Italy

VENICE & THE VENETO

Venice is the world's most beautiful city. It stands apart from the rest of Italy as a historical gateway between east and west, in trade, architecture, philosophy and lifestyle. Venice identifies itself more with the sea and what lies beyond than with the country that governs it. Those who spend the time exploring the city beyond its famed square and bridges will find an endless supply of beauty, history and hidden curiosities forgotten for centuries.

ROME & LAZIO

Rome is the capital of Italy in more than the political sense. It is a great collection of history and iconic grandeur that crosses every era from BC to today. Rome is a city built upon the past both literally and figuratively. Beneath the streets of Rome lay the ruins of cities past, many of which have not yet been discovered. Many modern buildings stand upon the shells of ancient structures and a simple walk into the cellar reveals another time and reality. The River Tiber runs through the city and separates Vatican City, Castello Sant'Angelo and the neighborhood of Trastevere from the Roman Forum and Coliseum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navonna and countless other world treasures.

FLORENCE & TUSCANY

Florence is the capital of Tuscany as the result of endless battles with local contenders like Siena and Lucca. It embodies the Renaissance period in its art, architecture, fashion and even the outlook of its inhabitants for whom it remains the center of the universe and the true Italy. Florence is famed for its artistic prowess with collections of works by Michelangelo, Raphael, DaVinci and all the masters of note from the 15th century and before. The city is split by the Arno River with its historical center to the north and the Oltrarno district to the south. Tuscany is one of Italy's most beautiful, and culturally significant regions. It is home to Pisa, Siena, Lucca, Chianti, Arezzo, Montepulciano, San Gimignano, and the greatest collection of vineyards and wine producers in the country.

AMALFI & CAPRI

Amalfi is a region set just south of Naples on Italy's Mediterranean coast. It includes towns like Salerno, Sorrento, Amalfi, Ravello and Positano. The region is known for its seaside beauty and perfect summer weather. Capri is one of the most beautiful islands in the world located just off the coast of Naples. It was the summer home of Roman Emperors in ancient times, and the celebrity jet set in the modern era. The entire region was formed by the temper of Mount Vesuvius which remains the hot tempered model of southern Italian culture.

MILAN & THE LAKES

Milan is Italy’s industrial capital - also home to a few cultural icons including its Duomo, Galleria, La Scala opera house, some of the best designer shopping and fashion houses in the country, and DaVinci’s Last Supper. Milan is one of Italy’s main gateways and the perfect place from which to begin a stay in the Lakes - Como, Maggiore, Lugano… a beautiful region that blends Italian and Swiss cultures with the Alpine foothills as a backdrop.

CINQUE TERRE & LIGURIA

The five towns of Cinque Terre line the Ligurian coast between Rapallo and La Spezia. Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manrola and Riomaggiore are all set atop the rocky hillsides that front the Mediterranean. It is this difficult terrain that has kept the region free from outside influence and authentic to its local culture. Just north of the five towns you will find one of the most famously beautiful towns in Italy - Portofino with its summertime yachts and beautiful people has been a focal point for the glitterati for centuries.

PUGLIA

Puglia blends the Ancient Greek origins of the southern coast with the medieval Trulli towns of Alberobello and the tiny fishing villages of the Gargano Peninsula to create a picture of Italy as it once was. This region requires time to explore and demands a slower pace of life that focuses on Italy as it was and as many hope to find it.

CALABRIA & THE SOUTH

Calabria like much of the south has traditionally been poor and overlooked while hiding away some of the most beautiful coastline and ancient towns in the entire country. For the traveler who has seen the major sights and wishes to go deeper into the local culture and ways of the old Italy - Calabria, Basilicata and Puglia are the destinations to consider.

UMBRIA

Umbria is the sister region to Tuscany with medieval hilltop towns, vineyards, forgotten hamlets and towns that rivaled Florence in significance and beauty throughout the centuries. It is also home to Etruscan ruins, Roman hot springs and some of the elements of the Tuscany of the past. Umbria is the ideal destination for frequent visitors to Tuscany who wish to see more.

SICILY

Sicily is Italian but it isn't. Northern Italians view Sicilians as peasants and outlaws. Southern Italians view the north as spoiled outsiders. Again, the internal divisions of Italy's many regions have succeeded in preserving the ancient beauty and culture of a place. Sicily is part Roman ruin, part peasant food and culture and part modern Italy. It is a wonderful place to spend a week or two delving into an Italy unknown to most.