Italy is a multifaceted country that has lots on offer – often so much that it’s impossible to experience it all in one trip. We’ve put together a few different ways that you can experience Italy to get the most out of it.
Experience the Best Known Bits of Italy with a Cruise
If you’re a first timer to Italy, then a cruise can be the best way to experience the highlights. Cities such as Rome, Venice, Pisa and Milan are almost always featured on the itineraries of Mediterranean cruises, amongst others. You get to see the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi fountain, the Pantheon, and all the best sites when you visit Rome (that’s if you can fit that much in in one day), whereas Venice is simply incredibly romantic, wandering around the canals and St Mark’s square.
The Art of Italy
If art is your passion, then Italy is an ideal place to go. Italy’s artists and sculptors have contributed some of the most famous and influential pieces of art in history. Think Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, and more.
Florence has at least three art museums that you have to visit – the Uffizi Gallery, the Gallery of the Academy of Florence and the Bargello National Museum. You can see work by some of the most famous artists from Italy, as mentioned above, and the Gallery of the Academy of Florence is home to Michelangelo’s David. However, for a different way of experiencing it, there are many lesser known art galleries and museums in Florence that have works by famous artists in them. They are free of tourists too!
A Tour of Food
When you think of Italian food you think of pizza and pasta, but it’s not all like that. Northern Italy in particular has lots of different dishes to offer. Risotto, polenta, meat, fish and potatoes are all excellent in this area of the world, with influences coming from France and Germany. If you’re in Rome, head to Lazio where some of the best roman cuisine is on offer.
As you go south, the cuisine does become much more what you might call Mediterranean. Naples has some of the best pizza with a thick crust, fresh mozzarella and tomatoes.
If you’re looking for somewhere authentically Italian to eat, then try and avoid the tourist traps. If there’s a rep on the outside trying to get you to go to their restaurant, then don’t go in. Head somewhere where there are more Italians than tourists and you might just find somewhere excellent to eat. Not only will the food be better, you won’t pay extortionate prices for it either.
