Friday, January 13, 2012

Top 10 Places in Italy


Italy thumb
Travel to Italy gives any traveler a trip of a lifetime as this is a country where romance, history, arts, high fashion, connoisseur cuisine, bounties of nature and others blend together. The chemistry yielded is something commonly known by the unfathomably talented poets and novelists around the world as “the gasp-in-wonder”. Yes, you could virtually do nothing but gasp and freeze right at the moment any of your feet touches the ground of its territory.
There are two distinct facts about Italy commoners could easily tell; it boasts about being the world-renowned fashion hub, second only to Paris in high fashion industry. It is also the home for Colosseum, which is one of the world’s most recognized landmarks and perhaps the most enduring icon of Italy. Because of these two magic tricks, travelers usually tag this country as high fashion shopping heaven and portal to the ancient Roman Empire. Indeed, there are more to offer than what the travel guidebooks could tell you, not even this one that you are reading now.
Geographically, Italy is blissfully landed on the boot-shaped Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe. It’s even blessed with the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sardinia, an island off the west coast, and Sicily, an island renowned for Mafia among others where its location portraits a ball to the boot of the peninsula. After all, Italy is famous for sports especially national soccer team that brags about having the most handsome players in the world. It is really an amazing boot, isn’t it? At the northern end, it shares Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. Another interesting fact is that the Vatican City (even more famous after the Dan Brown’s virus of the Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons swept across continents to millions of the fiction buffs) and San Marino are the two independent states situated within the boot, while Campione d’Italia is an Italian exclave in Switzerland that has been home sick for ages.

The Magic of Italy

Traveling throughout Italy (Italia in Italian) would realize the soundest dream of any young traveler; touring from city to city is like transforming oneself into the 25-year-old German Prince Albert von Thurn und Taxis, having the endless scrumptious buffet in his magnificent castle in Germany. The difference is that his $2.1 billion wealth is not decreasing while he’s savoring luxury but any traveler would go broke without a good travel plan in the quite-expensive Italy. Anyway, the above mirror is to bring out the fact that almost every city and region has its own specialties. Rome is a mammoth history book of its Imperial days; Venice is cited one of the most beautiful cities crowned with titles like “City of Water”, “City of Bridges”, “City of Light”, “Queen of the Adriatic” among others; Bologna is known as The Red City where medieval towers, ricocheting porticoes, and vigorous homemade food are dotted everywhere; Naples is engulfed with Baroque bombast and Florence is virtually a significant treasure house and cradle of the Renaissance. Oh ya, in case you do not know, Italy is the birthplace of Renaissance which also houses the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Indeed, Italy’s riches are far beyond the apparent. Like in Japan, you are not seeing that archipelago with your naked eyes. You are feeling it. One of the one-of-a-kind feeling which could only be felt in this boot-shaped country is the touch of the nature. There are thousands of nature lovers leaving their footsteps on the beautiful coasts, lakes and mountains every day. While the earth absorbs the momentum of the footsteps, the scenic views and amazing sights in the surroundings somehow replenish the energy inside. It’s magic that you would never feel tired walking in the diverse landscape. The exhilarating slideshow encompasses also the Alps and the Apennies mountain ranges that run through this mountainous country. What? You are so young that pure walking or hiking kills you? Alright, what about skiing in chic Courmayeur or conquering the snow-coated peaks of the Sesto Dolomites? Asking for more? Let’s climb the hills of Tuscany and enjoy the kaleidoscope of laidback hill-top towns. It’s still not your cup of tea? What about putting on designer sunglasses and island hopping around Sicily? Yea, gotcha!
After the pictures of deluxe designer clothing and high fashion runway, luxury sport cars and motorcycles and fabulous nature wonders flash through your mind, what’s next? You are not forgetting the first-class Italian connoisseur cuisine, are you? I guess it’s been in your mind since the beginning of the post. Of course you dream of it day at night as Italian food cures everything. It kills bad mood, drowsiness, exhaustion and even Anorexia! If you have not tried the 3 must-eat top picks, you have not reached Italy yet. Risotto is a creamy and hearty dish of Aroborio rice sautéed and cooked with stock. It’s a specialty in Lombardy and Piedmont with risotto alla Milanese being the popular Italian classic; Gelato is the Italian versions of ice cream with an assortment of flavors that make even the strong-willed Obama become indecisive at the display counter. They are kisses from heaven; Tiramisu is the Italian cake made of lady finger biscuits dipped in strong coffee or espresso and then layered with the mixture of mascarpone, sugar and egg yolks, and topped with cocoa. Take a bite when you are disheartened as Tiramisu literally means pick me up. However, do not have the misconception that you could only “feel” Italian gourmet in the high class restaurants that help spur economy. Indeed, the heartiest food is always made from the country kitchens of the converted farmhouses you sleep over.

