Italy Travel Tours

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In the summer, Northern Italy Tours have more to offer than what most people expect. There are ancient cities, medieval castles, old salt smuggler trails leading into the mountains along with the Alps themselves that can be a welcome break for the summer heat.

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The most visited and enjoyed of the northern Italy attractions is a tossup between Venice and the Clinque Terre, but no matter where you end up going, the main airport in the north is in Milan. This is the starting point for nearly all of the tours of Northern Italy.

Milan has many attractions to get your trip off to a new start. It was first conquered by the Romans in 222 BC from the Celtics that founded this city in about 400 BC. It was also the western Capital of the Roman Empire until 402 AD. There are numerous ancient Roman buildings along with Gothic architecture.

Venice is a destination no one should miss. This is a city made up of 117 small islands and as most know, the streets are canals filled with water. The history of this city stretches back to 10 BC and was fought over by many invading armies. The structures found there are Roman along with gothic that have Byzantine and Arab influences that can be visibly seen.

There are some that feel this is a tourist trap city, but the history of it keeps people coming back for more. For this reason a brief visit is recommended.

The Clinque Terre is a set of 5 sea side towns on the cliffs. They are towns that have turned back time to a simpler way of life. The choice of tours can be either by sea or land. What is fascinating is that each one of these towns is connected by a scenic footpath that is hundreds of years old and still used today.

You can see each town from the sea and at certain points on the cliffs, but the walking trail is for those of you in relatively good shape. Some of the distances take up to 90 minutes of walking to cover between towns.

In the further reaches of the north are the Lake Como and Lake Orta. These are inland away from the sea. There you can have a tranquil experience of just what life was like in Old Italy.

This is some of what you can experience in the summer time with Northern Italy tours. With so much to see, a week is not long enough to enough everything so more than one trip is recommended.

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Portofino I

Italy Travel Checklist

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Your Italy travel checklist for summer should be more than just your passport and airlines tickets unless you are a citizen of the European Union.

Americans have found out what the Europeans have known for years. If you want to enjoy the sun and relax, Italy is the destination of choice. This is a country surrounded on three sides with the Mediterranean Sea so a place on the beach is assured.

Americans need to be better prepared than Europeans when traveling to Italy for the simple reason it is a different region of the world. Some of the basic needs and service you are used to in the US are not the same or even offered where you are going. The 24 hour Walgreens for your prescriptions is an American thing. You will not find one where you are going. The same goes for 1 hour eyeglasses, only in America. Even the names of common items are different there. If you have a head ache and need a couple of Tylenol or acetaminophen, then you will need to ask for paracetamol.

For this reason being prepared for the unexpected should be one of your top priorities. Your favorite sunscreen should be packed along with your prescription medicines. If you have allergies, the over the counter relief pills should also be brought along.

As for personal care items, the soap, shampoo and lotions should be packed in containers for use while you are there. Generally only take enough for what you will actually use there. This will free up some space for the souvenirs you plan to purchase while on vacation in Italy.

Take just enough cloths for the trip and do not plan on having any laundry service while there. This is available, but the detergents are different and some people have allergic reactions to a new soap which would decrease the enjoyment of the trip.

When it comes to electronic equipment, look at your chargers. Most of the modern equipment like laptops, cameras and iPods have chargers that can handle both 110 and 220 volts. Make sure yours do so you can use them while in Italy. Your standard 110 items like hairdryers or curling irons should just stay at home unless you purchase a 220 to 110 adaptor so you can use them. This should be done while you are still in America.

Last, you need not worry about cells phones. The charges will be very high so purchase local disposable ones for you and the members of your group. This will keep the cost down and they will work without any problems.

These are a few of the things that should be on your Italy travel checklist for summer. Just remember to travel as light as possible because you will be carrying the items you are bringing. For women this means only 3 bags and for men only 2.

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There are escorted tours to Cinque Terre that you can experience so the full joy and ambiance of this unique and unspoiled place can be experienced to its fullest. Nestled against the shore line, the 5 towns that make up the Cinque Terre are like no other in all the world.

