Italy Off the Tourist Trail

Meta Description: Explore some of the lesser know parts of Italy. Discover mountain ranges in the north, historic towns in central Italy, and stunning coastal destinations to the south. Italy is one of the most visited countries in the world. And yet, much of the tourism is concentrated on the ‘big names’ like Rome, Florence, …

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When in Rome…

The last several days have been extremely busy for me in Rome. After the grueling day of travel from Tel Aviv to Rome via Athens, I basically slept in and tried to find a more permanent lodging solution (I grabbed a hotel close to the train station in central Rome that was more than I …

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Help me plan my trip to Rome

According to the Most Traveled People website, Italy is the most popular place in the world to visit…… which I’ve never visited. As I finally enter Europe in a few days, I’ll like to tap the collective mind of the internet to help me plan my trip to Rome. There are some things I’ll see …

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Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe

Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe

From the World Heritage inscription: The Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany are a serial property comprising fifteen components. They represent an outstanding example of undisturbed, complex temperate forests and exhibit the most complete and comprehensive ecological patterns and processes of pure stands of European beech across a …

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Why You Should Visit Padua, Italy (And What to Do There)

Why You Should Visit Padua, Italy

Padua is a small city in northeastern Italy that is the antidote to the crazy crowds of Venice. Of course, Padua is much smaller and less well-known than Venice, but she shouldn’t be overlooked. A visit to the city provides an authentic experience of northern Italy in a way that other, larger cities don’t. You’ll …

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Residences of the Royal House of Savoy

Residences of the Royal House of Savoy - UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the World Heritage inscription for the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy: When Emmanuel-Philibert, Duke of Savoy, moved his capital to Turin in 1562, he began a vast series of building projects (continued by his successors) to demonstrate the power of the ruling house. This outstanding complex of buildings, designed and embellished by …

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Mantua and Sabbioneta

Mantua and Sabbioneta UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the World Heritage inscription for Mantua and Sabbioneta: Mantua originated as an Etruscan settlement and developed in Roman times to a small fortified town. It was situated on the highest point of what was then an island in a marshy area along the river Mincio. Some traces of the walls and main streets can …

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Historic Centre of San Gimignano

Historic Centre of San Gimignano UNESCO World Heritage Site

From the World Heritage inscription for the Historic Centre of San Gimignano: San Gimignano bears exceptional testimony to the civilization of the Middle Ages in that it groups together within a small area all the structures typical of urban life: squares and streets, houses and palaces, wells and fountains. San Gimignano is situated in the …

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City of Verona

City of Verona UNESCO World Heritage Site, Italy

From the World Heritage inscription: In its urban structure and its architecture, Verona is an outstanding example of a town that has developed progressively and uninterruptedly over 2,000 years, incorporating artistic elements of the highest quality from each succeeding period. It also represents in an exceptional way the concept of the fortified town at several …

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