Much more than pasta, pizza and the Leaning Tower of Pisa

When you consider Italy the first things that tend to spring to mind are the delicious traditional Italian foods, and the historic and highly famed monuments such as the Colloseum and Vatican City in Rome, as well as sites such as Pompeii and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Indeed Italian pasta and pizza dishes are delightful, and everyone should visit these amazing places which are focal to Italian culture and history, but Italy is much more than just this.

There are few nations which can rival Italy for its cultural appeal, and even fewer which possess such a range of different sites which allure tourists from across the world. There truly is something for everyone in Italy, whether it be the magnificent cities, beautiful countryside or scenic coastal resorts. There are so many places to visit and it’s a country which possesses much more than people often perceive. Italy as a nation is spectacular, and one of its most popular and certainly most unique destinations is Venice.

Venice truly is an incredible city, incomparable to anywhere else in the world. Its winding canals, scenic bridges and quaint little side streets create a calm atmosphere to compliment the buzzing central squares with their huge churches. In comparison to Britain it seems a completely different world, with the only similarity being that it rains, as occasionally torrential downpours soak the narrow streets of the city.

Despite its small size Venice is like a maze to negotiate and incredibly easy to get lost in. Wandering around in the night can very easily lead to you getting completely lost, but you always feel safe, the biggest danger is falling into a canal. Streets look similar and you reach each canal or central square and wonder whether you’ve already been there. Yet each section of the city is different, and you can go from a bustling main street to a peaceful side street in a matter of metres. In fact many of the most beautiful spots are in the areas where less people visit. All tourists make the trip to St Mark’s Square to see the Basilica and into the main area of San Marco, but much fewer venture out into the quieter and in some cases more pleasurable locations of great beauty. In many spots you can sit in a small café sipping a drink, with a stunning canal and gondolas passing just by. There are some remarkable sights where on a sunny day brightness glints off the canals creating an image of stark natural beauty.

You also realise how religious a nation Italy is, since every square tends to be graced with its own church, which pose a striking view for visitors. Museums also litter the streets of the historic city which is famed for its uniqueness. Indeed Venice is totally unique; for a start it is simply an island connected to the mainland by a single road, and this brings me to another incredible feature of the city. Whereas British cities and nearly all cities across the world are crammed with cars, they are absent in Venice. In fact you can walk around the whole city and not see a single car, motorbike, lorry or any form of road transport. Instead the canals become Venice’s roads and boats replace cars. All of which is fine as long as you don’t get severely sea sick. Everything is dependent on the canals, which are used for tourism, transport and commercial purposes. One of the most striking sights was seeing a local having a washing machine delivered by boat, and moments such as that drive home the reality of a world without cars. In this way Venice is truly unique and incomparable to anywhere else across the world.

Its fellow Venetian islands follow the same theme of being car free and reliant on the canals, but none possess the grandeur and character of Venice. Murano, famed for its glass, may be a pretty island with its soothing canals and picturesque churches, but it lacks the thriving nature of Venice, whilst the others struggle to compare. Venice truly is a place you have to visit at sometime in your lifetime. Stopping in Venice itself for a couple of days allows you to traverse the whole city, and the atmosphere is completely different in the evening when everywhere is quieter and more peaceful. There are plenty of places to eat and drink and most are affordable, just don’t go and sit down at St Mark’s Square else you’ll soon need to get a mortgage to pay for a round of drinks. Everyone has their own perceptions of the city, but until you visit you can’t truly understand what this magical place is all about.

Yet if you seek a city steeped in history then Rome is a must visit. There’s so much to see in the country’s capital, and it is these fabulous sites which make Rome one of the most popular city destinations in Europe. The links to Roman times are highly visible, with the Colloseum and Roman forum being preeminent indications of the superb architectural qualities possessed nearly 2000 years ago. The Colloseum truly is an incredible historical site, allowing you to glimpse back to life in Roman times. Add to this all of the museums located on the Palatine Hill, and this combination provides you with insight into the past of this fabulous city. Nowadays Rome is a buzzing metropolis and a hive of activity, which benefits greatly from tourism, yet still retains some links to its historic past.

One such link is the Pantheon, an old Roman church which is situated in the centre of the city and provides a splendid site. Like much of Italy churches (yes i know we’re back to them again, they’re everywhere in Italy) play a prominent role in the city, with the majority of squares fitted with their own church, and none are grander than St Peter’s Square, at the heart of the Vatican City, the abode of the Pope. By no means is St Peter’s a humble abode, in fact it is a spectacular construction and feat of incredible architecture with beautiful paintings and carvings and a magnificent altar which radiates splendour and wealth. However to many this may portray a sense of overindulgence on behalf of the church, since all of the gold and wealth which is clearly evident can be construed as exorbitant. In a way some of the churches felt unwelcoming, and made you wonder how there are so many people suffering in poverty, whilst they are rolling in wealth. The Vatican City is indeed one of the wealthiest places on earth, and the grand cathedral may divide opinion, however it can’t be doubted that it truly is a momentous construction. In addition to this the pedestrianised areas provide ample shopping opportunities for visitors and a pleasant stroll through the capital, enhanced by monuments such as the stunning Trevi Fountain. You just have to be careful not to get over by some mad scooter drivers, who make you wish you were back in the vehicle free domain of Venice.