Travel To Italy - Top 10 Best Places

It’s not enough to just list 10 out of the whole stretch of hundreds of cities from the tip to the toe of the boot. However, we still need to sort out the best of the best so you could experience the most out of Italy even in some places where you do not need to jostle with the crowd of tourists.
  1. Rome (Roma) - The capital city of Italy and Lazio.
  2. Milan (Milano) - One of the world-renowned fashion hubs.
  3. Florence (Firenze) - The cradle of the Renaissance known for its architecture and art.
  4. Venice (Venezia) - The most beautiful city of water boasts world famous canals.
  5. Sicily (Sicilia) - A wonderful island on the southern tip of Italy.
  6. Naples (Napoli) - One of the foremost port city in Italy.
  7. Genoa (Genova) - one of the most important medieval maritime republic.
  8. Pisa - home to the unmistakable image of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
  9. Bologna - Italy’s culinary capital and home of the first university in the western world.
  10. Verona - known as piccola Roma (little Rome) for its importance in imperial days.
Outside looking in…
  • Turin (Torino) - Italy’s fourth-largest city with an illustrious past.

3 Reasons Why I Love Italy

My mind really turns so fast that I could have one thousand ideas of dating while I’m on a date, just like I could think out one thousand reasons while on tour. My three reasons here would mirror the cities of Japan as these are the two most favorite countries of mine.
  • First thing first, I came across an Italian sayings which says, “Rome is a like a voluptuous woman whose gifts are very apparent, while Milan is the shy, demeure girl whose treasures are plentiful, but discovered in time.” It’s true as it’s always been said that Rome represents the “old” Italy while Milan is the “new” Italy. Hence, it would be a super great achievement to see the contrast of Rome and Milan. Besides, I want to know if I would hang on with the affection for Tokyo street fashion or move my passion to Milan runway fashion.
  • Do you believe that strolling down the romantic streets of Verona on a winter’s night and your mood would fall in the abyss of sensibility in the nostalgia of the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet? Do you believe that romance goes beyond imagination in Venice, the City of Water? If the answer is yes, the immortal beauty of cherry blossoms and autumn foliage in Kyoto and Nara is going to be challenged. Like choosing an MVP in NBA; there can only be one.
  • Did I shout hysterically “Foooooooood!” while stayed in Osaka? Japanese people appreciate you eat while making some noise or say “oishii” aloud because that means the food is delicious. It’s turning 360 degrees in Italy where western civilization and manners are of utmost importance. So..how the heck am I going to savor the connoisseur cuisine..quietly? The locals there are going to stare at me. I love that though. After all, that’s the fun of traveling to different spots in the atlas to experience different culture and background. It’s super duper fun to expand my horizon while indulging myself in the sugar and espresso of real Italian Tiramisu that “pull me up”, not forgetting to wash my face so that angels in disguise (Italian gelato!) could give me the sweetest Bacio (Italian word for kiss). I love Italy!
Italy
Italy
Italy flag
Italy flag
map of Italy
map of Italy
map of Italy - attractions
map of Italy - attractions
Misurina Lake, Sorapiss Peaks and the Dolomites form a breathtaking site in Italy
Misurina Lake, Sorapiss Peaks and the Dolomites form a breathtaking site in Italy
Neptune Fountain by Giambologna is the heart of Piazza del Nettuno, Bologna, as well as one of the finest fountains of the 16th century.
Neptune Fountain by Giambologna is the heart of Piazza del Nettuno, Bologna, as well as one of the finest fountains of the 16th century.
one of the four Nereids at the base of Neptune's statue
one of the four Nereids at the base of Neptune's statue
Roman Colosseum at night. It is one of the world's most recognized landmark and the most enduring symbol of Italy.
Roman Colosseum at night. It is one of the world's most recognized landmark and the most enduring symbol of Italy.
the famous Giardino di Boboli (Boboli Gardens) in Florence, Italy
the famous Giardino di Boboli (Boboli Gardens) in Florence, Italy
the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Tuscany Italy
the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Tuscany Italy
the starving tourist crowds throng the San Gimignano's famous gelato bar, Tuscany, Italy
the starving tourist crowds throng the San Gimignano's famous gelato bar, Tuscany, Italy
Venice's Grand Canal at dusk, seen from Rialto Bridge.
Venice's Grand Canal at dusk, seen from Rialto Bridge.
can you tell your friends you have been to Milan, Italy,  if you have not tried risotto alla Milanese (Milanese risotto) yet?
can you tell your friends you have been to Milan, Italy, if you have not tried risotto alla Milanese (Milanese risotto) yet?
the assortment of gelato really makes tourists and even the strong-willed Obama become indecisive. Which to eat?
the assortment of gelato really makes tourists and even the strong-willed Obama become indecisive. Which to eat?
Tiramisu is the popular Italian cake that picks you up when you bite it.
Tiramisu is the popular Italian cake that picks you up when you bite it.
Gucci is a world-renowned, prestigious and easily recognizable Italian fashion brand headquartered in Florence, Italy
Gucci is a world-renowned, prestigious and easily recognizable Italian fashion brand headquartered in Florence, Italy
Carla Bruni, the Italian born supermodel
Carla Bruni, the Italian born supermodel
hot Italian girls Federica Ridolfi and Debora Salvalaggio
hot Italian girls Federica Ridolfi and Debora Salvalaggio

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