Italy Travel Tours

Posts Tagged ‘Mediterranean Sea’

Abundant and Enchanting Destinations Italy will assure you never forget your trip to this marvelous country.

Of course, many visitors begin with the art in Tuscany.  Art is an important part of the Italian culture that dates back centuries.  The earliest art predates anything available in America; it is the cave dwellings in Cetona with ancient treasures.  Early art is also found in Lunigiana with stele statues.

Elba Island illustrates ancient civilizations and the Etruscan cities mimic the history of Rome. Of course some of the most enchanting aspects of Italy are vestiges of the Renaissance which began in beautiful Florence.

For a powerful experience travel to the mountains of Tuscany where there are hundreds of activities to enchant you.  Explore marble cathedrals and the hermitages and monasteries that dot the Casentino forests.

Bring someone you love to the high peaks of Monte Amiata and capture photographs of fallow deer.  In the summer hike the Abetone woods that host skiers in the wintertime.  Ask your tour guide to arrange a schedule of trekking and biking through the mountain trails, and also recommend places for meditation and contemplation.

If the ocean is more your preference, there are miles of coastline in Italy that are surrounded by the Apuan Alps, notable for their constitution of white marble.  Charming villages built into the hills will make you fall in love all over again.  Enjoy outdoor seating in a little café where the proprietor will tempt your palette with local specialties you’ve never had before.

Visit churches and cathedrals on your walks throughout medieval cities lined with cobblestone streets and see the ocean open up beneath you with cliffs that plunge into azure blue water.

Lastly, don’t overlook the beautiful spectacle of the sun setting into the Mediterranean Sea, capping off Enchanting Destinations Italy.

Your travel to Italy need not be overwhelming.   With some careful and educated planning you’ll have a splendid time seeing this beautiful country along the Mediterranean Sea.

Italy is rather small by global standards, with a population of 59 million.  Rome is its capital.  As long as your stay is less than 90 days, you don’t need a special visa to visit Italy; your passport will do.  The Italian government does not require any immunizations for entry.

Italy follows Central European Time and observes daylight saving time from the last Sunday in March until the final Sunday in October.  Like much of Western Europe, Italy is seven hours ahead of the eastern United States.

Italy has the metric system of measurements.  Temperature is in Celsius.  Conversion guides from U.S. standards are readily available online.  You’ll want to bring an adapter for any electrical items you have such as cell phone and laptop chargers.   Some hairdryers have a switch that can convert them to 220 volts.  If you want to know whether your item is ready for plug in in Italy, just look at the connector.  Italian devices have two cylindrical points to fit into the standard wall plugs there.

Be sure to make your banking institution aware of your international travel plans or you may find a block on your credit or debit card when you get there.  Your bank might think someone stole your card and went on vacation.

ATMs in Italy are called Bancomats and have only numbers, no letters.  Make sure your pin code is numeric only.   Visa is the most widely accepted bank card in Europe.  Don’t count on American Express to help you much in Italy as its acceptance is rare.

It doesn’t take much to acquaint yourself with the fundamentals of European travel.  Once you do, travel to Italy will be a snap.