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Italy Travel GuideINTRODUCTION Ciao! Italy is home to great food, great people, and great history. You can visit ancient times by heading to the ruins in Rome and seeing sites such as the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, and Circus Maximus. There are also numerous other areas for tourists. The Isle of Capri is one of the most beautiful places in the world. There is also Milan, Napoli, Portofino, and The Island of Sicily to see. Furthermore, there are great cultural cities like Florence, Verona, the inimitable Venice, the great port of Genoa, which is close to the French border, and Mount Vesuvius, alongside the two towns it destroyed in the eruption of 79 A.D., Herculaneum and Pompeii. Both these sites will take several more years to excavate carefully and who knows what wonders may still be found. There are also dozens of smaller towns to be explored, like Orvieto, set on a hill with winding roads, Siena, with its colorful festivals and beautiful church, and Ravenna, whose own magnificent church was recently severely damaged. There are too many wonderful sights to mention all of them here, but anyone who loves history or art will find untold treasures just waiting for the interested ear. Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. I recommend taking a wine tasting tour while staying in the area, s Italy's wine region is well known around the world. Touring the nearby towns in Tuscany, featured in so many famous books and movies, is also a must. If you're looking for something off the beaten path, the small coastal town of Positano may strike your fancy. If you have time, money, and nerves of steel, you can rent a car and marvel at the views along the Amalfi Coast. Another magical spot is the Cinque Terre, a series of five small towns perched on cliffs above the Mediterranean. There's great hiking between the towns, and you can drink crisp, locally made white wine while dreamily gazing into the distance. Major cities include: Assisi Bra Fiesole Florence Genoa Isle of Capri Milan Montepulciano Napoli Orvieto Parma Pisa Ravenna Rome Sicily Siena Sorrento Venice Verona HISTORY Italy is a land enveloped in history. Ancient Rome was an expansive empire that included Italia as a territory. In the 5th century, the declining empire broke off into Hispania, Gaul, Italy in the West, and the Byzantine Empire in the East. During the Middle Ages, Italy was broken up into feuding city-states. This Communi, or commune-state, eventually fell to a more unified Signoria, or dynastic state. Beginning in the 12th century, Italy entered a Renaissance that resulted in many cultural achievements. The Renaissance embodied a rebirth of classical learning fueled by the discovery of ancient texts. Cities were built up and trade flourished. The 16th century saw the battle for ownership of Italy between France, Spain, and Austria. Italy was consequently ruled by each of them in turn until the mid-19th century when the Kingdom of Italy was established. The devastation of World War I led to the rise of fascism and the rule of Benito Mussolini. Italians suffered under violence and strife until Italy was liberated in 1945, at which point the Republic of Italy was established. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Capital: Rome Climate: Beautiful country, beautiful climate--hot and dry in the south, cooler in the far north. Currency: Euro - Currently 1 EUR € = 1.363 USD Languages: Italian, English, German, and French. Power: 230 V, 50 Hz Time Zone: UTC+1 Dress code: Shorts and tank tops are fine for outdoors, but there are some restrictions when it comes to visiting religious sites. Shorts and bare shoulders may be inappropriate at that particular location, so you will want to prepare ahead of time for such an event. Helpful phrases: Good morning/day- Buongiorno Good evening- Buonasera Hi- Ciao Please- Per favore Thank you- Grazie You're welcome- Prego Yes- Si` No- No` Do you speak English?- Parle inglese? I don't understand- Non capisco. How much?- Quanto costa? Telephone- Telefono Toilet- Toilette Tea- Te` Coffee- Caffe` Bottled water- Aqua minerale Cheers!- Salute! Have a nice day!- Buona giornata! LODGING Hotel Al Sole: This beautiful Hotel is rated 3 Star, and can be found in the heart of Venice. It has an inhouse bar and is only a short distance from dining, shopping, and attractions. La Griffe: This is a 4 Star Hotel located in the centre of Rome. It has an inhouse bar and restaraunt and is in close walking distance to everything. Hotel Leonardo Da Vinci: This is a 3 Star Hotel found on the borders of Florence. The hotel is built into a palace and has an in house bar. 
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