Italy Overview

By Daniel T. Johnson

Perhaps no country in the world captures the traveler’s imagination like Italy. Home to ancient civilizations and the birthplace to both the Renaissance and the mafia, Italy is a culture-hound’s dream come true. Obvious attractions abound—the Coliseum in Rome, the Duomo in Florence and the canals in Venice—but a little effort can take you past the postcard destinations to Mediterranean beaches, world-class museums, renowned wine regions and awe-inspiring architecture and landscapes. Add in a variety of delicious regional cuisines and reliable transportation, and you can’t help but fall in love with Italy.

Home to a number of different civilizations dating as far back as the Paleolithic Era, Italy was most broadly influenced by the spread of Rome. From humble agricultural settlements emerged the Kingdom of Rome (cerca 750 BC to 510 BC) before the establishment of the Roman Republic that ruled through a centralized senate. By the time Julius Caesar became dictator in 44 BC, Rome had succeeded in expanding throughout much of Europe and parts of the Mediterranean coast through military conquest, commercial trade and cultural assimilation.

The collapse of Rome (around 476 AD) segmented Italy into a collection of feuding city states, making the land vulnerable to foreign invaders. For the next 14 centuries Italy’s city states developed under a long string of political influences, from foreign monarchs to powerful ruling families (one such family was that of the Medici, whose support of the arts led to the resurgence of classical thought and expression that kick-started the Renaissance).

Italy was finally able to unify in the mid-19th century behind nationalists Guiseppe Garibaldi and Camillo Benso, conte di Cavour. Once unified, it devolved from a liberal monarchy into a fascist state. Only after the two World Wars would fascism be erased from Italy’s political landscape and be replaced by a Republican form of government that still applies today.

Tourism to Italy has exploded in recent decades, with visitors from around the world flocking here to see Renaissance art and medieval architecture, to enjoy world-class cuisine, wine and fashion, and to enjoy quaint towns and villages nestled up to the Mediterranean coastline. Indeed, a trip to Italy can include all of these, and so much more.

Italy is made up of 20 regions that span the Italian boot-shaped peninsula and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Vatican City, the center of the Catholic Church, can also be found in Italy.

Valle d’ Aosta – Located in the northwest corner of Italy, Valle d’ Aosta is a beautiful mix of mountain peaks, glaciers, farm land and forests. Best known for its winter sports, this region boasts access to Mont Blanc and Cervinia.

Piedmont – Home to magnificent Turin, this provincial region is surrounded on three sides by the Alps.

Lombardy – Home to fashion-crazed Milan, Lombardy is one of the richest regions in Europe (its per capita GDP is even higher than that of the United States) and boasts world-class cultural attractions, the Alps, and Italy’s magnificent lake district.

Trentino Alto Adige – An outdoorsman’s dream, this is the access point to Italy’s Dolomite mountain range.

Fruili Venezia Giulia – A border region neighboring Austria and Slovenia, Trieste is the largest city here.

Veneto – The region best known for its capital city, Venice, with worthy sites like Piazza San Marco, the Grand Canal and the Guggenheim Museum.

Liguria - Hot among backpackers for Cinque Terre, this region is also home to Genoa (birthplace of Christopher Columbus) and its culinary claim to pesto.

Emilia Romagna - Stacked with medieval castles and cathedrals, Emilia Romagna offers access to Ravenna (the last capital of the Western Roman Empire and burial place of Dante Alighieri) and Bologna (with Italy’s oldest university).

Tuscany – Nothing short of spectacular, Tuscany is justifiably one of the most picturesque travel destinations in the world. From world-class art museums like the Uffizi and L’Acedemia to breathtaking architecture like Florence’s Duomo and the Piazza del Campo in Sienna, Tuscany is sure to keep your itinerary packed. Other notable destinations here include Pisa and the enchanting island of Elba.

Umbria – The region lays claim to the popular pilgrimage city of Assisi and the quiet hilltop topwn of Orvieto, to name a few, not to mention Perugia and its world-renowned jazz festival.

Marche - A relatively unvisited region that is home to the Adriatic port of Ancona and Urbino, Raphael’s birthplace.

Abruzzo – An increasingly popular resort area, Abruzzo offers both seaside charm and stunning mountain scenery.

Molise – Relatively unknown, this region is nevertheless popular among some for its seaside resorts.

Lazio – Visited most for the ancient city of Rome, Lazio also claims an impressive collection of charming Italian towns and a vibrant regional culture.

Campania – Colorful Campania claims the sometimes seedy and always exciting Naples as its capital and historical sites like Pastum and Pompeii and the luxurious Capri and the Amalfi Coast among its most visited.

Basilicata – The “ankle joint” of the boot-shaped Italian peninsula, this region offers some of Italy’s best small-town escapes.

Puglia – The heel t of the Italian peninsula, Puglia is a great region to visit for a taste of an older and slower Italy.

Calabria – Another example of old Italy, Calabria’s hey day hearkens back to Magna Graecia. Today it is home to an impressive collection of ancient ruins as well as broad cultural influences.

Sicilia - With beautiful beaches, outstanding cuisine and a more Mediterranean way of life, Sicily is not to be missed. The island city of Taormina in particular offers one of the most beautiful vistas in all of Europe, with sweeping views of Mt. Etna and the Mediterranean Sea from inside an ancient Roman amphitheater.

Sardegna – Italy’s second largest island, Sardegna is becoming increasingly popular with backpackers for its off-the-beaten path treasures.