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Abruzzo
Abruzzo is located
in central Italy and stretches from
the heart of the Apennines to the
Adriatic Sea, on a mainly
mountainous and wild land.
In the mountains, tourist resorts
and well-equipped facilities for
skiing and winter sports rise among
unpolluted peaks and rocky walls,
like Pescasseroli, Rivisondoli and
Roccaraso.
The route that spans
from the Gran Sasso down to the sea
crosses territories that are rich in
history, traditions and art, that
never cease to surprise visitors.
Narrow valleys and
memorable natural paths thrust into
the mountains and hills , just like
the amazing and fascinating Aterno
valley, filled with old boroughs.
There are many
natural reserves, like the National
Parks of Abruzzo, the Park of Gran
Sasso and the Laga Mountains, or
that of Mount Majella, which ensure
protection to the typical vegetable
and animal species of the area, like
the golden eagle, the wolf and the
Marsican brown bear.
The Adriatic coast is characterized
by long and sandy beaches to the
north and pebbly beaches to the
south. Also, the small villages of
the hinterland, as well as the
monasteries and castles of the
region, are very charming and are
part of many routes for tourists in
the greenest region in Italy.
Basilicata
Basilicata is
embedded between Calabria and Apulia
, in the south of Italy. One does
not stumble across this region
accidentally but chooses to visit it
if in search of a new experience,
plunging into places where silence,
colors, scents and flavours remove
the visitor from the frenzy and
stress of modern life, offering
unique sensations. The woods and
forests that cover the mountains are
dotted with small and charming
villages, some even at an altitude
of 1000 mt, where pure air, genuine
flavours and the beauties of nature
are combined with historical
vestiges satisfying any wish.
Beautiful, yet not very explored, is
the area of the Monticchio Lakes,
one of the most spectacular
locations in Basilicata. Lake Grande
and Lake Piccolo, are two splendid
stretches of water that fill the two
craters of Mount Vulture, now
extinct, and are surrounded by thick
and lush vegetation. Even though it
is a mainly internal region,
Basilicata is on two seas: the
Ionian and Tyrrhenian Sea. The Ionic
coast, with the two famous sea
resorts of Metaponto and Policoro,
offers wide beaches, either sandy or
pebbly, partially surrounded by
pinewoods and rows of eucalyptus
that give off a lovely scent. The
Gulf of Policastro, on the
Tyrrhenian side, has higher and more
indented coasts, where steep
promontories alternate with small
beaches, washed by a crystal-clear
sea.
Calabria
Calabria is on the
tip of the boot, the extreme south
of Italy, lapped by the splendid
crystal blue Ionian and Tyrrhenian
Seas and separated from Sicily by
the Strait of Messina. The warm
climate, the beautiful colors of the
sea, rocky coasts alternated to
sandy beaches, the wild and
mysterious nature, the strong and
genuine flavours of local food and
the vestiges of its ancient origins
make Calabria a unique place to
admire both in winter and summer.
Any wish can be fulfilled. Those who
love nature, its scents and
mysteries, can explore the Calabrian
hinterland, discovering pure and
unpolluted sceneries, where huge
green belts alternate with blue
lakes and falls. On the other hand,
those who prefer basking in the warm
rays of the sun and dive into a
crystal-clear sea can choose from
the many charming towns along the
long Tyrrhenian and Ionian coasts.
Instead those who prefer to learn
about the past of this region,
Calabria, the cradle of Magna
Graecia and land of ancient
settlements, offers a wide choice of
churches, monasteries, castles,
palaces and places where age-long
traditions still survive.
Campania
Campania is one of
the regions in Southern Italy and
stretches along the Tyrrhenian Sea,
from the mouth of the Garigliano
River to the Gulf of Policastro. The
mildness of the climate, the beauty
of the coasts, the richness of its
art and history and the love for
food make Campania an enjoyable
land. The journey starts from the
sea, uncontested king of the region,
with its intense colours, its coasts
rich in bays, coves and rock faces,
as well as the islands of Capri and
Ischia, true natural masterpieces
with even more charm by the
flourishing Mediterranean
vegetation, interrupted by some
small yet pretty towns where to
spend your holidays, amid the
history and traditions of Campania.
