Italy

I had the best Italian food ever in Forte dei Marmi. Don't go to the tourist traps though. If you go down some of the sidestreets in town and try out a local restaurant that even looks a bit shabby, you will get the best food ever; and the prices are much more reasonable too.

Be sure to stop by Cinque Terre on the way to Pisa because you can just fly by and not notice these really cool little towns on the way. Great beaches and really picturesque places to walk/ take pictures or whatever.

Modest and overall calm student town in Italy's Umbria region. Has a renaissance town centre with nice fashion boutiques. A really nice alternative to Tuscane's big touristic cities, which tend to be overpopulated with tourists. Don't expect any major renaissance buildings though, but enjoy the calm.

Check out Pinguino square. Love it. Lucca is an old school walled city. Check it out on Google. One of my favorite low-key cities in Italy.

"Friuli doc" in UdineEvery year in september:- wines- foods- folklore- life

Hmmm... are you German? Brittish? NO? well, Caorle is.... quite a place out there, in the middle of nowhere. Unlike the stereotypical idea, the truth is that the place is a little town where locals work their ass of in the summer season... the beach is crowded of umbrellas standing on a row, in a perfect, straight line. There is no space for your own towel... Basically, its just a little beachtown that is trying to make money out of foreign (mainly german and british) tourists in the summer months. YOU NEED A CAR, because there is not much to do in the village.... with a car you can get to venice and other cities, which you shouldnt miss if you are in this part of italy. Seriously... there is not much to see or do... if you wanna party, choose Jesolo instead of Caorle... if you go for the beach, go further south where the water is clear.... or why not to Croatia, same sea, but less people and cheaper... If you still go... enjoy!

A beautiful village in the middle of the mountain with sweet athmosphere.... Great in summer!!!

arrivo dei traghetti principali dalla costa all'isola..nucleo storico carino

It is a wonderful city, definitely a must see. Its Venetian-style main piazza filled with North-Eastern style aperitif bars makes the atmosphere warm and relaxed.

Good sea and good food

La vita notturna a Venezia è relativamente scarsa, i locali chiudono poco dopo mezzanotte, è una città fantasma o quasi, la sera... da visitare di giorno e da lasciare appena dopo cena, se si va in cerca di vita notturna

voir son église avec la relique du christ

Pretty small town of the Riviera Ligure. Breathtaking views of the sea. Quite expensive but definetely a must-go if you happen to drive by the area.

grad u kojem svoj vjecni san snivaju Romeo i Julija....koloseum je lijep, podsjeca me na onaj nas u puli...a jako mu je slican :)

in the Jewish ghetto a must is Restirante No. 16 Jewish style artichokes are the best!

The Gran Duca restaurant in Taormina: the best

Can't go to Torre without seeing Top Man where Giovanni buys his clothes!!!!

Funiculare is fab, great views from the top. Stay to the bottom carriage for a more interesting ride back down!!

The drive from Napoli is breathtaking take your time getting to Sorrento is really nice at dusk

Boring, industrial CBD of Venice, don't get off the train

Is amazing to swim in the sea see all the black lava underneath. Need to go north of city to Aci-Castello for best beaches

Really nice little city - read "The Broker" - John Grisham before you go. Set in Bologna really good to pique your interest

Do the Archeo bus tour. €20 for 2 day pass on open top tour bus the archeo bus. Well worth it. Check opening times of Catacombs first as are closed from 12:30-15:30 or something like that it takes almost an hour to get there

Amazing views out over all direction from the museum on the hill (can't miss it - huge building)

Loads of hills, great to cycle down not so great to cycle up. Everything is closed on a Sunday so choose a weekday to go

Ou sont les corps mort? Will find the dead bodies

Gin with a Tiramisu sitting out on the terrace of the Westin Excelsior - not to be missed - unless on a tight budget!!

Cute little town. Only went there to stay with a friend, not much really happening there

Love this city. Is glamourous fun. A little aloof!! The Duomo is brilliant (has a lift unlike the Duomo in Florence).

