If you’re planning a visit to Italy, I have found from experience that there are four categories of gorgeous locations to see. I would recommend visiting at least one of each type, and there are plenty to choose from because Italy is so rich in culture, history, art, and even science. To help you get started on deciding where to go based on the constraints of your trip – budget, time, and energy – I’ve compiled descriptions of the four types of locations with an example for each. These places are truly awe-inspiring and I can’t do them justice with words, but I hope that you’ll be inspired to experience them for yourself.
Religious Sites
You’ll walk right past beautiful religious sites every day as you travel through Italy, but there’s one that stands out in aesthetic wonder and historical interest. The tranquil basilica of San Miniato al Monte in Florence is a site you won’t want to miss. It stands at one of the highest points in the city and offers a beautiful view while showing off its exalted place at the top of the list of most gorgeous churches in the country. And if you’re looking for a fascinating story to go along with it, you’re in luck – legend has it that Saint Miniato was beheaded for being a Christian, but then he carried his own head up to the site where the basilica was later built. Be sure to watch for the famous mosaic of Christ between the Virgin and St. Minias, which was constructed in 1260, about 200 years after construction began on the basilica itself.
World Heritage Sites
Let the natural beauty of Italy overwhelm your senses when you visit the Orto Botanico, or Botanical Garden, in Padua. It became a World Heritage Site in 1997 because of its incredible history as the first botanical garden, constructed in 1545. The original layout has been preserved, representing the world with its circular shape and ring of water running around the circumference. Interestingly, it has always served scientific purposes and continues to do so today, contributing to valuable research done in the fields of botany, chemistry, medicine, ecology, and pharmacy. You would never guess its practical usefulness by observing its beauty, but this incredible garden manages to serve multiple purposes while preserving a fascinating piece of Italian history.
Museums and Archeological Sites
There’s certainly no shortage of historical sites to visit in Italy, and many of them are famous as tourist attractions, such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Pompeii. But in order to experience Italy’s historical richness without the modern-day reminders of tourism, you might have to try going somewhere a little more obscure. That’s not to say that famous attractions aren’t beautiful and inspiring, but it’s tough to imagine being in a different period when people are snapping pictures all around you. To transport yourself to another time and place, try visiting Selinunte, a Greek archaeological site on the southern coast of Sicily. Before it fell to the ruins you see today, Selinunte held five temples on an acropolis, but the only one that’s been re-erected is the fifth temple. The city was once progressive and powerful, but it was destroyed in just ten days by a Carthaginian army that took advantage of an ongoing conflict to strike while Selinunte’s defenses were down. A massacre of over 16,000 Selinunte inhabitants occurred, with the survivors enslaved and the rubble abandoned. Today, there’s a strange tranquility to the ruins, and you’ll be inspired to spend some time in reflective thought when you visit.
National Parks
The natural beauty of Italy is apparent in its 24 national parks, and your visit wouldn’t be complete without visiting one. For a truly engaging experience, you can select the largest marine park in Europe: Arcipelago Toscano. You’ll get to visit the park’s seven main islands, with a few minor islands and cliffs thrown in for good measure. Each island is different, from composition to wildlife – the islands range from volcanic to granitic, with a wide variety of shapes, and they each support spectacular endemic species of flora and fauna. Leaf-fingered geckos and strawberry trees are just a few of the incredible wonders being preserved in Italy’s oldest marine park. This gorgeous national park would make a perfect ending to your Italian adventure, so be sure to append it to your itinerary.
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The above guest post was written by Maria Rainier, a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education, researching various online degree programs and blogging about student life. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
Top 5 reasons to visit Apulia
You’ve certainly heard about the beauties of southern Italy. Places where traditions and ancient habits are still alive and coexist with modern lifestyle. Apulia, Puglia in Italian, the heel of the Italian boot, is able to enchant tourists. And has much to offer. Why do I suggest you to visit Apulia? Here my top 5 reasons!
To discover the Florence of the South
The only Italian city in the Lonely Planet Best in Travel Guide 10, the city of Lecce is almost entirely decorated in Baroque style. The “Lecce stone”, a very soft limestone, has been skilfully shaped by the local artisans to adorn churches, palaces, balconies and terraces in a unique way.
To pose in front of a Trullo in Alberobello (and test your friends upon return)
These constructions are typical of south-central Apulia, have conical roof and dry stone walls, very helpful in case of state controls: it is said that in ancient times they could be easily removed, thus avoiding having to pay taxes. In Alberobello, declared World Heritage by Unesco in 1996, there are about 1400 Trulli. They are full of primitive, magic or Christian symbols: the internal shape of the building (round or square), the symbols of the pinnacle at the top, the pictures on the roof.
Castellana Caves are considered among the best in Italy. The path follows two itineraries and runs at an average depth of 70 meters. It ends up in the White Cave, considered the brightest in the world for its beauty and for the whiteness of the alabaster.