How can we forget the monument of
nature that dominates this region:
the Vesuvius, dark and mysterious,
loved for its beauty and feared for
its power. Then Naples, famous
worldwide for the intensity and
passion of its music, that just like
the town, mingles cultural and
popular, sacred and profane, joyful
and melancholic aspects. And
Sorrento, a town that lays on a
terrace of tuff falling sheer to the
sea. In this view of paradise,
indented and inaccessible coasts
alternate to small and hidden
beaches, creating a unique scenery.
Here, the work of man was grand. The
roughest areas are now made up of a
series of terraces sloping down to
the sea, used for the cultivation of
citrus, olive trees and vines. These
gardens give off heady scents of
oranges, lemons and orange-blossoms.
Music, sea, entertainment and
nature, but also history and
culture. Visiting places like
Paestum, Ercolano, Pompei, the
Chartreuse of Padula or the Royal
Palace of Caserta is an
unforgettable experience.
Emilia Romagna
Emilia Romagna lies
between the River Po to the north
and the Apennine mountains to the
south. It is one of the most fertile
and productive regions of Italy also
thanks to the effect of the Adriatic
Sea mitigating the coastal climate.
The variety between the mountains
and the sea allows Emilia Romagna to
offer its visitors breathtaking
views, wonders for the eyes and for
the spirit in a mixture of earthy
colors and aromas, seaside
happiness, music, cinema and art,
all in one region.
Many who love the
combination of sea, sun and
entertainment choose the Romagna
Riviera. Having the longest beach in
Europe, visitors flock to enjoy the
richness offered by its sports and
leisure facilities. Towns like
Rimini, Riccione and Cattolica are
higly geared for tourists reception,
emphasising relaxation and providing
lots of entertainment. Further from
the coast, the beautiful landscape
offered by the Apennines may for
instance be best appreciated
horse-riding or walking in the area
between Parma and Piacenza or by
visiting the splendid parks and
wonderful nature reserves.
The hinterland has
several spas like Salsomaggiore and
Bagno di Romagna, offering a wide
range of proposals, thanks to the
many types of waters springing in
this region and the modern
equipments, technologies and
professionalism of the facilities,
enhancing the experience of
traditional thermal baths. Both
culinary and artistic culture found
fertile soil in this land and their
roots run deep here.
This is the land of
Verdi’s novels and Pascoli’s poetry,
as well as Fellini’s unmistakable
cinema, a director who became a
myth, his many masterpieces having
come to life in this, his native
region. In Emilia Romagna, you can
enjoy amazing views anywhere; the
list of places to choose from is
endless.
Friuli Venezia
Giulia
This region is
situated in the north-east of Italy
and borders Slovenia and Austria.
Friuli Venezia Giulia overlooks the
Adriatic Sea and is surrounded by
high mountains, enclosing many
different landscapes.
The impressive Carso
plateau is formed by windswept
rocks, and soil erosion created a
series of caves, hollows and
“resurgences”.
The sceneries of the mountains are
spectacular as well, in the Eastern
Dolomines, the Carnia and the Julian
Alps, among lakes, valleys and
protected areas.
From its boundary
with Veneto up to Monfalcone, the
coast is trimmed with lagoons and
has long sandy beaches, with several
tourist resorts like famous Lignano
Sabbiadoro; from Monfalcone to
Trieste the coast is rocky.
The great variety of
landscapes matches a rich and
variegated cultural heritage that
was determined by a complex history
and by the confluence of different
civilizations in this territory. For
this reason, Friuli Venezia Giulia
looks like a small universe with
many different traditions: it is the
“land of contrasts”.
Lazio
This is the cradle
of occidental civilization and
Christian culture, of lakes and
legends, of spas and history, of
ancient roads and verdant hills.
Latium is a region of central Italy
bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea,
furrowed by the waters of River
Tiber and mainly characterized by
hills and mountains, while it slopes
down near the coast.
This region has
different yet complementary
features, unblemished sceneries and
spectacular horizons among the
towns. Visitors can enjoy incredibly
beautiful views, like Villa Borghese
in Rome, the Italian capital.
Villa Borghese is the most famous
city park for walking or cycling in.