Don't stay in Sheraton Padova - is out in the middle of nowhere - very hard to get back forth to unless you taxi it. Local bus leaves you off you have to run across a busy motor-way!!!

In the heart of Mestre there is a cute little australian pub that sells aussie beer, has the flag and aussie animals all over the walls.... so if your home sick this pub should be the cure however maybe not for hangovers. Hold on to your purse well...

Walk round the beautiful tiny side streets and see what you can find! I found emilio pucci!

unreal shops!! amazing place when it snows there!!

Watch out for the Gypsies ^^

Milan is very nice to visit. The Dome and the Sforzesco Castel are two places not to miss, and between them there are a lot of fashion shops.

A great place to stay when you want to visit Venice but don't want to pay Venice prices or can't find an affordable Venice accommodation. Within an hour by train to Venice.

Not as nice as expected but still interesting.

parla català!!! Te entenderán!!

Dont travel with a group in venice!!! - after you diembarked from your opereta boat, go alone and dont stick with the group. the group tours show san marco and realto- and stick 3 hours to unesseary explanations. venice is small and easy to get around- go always by foot and alone- so you will reach all the shops. by the way- there is a small market on the beach right after san marco

If you can afford it, try and stay on an upper floor of one of the better hotels...that way you'll get to look over the old city and marvel at Renaissance architecture...

One of the moust dirtys town in western countries where I have been.

Dont get bullied into buying fake watches.

If you're a woman travelling on your own expect to be propositioned by Italian men everywhere you go...oh, and no matter how hard you try, you will look like a muppet from a far less sophisticated town...everyone here is GLAMOROUS!

I accidentally got caught up in the horse shinannigans...great photo opportunities and the biggest parking ticket every received while travelling. If you're familiar with painting, the colour Burnt Sienna gets it's name from the colour of the surrounding countryside in Summer...

Not much to do in the countryside here except relax and overindulge. Watch out for the scorpions if you're staying in a rural villa.

Ville superbe, beaucoup de choses a voir, surtout si on compte visiter les îles de Murano et Burano, île du cristal et des souffleries pour Murano, et île de la broderie pour Burano avec ces façades colorées.

Matera is well worth the visit. It is an interesting place and just a little bit different to the usual tourist detsinations in Italy. If you have a good imagination it is easy to picture what it was like in days gone past. It was also used in the Mel Gibson movie The Passion of Christ whcih I keep meaning to see just to see how they made use of Matera in the movie.

I have been to Pisa three times. The first was by choice through a day trip from Genoa. The second two times it was becuase it was on the itinerary of organised bus tours of Italy I was doing. I think Pisa is worth visiting once but three times is probably two times to many.

Verona = Opera and Romance. Try and get a hotel by the amphitheatre; great location.

Rome rocks! You definitely have to go and see the Vatican, Colluseum, Forum, Pantheon and the Spanish Steps as well as that big fountain. Get to the Vatican early on one day as it will take you most of the day to go through St Peters and the Vatican galleries. Ladies, ensure you wear a long skirt/sarong or trousers as you won't be allowed in if you are wearing shorts or a mini skirt. It is massive. Often there are people (English speaking students) who are willing to give you a guided tour with explanations through St Peters for free! The statues as well as the architechure of St Peters will blow your mind while you will crack up at the strategically placed fig leaves on the statues of the males throughout the Vatican gallery corridors. When you have finished exploring St Peters Square head down to the Pantheon. I got the best cheeseburger I had in Italy at the McDonalds opposite the Pantheon. The next day get to the Colluseum early to get in line. Later in the day the lines are very long! The Colluseum is awesome and again you may be able to get a guide here, for free! Then you can go onto the Forum across the road. It has been quarried away over the hundreds of years since it lost favour as being the seat of Roman govt, but it is still impressive as your guide will tell you. Romans are crazy drivers, so watch out. Keep a sharp eye out for pickpockets and be very careful with cameras, money, passports, etc as well as your bag. Try not to be anywhere by yourself late at night or early in the morning as that is the best time for thieves to target you and more than one tourist has had a fatal swim in the Tigeres as a result. Public transport is a bit hit and miss (like the rest of the drivers), but the underground train system is good. Tourist buses are not allowed to enter the centre of Rome, so if you go on Bus About or Contiki etc it is likely you will be staying on the edge of Rome. Otherwise you will be paying extra taxi fares to get to your inner city hotel and back again to catch the bus.