How many chances do you have to see both sunrise and sunset over the sea in the same location? Santa Maria di Leuca, the landing point in Italy of the mythological Aeneas, protagonist of the Iliad, is the south-eastern extremity of Italy. Here there is the imaginary border between Adriatic and Ionian Sea. What better occasion to enjoy the sun rising on one side and going down on the other side?
To be carried away by the rhythm of the Pizzica
To be carried away by the rhythm of the Pizzica
The typical Apulian folk dance takes part to the family of the Tarantella. In ancient times it was popular during folk festivals but it was also used to accompany a particular exorcising rite. In recent years the Pizzica has been rediscovered and many festivals are organized all over the region, as the popular Notte della Taranta (night of the Taranta). Have a look to this video and let the beat seduce you!
http://www.myvideo.de/watch/2343586/La_pizzica_tarantata
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Giulia Garau is an Italian travel lover living in Sardinia. She works in tourism field for CharmingSardinia.com and runs the blog CharmingItaly.com, where she shares information about Italy. You can reach her on Facebook, Twitter, Stumbleupon.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Journey To The Tower
Altitude isn’t something we get a lot of in Florida. Our tallest “mountains” measure in hundreds of feet and are rare to say the least, but that’s not to say there aren’t some amazing upland views. You just have to know where to look. One of the better known is Bok Tower, a National Historic Landmark in Lake Wales, FL. Admission is normally only $10 which is generally the upper end of our budget but this past weekend was a special Oktoberfest event and admission was free. With five kids, small admissions get expensive fast, so I find it hard to resist free admission to anything.
The drive was easy and only took us a little over an hour, which is always good. Any time something is free I know to count on a crowd, but when we got to the parking lot it seemed like we might be in for a little personal space violation.
There were enough cars in line, on the grass and on the pavement to fill half a Disney lot, but I took a deep breath and decided we had driven this far, so we had to give it a shot. When we finally made our way out of the parking lot, we were pleasantly surprised. The park is so big and spacious that as soon as the crowd hit it, they thinned out pretty quick and the festival itself was concentrated near the visitor center which meant the rest of the park was still pretty sparsely populated.
From the moment we hit the gardens I could smell the relaxation, or maybe it was the gardenias. Either way it felt like a dose of sensory valium. Between the cool breeze and incredible setting, there was something magical that drained all stress and anxiety out of your bodies. When we got to the main lawn I just laid down and breathed deep.
Even the kids all seemed to unwind when we walked into the grove of hundred-year-old oaks that surrounded the tower. Aside from a couple potty trips, no one complained or whined at all. It was nice enough being in a quiet beautiful garden, but the history and beauty of the tower made it amazing.
The lawn surrounding the tower is one of the most peaceful places I’ve ever been. Perfect cool grass and an unusually distant view of the surrounding countryside made us feel like we were sitting in a church courtyard from medieval England. The kids were just happy with the wide open space – any chance to run like crazy I suppose.
As we munched on our picnic I couldn’t help but look around and notice that this place seemed to be having the same effect on everyone else there too. Even though the parking lot was jammed packed with cars, they all seemed to leave that behind. Maybe it was in the water.
There were kids everywhere and I must have seen at least five different families huddling together in front of some random foliage taking family pictures. My kids even broke out into spontaneous hand holding and shoulder hugging. It was surreal but I wasn’t going to knock it. No one was screaming or arguing or throwing a tantrum. All was right with the world.
I finally decided to just roll with it and not look a gift horse in the mouth. We spent the better part of the next four hours just wandering the gardens and taking it all in - butterflies, flowers, endless shade and a whispering breeze. It was therapeutic.
There were enough cars in line, on the grass and on the pavement to fill half a Disney lot, but I took a deep breath and decided we had driven this far, so we had to give it a shot. When we finally made our way out of the parking lot, we were pleasantly surprised. The park is so big and spacious that as soon as the crowd hit it, they thinned out pretty quick and the festival itself was concentrated near the visitor center which meant the rest of the park was still pretty sparsely populated.
From the moment we hit the gardens I could smell the relaxation, or maybe it was the gardenias. Either way it felt like a dose of sensory valium. Between the cool breeze and incredible setting, there was something magical that drained all stress and anxiety out of your bodies. When we got to the main lawn I just laid down and breathed deep.
There were kids everywhere and I must have seen at least five different families huddling together in front of some random foliage taking family pictures. My kids even broke out into spontaneous hand holding and shoulder hugging. It was surreal but I wasn’t going to knock it. No one was screaming or arguing or throwing a tantrum. All was right with the world.
By the end of the day no one wanted to leave but the snacks were long gone and we were getting tired so made our way back to the van. As if it were even possible, the parking lot was getting even fuller as the afternoon and evening festival events really got started. Even after we piled in the van and weaved our way in and out of the maze of cars, the effects of the visit seemed to carry over to the trip home. There was no shortage of “my favorite things” and a distinct lack of “stop touching me.” I wonder how much it would set me back to go back every day.
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The above guest post was written by Jason Grooms. You can follow him on Twitter here or check out his wonderful blog, Dad Quest.

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