Italy

• General info
• Rome
• Map of Italy

General Info

Italy may not have the golden beaches that its neighbours in Greece and Spain have, but it has an astonishing amount of historic landmarks and beautiful scenery if that's what you're into.

Although there are many youth hostels in Italy, few are members of the HI. This means that rates vary considerably and same hostels can be quite expensive. There are many campsites but they can be relatively expensive as well as hard to reach.

Eating out:

Traltorie - simple establishments
Ristoranti - more expensive
Osterie - trendy and expensive
Alimentarie - sandwiches
Rosticerrie - takeaways
Tavole calde - self service

Some of Italy's must see places include St Mark's Square, Venice, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, the spectacular Amalfi coast, Pompei, Valley of the temples, Sicily. However it's Rome that I'm going to look closer at.

Rome

• There is much to see in this hugely historical city, and it's highly recommended. It's best to walk around yourself to experience the city. You can get a free street map from any tourist office.
• The metro has only two lines(A and B), so you might be better off using the impressive bus service.
• Campsites are outside the city.Many are within a 45 minute bus ride, but you'd be better off in a hotel or hostel.
• Italian cafes and bars have hefty seating charges, so you'd be better off eating at the bar.
• Nightlife can be limited as most Italians would rather go to a restaurant for the evening, however, there are vibrant clubs to be found.
• In the summer, theatres and concerts are performed outdoors, ie Baths of Caracalla.

Highlights

St Peter's and the Vatican - marvel at Michelangelo's dome as well as his Pieta. Also there is the 13th century statue of St Peter and the breathtaking view from the roof. Visit the vatican museums behind the Basilica. Then of course comes the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo's work is truly amazing and has to be seen.

The Colosseum - the Colosseum was built in the 1st century AD when up to 55,000 spectators witnessed gladiators and ferocious animals fight each other to the death. The underground passages where they were kept can be seen today. Above the colosseum and the Forum is the Palatine hill, where you will see the ruins of imperial palaces and huts from the 7th century BC.

The catacombs are also worth a look.

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Map of Italy

(Map Courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin)