Italy

[Prawn_86]

Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia. The independent states of San Marino and the Vatican City are enclaves within the Italian Peninsula, while Campione d'Italia is an Italian exclave in Switzerland.

[pinkopalino]

Italy has been the home of many European cultures, such as the Etruscans and the Romans, and later was the birthplace of the universities and of the movement of the Renaissance, that began in Tuscany and spread all over Europe. Italy's capital Rome was for centuries the center of Western civilization; it also spawned the Baroque movement and seats the Catholic Church. Italy possessed a colonial empire from the second half of the nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century.

Today, Italy is a democratic republic and a developed country with the 8th-highest Quality-of-life index rating in the world. It is a founding member of what is now the European Union (having signed the Treaty of Rome in 1957), and a founding member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). It is a member of the G8 (having the world's 7th largest nominal GDP), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organization (WTO), the Council of Europe, the Western European Union, the Central European Initiative, and a Schengen state. It has the world's 7th largest defence budget and shares NATO's nuclear weapons. On 1 January 2007, Italy began a two year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/europe/italy/Italy_color.GIF

[pinkopalino]

The Colosseum or Roman Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium, Italian Anfiteatro Flavio or Colosseo), is an elliptical amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.

Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign (81–96). The name "Amphitheatrum Flavium" derives from both Vespasian's and Titus's family name (Flavius, from the gens Flavia).

Originally capable of seating around 80,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. As well as the gladiatorial games, other public spectacles were held there, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.

It has been estimated that about 500,000 people and over a million wild animals died in the Colosseum games.

Although in the 21st century it stays partially ruined due to damage caused by devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome and its breakthrough achievements in earthquake engineering. It is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions and still has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession to the amphitheatre.
The Colosseum is also depicted on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin.

http://data.greatbuildings.com/gbc/images/cid_colosseum_km_001.jpg

[goutham]

Italy, nice country, shaped like a boot...

my favourate place in italy is naples

Naples,
From an historical viewpoint is very interesting and here there is a wonderful landscape, people are always gorgeous and friendly, weather is fantastic etc.
Food is the best in the world,think about pizza...

[pinkopalino]

Florence in Italy .... under the snow

Florence the pearl of the rinascimento is magic .... under the snow !
It's very rare to see Florence ... under the snow ! but is wonderful !

http://xoomer.alice.it/neveafirenze/

Here you can see a lot of high definition photos over the Brunelleschi's cupola... and more ! like Ponte Vecchio

[chrissylewis03]

Hi guys,

I'm trying to find a nice, comfortable, affordable, central hotel in rome. I'll find a 3 star property then find out that it's more of a backpackers and the people travelling are an older couple that want something clean.

can anyone recomend anything that they or someone they know have stayed in?

cheers,

Chrissy.

[johnting101]

Ah sorry for bumping again as I would like to share my experiences in Italy.
I went to Italy around a few years ago and it was a worthwhile experience.
There was snow! (Sorry =P I personally come from a country which has no 4 seasons so snow is an amazing thing!).

I went to places like, Rome, Milan, Monaco(is this in Italy?), Venice and well somewhere on those lines. It was a great experience.

I saw the leaning tower of Pisa, the colosseum and the canals in Venice. I really had a great time there. Pizzas and Spagetties are their delicacies I suppose and they're amazing. The people there are pretty friendly as well, even though I do not know much about what they are talking about :P

The Monaco city, or Monte Carlo is amazing as well, though small, but a wonderful city. I don't think I will ever regret going to Italy and if I had the chance, I would definately go there again!

[kaztez]

My husband and I will be in Rome for 4 days (Aug 9th - Aug 13th) 2010.

I have been looking at various websites for walking day tours and I especially like what the website enjoyrome has to offer.

Does anyone know anything about this company and if so could you give me some feedback.

Many thanks.

[dalkeithdamsell]

I'm trying to find out a bit more about Lezzeno? Is it too far away from restaurants, etc if you don't have a car. Are the apartments at Il Molo nice and spacious or small. There are 4 of us.

[lee20]

I'm trying to find out a bit more about Lezzeno? Is it too far away from restaurants, etc if you don't have a car. Are the apartments at Il Molo nice and spacious or small. There are 4 of us.

There are many places to visit in Lake Como. Few of them are the Ristorante Il Caminetto Cookery Lessons which is an educational site, Enoteca Cava Turacciolo, and Cathedral of Como (Duomo)

[meas]

i visited venice few years ago.nice but dirty and very expensive.did tour along the chanels and visited all amenities.The buildings of Venice are constructed on closely spaced wood piles, which were imported from the mainland.I've seen piazza san marco and st marm's basilica as well.food and drink,coffee is very expensive.i am not so delighted.

[Sunny P.]

If you happen to be in Rome, you should definitely make a trip (I can't really remember how far it was, but I think it was just outside the city) to Villa d'Este. It is a beautiful "garden" with countless flowers and fountains.
Some other things to do in and around Rome can be found here (http://www.holidaycheck.com/region-things_to_do_Rome+Area-ch_rt-rid_219.html).

[Nothing But Adventure]

Hi all,

Try Bologna... where lasagne and of course bolognese was invented.
This place is fairly quiet so a few days here will do it.. but if you're head around this area at the very least stop in for some lasagne :)

Daniel

[globetrotternz]

Im going to be in italy for 10 day in december and i know lots of tours are over...what can i do??

[Yggdrasil98]

We spent a wonderful week in Venice in winter and everything there runs as usual. It's not as crowded, and though not snowy it does get very cold and some fog.

[EvansJasmine]

I like when go to travel at Italy. There are much seafood and can go to beach, shopping....I was travel italy with travel company : Travel sense asia co.,ltd so good !
I also enjoy being in Italy very much there are so many interesting places to see and the cuisine is fantastic! In fact all my family adores pizza and we all would be happy to go to Italy again and again!:)

[EvansJasmine]

Italy is definitely one of the best countries for a cultural tourism, especially in Rome there can be seen so many things... I could not visit Vatican, but I plan to make a trip to Italy with this purpose only!

[EvansJasmine]

i visited venice few years ago.nice but dirty and very expensive.did tour along the chanels and visited all amenities.The buildings of Venice are constructed on closely spaced wood piles, which were imported from the mainland.I've seen piazza san marco and st marm's basilica as well.food and drink,coffee is very expensive.i am not so delighted.

Venice can be a bit smelly in the summer because of the water in the channels. but the overall atmosphere and romantic appeal compensate it all :).