I've not been for the running of the horses, but I have climbed to the top of the tower in the palazzo. Wonderful views.

Really nice place off Venice, about 37 mins by boat. Really Nice Gelato and Really Nice Beach.

Bardolino er en hyggelig by i rigtig italiensk stil med små gader, hyggelige cafeer og historiske bygninger krydret med lækker sommervarme. Der er mange turister og ofte markeder og små butikker med alt til ferien.

You either love or hate Naples, but if you hate it then once you get to spend time here, you learn to love it like I do. The city is a tourist gem. The locals sum it up exactly " an open-air museum" With every turn, there seems to be something on the street that belongs in a museum. And the actual archaeology museum is one of the best I have been to. Some of the best gigantic sculptures are here in addition to the finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum. What is even better is that the place is all yours since the tourist traffic is vey low. The bay, the old town, the Phegrean fields and the nearby amalfi coast makes it so ideal to spend a summer here.

a very clean city! you pretty much feel underdressed everywhere you go! people not so friendly though....

Staden är omgiven av en stadsmur och innanför murarna finns en massa små mysiga gränder. Ligger nära Tibern och man tar sig lätt med tåg till Perugia. Mycket fin teater!

What a beautiful place to visit!! Make sure you take a boat tour around the island..and of course, join the locals on the beach!!

Avoid the Gigalos around the Trivi Fountain. Walk, dont do Metro. U see more !!

The Isle of Capri lives up to its name as a jewel of the Med. with its winding streets scattered with expensive, chic boutiques and select coffee bars. It was an ideal location to soak up the sun and watch the world go by. It was no wonder celebrities like Gracie Fields chose to live there.

go with the expectation that you will have a very quiet week-end! x

overlook the garbage and the smell.. 

Best shopping...glamour and culture... you can not miss an Opera Show at the Scala...ciao amore!

Vedere Roma...e' poi morire! ... the most romantic place on earth!

The mountains here are stunning and peaceful. The center of town is cute and small.

Loads of sunflowers, very nice/relaxing place to be. i would suggest renting a villa and staying for at least a week, or camping out under the lovely night sky!

very hot place in summer... make sure you carry a bottle of water with you at all times... good thing is that there are fountains all over the place to refresh yourself... things you only see in first world countries!

You must go to the Venezia bar while you are here!!

Go to the blue grotto, it is SO worth it!

I only had half a day here and wish I could have spent longer exploring. I couldve stayed for a couple of days just walking about. Take a tour to get orientated because they show you all the things you might otherwise miss or not recognise what they are.

You must go to the Blue Grotto.

I've never been for the horse race, but the main piaza is amazing and you'll never want to leave. The people were very nice, the food was wonderful everywhere and there was a cute little flower shop that sold us all of their white flowers for my best friend's bouquet. My husband climbed the tower and got some amazing shots - definitely worth a visit if you're in Tuscany.

This town was destroyed during WWII and not much has changed since. Hey look, a horse!

This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been too. Take a coffe or drink on the Piazzetta, explore the marina and mingle with the tourists or walk through the little streets to reach more remote corners of the island - the panorama is breathtaking . One word of caution: don't go to Villa Jovis, one of Emperor Tiberius' summer residences. It's hard to find and there's nothing to see, except for the breathtaking view, but then again you get the see this view from pretty much anywhere in Capri. You can stay in Capri or there by ferry anywhere from Naples, Sorrento or Positano, to name a few. Don't forget to swim in the blue grotto! I especially recommend taking an excursion around the island, which I did from Positano, you get to enjoy a nice day on a small boat and you get 4 hours of leisurely time to visit Capri on your own before heading back.