It represents an unparalleled
experience between art, containing
the Borghese Gallery with its
masterpieces, and the nature
surrounding it, among lakes and
ancient trees. Latium is also full
of spas, whose history is bound to
the several thermal water springs
that had great success in the
Republican Age and continued to be
used in the Imperial Age. The Romans
built sumptuous thermal baths and we
can still admire their vestiges
around the territory; first of all,
the Terme di Caracalla, in the heart
of Rome. Tivoli is another spa, but
its fame is mainly due to the
artistic beauties it contains, like
Villa D’Este, with its splendid
fountains, gardens and magnificent
palace of the Renaissance, and Villa
Adriana, the ancient residence of
emperor Adriano. The two villas are
in the World Heritage List by Unesco.
For those who prefer
the sea, this region offers some
real pearls like Gaeta, Sabaudia,
San Felice Circeo, Sperlonga and the
islands of Ponza and Ventotene,
while those who love lakes will
enjoy Bracciano, an enchanting
stretch of water encircled by the
intense green of the surrounding
nature, overlooked by a magnificent
sixteenth century castle. Walking
along the medieval streets of the
villages by the shores of the lake,
visitors can feel that these places
are not only bound to the Roman
Empire, but were also the theater of
different historical periods. Lake
Bolsena, in the area of Viterbo,
gives us an example of it, as it is
the biggest volcanic lake in Europe
and encloses two islands, Bisentina
and Martana. This lake combines the
charm of lush nature and its
splendid views with the history and
the traces left by the Etruscans and
the Romans and by the following
historical periods.
Finally, mountain
lovers will not be disappointed in
Latium, thanks to the ski resorts of
Terminillo, Livata and Campo Staffi.
This land evokes memories of
unrivalled places and intense
emotions, but also a clear
perception of the relentless march
of time, that justifies the attempts
of our ancestors to challenge time
and leave us their remembrance.
Liguria
Liguria is in the
north-west of Italy and borders with
France. This region has impressive
mountains and sweet hills, colored
by the green Mediterranean turf and
overlooking the Ligurian Sea with
high and indented coasts.
This region has
multiple facets, different yet
indissolubly bound up with each
other, to offer a wide range of
opportunities to those who choose to
spend their holidays in this land.
It offers nature,
sea, mountains and culture as well
as entertainment and night life: you
only have to take your pick.
The sea is the great
resource of this region, with its
rocky coasts interrupted by small
coves and beaches of fine golden
sand. The Cinque Terre and the Gulf
of Poets, the Gulf of Tigullio,
Genoa and Paradise Gulf, the Riviera
delle Palme and the Riviera dei
Fiori make up the famous coast of
Liguria which stretches from Ameglia
to Ventimiglia, for more than 300
km. In this itinerary, spectacular
for the beauty of its land and
seascapes, we can see the most
famous tourist resorts of Liguria:
Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure,
Rapallo, Sestri Levante, with its
enchanting Baia del Silenzio, and
Chiavari.
There's a succession
of ample beaches, little ports and
amazing sceneries to explore, which
turn into lively centres by night,
with plenty of entertainment and
shopping on offer. There's Sanremo,
the city of flowers, famous for the
Italian Music Festival and for its
Casino. The refined towns of
Bordighera and Alassio, with its 3
kilometers of fine sand, along with
Laigueglia and Varigotti are some of
the “gems” embedded in the Riviera
di Ponente.
Then comes
Portovenere, in front of Palmaria
Island, and Lerici with its grand
medieval castle, elegant villas and
lush gardens.
The sea is so beautiful that it also
attracts several specimens of sperm
whales, rorquals and dolphins, which
found their natural habitat and live
safely in this area, called the
“Sanctuary of Cetaceans”.
Lombardy
One of Italy’s
largest regions, Lombardy lies in
the north of the country, sharing a
border with Switzerland.
Stretching from the
Alps to the lowlands of the Po
Valley, it is home to a wide range
of landscapes, including the
breathtaking mountain chain with the
Valchiavenna, Valtellina and
Camonica Valley.
Winter sports lovers
will find no lack of
state-of-the-art facilities in
Lombardy, for example in the
extremely popular resorts of Tonale,
Bormio, Livigno and Madesimo.
Another aspect that
defines the region is its expanse of
rolling hills which encompass the
distinctive Franciacorta area,
famous for its vineyards and wine
production. The charm of the great
lakes. Is a great tourist draw,
attracting visitors to Sirmione and
other well known destinations dotted
along the west side of Lake Garda,
while Lake Como and Lake Maggiore
are no less beautiful, surrounded as
they are by stately homes , parks
and picturesque small towns.
