Orvieto,
Passignano sul Trasimeno,
Perugia,
Spoleto,
Todi
Valle D'Aosta (2) Regional Capital is
Aosta
- Valle D'Aosta is in the far north-western part of Italy and is notable for
its winter sports.
Towns in Valle D'Aosta: Aosta,
Saint Vincent
Veneto (5) Regional Capital is
Venice - Unchallenged as Italy's art and cultural
centre, Veneto gathers in more tourists each year than any other part of the
country.
Towns in Veneto:
Abano Terme,
Venice,
Verona
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Car Hire in Italy
Most Popular Destinations in Italy
Tuscany The most visited
destination spot in Italy. Here are some of the more travelled areas:
Florence: Florence is considered the birthplace of the
Renaissance. Perhaps the most wealthy city in Europe during the reign of
the powerful Medici family, Florence is home to many well-known works of
art.
Chianti: The classic Italian wine gets its name from this region
in Tuscany. Although Chianti is quite good, it has become a victim of
its own publicity and now commands a steep price in most places.
Val d'Elsa: Yet another reason to visit Tuscany, this area is known for the
production of fine crystal.
Val di
Chiana: Again, located in Tuscany, Val di Chiana has one of the best
preserved Lombard forts in Italy.
Val
d'Orcia: The southern part of Tuscany known
for its rolling hills and excellent wines.
Crete Senesi:
An agrarian area in Tuscany with lovely lunar landscapes.
Elba:
An island off Tuscany made famous as the place where Napoleon was
imprisoned. A popular palindrome, "Able was I ere I saw Elba," is
attributed to him but this is unlikely. Napoleon hated the English
language.
Cecina Valley:
A coastal area of Tuscany.
Val di Merse:
The area of Tuscany south of Chianti.
Florentine Mountains:
Mountains surrounding Florence with surprising pristine hiking areas.
Cesenatico - Jewell of the Adriatic
Cesenatico has 5 marvelous km of golden beach, an ancient Harbor designed by
Leonardo da Vinci and is in close proximity to Ravenna, capital of the Byzantine
mosaics, San Marino, the smallest Republic of the world and Cesena, Unesco
cultural patrimony.
Sicilian Coast and
Islands
The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily has
beautiful beaches and a thriving agrarian culture. It is also a centre
of art and music.
Venice
Everyone has heard of the Venetian canals but Venice was
also the launching point for many of the crusades during the middle
ages.
Costiera Amalfitana
Located south of Rome, the Amalfi coastline is peppered with
beautiful towns and villages.
Italian Riviera
Located in the north of Italy, along the Mediterranean, the Italian
Riviera is known for mild weather and covers most of the coastline of
Liguria.
Lake Garda
This alpine lake in Northern Italy is a famous tourist destination
with resorts and fine hotels dotted along its coastline.
Apulia Coast
Comprising the "heel" of Italy and parts north, the Apulia Coast
borders the warm waters of the Adriatic. Civilization here goes back to
ancient times.
Dolomites
These mountains in northeast Italy were formed from uplifted seabed
and are considered some of the most beautiful in the world.
Portofino
Located on the eastern part of the Italian Riviera, Portofino is a
commune, resort and fishing village.
Ischia
A volcanic island in the Gulf of Naples, Ischia has sweeping vistas
and thermal spas.
Riviera dei Fiori
The westernmost coastline of the Italian Riviera.
Cinque Terre
The easternmost coastline of the Italian Riviera.
Merano
Located in the northern part of Trentino Alto Adige, Merano is known
for its spa resorts.
Riviera delle Palme
The section of the Italian Riviera between
Riviera dei Fiori
and
Portofino.
Capri
A resort island going back to ancient times, Capri is famous for the
Blue Grotto, a spectacular water cave.
Riviera Romagnola
This is the Italian Riviera many Italians prefer to go to on holiday.
The towns are family friendly (especially
Cesenatico) and the Adriatic is warm.
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