Cinque Terre: Manarola at Evening

To start with you will be in the Liguria province of Italy. The 5 towns that are on the coast isolated from the rest of Italy are La Spezia, Corniglia, Manarola, Vernazza and Riomaggiore. They are all separate villages, but there are vantage points along the tour where you can see all five nestled against the cliffs.

The escorted tours can take 3 different paths. The most common is the tour by sea. This is where your tour guide will show you the dry stone walls, vineyards and fishing ports of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

For those that wish to ride in a chauffeur driven vehicle to all 5 villages, this too can be arranged. The advantage with this escorted tour is that you choose the time you spend at each village and not the ferry captain. This will allow you more time to visit the shops and cafes and absorb the scents and sounds of these quaint sea side villages.

The last option can be combined with the previous and this is the walking tour. All five villages are connected by a path. The average time it takes to walk and climb this path between villages is 90 minutes each, but there is no better way to truly get a feel for this wonderful place stuck in time.

These are your options for having personal escorted tours to Cinque Terre with a private guide to make your experience in the land that time forgot its fullest and most enjoyable of all the tours of Italy you can experience.

This is a taste of one of the 7 recommended day trips that is explained even more fully in the free travel guide download at the top right.

Read one of our previous posts about an Escorted Trip to Cinque Terre.

Many people have asked, what are the fun Italy tours? There is only one proper reply and that is they all are fun. The exact tour or tours that you will enjoy the most is dependent on what your interests are in. There are mountains to climb or sea side villages perched on cliffs that are stuck in time to experience. If visiting vineyards, roman baths or ruins are on your mind, all or just one can be done while you are in Italy.

Italy Fun Tours

Of all the provinces of Italy, Tuscany has been one of the most popular to visit in recent years by both Europeans and Americans alike. This province is located on the upper eastern side of Italy where the climate is tempered so year round tours are possible. There is nearly every type of experience one could ask for in this region of Italy.

Not only is Tuscany filled with rich history from before the Roman times, but also the best wine in all of Italy is grown there. Gourmet wine tours are available where you can visit small or large wineries that are producing beautiful bouquets of wine while you are there. You can see the process and taste the results. Some of the more famous vineyards are Tenuta Argentiera, Grattamacco, Sassicaia and Tenuta dell’ Ornellaia where wine, cheese and even gourmet dinner can be experienced.

If your love of art is strongest then the quarries of Carrara where Michael Angelo obtained his white marble for his famous creations should be on your list of places to visit. There are also castles in the Lunigiana valley you can explore or just eat the Panigacci from Podenzana.

To know and experience all of what Italy has to offer does truly take a guide. This would make it possible to experience fun Italy tours to be enjoyed by you and your group when you visit. The opportunities in Italy are seemingly endless.

Click this link to read more about: Easy Italy Tours: Wine, Olive Oil and Fun!

Click this link to Download the FREE Italy Day Trips Travel Guide

The food tours of Northern Italy will include pasta, but there are so many more flavors and aromas to enjoy. To truly be considered food from Northern Italy it must come from one of 8 northern provinces. These are Aosta, Liguria, Lombardy and Piedmont to the west and Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto to the east.

When most people think of Italy and food, tomato sauces, olive oil and pasta fill their minds. This is still true with food from the north, but it is more balanced that in the south were in some places that is all there is. In the north there are more influences that include the use of butter and lard, rice, corn and many different cheeses that have developed into the creamy sauces that many people are very fond of.

In The Lombardy region they are well known for the use of rice in their dishes instead of pasta. One dish is made of rice, vegetables and bacon is called Minestrone alla Milanese. Another creamy dish that uses rice, meat stock, Saffron and of course cheese is Risotto alla Milanese.

From the Veneto region there Fegato alla Veneziana that is made of calf liver fried up with onions or Risi e Bisi which is rice and peas. Wild game along with a wide variety of sea food can also be seen in the market and on the menus of this region.

The Trentino-Alto Adige region is at the extreme north and is heavily influences by Germany. There is a type of dumpling here that consists of flour, bread and a meat broth called gnocchi that is widely popular amongst the locals. Another popular item is a type of salami that is cured with a taste similar to bacon called Speck.

These are just a few items you can experience on food tours of Northern Italy. The variety of items is nearly endless, but they all have one commonality, they are delicious to savor and enjoy.