The region is also
characterized by the great flat
tracts of the Po Valley lowlands,
covered by shimmering mirrors of
water and used for rice growing :
this is the typical landscape of
Lomellina, the and of rice workers,
steeped in tradition.
The region has
countless other distinctive aspects.
Lombardy, aided by its geographic
position and fertile soil, will
captivate you, where nature,
history, art and culture are
harmoniously combined with
innovation, technology, fashion,
entertainment and a contemporary
outlook.
Marche
Surprising and
wonderful in its diversity, this
region of central Italy, with its
harmonious and winding shape,
displays its beauty on all sides:
cliffs and caves overlook
unforgettable beaches, hills steeped
in history, tradition and culture,
against a backdrop of mountains with
well-equipped facilities for ski
lovers.
The region is in the
main comprised of hills and
mountains, embracing the Adriatic
side of the Umbria-Marche Appennines,
but with low-lying, sandy beaches.
How could anyone forget the the long
expanse of fine golden sands
surrounded by the crystal-clear
waters of Senigallia, with its
numerous lidos and pleasant walks
along the shore, especially at
sunset. No less lovely are Gabicce
mare, Pesaro, Fano, Civitanova
Marche and San Benedetto del Tronto,
just perfect if you’re looking to
unwind and recharge in one of the
many resorts that were fashionable
even in the nineteenth century for
the upper-class. For those who love
extreme nature, on the other hand,
the Conero Riviera offers amazing
views and patches of still unspoilt
land, which at times can only be
reached by sea or via paths carved
out of the green Mediterranean
scrub.
The Marche protects
its natural environment through its
National and Regional nature
reserves, the oases of the WWF
reserves; while the Monti Sibillini
and Monti della Laga National Parks
are a peerless spectacle for
trekking enthusiasts. Don’t miss the
Frasassi Caves, a must-see for
tourists from all over Europe and of
great interest to cavers because of
the karst, that is dissolved
limestone layers, landscape created
by these awe-inspiring caves, some
of which have been lived in since
time began.
Orchards and vineyards as far as the
eye can see cover the hills of
Piceno and extend through the Esino
Valley, surrounding farmhouses with
the hospitality of times gone by
where you can rediscover the simple
taste of genuine food. Manor houses
or old sharecroppers’ farms, now
used as holiday farms, and tell
tales of a way of life no longer
seen.
Molise
Molise is situated
in central-southern Italy and lies
between the Apennine ridge and the
Adriatic Sea.
Nature, history,
art, age-old traditions and good
food are the treasures of this still
largely undiscovered region.
Visiting Molise, you
get that Eureka feeling of
discovery, starting with its mainly
mountainous and hilly lay-out,
scored by the characteristic “tratturi”,
the historic trails of seasonal
migration of people and livestock,
which join the pastures of Abruzzo
to those of Puglia.
The National Park of
Abruzzo, Latium and Molise reveals
unexpected and magnificent
landscapes, while the many nature
reserves protect the vegetable and
animal species representative of
this area. Unspoilt nature frames
the two most important ski resorts
in the region: Campitello Matese and
Capracotta.
The coast has sandy
beaches, surrounded by Mediterranean
vegetation, as well as a clean and
limpid sea, that was awarded the
European Blue Flag again this year.
Discover the
thousand years of history behind
this region and its culture by
visiting its archaeological sites,
abbeys, small towns and countless
castles.
The survival of
customs and traditions, of
handicrafts and the old professions
that have disappeared elsewhere, is
a unique feature that makes Molise,
just like the title of a book by the
Italian writer Fogazzaro an
“old-fashioned world”.
Piedmont
Piedmont is in the
north-west of Italy and borders
Switzerland and France. True to the
meaning of its name (foot of the
mountain), Piedmont is a land of
mountains. It is surrounded on three
sides by the Alps, with the highest
peaks and largest glaciers in Italy.
Monviso, the
Piedmont side of Mount Rosa and the
other spectacular mountains in the
region, create incredibly beautiful
landscapes; there are many ski
resorts as well, such as Via Lattea
and Sestriere, which welcome winter
sports enthusiasts with their state
of the art facilities. The Alps form
the background for great picturesque
valleys, for example, the Val di
Susa, Valsesia and Val d'Ossola.
