Why We Love the Italians
Viva Italia! Check out everything we love about the boot country from espresso to Chianti, from the Vatican to the Trevi Fountain.
Everywhere you look in Italy there is an architectural marvel, but we love the simple terracotta rooftops that line the sky.
Who do we have to thank for our daily cappuccino or latte? The Italians. And they invented the first to-go coffee, espresso. We think it's much more stylish (and better for the environment) then carting around your Starbucks cup.
In Italy, how you arrive is more important than when you arrive. Fiats and Vespas might be small in size (to fit through narrow city streets), but they're big on style.
The jewel of Renaissance Italy, Florence is an art lover's dream. Visitors can spend their day taking in an endless array of masterpieces, such as Michelangelo's 'David,' Botticelli's 'The Birth of Venus' and Brunelleschi's Duomo.
Once you try the gelato in Italy, there's no going back to ice cream. Head to the nearest gelateria for your daily fix. Picking out a new flavor every day will help your Italian as well: nocciola (hazelnut) to fragola (strawberry) to stracciatella (Italian version of chocolate chip).
Northern Italy's Lakes District, between Milan and the Alps, provides the perfect respite from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Weather you like traditional spaghetti, or hearty gnocchi or swirly fusilli, Italy is the place for pasta. Traditionally, pasta is served in Italy as a first course and then followed by a meat or fish main course.
Pizza originated in Naples, and now is a world-wide staple. Pizza Margherita is pictured here: made with tomato, sliced mozzarella, basil and extra-virgin olive oil.
After taking in the genius of Michelangelo, Botticelli and Dante, don't forget to check out the works of art by Prada, Gucci, and Ferragamo.
Italy is a world-class wine destination. With grape varietals like Chianti, Amarone, Pinot Grigio, Sangiovese and more, there's a glass of wine for every taste.
Riomaggiore is one of the 5 villages in Cinque Terre (Italian for 5 lands) and a must-see for its dramatic cliffs and stunning views of the Mediterranean's Gulf of Genoa.
Some of the best skiing and most glamorous resorts are located in Italy's spectacular mountain range, the Dolomites.
Temple Concord in Agrigento, Sicily, is a relatively intact temple built around 430 BC and traditionally visited by couples on their wedding day.
Toss a coin into Rome's Trevi fountain and it's believed you'll return to the city some day; two coins, and you'll fall in love with an Italian.
Some of the most spectacular art in Italy can be found in the Vatican Museums. Rest up before you visit, there's a lot of ground to cover, including the Sistine Chapel, Raphael Room and more.
Italians take their cinema very seriously, especially at the Venice Film Festival, the oldest film festival in the world, which takes places in August or early September every year and is held on the island of Lido off Venice.
Carnival (or Carnevale in Italian) is an annual festival held in Venice. The masquerade party lasts 2 weeks, ending on the Tuesday (known as Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras, elsewhere) before Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins. Originally masks were a way for members of different social classes to hide their identities; today they're the perfect souvenirs for travelers to bring home.