Garwood Duncan - Lonely Planet Italys Best Trips

WELCOME TO ITALY

Few countries can rival Italys wealth of riches. Its historic cities boast iconic monuments and masterpieces at every turn, its food is imitated the world over and its landscape is a majestic patchwork of snow-capped peaks, plunging coastlines, lakes and remote valleys. And with many thrilling roads to explore, it offers plenty of epic driving.

The 40 trips outlined in this book run the length of the country, leading from Alpine summits to southern volcanoes, from hilltop towns in Tuscany to fishing villages on the Amalfi Coast, from Venetian canals to Pompeiis ghostly ruins. They take in heavyweight cities and little-known gems, and cover a wide range of experiences.

So whether you want to tour gourmet towns and historic vineyards, idyllic coastlines or pristine national parks, we have a route for you. And if youve only got time for one trip, make it one of our eight Classic Trips, which take you to the very best of Italy.

Rome Piazza Navona with the Chiesa di SantAgnese in Agone and the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi
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ITALY HIGHLIGHTS

Italys best sights and experiences, and the road trips that will take you there.

Rome

All roads lead to Rome (Roma) and Trip 1: Grand Tour is one such, stopping off at the Eternal City en route from Turin (Torino) to Naples (Napoli). The one-time caput mundi (capital of the world) is a mesmerising city, home to celebrated icons the Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Michelangelos Sistine Chapel and spectacular works of art. Even strolling its romantic lanes and operatic piazzas is a thrill to remember.

Trips

Rome Colosseum
VIACHESLAV LOPATIN/SHUTTERSTOCK

Venice

Drive Trip 2: World Heritage Wonders and the road runs out in Venice (Venezia), where highways give way to waterways. Venice is absolutely unique and its a soul-lifting experience to explore its backstreets and piazzas, revelling in East-meets-West architecture. Art treasures abound, but for sheer wow factor little can compare with the Basilica di San Marco and its 24-carat-gold mosaics.

Trips

Venice Ponte delle Guglie
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Pompeii

A once-thriving Roman port frozen in its 2000-year-old death throes, Pompeii is an electrifying spectacle. Head down on Trip 27: Shadow of Vesuvius and wander its fantastically preserved streets, exploring the forum, the city brothel, the 5000-seat theatre and the frescoed Villa dei Misteri. Body casts of victims add a sense of menace as Vesuvius looms darkly on the horizon.

Trips

The Dolomites

One of the inspiring sights of northern Italy, the Dolomites are the stars of Trip 13: Grande Strada delle Dolomiti . Their pink-hued granite summits form the majestic backdrop for this drive along Italys most famous mountain road between Bolzano and Cortina dAmpezzo. Stop off en route to admire sweeping panoramas and explore the Alpine villages of the Alta Badia and Alpe di Siusi.

Trip

Dolomites Santa Maddalena village and the Gruppo di Odle
FRANCESCO MERONI/GETTY IMAGES