The hilly landscape
of the Langhe and Monferrato is
different, but still beautiful: a
succession of cultivated hills and
vineyards, dotted with small towns
and castles. Expanses of water and
rice-fields, long rows of poplars
and old farmhouses make up the
typical scenery of the plains around
Novara and Vercelli. Lake Maggiore
is the most sought-after tourist
resort, with Stresa and the
Borromean Islands, charming
landscapes with ancient villas
surrounded by beautiful lawns.
Yet, nature is only
one of the many attractions in
Piedmont. This region has many other
facets: from Turin – the Italian car
manufacturing capital – with its
history and remarkable cultural
heritage, to other cities such as
Cherasco, Alba and Ivrea. Next we
come to charming medieval castles,
including the imposing castle of
Ivrea, and prized works of
architecture, for example the famous
Residences of the Royal House of
Savoy and the Sacri Monti (Sacred
Mountains). The famous spa resorts
of Acqui Terme and Vinadio offer
treatments and therapy for a
relaxing, reviving holiday.
Discoveries and surprises of all
kinds are in store for visitors to
the region, including a wide range
of food and wine for all tastes.
Apulia
Le Puglie, the
Italian name of this region, is in
the plural form and, in fact, this
is a place that conceals many souls.
The “heel” of the boot, Apulia , as
it is known in English, is,an
enchanting region that lays amid
nature, history, tradition, gusto
and spirituality, to be visited all
year round.
Sea lovers can take their pick,
choosing between the cliffs of
Otranto and Santa Maria di Leuca,
the meeting point between the Ionian
and the Adriatic Sea, or Gallipoli,
the “Gem of Salento” and the Gargano,
the “Spur of Italy”, jutting out to
the clear sea water that guards the
beautiful Tremiti Islands.
Nature is again the
protagonist in the Murgia National
Park and the Gargano National Park
with its wild Umbrian forest, its
salt pans and lakes, the deep
ravines of Laterza and the wide
dolines of Altamura, which
distinguish the hinterland of the
region with their charming
sceneries. To those who want to
plunge into history, Apulia offers a
wide range of places that tell the
ancient origins of this land: from
prehistory to Magna Graecia, from
the Imperial Age to the Renaissance
and the baroque splendour of Lecce
and the Salento area.
Sardinia
A journey sailing on
an emerald sea among small and big
coves with snow-white sand … this is
Sardinia, an Island that strikes its
visitors with natural contrasts, the
lights and colours of a region that
guards old traditions, amid
wilderness and pure nature.
Situated in the
middle of the Mediterranean Sea,
Sardinia is a mainly mountainous
region, without high peaks, with a
vast and charming, yet bittersweet,
natural environment. In fact, the
presence of man does not seem to
affect this territory; great
surfaces still preserve their
natural composition, luxuriant woods
with even millenary trees, small
desert areas and marshes inhabited
by deer, wild horses and rapacious
birds.
The sea reigns over this region with
its colours and it creeps into the
coves, along the coasts, the beaches
and the most popular resorts. An
example is the Costa Smeralda
(Emerald Coast) with its pearl,
Porto Cervo, that combines the
history and culture of a region that
has old traditions with a joyful and
colourful nightlife. Porto Cervo was
named after its enchanting cove,
which looks like the antlers of a
deer; the Old Port is considered the
best-equipped tourist port in the
Mediterranean Sea. Porto Rotondo is
also a famous location; it overlooks
the wide Gulf of Cugnana and is full
of villas and piazzas embedded in a
splendid natural environment.
Those who prefer the
mountain to the sea can explore the
area of Gennargentu, the greatest
mountain range in Sardinia, with its
peculiar landscape, where Man and
Nature joined one another and
decided that the latter should have
the priority. This region is rich in
flora and fauna, with its mouflons,
golden eagles, Sardinian deer and
several species that are now
threatened with extinction.