Make sure you hit Verona in time for the Opera festival in summer. The amphitheatre in Verona was built about 2000 years ago and is more complete and, some would say, more impressive than the more famous Colosseum. Since as far back as 1913, some of the most prestigious artists in the world from the opera scene have performed on the immense stage in the Arena.Visit the official site for more information: http://www.arena.it

Ride under the bridge during the ringing of StMarcos bell and kiss the one you love...I didn't yet cause that would mean that you will stay together forever!

don't walk to the top of the hill, take the railway and walk down, lovely views

lovely little cafe on the watre front, the restraunt everyone raves about isn't that good, the cafe is great at night instead

great little stop off the boat but wouldn't stay

if you are under 50 i wouldn't stay, but a nice ferry stop for an hour or so

A beautiful little town in the north region of Italy, placed in the Italian Alps, just 30km far from Cortina, the popular skiing destination. It has a beautiful old town, placed on a hill with the most charming little streets all over the place. And, yes, there is no traffic permitted in the city center so the city squares are all pedestrian zone and full of small italian coffee bars. It just makes you feel right at home, everyone is kind and willing to help you to get around the city. Plus, there's the most beautiful view of the alps and canyons especially in the sunset! If you're going to Cortina, it's a "must-stop" place.

Fantastic market town, hills and cobbles everywhere! Look out for pickpockets and stray dogs but otherwise beautiful day trip.

You absolutely must see the earthquake ruins and the exhibition on the earthquake in the old church...interesting, moving and beautiful.

Shopping until midnight...don't do it after drinks! You spend a fortune...there's a great private beach at the end of the resort with a lighthouse, avoid the crowds.

Vibrant market town but not safe for inexperinced traveller, be very careful driving!

Fabulous family beach resort, private and safe with bus service to connecting places. Long way from the airport but worth it!

This is where the locals go to the beach, more off the beaten track than resort towns but still beautiful and theres a beach cafe too.

What to say about one of the largest port cities on the Mediterannean? It's huge, full of traffic jams and especially crowded in the period of the Salone Nautico di Genova, the world's largest nautic fair, featuring more than 2000 boats every year. Otherwise, there's a fantastic aquarium, one of the largest in Europe and the beautiful city center with the shopping areas with all the best italian brands. It's very similar to Milan's via Montenapoleone. Beeing an industrial town, there's not much to see but it's great to visit the Salone Nautico. There's always on display the "Palinuro", the beautiful sailer ship of the Accademia Navale Italiana.

Taormina is a pretty quiet city, not much night life but very close to Mt vesuvius 

Nice city but horrible people... go prepared !:-)

FIRENZE IS THE ITALIAN FOR FLORENCE !

Went to Verona and loved the market that is close to ruins of the amphitheater. Also went to Juilet's house and saw her statue.

Enjoy the local smaller shops, restaurants and cafes. Take taxi or tourbus as the roads are very narrow and Italiens do not drive like people from other places.

Do not wear heels, the streets are cobblestone (I found this out the hard way and had troubles walking after i fell).

make sure you do the underground tour of the Roman amphitheatre and relax with an aperitivo and snacks about 7pm at an outside cafe in the maze of the old centre

While staying at a really great campsite in Sorrento my husband and I rented a motercycle to drive out to Pompei for the day. Pompei the city is pretty ugly and run-down - unfortunately most of the town's money is generated by the scavii site. Taking a bike out there for the day from a nearby base gives you a chance to take in the beautiful coastline, and avoid having to spend the night in Pompei itself.

The Amalfi area is really expensive due to the high volume of celebrities who vacation there. If you walk along the main street in Amalfi with the ocean to your right you will eventually come to a restaurant perched at the top of the first hill. Walk through the restaurant and you'll find a set of stairs which take you on a short cut to the next town, Antrani. The beach in Antrani is cleaner, and the hotels overlooking it are half the price of those in Amalfi.

Expensive!!! This city is really beautiful, but is the Hollywood of Italy. The best thing to do here if you are on a budget is sit on the rock wall at the end of the main beach and watch the sunset - you'll see colors in the sky that you've never seen before, and it's completely free. PS: The campsite in this city is great, but the price the owner will quote you is per person, and there is also a charge for your tent.

