coll. - Best of Italy

BEST OF ITALY

TOP SIGHTS, AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCES

Welcome to Italy

Epicentre of the Roman Empire and birthplace of the Renaissance, this sun-kissed virtuoso groans under the weight of its cultural cachet: its here that youll stand in the presence of Michelangelos David and Sistine Chapel frescoes, Botticellis Birth of Venus and Primavera and da Vincis The Last Supper. In fact, Italy has more Unesco World Heritage cultural sites than any other country on Earth.

In few places do art and life intermingle so effortlessly. This may be the land of Dante, Titian and Verdi, but its also the home of Prada, chef Gualtiero Marchesi and architect Renzo Piano. Beauty, style and flair furnish every aspect of daily life, from those immaculately knotted ties and perfect espressos to the flirtatious smiles of striking strangers. The root of Italian psychology is a dedication to living life well and, effortless as it may seem, driving that dedication is a reverence for the finer things. So slow down, take note and indulge in a little bella vita.

Italys fortes extend beyond its galleries, plates and wardrobes. The country is one of Mother Natures masterpieces, its geography offering extraordinary natural diversity. From the norths icy Alps and glacial lakes to the souths volcanic craters and turquoise grottoes, this is a place for doing as well as seeing.

AND THE RIVER TIBER / RILINDH/GETTY IMAGES

Start with two days in , exploring its labyrinthine streets and picturesque piazzas. Tour the Grand Canal and take in headline sights such as the Basilica di San Marco and Palazzo Ducale.

2 to 3 hours; 4 hours

Next, hotfoot it down to to spend a couple of days feasting on the citys celebrated treasures: the Duomo, Michelangelos David, and the Galleria degli Uffizi.

2 to 4 hours; 3 hours

The last leg leads to where youll have just enough time to tackle the star attractions: the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Sistine Chapel (in the Vatican Museums) and Pantheon.

12 hours; 2 hours

Continue south for a two-day stopover in . Explore its highly charged streets and wonderful museums, and fill up on pizza.

35 minutes; 30 minutes

Take a day trip from Naples to discover the ruins of ancient .

to Sorrento 70 minutes, then to Positano 40 minutes; 1 hours

Leave Naples and take some time out on the . Enjoy two days of breathtaking scenery in Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. If you have time, try for a trip over to Capri.

12 hours; 1 hour

Scoot back to Naples, then spend three days in : one venturing up Mt Etna, one visiting the Valley of the Temples, and one in the islands hot-blooded capital, Palermo.

1 hours, then 3 hours

Fly back to Rome and then take a bus up to , the Umbrian birthplace of St Francis.

to Siena via Perugia 2 hours; 1 hours

From Assisi, push on to Tuscany. Spend three days here, one exploring medieval to see the legendary Leaning Tower.

via La Spezia 1 hours; 1 hours

Next head up to the for some stunning coastal walking.

via Genoa Piazza Principe 3 to 4 hours; 3 hours

Jump on a train and steer northwards for a blast of urban life in .

30 minutes to 1 hour; 1 hours

Finally, hotfoot it over to , a relaxing spot to end your tour.

ITALYS TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

According to Unesco, Florence contains the greatest concentration of universally renowned works of art in the world. Florence is where the Renaissance kicked off and giants such as Brunelleschi, Michelangelo and Botticelli rewrote the rules of creative expression. The result is a city laden with artistic treasures, blockbuster museums and jewel-box churches. Its flawless medieval streets teem with wine bars, trattorias and elegant boutiques.

ITALYS TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

Italys most romanticised region, Tuscany is tailor-made for aesthetes with its fabled landscape of vine-clad slopes, cypress trees and stone villas. Dotting this undulating wonderland are a string of urban masterpieces, from Gothic Siena to Manhattan-esque San Gimignano, and Pisa, home of Italys iconic Leaning Tower. Wine lovers are in the right place, too, for Tuscany is home to some of the countrys greatest wines.

ITALYS TOP 12 PLAN YOUR TRIP

For the sinful inhabitants of the Cinque Terres five sherbert-coloured villages Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore penance involved a hike up the vertiginous cliffside to the sanctuary to appeal for forgiveness. Scale the same trails today through terraced vineyards, and as the heavenly views unfurl, its hard to think of a more benign punishment. For those seeking less exertion, hop from one village to the next on the train.