Things to see in Italy

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Littered with more than 3,000 years of history, Italy is a sightseer's paradise. Spend some time in Rome taking in everything from the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps to Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel and the Pantheon. With artworks on display from the likes of da Vinci, Carvaggio and Botticelli, it's a visual buffet to all visitors.

Head north to explore the canals of Venice by gondola, or indulge in the wonderful shopping in the fashion capital of Milan. A little further is the magical city of Florence, teeming with culture and Italian flair or one can continue south past Rome to Naples and explore the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum, destroyed by Mount Vesuvius, which can be seen standing sentinel over the city.

The best time of year to visit Italy is during the summer months when most of the country can be enjoyed like a fine Italian wine - slowly. A trip to the rolling hills of Tuscany is in order to sample some fine wine and olive oil as well as plenty of old style Italian cuisine while taking in the scenery of cypress trees, lush vines and olive groves But if you've got a skiing holiday in mind, head to the Italian Alps and visit the resorts of Courmayer and Brevil Cervinia with world class skiing.

From the gondola-lined canals of Venice to the white sandy beaches of San Remo, to the Alps, Dolomites and Apennines, Italy has everything from beach holidays to luxury mountain ski resorts and a whole lot more in between.

$The Colosseum and Constantine\'s Arch by night$

The Colosseum

This enduring symbol of ancient Rome tenaciously clings to its foundations as the site of former gladiatorial conquests. Its architecture boasts an impressive array of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns and an underground network of cells, corridors, ramps and elevators that were used to... see full details

Pantheon

The stately Pantheon is one of the world's most inspiring architectural designs. Fittingly built as a temple to the Gods by Hadrian in 120 AD, its perfectly proportioned floating dome rests seductively on sturdy marble columns. The only light source flowing through the central... see full details

Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)

The tiny Piazza di Trevi has been immortalised through this fountain, built for Pope Clement XII. Arguably the most famous and most beautiful fountain in all of Rome, the statues adorning this watery display represent Abundance, Agrippa, Salubrity, the Virgin and Neptune guided by... see full details

St Peter’s Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro)

The Basilica lies above the reputed site of St. Peter's tomb. It is an overwhelming interior, containing notable sculptures including Michelangelo's Pieta, which is protected by bullet-proof glass since the damaging attack on it in 1972. In the central aisle stands Arnolfo da Cambio's... see full details

The Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums

The Sistine Chapel's famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo looms above the frescoes on the side walls, painted by an illustrious team of artists that included Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Roselli, Pinturicchio, Signorelli and della Gatta. The altar wall is covered by Michelangelo's Last Supper, revealing the figure... see full details

The Uffizi (Gallerie degli Uffizi)

The Uffizi is one of the world's greatest art galleries, with a collection of Renaissance paintings that includes the works of Giotto, Masaccio, Paolo Ucello, Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian and Caravaggio. The collection is housed on the top floor of a... see full details

Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square)

Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo or Cathedral of Florence, is set in the heart of the city and perches above the metropolis like an emperor before his subjects. Its most distinctive feature is the enormous dome, designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and built... see full details

Chianti Region

A circular route from Siena through the Chianti hills provides visitors to the region with a wonderfully scenic and sensory travel experience. The route covers the villages of the Chianti Classico wine region, garnished with ancient castles and rambling farmhouses. The vineyards and wooded... see full details

Pompeii

In the year 79 AD Mount Vesuvius' fiery temper erupted in volcanic lava, burying the Roman city of Pompeii. The most evocative testimony to its victims is the 'frozen people', plaster casts of the victims whose anguished contortions and facial expressions reveal the horror... see full details

The Grand Canal (Canalazzo)

Venice's main waterway splits the city in half, with sestieri in equal parts to the west and east of it. It is the hub around which much activity in Venice is concentrated and is encircled with elegant facades of the palazzi, which testify to... see full details

Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral)

The looming Duomo, the world's largest Gothic cathedral, presides over the Milanese Piazza that bears its name. Its construction began in 1386 and continued sporadically until Napoleon ordered its completion in 1809. Its lengthy creation bestowed on it 3,400 statues, 135 spires and 96... see full details

Portofino

Nestled in a sheltered inlet within the stretch of the Italian Mediterranean is the coastal village of Portofino. It has long been the playground for the rich and famous, attracting the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Sophia Loren, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Grace.... see full details

Ustica

An underwater city and a landscape of petrified black lava are the characteristics of the unusual little island of Ustica in the Tyrrhenian Sea, just a short ferry ride of 36 miles (57km) from Palermo. The ancient volcanic island was originally inhabited by the... see full details

Mount Etna

Sicily's greatest natural attraction is the (very) active volcano, Mount Etna, which has been spewing lava and shaking the earth for centuries, most recently in 2008, while ash eruptions occur almost continuosly. About 20 miles (32km) from Catania the craters below the summit can... see full details

Capri

Capri's beauty captured the imagination of the Roman Emperor Augustus in 29 BC, and continues to draw admiring crowds to its picturesque banks. Ferries and hydrofoils transport travellers from Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Naples to its embarkation point at Marina Grande. From here, a... see full details

Verona

Just two hours west of Venice is Verona, the famous historical city where Shakespeare placed his star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. Located in the centre of the city is the house which inspired the residence of the Capulet family, dating back to the 13th... see full details

Orto Botanico di Brera

The Orto Botanico di Brera is a botanical garden located behind the Pinacoteca di Brera in the centre of Milan, and is operated by the Istituto di Fisica Generale Applicata of the University of Milan. The garden was established in 1774 under the... see full details

Leaning Tower of Pisa

The world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa was built as a freestanding bell tower (campanile) behind the city cathedral. Constructed during the 11th and 12th Centuries, the tower is the third-oldest building in Pisa's Cathedral Square. Originally intended to stand vertically, the tower now leans towards... see full details

Gondola Rides

Surely one of Italy's most iconic images is that of gondolas being oared through the narrow canals of Venice by stripe-shirted, serenading gondoliers. These flat-bottomed boats are unique to the canals and waterways of Venice, and taking a ride in one is considered by... see full details

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