There is a detailed chapter on food tours in our free download book of recommended day trips.

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You may click here to read another article on Escorted Food Tours to Northern Italy.

Click here for Easy Italy Tours, Wine, Olive Oil and Fun!

As an Italy travel guide, the best of what really is Italy is the main focus. Everyone knows that the landscape is beautiful and there are Roman ruins everywhere. This is also home to pasta, where not twirling spaghetti with a spoon is almost a sin.

What Italy has to offer is extreme. There are the Italian Alps in the north, and sunny beaches in the south. Rome has the Vatican and so many ruins that a person can spend weeks there and never see the same thing twice.

One of the most popular regions of the country is Tuscany. This is where Florence, Siena, Cortona and Lucca are located. There, a visitor can get the feel of old world Italy and there are numerous Italian villas that can be rented.

The northwestern part of the country is where most go to fill their culinary desires. While there is great food in every village, this region has the best. The wines made from the nebbiolo grapes are world class. Turin is the capital of this province and is where most tourist use as a starting point for their adventure.

In the north are Venice, Milan, and Lombardia. This is the romantic area of Italy. The upper old town of Bergamo can set the mood for life in a simple Italian village of centuries past that can include a romantic weekend for you and the one you love.

The easiest job in this county is being an Italy travel guide. With so much to see, every corner has a new surprise and adventure just waiting to be uncovered.

To get the most out of the time that you have allotted for your trip to Italy it is best to have a plan.  You can always opt to alter some parts of the planned vacation that you have laid out but at least start with your goals in mind.

We strongly encourage you to download the FREE Day Trips Travel Guide that Federica has so generously provided for you.  Look to your right and read more about her free book.  These are 7 well laid out day trips that each and every one of them will provide a most memorable event for you.  Use these to plan your own vacation by choosing one, two or all of them for your vacation in Italy.

The current Italy travel cost for Americans is dependent on the fluctuation of the Euro against the dollar. Since the beginning of the year, this fluctuation has been between 1 Euro to 1.19 and 1.26 US Dollars. This, in essence, means for every Euro, an America needs nearly $1.25.

The overall cost of a trip will be dependent on how many services you need or desire while on your trip. A 4-star trip with outstanding accommodations that can last for 2 weeks can run a couple around $7000. For those on a tighter budget, 2-star accommodations will reduce the price to just under $3000 for the same length of time. This is without food and drinks included.

The lowest cost accommodations are the hostels. These will run from $20 to $30 a night per person. If you desire a private room in a hotel, look to the smaller towns to stay. There are many with prices as low as $60. This is comparable to the hostels in the major cities, but you will not be in Rome or Venice.

A meal will cost, on average, between 20 to 50 Euros ($30 to $75) for dinner, and 10 to 20 Euros ($15 to $30) for lunch. This is for eating out.

The place where the most money can be saved is with transportation. Public transportation is how most Europeans travel. This is because of the outrageous taxes that are placed on fuel in Europe. There are trains and buses that should be used to keep the price of your trip down to a minimum. Zone passes can be purchased if you plan to stay in a particular region of Italy, which can save you time and money.

The last of the Italy travel cost is the 20% VAT or value added tax. In Italy, it is called the Imposta di Valore Aggiunto (IVA). On all purchases over 155 Euros, this tax can be reimbursed upon leaving the country, if you have kept your receipts.

7 Recommended Day Trips in Northern Italy:

You will note that we now have a Free Italy Travel Guide available for instant download. Federica Merli has presented seven one-day trips that you may select from for the best tour value for very little cost. The fact that she is a local tour escort. and lives in the area, gives her the experience necessary to offer fun, informative and very memorable day trips, or extended vacation guided tours of Northern Italy.

Even if you are visiting Italy on some other guided tour program, do yourself a favor and take advantage of one of her discounted special guided day trips. We are convinced that once you sign up for one of her one-day trips you will be planning on coming back for more. Go ahead and download it now.

Welcome, northern Italy tours have never been more affordable and exclusive now that you’ve found out about Tuscany with Me.

Our friend Federica Merli was born and raised in Tuscany, is fluent in English and German and, with extensive work experience in public relations for an Italian winery, is now completing her certification as a Sommelier.  If you’ve experienced the Wine regions of the U.S., you’re ready to travel the ancient Wine Road of Italy.

