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About Italy
Italy - the country where for millennia the genius of man has been engaged in an incessant contest to create prodigies capable of rivaling the marvels of nature. The results are bold creations, from mountain fortifications to the great cathedrals of the cities, from architectural masterpieces such as the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa and the Rialto Bridge in Venice to artistic expressions of stunning beauty, such as Michelangelo's statues or Raphael's paintings. Italy exudes an art of living that embraces all aspects of life, and one that from the time of the first travelers to the present day has seduced millions of people. This is truly "La Dolce Vita".
The Roman empire, first founded in the 8th century BC produced a culture so influential that parts of it survive in modern law, administration, philosophy and arts forming the ground where Western civilization is based upon.
Italy was also the birthplace of the cultural movement of the Renaissance, that began in Tuscany and spread all over Europe. Two of the best known "Renaissance Men" were Italians Leonard da Vinci and Michaelangelo
Tour Sites/Attractions
Rome - Italy's “Eternal City” and capital, Rome has been for centuries the center of Western civilization. Sightseeing includes the Forum, Colosseum, the Circus Maximus. Rome is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and their will also be visits to the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Pompeii - During a catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning two days on 24 August 79 AD, the Roman City near modern Naples was buried. It is now partially excavated and the archeoligical finds there tell an interesting story of everyday life in the height of the Roman Empire caught in a tragic moment of time.
Isle of Capri - Located off the Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, Capri has been a resort since the time of the Roman Republic. Some of the features making this a popular place even in modern times are the Belvedere of Tragara, which is the high panoramic promenade lined with villas, the limestone masses called Sea Stacks that stand out of the sea, Anacapri, the Blue Grotto, and the ruins of the Imperial Roman villas.
Naples - The metropolitan area of Naples is the second most populated in Italy and one of the largest in all of Europe with around 3.8 million people. In the central area, the city itself has a population of around 1 million people. The Naples National Archaeological Museum is one of the main museums, considered one of the most important for artifacts of the Roman Empire in the world.[43] It also hosts many of the ruins unearthed at Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as some artifacts from the Greek and Renaissance periods.
Assisi - This mystical town is the birthplace of St. Francis, who founded the Franciscan religious order in the town in 1208. Sightseeing includes the Basilica with its serene Giotto frescoes, as well as the miraculous Church of St. Mary of the Angels.
San Marino - The tiniest Republic in the world, San Marino claims to be the oldest constitutional republic in the world and that it was founded on 3 September 301 by Marinus of Rab, a Christian stonemason fleeing the religious persecution of Roman Emperor Diocletian. San Marino's constitution, dating back to 1600, is the world's oldest written constitution still in effect.
Padua - Padua has many cathedrals. The most famous of the Paduan churches is the Basilica di Sant'Antonio da Padova (St. Anthony’s Basilica). The bones of the saint rest in a chapel richly ornamented with carved marbles, the work of various artists, among them of Sansovino and Falconetto. The basilica was begun about the year 1230 and completed in the following century.
Venice - Venice is world-famous for its canals. It is built on an archipelago of 118 islands formed by about 150 canals in a shallow lagoon. The islands on which the city is built are connected by about 400 bridges. Sightseeing includes St. Mark's Square, the Byzantine Basilica, Doges' Palace and the
Bridge of Sighs. Group will also visit a glass-blowing factory.
Tuscany - Tuscany is known for its landscapes and its artistic legacy. Tuscany was the birthplace of Dante Alighieri ("the father of the Italian language"), Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Botticelli. Nearly 23,000 square kilometers, it has a population of about 3.6 million. The regional capital is Florence. In Florence, sightseeing tour features Signoria Square, the Baptistry and Santa Croce Basilica. Other sites include Siena (see below); and the Tuscan countryside, famous for Chianti and other Italian wines.
Siena - Siena, like other Tuscan hill towns, was first settled in the time of the Etruscans (c. 900 BC to 400 BC). According to archeologists, the ancient legend is that Siena was founded by Senius, son of Remus (who was brother of Romulus, after whom Rome was named), and thus there are many depictions of a she-wolf suckling the twins there. The tour group will visit the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, the town square, which houses the Palazzo Pubblico and the Torre del Mangia, another architectural treasure, famous for hosting the Palio horse race. On the Piazza Salimbeni is the Palazzo Salimbeni, one of the oldest banks in continuous existence and still a major player in the Sienese economy.
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