Definitely make a stop here if you are traveling down the Western coast of Italy. This little village is so pristine and charming you will not want to leave. We stayed at a campsite situated at the TOP of the highest mountain in town. We had a great view, and tons of privacy. The campsite's cafeteria goes all out for dinner - giving you 5 star service, and even better food. The pizzas are out of this world - maybe out of this universe. Ask for the waiter named Petrie - he is Croatian, speaks 7 languages, and will make you want to take him with you through the rest of the country.

Florence is a magical place.Don't go with any preconceptions about what you'll experience there, and really take the time to experience the art and history florence has to offer - it's enlightening.

Napoli....... It's like the F1 tryouts, and Frogger at the same time. You have to keep your head about you when crossing the streets, and walking on the sidewalk for that matter. Once you get past that part Naples is a great city with great food. If you like pizza your in the right place. Italians invented the pizza, and Naples is the Mother.

Hold on to your handbag as it if were made of gold - because to the numerous crims it may as well be. Also, when in line at an eftpos terminal, have a friend or family member pretend to queue behind you - people will literally push you out of the way to grab the money or card that comes out - I speak from experience! Try saying/yelling loudly in Italian; they are less likely to bother you if they think you can call for help in the native language.

This is one of the 3 Itallian ports where you catch the ferry to Greece (the others are Bari and Venice.) If you have a Eurail pass, it is e20 in peak season, free other times. Technically you have to sleep on the deck but we slept under the stairs inside, and actually one of the better sleeps we ever had.

Hold on to your suitcases and bags, and trust nobody who looks even the smallest bit dodgey - they probably are. Don't leave one person with two bags etc, the criminals here work in groups and case the train stations to a crazy extent. Napoli, however, is a must for anybody interested in ancient history.

Allocate an entire day; you will need it! This is an amazing place, where you have to go yourself to 'get the feel'. Beware of merchants and guided tours though, as it is easy to spend money here. A map and a bottle of water should suffice, but if you are keen to know the details, and have not studied the area, a guided tour (leaders just approach you; there's no need to book) is well worth it.

Sorrento itself is pretty, and has many great restaurants. Be careful of the smaller towns nearby - I loved them, but there is often no footpath, and people tear around corners on scooters, so it can, in reality, be very, very dangerous. Somehow though, it always works out fine...the locals adopt that attitude as well. Nice place.

Go to Punta Scutari - it is the best lookout in the region, and you can see miles of beautiful mediterranean. Can be a bit of a walk, so make sure you are fit before going to Meta! If you aren't, don't worry; you will be by the time you leave, even if you only spend one day there! Beaches are better than in Sorrento, Piano di Sorrento etc, but you don't really need to pay, because the 'public beaches', which are right next to the private ones, are every bit as good, unless you are looking for first-class treatment; this being the case Meta is probably not the place for you, as is more of a fishing village. This would have to be one of my favourite villages in Italia, as it has a more 'untouched' feel than Sorrento.

Check out a restaurant called Il Latini for its fab roasts. Arrive 15 minutes before opening to queue for a seat. At least that minimises the wait.

Here you must go for the Garden and go a day when its warm. The fountains, the sun, the garden, the smell from the flowers is out of this world. Bring water and something to eat with you, as its too expensive to eat in town.

A very charming spa type tuscan town. Wonderful restaurants and gelato shops Great little market with fabulous leather deals. Really worth the trip. It is between Florence and Pisa. And a real find!

If you are there, it's well worth going to Meta (about one train stop, maybe two away), and even Pompeii if time allows

Amazing!!! Depends on what you want, accommodation much cheaper in the modern city, but more and more boutique places down in the caves are worth investigating. DO NOT WEAR HIGH HEELS.

Do not leave your valuables anywhere in sight!!!! Left my handbag on the chair while I paid for my coffee (less than 3 metres away) and lost my purse. Noone of course saw anything. The up side is that when you find the local police (be careful, there are two kinds of police in Italy who deal with different issues) they were delightful. Practice sign language if your Italian doesn't go further than 'lasagne .

Ryanair flies cheap to this nice and beautiful italian city. Worth visiting!