But you won’t want to limit your trip to Tuscany to just the wineries.  Federica is an authority on all the best Northern Italy has to offer.  Tell her of your interests and she will research them in advance to provide your small group with the most personalized and exclusive customer service available in all of Europe.

Whether it’s a guided half day tour, full day excursion, or an entire week or two of touring, Federica can create a suitable itinerary with each person in mind.  If you’re planning a honeymoon, the celebration of retirement, a family reunion or if you simply want to gather a small group of friends or colleagues, there’s something for everyone in Italy and Federica will help you to find it.

Have you ever considered a trip to an olive grove where you can see the presses at work creating the finest olive oil in the world?  Or how about a tour devoted just to gourmet food?  You might want to devote a day to shopping where Federica will cut through the tourist traps and take you to the places the locals call authentic and a good deal.

Italy invented spas and the Italians are still pampering guests with the finest techniques and treatments in the world.   And for an adventure you may never have thought of, Federica highly recommends a tour of a white marble quarry, the same quarry used by Michelangelo beginning in the year 1500. You’ll never look at marble in the same way again.

The euro is decreasing in value against the dollar, making a European vacation the most affordable in 20 years.  So gather your group, update your passports and start planning your custom Northern Italy tours today.

These Italy travel hints are to assist any travelers to this wonderfully romantic European country to have a more enjoyable time during their brief stay. The busy season in Italy is between June and September. For this reason if you are traveling there at this time expect crowds and some lines at the major destinations.

With all things in economics, when the demand is higher, the prices are higher. Expect a small price increase on hotels, car rentals and other amenities when there during this time of the year.

Because of the crowds, certain precautions should be taken so your vacation is not marred by an unpleasant event like the loss of money. Travelers checks can be replaced if stolen, but it would be better to just keep them.

To help do this make it difficult for pick pockets to have access to them. By either not carrying a wallet or placing it in your front pocket, chances are you will make it impossible for someone to place their hand on your money.

When packing for the trip, remember you will be making purchases of some cloths while you are there. In addition you will be carrying what you pack. Many of the hotels in the smaller cities do not have elevators and the main form of transport is trains. A back pack should be sufficient. Traveling lite will give you more energy to explore Italy.

Do a little research on the places you wish to visit before you leave. There are statues that are only visible at low tide to see if you know about them and islands with monasteries that have nightly prayer vigils. By having a good plan, more things can be seen which generally translates to a better trip.

The most important of all the Italy travel hints is to have fun and enjoy yourself while visiting this historic country. It will be a trip to remember.

The well known Italy travel highlights are pretty much a given. This includes Rome, Venice, and the Italian Riviera. With over 20 million visitors a year, more and more sites are becoming popular tourist attractions.

This is how the leaning tower of Pisa became a tourist attraction. It is unique, one of a kind and has become a World Heritage site. This tower was constructed in 1173, but there are many buildings older than this in Italy.

What most people come to see, at least on their first visit, are the old Roman ruins to give visitors a feel for how much Rome has expanded from this time. One of the oldest is the Pantheon. The construction on this temple was started in 27 BC. When it was constructed, the Pantheon was on the outskirts of Rome. Because of fires, the present day Pantheon is the third one that has been built. The present day building was rebuilt starting in 126 AD. This building has been in continuous use since it was first constructed. Since the 7th century, it has been a Roman Catholic Church that is dedicated to Saint Mary and the Martyrs.

The Roman Coliseum was constructed in 80 AD.  It too has seen the effects of fire and earthquakes that have left it in disrepair. It had been in continuous use until the early 19 century when finally, because of the numerous earthquakes and fires, it has become only a place for tourists and as a sacred place where so many Christians were sacrificed.

There are also the canals of Venice where over 400 bridges crossing the waterways can be found. Florence is in the heart of Tuscany. This is home to the renaissance period where works from Machiavelli and Michelangelo can be found.

Sorrento is the kind of Italian town that most people think of when imagining Italy. This city overlooks the Tyrrhenian Sea, on top of high cliffs.

These are just a few of the better known Italy travel highlights. With so much to see, it is nearly impossible to mention them all.