Where to go in ITALY??

Question

Hi, I'm looking to go on holiday to Italy, I've never been before & I want to know where is the best place to go where I can enjoy lovely, clean beaches but also experience the traditional, cultural side of Italy?

Many thanks for your help....

Answer 1

Well, honestly...I come from Italy and was born and raised and schooled there....and if you are looking for romantic quiet clean places with palm trees and great views, things you read in poems  , I suggest these places: The famous book "I promessi Sposi" starts with "Quel ramo ......del lago di Como...." , the lago there is so romantic, peaceful lovely, you can find nice villas for rent nearby.

Another place but not close to Como is further south, is called Taormina, it is located in Sicily, it is a dream place, coastal and very artigianal, pottery is hand made and painted daily and so are hand embroidered items which no women i know do anymore...beautiful and amazing scenery, coastal town situated up high yet you can easily drive down to the clean beach below.

Bari, (sorry for jumping regions) it has a town called Alberobello, it is so unique, and it is so because of their home shapes...must see i won't spoil the surprise.

also it has a Grotto called "Le grotte di Castellano" must see it will be such a memorable experience! it is underground cave so large with rock mineral formations truly amazing!....also Bari has very clean and nice beach!

Buon divertimento! Ciao

Answer 2

I would also suggest Venice. I think the canals are amazing. There is so much to do in Venice and all of Italy. There's shopping and beaches. It's Amazing!!!!!

Have A great trip!!!!!!!

Answer 3

check out the source below for information on Italy and some nice beach resorts

my fav is Genoa and its not to far from Pissa

enjoy

Answer 4

ROME

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-27...

FLORENCE

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-27...

VENICE

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-27...

MILAN

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-27...

NAPLES

http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-27...

FOR BEACHES, SOUTHERN ITALY & SICILY ARE YOUR BEST BETS. NORTHERN ITALY DOES HAVE SOME NICE BEACHES THOUGH.

http://www.italiantourism.com/beaches.ht...

http://www.seeitalia.com/articles/beache...

Answer 5

This looks a good base http://www.bluemarineitalyholiday.co.uk/ - close to lots of cultural sites and if you look at the Google satellite images on the http://www.bluemarineitalyholiday.co.uk/... page - it looks terrific!

Answer 6

I live in Rome and can honestly say Italy is a dump.

It's the joke of Europe.

Go to Spain,

Much cheaper, much nicer beaches (not all privatised - with sewage pipes spewing nasty stuff a few hundred meters away.)

Spain has a much much much better night life and the Spanish have a joy for life - Italian culture consists of shopping and eating out and the Italians are far too busy worrying about what they look like and what other people think of them to actually enjoy themselves - pathetic!

If you really have to visit Italy, steer well clear of the cities, find yourself a smaller place close to the coast  - the further away from the cities the better and the more chance you will have of having a bit more sand to yourself.

Answer 7

Off the coast of Naples to the Isle of Capri, and drink some Limencello!

Answer 8

I've been to Rome and Venice. Personally, I love Venice. It's really very interesting since they use boats instead of cars. The whole place just feels amazing. Rome is also a good place to go because of all the great history.

Answer 9

we went to a small coastal town south of pisa called livourno.it was awesome!i also reccommend you try taking the train as a day trip to florence(forenze)and rome.and there's also a ittybitty town called lucca that has a wall around the city(literally)and over 100 midieval churches!everything there is within walking distance,and it's a really quaint place to go!have a great time!!!i have pics from our trip posted on myspace if you are a memeber you can check it out!

Answer 10

Florence, Venice, Rome. Florence for the scenery which breathtaking, the cathedrals, the Uffizi Museum. Venice for the shopping, see a demonstration of how they glass pieces by glass blowing. Rome for the culture, Vatican City, Sistine Chapel, the catacombs, spanish steps, trevi fountain, and the colleseum.

Go to www.frommers.com for tips and advice.

Answer 11

It's really nice in Venice, there's a beach near there in Lido. There are also beautiful scenes.

But if you really want to go to a white beach, I suggest you go to Sardinia. My family and I went there last summer, we stayed in Costa Rei at Sant'Elmo. It's really nice there! (sorry, i already forgot the website of the resort)

I hope it helped..Good luck!

Answer 12

Hi, I'm Italian...The south of Italy has clean beaches and a beautiful sea,as Sardegna (it's very beautiful) or Sicilia,...but if you try youngs and fun, then you can go to Rimini or Riccione....but there are many beautiful cities, as Rome, Venice, Florence, Milan...bye!!

Answer 13

I've been to Italy a lot and I wouldn't recommend the summer there unless you're going to the coast.

Milan - The Refrectory of Santa Maria del Grazie to see The Last Supper (Tickets in advance)

Venice - Saint Mark's Square, The Doge's Palace, Rialto bridge, Bridge of Sighs, Arsenal, The Accademia, Giacomo Cassanova's house, The Grand Canal and Murano.

Rome - Vatican Museums which include the Sistine Chapel, St Peter's Basillica, Castel Saint Angelo, Forum, Colosseum, Palatine, Circus Maximus, Via Appia, Gallery Borghese, Capitoline Museums, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Pantheon and many many churches.

Florence - Uffizi Gallery (tickets in advance), Accademia (Michelangelo's David is there, Bargello, Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio and the Loggia with its sculpture, various churches and family chapels, Palazzo Pitti, Fort Belvedere.