The museum containing The David is closed on Mondays. Garrr! We were there on a Monday:(

You can be drunk all day tasting the wine

Come to see where The Rosa Mistica appears for the first time

The art and culture of millenarian times in one place

In the off season, the town is dead and most places are closed or open for shorter hours. The sea is pretty but in October it was too chilly to stay on the beach.

Avoid the tourist season and Venice will be one of your favorites! Without the crowds it feels like you are the only person in this amazing labyrinth of a city. Have a glass of wine at one of the restaurant on either side of the Piazza San Marcos and listen to the competing orchestras. It's much more expensive, but worth it to enjoy the music and see the couples dancing in the square to the music.

Florence is beautiful and the Duomo is unreal! Make a trip to see the David it is amazing!

Beautiful little town in Tuscany - worth the trip. Eat at one of the cafes along Il Campo and see all the couples having picnics - very cute.

Be aware that in the off-season the ferries to Greece don't run everyday so you may have to go to Bari.

A fine place to wait for your ferry to Greece. Not much to do but some nice cafes.

A good base to explore the heel of Italy. Beware if you are there out of season, finding a restaurant in the town centre is difficult and the shops are usually closed between 4pm and 7pm when the town comes to life.

Camping here is NOT cheap, the wogs know how to take every cent out of you, be it to eat, drink or sleep - so go down the coast line and find somewhere cheaper and quieter to stay

Sweet place. I can reccomend getting a mountain bike and travelling here. also, if you're going to kill youself throwing yourself off one of the surrounding mounains on a bike would be by far the best way to go out!! ;) incredible fun

If you're landing in Catania and want to visit Siracusa, take the bus right outside the airport. Its a beautiful comfortable ride, takes only an hour and costs just 5 euros.

Hey there, now! If you had any place to go in Italy, it wouldn't be Brindisi. However, to get to where you want to go, you may need to port here. I took a nice and very long ferry from Greece to Italy and we docked in Brindisi. There was a nice little restaraunt near the port when you first disembark. But other than that, I woudn't stay long.

A gem of a Tuscan hilltop village where previous inhabitants used to try and outdo each other by building the tallest towers to their houses. Put your walking shoes on to explore.

One of the most interesting towns to explore in the heel of Italy. A huge castle and a Cathedral with a magnificent mosaiced floor. Don't miss the tall cabinets housing the bones of hundreds of previous inhabitants killed by the Turks for refusing to give up thier faith.

A must see town on any visit to Tuscany. Loved the cathedral which because it is smaller than many other important cathedrals in Italy is all the more attractive.

A very good hotel is Berghoteltirol (www.berghoteltirol.it). The campsite (www.caravanparksexten.it) is one of the best for wellness and ski.

they have a nice IKEA shop with a good restaurant!!

In the heart of Emilia-Romagna, you will find the little town of Vignola. It is smaller and more peaceful than its neighbor Modena, but it comes alive during the annual cherry festival! It is also home to a music school (CUBEC) founded by the legendary soprano, Mirella Freni, so it’s not unusual to hear opera as you walk through the streets. If you need a place to stay, try: Via Tavoni, 20Vignola (MO)tel. +39.059.77.67.11web: http://www.cittacastelliciliegi.itemail: info@cittacastelliciliegi.itI’ve spent many weeks in this lovely family-style hostel off the beaten track in Vignola. The rooms are tidy and the views are gorgeous, especially in the springtime. You can start the day with a good cappuccino, then rent a bicycle and explore the path along the river.

Part of the "5 lands" of Cinque Terre, about 45 minutes south of the Italian Riviara- your dollar is stronger here than in the actual Italian Riviera- and the vibe is mellow. Your pace from traveling will slow here! They are known for being the home of Pesto too- go ahead, even if you are not usually a pasta person- and simply order a bowl of pasta with pesto- And don't forget to bring some home; it will taste just as good once you get home- and makes a great gift too! Also- get Rick Steve's tour book to show you the way through this region.

Go with an inflatable rubber boat trough the channels that's an experience of a lifetime!!!!

Nice to fly to when you want to go to venice

Well in grossetto you can have real good authentic dinners....

