Peter D'Attoma, President of DaVinci Custom Travel & Tours
Part 2 of 2

Continua il viaggio attraverso la nostra penisola con altre cinque destinazioni top da visitare: Roma per la sua storia e i suoi numerosi monumenti quali Piazza di Spagna, Piazza Navona, la Fontana di Trevi.  La citta è inoltre la sede del nostro governo.  Per sfuggire alla frenesia di tutti i giorni, il lago di Como resta sicuramente tra i primi in classifica.  L’aspetto naturalistico e pittoresco dei circostanti paesini rende la zona dei laghi al Nord d’Italia tra le più incantevoli in Italia.  Se siete amanti della natura e della tranquillità, fate un giro in Toscana -  e per coloro che preferiscono le montagne, le Dolomiti offrono paesaggi mozzafiato e attività sportive per tutti (dal trekking, allo sci).  Per gli innamorati, l’atmosfera romantica di Venezia renderà il vostro viaggio indimenticabile.

ROME: Best for history. When it comes to history, no other city in the world compares to Rome.  From the eighteenth-century masterpiece, The Piazza Di Spagna (The Spanish Steps); The Piazza Di Campidoglio , seat of the Italian Goverment; Piazza Venezia, the heart of the city; the Trevi Fountain; the celebrated Piazza Navona, the Pantheon; Saint Peter’s Square, gateway to the basilica and the center of Christianity, and of course the Colosseum, a massive structure dating from AD72. Every modern public stadium’s design ultimately copies that of the Colosseum. No building better symbolizes Italy’s grand historical pedigree than this 2,000-year-old ancient amphitheatre.

There is so much history in the bricks and mortar of this capital city that they’re still digging it up! Archeologists estimate that 95 percent of ancient Rome is still buried under the ground. Its interest and beauty derive in the main from two widely divided periods: the first three centuries of the Roman Empire (72-BC-AD 300) and the three centuries of the Renaissance and the Baroque (AD 1450-1750).

Within the Aurelian walls there are more than 200 churches and 19 Basilicas alone to be explored. The truth is that once you arrive in Rome, you are literally walking into the world’s biggest open-air museum. It was once said that all roads lead to Rome. Rome’s pre-eminence as a centre of world affairs may have waned somewhat in the intervening years, but the grandeur that was Rome is still very much alive and evident for all to witness and experience.

COMO: Best for escaping. If you feel the need to get away from it all, escape the heat of the summer, relax and unwind, there is really no substitute for the lakes. When it comes to selecting from Lago Maggiore, Garda, Orta, Varese or Iseo, my choice is Lake Como. The reason for this is that Como has its very own microclimate. Sheltered on all sides over towering mountains, even in the winter, the weather is still mild, thus it becomes a great year round destination.

Secondly, the nature landscape here lends itself to a variety of activities. A short bus or a boat ride and you will soon find yourself wandering through picturesque fishing villages or marveling at the splendid historical villas that surround the lake and the beautifully maintained botanical gardens.

Be sure to visit the lovely villages of Bellagio, Moltrasio, Tremezzo, Cernobbio and Varenna. The best way to get around the lake and visit the villages is to hire a private boat or use the public water transportation ferry system. 

TUSCANY: Best for nature beauty. For overall natural scenery there is nothing quite like Toscana. Despite the incessant praise, the bellezza (beauty) of this region continues to defy description. It seems to have it all: from extraordinary art and architecture, colorful festivals, excellent cuisine emulated the world over and a never-ending landscape of vineyards, olive groves and poplars.

There are few places in the world were art and life intermingles so completely.  In Tuscany you will find golden fields, long winding roads that meander gently around sweeping contours, stone farmhouses seated proudly on hilltops and everywhere the landscape is dotted with cypress trees.

The desire today to live “under the Tuscan sun” is such that this region is amongst the most sought-after for foreigners seeking to purchase land or a home. Yet, for those who are not able to afford a piece of country living, a couple of weeks a year offer the most Italian of destinations, with an unrivalled natural landscape of tranquility and beauty.

The history here is pretty distinguished too. From the Middle Ages through the Renaissance, Tuscany has been home to some of the greatest Italian writers, artists, and thinkers. Dante, Michelangelo, Gioto, Raphael, and Leonardo, to mention just a few, all come from these parts. With such an illustrious guest list how could it fail to inspire?

The best time to visit this region is from late April to mid-June and, my favorite time of the year, autumn. The must see towns and villages here are: Cortona, Lucca, Monteriggioni, Pienza, Siena and Volterra.

DOLOMITES: Best for mountains. With breathtaking vistas at every turn, the Dolomites are the most scenic and spectacular of the Alpine mountains. It comes at no surprise that tourists flock in large numbers to this area every year.

This is an all-year-round holiday destination, naturally the mountains always figure in the equation, with activities such as hiking, and mountain biking in the summer months and skiing in the winter. There are a multitude of resorts scattered throughout the region.

Cortina d’Ampezzo has over 120 kilometers of prime skiing and is crowned by the Tofane, Faloria, Cristallo and Cinque Torri mountains. Understandably, it is labeled the “Queen of the Dolomites.” The stunning landscape below is characterized by soft rolling hills, lush green pastures, and small picturesque villages. If it’s mountains that you are drawn by, then you need look no further.

VENICE: Best for romance. Perhaps Turner captured its essence best: “Elusive, floating, enigmatic, Venice rides in a misty middle distance of muted colors and sounds, a dreamlike place that defies definition and beggars description.”

The travel writer HV Morton once wrote, “To appreciate a gondola a man must be 20 and in love.”

That’s all very well but what about the rest of us? Romance isn’t just for the young. And when it’s romance that you are after, there is only one place in the world to go and that’s Venice!

This city oozes romance, from the very fabric of its buildings to the impenetrable waters of its canals. There is a certain mystique to this city that is hard to explain -- perhaps because it is hidden behind the lurid, dark secrets and infidelities of its past; its small passageways and side alleys; or the dark and romantic interior of its cathedral. Whatever your age, who could deny the romantic appeal of a gondola drifting gently through the moonlit waters on a warm summer evening, where the only sound you hear is that of the gondolier’s voice in a soft serenade?

As many times as I have had the pleasure to visit and experience this magnificent city, it always seems to captivate me with its beauty, charm and romanticism. It may be crowded and expensive, crumbling and shabby, but this treasure-packed city will certainly win your heart. It is a dream waiting to come true.

The best time to go to Venice is in the spring or autumn. Venice is almost always in high season. Carnival week held in February is particularly very busy.

Click here to read part 1 of Italy's top ten destinations.

Peter D’Attoma is president of DaVinci Custom Travel & Tours. He has over 25 years of planning and designing independent, custom and escorted tours of Italy for individuals, groups and incentives. For more information call 330-633-2292 or visit www.davincicustomtravel.com.