The climate here is pretty perfect, you can often be outside drinking your coffee watching the world go by on a balmy February or November afternoon and certainly from about April to the end of September the weather is generally hot and sunny. Conversely the Italian Alps and Dolomites offer snow for wonderful winter holidays, with many cosy resorts up in the mountains and ski runs for all levels. Italy can have quite a cold winter, particularly in the hills or the north, but this is merely opportunity for Italians to show off their lovely winter wardrobes!
As well as significant mountain ranges, this is also, in places, the land of rolling meadows, olive or citrus groves and gentle hills dotted with medieval villages and sparkling. There are numerous national parks for walking, riding, canoeing and various other outdoor pursuits. In addition, many parts of the coast are quite delightful, offering a mixture of sandy beaches or elegant seaside towns with stylish esplanades or quaint fishing villages - this lucky country lies between the blue Mediterranean and the azure Adriatic.
Italy's strategic position in the Mediterranean has meant that it has had a long and fascinating history and there are amazing antiquities and buildings that bear witness to this. Extensive and well preserved Etruscan and of course Roman remains are found in Rome itself and also in Verona or Naples and amongst others. The great city states of the Renaissance are such as Florence, Siena or Lucca are rich in architecture and have luckily remain unspoiled by the passing centuries. The Vatican, centre of the Catholic Church, with St Peters basilica and the Vatican Museums offer an enormous wealthy of art and architectural interest. Venice is truly unique and should be experienced for it's the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge, churches, impressive Palazzos or simply to walk the little footpaths that wind amongst the buildings and over various canalsvia pretty bridges. It is especially charming out of season when the crowds have departed and particularly haunting in wintertime.
For lovers of art – buildings, painting and sculpture – Italy was home to the Renaissance and a great centre for the later Baroque period and many masterpieces from those eras are still to be found here. Visit the Uffizi in Florence or the Vatican Museums for example. Sculptural masterpieces of for example Bernini or Michelangelo are literally there in the streets of Rome or Florence and numerous other Italian cities for you to admire. Even little village churches can contain artistic gems too.
Italians love to eat – at home and in restaurants – and this country is a food lover's paradise. In addition there are plenty of good wines to accompany your food. Each region has its food and wine specialities and the Italians hold onto this regionality passionately. Fresh, locally grown and seasonal produce are still used in a variety of dishes all flavoursome but many light and delicate – it is far from just ‘spag bol' and Lasagne, though these hearty meals are also enjoyed. Especially pleasant for the food lover is to seek out small local restaurants and try their specialities each day. Italian cooks – both domestic and professional are always very pleased when you like their food and many pleasant animated discussions about food can be enjoyed with your Italian friends or the local restaurateur.
Lovers of both football and opera will get along fine – whether you are watching Juventus against Lazio in your local bar or enjoying Verdi in the balmy evening air in the Verona Arena. Prima Dona's abound in both activities.
Italy is a recognised centre of elegance and again you can often see this on the street every day, particularly in the cities. Men and women pay great attention to how they dress and often carry themselves with style. You can buy wonderful leather goods and clothes in Italy. It is a shoppers' heaven for shoes and clothing. Italian products are not cheap, but they are still well crafted and made with great design flare.
Not everything is great in Italy, it has its share of ugly industrial landscape, traffic congestion, graffiti, depressed towns and truly terrible television, but as a holiday home owner, you can choose your location and sample only the country's delights.
As well as significant mountain ranges, this is also, in places, the land of rolling meadows, olive or citrus groves and gentle hills dotted with medieval villages and sparkling. There are numerous national parks for walking, riding, canoeing and various other outdoor pursuits. In addition, many parts of the coast are quite delightful, offering a mixture of sandy beaches or elegant seaside towns with stylish esplanades or quaint fishing villages - this lucky country lies between the blue Mediterranean and the azure Adriatic.
Italy's strategic position in the Mediterranean has meant that it has had a long and fascinating history and there are amazing antiquities and buildings that bear witness to this. Extensive and well preserved Etruscan and of course Roman remains are found in Rome itself and also in Verona or Naples and amongst others. The great city states of the Renaissance are such as Florence, Siena or Lucca are rich in architecture and have luckily remain unspoiled by the passing centuries. The Vatican, centre of the Catholic Church, with St Peters basilica and the Vatican Museums offer an enormous wealthy of art and architectural interest. Venice is truly unique and should be experienced for it's the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge, churches, impressive Palazzos or simply to walk the little footpaths that wind amongst the buildings and over various canalsvia pretty bridges. It is especially charming out of season when the crowds have departed and particularly haunting in wintertime.
For lovers of art – buildings, painting and sculpture – Italy was home to the Renaissance and a great centre for the later Baroque period and many masterpieces from those eras are still to be found here. Visit the Uffizi in Florence or the Vatican Museums for example. Sculptural masterpieces of for example Bernini or Michelangelo are literally there in the streets of Rome or Florence and numerous other Italian cities for you to admire. Even little village churches can contain artistic gems too.
Italians love to eat – at home and in restaurants – and this country is a food lover's paradise. In addition there are plenty of good wines to accompany your food. Each region has its food and wine specialities and the Italians hold onto this regionality passionately. Fresh, locally grown and seasonal produce are still used in a variety of dishes all flavoursome but many light and delicate – it is far from just ‘spag bol' and Lasagne, though these hearty meals are also enjoyed. Especially pleasant for the food lover is to seek out small local restaurants and try their specialities each day. Italian cooks – both domestic and professional are always very pleased when you like their food and many pleasant animated discussions about food can be enjoyed with your Italian friends or the local restaurateur.
Lovers of both football and opera will get along fine – whether you are watching Juventus against Lazio in your local bar or enjoying Verdi in the balmy evening air in the Verona Arena. Prima Dona's abound in both activities.
Italy is a recognised centre of elegance and again you can often see this on the street every day, particularly in the cities. Men and women pay great attention to how they dress and often carry themselves with style. You can buy wonderful leather goods and clothes in Italy. It is a shoppers' heaven for shoes and clothing. Italian products are not cheap, but they are still well crafted and made with great design flare.
Not everything is great in Italy, it has its share of ugly industrial landscape, traffic congestion, graffiti, depressed towns and truly terrible television, but as a holiday home owner, you can choose your location and sample only the country's delights.
SHARE