Among its wonders,
Sardinia offers the visitor the
Nuragic complexes scattered all over
the territory. These are unique
monuments in the world that testify
an ancient culture, that remains
partly mysterious, and that went
from the fifteenth century to the
sixteenth BC. The Nuragic
constructions were built using great
blocks of stone and develop around a
central cone-shaped tower that
transmits strength and power. These
are archaeological sites where it is
possible to grasp the archaic charm
of ancient rituals and domestic
life. Of these many constructions,
the complex of Barumini, in the
province of Cagliari, is among the
sites in the UNESCO World Heritage
list.
Sicily
Sicily is the
largest Italian Island, separated
from the continent by the Strait of
Messina and lapped by the Ionian,
the Tyrrhenian and the Mediterranean
Seas.
It is one of the
pearls of Southern Italy and can be
discovered, understood and
experienced through a series of
itineraries dedicated to all tastes
ranging from nature to history and
tradition.
Nature seems to have endowed all of
its wonders to this land: mountains,
hills and above all the
Mediterranean Sea, with its
incredible colours, its
crystal-clear water and the beauty
of its seabeds, in no way inferior
to those of other seas.
Here, the
Mediterranean Sea, with its many
little islands scattered around the
coasts of Sicily, offers unique and
intense sceneries, scents and
flavours of an uncontaminated
nature. Last but not least, are the
great volcanoes, symbols of the
irresistible exuberance of this
incredibly charming region. The
fascination of this region grows
with the precious archeological
vestiges that tell the story of the
ancient origins of Trinacria
(ancient name for Sicily).
Tuscany
Tuscany is located
in central Italy and stretches from
the Apennines to the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Its landscape,
artistic heritage and important
cities, first of all Florence, make
Tuscany an unquestioned protagonist
of world tourism. In this region,
nature has many different facets,
starting from the coast that
alternates long and sandy beaches,
like the Versilia beach, with rocky
cliffs and steep headlands. The
islands of the Tuscan Archipelago,
surrounded by Mediterranean
vegetation, a crystal-clear sea and
rich seabeds, are peerless.
You can admire
sceneries of uncontaminated nature
in the Apuane Alps and in several
protected areas, like Orbetello
lagoon, which houses many species of
migrant birds, including pink
egrets.
However, the most
typical sceneries of the region are
those that merge the beauty of
nature with the millenary work of
man. The amazing Gulf of Baratti and
the sites of Vetulonia, Vulci and
Pitigliano guard necropolis and
vestiges of the Etruscan
civilization, while Roselle and Cosa
evoke memories of the Roman Age.
Medieval villages,
historical towns, castles and
defence systems, rural churches (the
so-called “pievi”) and beautiful
abbeys, like the one of Sant'Antimo,
are scattered all over the territory
and their profiles stand out in the
landscapes of the Crete Senesi,
Orcia Valley, Garfagnana, Chianti
and the Maremma.
Finally, Tuscany is
full of spas: Montecatini, Saturnia,
Montepulciano, Monsummano and Bagno
Vignoni, which offer relaxing
holidays thanks to their thermal
waters and well-equipped facilities
for all types of treatment.
Trentino Alto
Adige
Trentino Alto Adige
is situated in the very north of
Italy bordering Austria and
Switzerland and is the best known
for the beauty of its peaks.
Its territory stretches from the
Adamello-Brenta range and the peaks
of Ortles and Cevedale to the most
striking mountains in Europe: the
Dolomites of the Fassa Valley,
Brenta, Gardena Valley, Fiemme
Valley and Pale di San Martino. This
setting encloses an extraordinary
variety of landscapes: magnificent
snow-capped mountain tops, woods,
wide valleys, streams, lakes,
enchanting light play between the
spires of the Dolomites, typical
villages with soaring bell towers,
and the myriad shades of truly
unspoilt nature.
Hundreds of
kilometres of ski slopes make this
region a cutting-edge tourist
destination - Madonna di Campiglio,
Canazei, Moena, San Martino di
Castrozza are the best known
resorts, popular in both winter and
summer for holidays surrounded by
nature, sport and fun.
The landscape of Lake Garda is
particularly picturesque; the lake
narrows in Trentino, and looks like
a fiord between the high mountains.
Land of confluence and meeting point
between Latin and Nordic worlds,
Trentino Alto Adige is the guardian
of a remarkable cultural heritage,
made up of prehistoric evidence,
charming castles, sanctuaries and
towns of great historical and
artistic significance.