Nice to go the the ancient castle with nice bars and good wines in the near!!

San Rocco is a very small village in the lower Lessini mountains northeast of Verona. It features a lovely parish church and a surprising selection of hiking boots! If you are coming from Verona, allow plenty of time for your 22 km drive up the mountain. Follow the (sporadic) signs to the Hotel Cristina, a place where you can get a good meal and a room with a view.

Hermosa ciudad, que puedo decir mas que no te alcanza el tiempo para recorrer todo: Coliseo, catacumbas, trastevere, etc. etc. etc. INCREIBLE!!

Outside of Perugia, you'll find Corciano, a pleasant medieval hill town with cobbled roads, Gothic churches, and a castle. Here you'll see gorgeous vistas of the Umbrian countryside. Travel with your umbrella, even in the summertime-- there is often a short violent thunderstorm in the late afternoon, but it rarely lasts very long. If you're staying at the Perugino Hotel, you'll want to have a car; it's a very nice hotel on a main highway, but it can be difficult to get around on foot or by bus.

No podes dejar de visitar la Torre y la catedral que esta al lado

You can take a regional train from Arezzo to reach the little township of Poppi. Follow the road up the hill to the Parco Zoo della Fauna Europea, where you’ll meet all kinds of animals at a charming forest zoo. They have everything from porcupines and badgers to lynxes and red wolves.

Much has been said about the beauty of Florence. I'll add nothing to that because it just IS really beautiful. Try not to go in the summer though. Tuscan summers are very hot, and walking around in a city in the blistering heat is not your ideal vacation. Springtime is the best time to go.

Don't compromise: Villa Atena right in the archeological zone

take a gondola ride in venice

visit the colloseum and eat gelato

Never again. Not even a finger foot.

small village in Tuscany, nice

lovely small village with friendly people. Great beach 9 km from the village, reacheble renting a bicicle or by bus.

Surprisingly nice town. Couple of old churches, including one with a shrine to St. Nicholas. Hospitable people and very cheap clothes shopping.

Lovely old bishop's town, with beautiful white tower and a duomo with medieval frescoes. Excellent classical hotel 'The Elefant' where an elephant once stopped on his way as a present to the German emperor. The combination of Tyrolean and Italian culture and cuisine has led to a large number of great restaurants, such as the Traubenwirt. Monastery of Neustift also very worth visiting and they have a great cellar for a speck schuttelbrot lunch, which goes well with some Forst beer or the monastery's own wines

Two insider tips i learned from my Italian family in law: 1) Go to the Redentore festival (June) and spend the night picknicking alon the waterfront and watching the fireworks 2) Bellini's on the roof terrace of the Hotel Danieli (watch out: pricy -- but worth it)

Hotel Kinzica: ask for one of the two rooms with a balcony with view of the Campo dei Miracoli

firenze is superb! You really have to visit it once in your life. All the art and the little streets, just marvellous!

Make sure to make a reservation if you want to climb the tower! They only allow 40 people up at a time every half hour. Make sure you are ready for a work out as well. With well over 300 steps on the massive circular staircase, you will need stamina!

We just went in February. A beautiful time to go. Crowds were down and the weather was crisp!

FYI: For all the swimmers out there, there is an Olympic Size pool in the quaint and often-passed town of Castellina in Chianti.  5 Euros will get you in.  As the facility was recently built, there are great locker rooms and showers, plus some patio furniture to enjoy the *breathtaking* views from the Chianti mountainside and even a snack stand.  A kiddie pool keeps the little ones out of your way while you are swimming laps (or just cooling off!)  From the main bus stop in Castellina keep walking down the highway (in the direction of Siena) about 1 km to a fork in the road at a bus depot.  Veer right, down the hill and you will see the complex 0.5 km away, across from a seemingly random Shell gas station!

Old port city during the Roman empire

very nice island! belongs to the eolian island! taking the farry is the only way to get there.

one of the biggest eolian islands. guess why the island is called vulcano... yes, you may climb the vulcano but take another track as we did ;-)

Get some ice cream, find a nice spot to sit and just enjoy the view and the va et vient.