Vinci in tuscanny to see the birthplace of Leonardo da VInci.

Naples- Pompeii, Herculanium.(1.5hrs from Rome)

Padua, Verona, the lakes, the Dolomites etc etc.

I can only list a few things here or I'd be going on for days

If you're pushed for time then train travel in Italy is very cheep and efficient.

Great guide books are the Eyewitness Travel Guides. They have photos, every attraction you can think of, opening times and great maps.

Take a look at these web sites and enjoy your trip.

http://mv.vatican.va/3_en/pages/mv_home....

http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/englis...

http://www.whatsonwhen.com/scripts/query...

www.venere.com

Answer 14

hey!

i would say venice cuz i think its something special. .  . Maybe you can also go to milan for shopping . .

i think they are not too far from each other.

hope i helped

Answer 15

hi, sorry 4 my english, but I'm italian...you can go in summer...it's wonderful! the ancient cities with the monuments are in north Italy, but the best ice-cream of the world and the beautiful beaches...the blue sea are in the south...:-)) bye bye

Answer 16

Rome and Vienna  are nice

Answer 17

I live in Italy, near Milan and I can say that all the italy is very beautiful... landscapes are very amazing and the sea is very special. In the north you can go to the Alps, to the Lake of Como (Como, Bellagio and Lecco are very lovely). Also Venice, Milan and Turin... I like too much Verona, is a lovely city... if you want to visit the middle of Italy you can go to Florence, Bologna, Rome, Abruzzo... in the south I think you should visit Naples (It's not how media say to all, Berlusconi, the president of the council, freed Naples from the rubbish) You can go to Sicily or Sardinia... However somewhere place you'll go it'll be fantastic and very beautiful!!!

Answer 18

There are many places you can go .. How long will you be staying in Italy...

A good place to relax and sunbathe.swim, and enjoy the beautiful scenery ---

Take the train to Cinque Terre, Portofino, Liguria....there are beautiful beach there.

http://www.cinqueterre.it/en/index.asp

http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/

http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/milan/home....

http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/beaches.htm...

http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/seaside.htm...

http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/liguria/cin...

http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/liguria/ind...

http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/portofino.h...

http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/italianrivi...

To take the train --- Train site----

http://www.trenitalia.it/en/index.html

Answer 19

A short distance outside of Rome is Lido di Roma.  I have not been to it, but because it is close to Rome, the traditional and cultural side of Italy as well as the beaches would be contained within a small area.

Sorrento , near Naples, also is a beach resort, as is the nearby island of Capri.

The Italian Riviera, otherwise known as the Riviera dei Fiori, or Coast of Flowers, begins at Ventimiglia, near the French border, and ends at Savona.  The liveliest resort on this coastal area is San Remo.  Rapallo and Portofino also are renowned as resort towns.  Swimming is reported as good on the Italian Riviera from May to September.  However, you must be careful about going barefoot on the beaches, as you may pick up some potentially dangerous parasites through your feet.  I heard a story about one guy who went there as a tourist and picked up a parasite by going barefoot.  The parasite eventually made its way to his heart and was discovered just on time.

Answer 20

Come in Tuscany, we are weating for you!!!

Answer 21

Rome

Answer 22

I would actually not recommend Venice especially if you are looking for great beaches.  I have travelled all over the country so I'm pretty sure I'm not biased on this.  The best beach I've been to in Northern Italy is Viareggio which is not a far train ride from Florence which is filled with beautiful art and architecture and countless cafes and lots of nightlife.  The beach that is by far the best in Southern Italy is the beach in Taormina, Sicily.  The water is clear like the Caribbean and the city is full of old world charm although very touristed.  Taormina is also extremely close to Siracusa which is home of the Greek amphitheater and ruins.  Mount Etna is also in this general area which is spectacular.  I've been to Italy more times than I can even remember and if I went back this summer I would most likely spend 4 or 5 days in Florence (I would highly recommend the Hotel Relais Certosa which has a gorgeous outdoor pool and is a 20 minute bus ride away from Florence) and I would take a train ride to Taormina for 4 or 5 days as well.  If you travel to both cities you will experience two completely different landscapes and very different art and architecture and food.  Aside from these two places I think the island of Capri and all of the Amalfi coast is beautiful if you have the money!  Good luck!

Answer 23

My personal favorite place ever is the Isle of Capri in Southern Italy.  It is absolutely goregous.  Sorrento is very nice too.  You should go to Rome, but idk about finding clean beaches there!  Also, Venice, Florence, and Milan are nice!

Answer 24

Hi there if you don't only want to go to the beach i recommend the lakes in the north . Lago Magiore or Lago di Garda they are grate places to see and you have both water and mountains .

Answer 25

Florence or Venice they are true Italy....Amazing places

Answer 26

Le Marche region has a lot to offer: lovely beaches, art, festivals, food and wine and is not too touristy.

Give it a try!

Answer 27

Hi! you can enjoy in Rimini or Riccione. There are a beach, a disco and it is full of people...

Answer 28

Rome is amazing.  I also loved the island of Capri off the coast of Naples

Answer 29

I've only been to venice but i loved it. It was so beautiful.... You cant swim in the canals but about 10-20 minutes away there is this really pretty beach. There is so much to see in venice even though its such a small town. I loved it so much we spent 10 days there and still didnt run out of things to do.