There are a number
of spa towns offering treatments and
therapies, of which Merano, Lèvico
Terme, Peio, Rabbi and Comano Terme
are the best known.
Umbria
Ever-changing,
untouched landscapes in the green of
winding valleys make Umbria a region
that will never fail to amaze. This
region comprises mainly hills,
mountains, hollows and plains and
extends along the Tiber’s central
basin.
At the heart of the
boot, it is the only region with no
coastline;. It includes Lake
Trasimeno, central Italy’s largest
lake. The area still has the remains
of Etruscan settlements,
particularly around Castiglione del
Lago, where the loveliness of the
natural landscape combines with the
romanticism and stillness of the
lake. Moving on from the two lakes,
we come to the Cascate delle Marmore
waterfalls near Terni, one of the
most beautiful in Europe. The waters
dive into the River Nera with a
spectacular 165 metre drop, and are
surrounded by lush vegetation. This
is the spot sports lovers who enjoy
canoeing, kayaking, and other water
fun head for.
Still in the
province of Terni, tourists looking
to get the feel of Umbria should not
miss out on two little gems: one of
them is linked to history and the
other to the territory. Carsulae is
an ancient Roman town traversed by
the ancient Via Flaminia, where
important public buildings have been
discovered. We can still see the
remains of the S. Damiano Arch, with
particularly beautiful and
fascinating surroundings. The other
gem, closely linked to the area’s
make-up is the Dunnarobba fossil
forest, a rare example of a forest
that existed 3 million years ago,
with very well preserved tree trunks
set in a lunar landscape.
Aosta Valley
Aosta Valley is the
smallest region in Italy and is in
the north-west, between France and
Switzerland. Its core is its
majestic peaks in this mainly
mountainous region, centred around
the highest parts of the Alps;
Cervino, Mount Rosa, Gran Paradiso
and the king of them all, Mont
Blanc, which at 4810 metres is the
highest mountain in Europe: it is
the roof of the old Continent. Those
who are not familiar with
mountaineering can use the
comfortable yet spectacular cable
car, which can be caught a few
kilometres from Courmayeur, one of
the most important ski resorts in
the world.
In this setting of
stately mountains and different
types of valley, sits the oldest
National Park, the Gran Paradiso,
where it is still possible to see
animals in their natural habitat -
ibex, chamois, eagles and marmots
live in vegetation which changes
according to the surrounding
environment.
Historically, the Aosta Valley has
been viewed as land of contact and
fusion between Italy and France,
which is reflected in its official
bilingualism and its special
autonomous region status. The great
modern tunnels of Gran San Bernardo
and, even more so, Mont Blanc, an
engineering masterpiece that ends up
in France, highlight even more
clearly this aspect of intersection
between Italy and the rest of
Europe.
Veneto
Situated in the
north-east of Italy, Veneto extends
from the Dolomites to the Adriatic
Sea, by way of an expansive range of
hills and a valley furrowed by
rivers, canals and the Po delta. The
typical scenery of the Veneto coast
is the lagoon, and, right on this
very lagoon stands a city unique in
all the world - Venice, visited by
thousands of Italian and foreign
tourists every year.
Yet Veneto, a region
with a thousand different faces, is
the custodian, also on dry land, of
natural, artistic, and traditional
treasures. Veneto boasts an
extraordinary variety of scenery:
the Dolomites, dipped in the crimson
shades of the sunset, the eastern
side of Lake Garda with Peschiera
del Garda, Torri del Benaco and
other tourist destinations. Then
there are the long, sandy beaches,
alternating with well-known resorts
such as Jesolo, Bibione, Cavallino
and Caorle.
In this spectacular
natural setting is a rich cultural
heritage that makes Veneto a
particularly fascinating region,
from its cities of art to the
magnificent “Palladian villas”
scattered along the Brenta Riviera,
up to the small villages of Arquà
Petrarca, Monselice, Asolo and
Bassano del Grappa which bring
together the most typical aspects of
this many-faceted region. Veneto is
also an ideal destination for a
comfortable relaxing holiday ,
thanks to the thermal waters with
their valuable therapeutic
properties: the gentle slopes of the
Euganean Hills are home to the
well-equipped facilities of the
Euganean Spas, for example Abano,
Montegrotto and Teolo, where you can
combine treatments and therapies
with pleasant trips out in the
surrounding area. |
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