Yet Rome is not the only thriving city in Italy. Florence is also popular with tourists and is famed for its art galleries and culture. The Ponte Vecchio, lined with jewellery shops, is one of the most famous bridges in Italy, spanning the Arno and providing visitors with a beautiful view, whilst the Uffizi galleries are fantastic for art lovers and the Cathedral forms part of a brilliant main square. Then we have Milan, the commercial and industrial heartland of Italy. Excellent for shopping, Milan possesses great grandeur and many believe that it should be the capital; however the historic prominence of Rome does justify its position. All three cities are highly popular with those seeking a city break, and each possesses its own allure.

However Italy isn’t all about thriving cities and major landmarks such as the Colloseum, Leaning Tower of Pisa, (which really does lean so much so you wonder how it doesn’t fall over) or the magnificent cathedrals. In addition to these stunning establishments, there are vast expanses of beautiful countryside, none more so than Tuscany. Tuscany may possess some famous cities such as Florence and Pisa, but its best characteristics are its picturesque countryside and small walled towns which ooze character.

The undulating hills and vast expanses of open ground create some spectacular images, providing visitors with some of the most scenic views in Europe. As you travel around the area you reach some places which grip you with pleasure due to their truly breathtaking views. Yet unlike other areas of Europe, Tuscany is not barren but instead a vibrant green and colourful area, which seems openly inviting and attractive. Added to this there are some wonderful small walled towns including Monteriggini, Volterra and San Gimignano, which contain some extraordinary pieces of architecture, delightful restaurants, intriguing shops, historic monuments but most of all incredible views. For defensive purposes the towns were built atop hills, providing them with panoramic views over miles of countryside in every direction. Describing these images of pure beauty is nigh on impossible, and it is these remarkable scenes coupled with the relaxing environment, which make Tuscany such a beautiful and popular place. The only problem is navigating your way around in a car, which was made even more difficult by my inability to read a map. After three days driving around Tuscany, we started to wonder whether the Italians had managed to invent road signs, or if Siena actually had a car park.

The north-south divide is highly prominent in Italy. Whereas the commercial and industrial heartlands of the north are affluent, there are some much poorer spots in the more rural and agricultural southern Italy. Indeed the majority of the main cities are situated in the northern sector of Italy, however the third largest city, Naples, which possesses a population of near two million, is located south of the capital and in the southern half of Italy. By Italian standards Naples is not massively cultural or overtly picturesque. There are some pleasant areas in the city; however segments are much poorer and less appealing.

Yet situated across the bay from Naples is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Italy, Sorrento. Sorrento is a small and very pleasant town, which is visited every year by thousands of tourists and Italians alike. Situated on the coast, the town provides beautiful views across the bay towards Naples and the famous volcano, Vesuvius. Sorrento is also renowned for its shopping street, The Drains, which is their equivalent to York’s Shambles, but larger and longer. There are a range of speciality shops, most notably lemon orientated shops and craftsmen selling pictures or in particularly wooden items, a craft they excel in. If you want lemon flavoured soap, lemon flavoured sweets, or in fact lemon flavoured anything, you name it they’ve got it. The town is also blessed with an array of wonderful restaurants and bars, and is highly geared towards tourism which is the predominant industry. Again though it rains in Sorrento, just like at home. The difference is when it rains you know about it, since it absolutely pours. The roads turned into rivers and you really needed to get your wellies out to cope with the giant puddles.

If you venture back towards Naples then the most famous landmarks are Vesuvius, and beneath it the remains of the town of Pompeii. In AD 79 Vesuvius suffered a massive eruption, spouting lava and ash which destroyed Pompeii and neighbouring Herculaneum, and burying the town under up to 6m of ash and pumice. Nowadays the site has been excavated, and some of the ruins which were preserved remain for tourists to see. Then if a trip to Pompeii isn’t enough, you climb to the summit of Vesuvius from which you receive spectacular views. Don’t worry, you don’t have to traverse the 1200m towards the heavens, a road winds up the volcano resulting in buses dropping you off near the top, before you walk the final distance. When you arrive at the top you are presented with panoramic views across the bay, which on a clear day are truly stunning. Other excursions from Sorrento include a venture down the wonderful Amalfi coast, or a boat trip over to the famed island of Capri. Alternatively you can simply remain in Sorrento and relax around a hotel pool, stroll down to the picturesque little harbour (and navigate your way up a fast flowing river on the way back up if it rains) or go for a swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea, which felt chilly when I dipped my toes in. It really is no surprise that Sorrento is such a popular holiday destination.

These are only some of the places in Italy, it’s impossible to cover every destination else I’ll be here all night and be writing a book rather than an article. You could explore the industry of the north, the beautiful lakes such as Garda and Verona, the flat plains of Bologna (which seemed to be very flat indeed) or the Southern tip of Sicily. The wonders of Italy truly do continue far beyond what I’ve already mentioned.

Returning to the very start of this piece, indeed Italian food is delightful, (as long as you don’t have a pair of giant crustaceans with heads, claws and all perched on top of your dinner), and there are some memorable sights, but Italy truly is much more than this. There are so many sites to visit, an incredible depth of history to explore and so many memorable experiences to gather. Perceptions of places are sometimes deceiving, and a nation which on the surface might not be the most obvious and alluring holiday destination, is actually one of the most beautiful and truly spectacular places on earth.