In This Issue:
Italy

Italy - A unique work of art

A unique work of art with twenty protagonists: this is Italy with its twenty Regions, small and large coffers holding different but equally precious treasures.

The Aosta Valley with its mountain majesty, from Mont Blanc to Mount Cervino. Piedmont with the intense smell of its renowned wines, such as Barolo, its Olympic mountains and its baroque style. Liguria with its colourful sea hamlets. Lombardy with the enchantments of its large lakes, from Lake Maggiore to Lake Garda. Trentino and Alto Adige/Sudtirol with the Dolomiti/Dolomiten golden tips.

Veneto with its magnificent villas and artistic towns, like Venice. Friuli Venezia Giulia with its charm suspended between land and sea. Emilia Romagna with its 'Riviera romagnol', for everyone equivalent to great fun.

Then famous Tuscany, land of wonderful cities like Florence and magical hills like Chianti. Alternatively, Marche, with its long beaches, small hamlets and balmy high grounds. Latium of Eternal Rome and faithful visiting the Pope. Umbria, green heart of Italy and cradle to the Franciscan spirit.

Abruzzo and its majestic Gran Sasso, its everlasting glacier, Europe's southernmost one. Small Molise rich in great country traditions. Campania, with culinary delights such as spaghetti and pizza, the beauty of Capri and Ischia and the charm of Pompeii and Paestum. Basilicata is the precious guardian to the Caves of Matera, one of the many UNESCO's treasures in Italy.

Apulia, with its splendid beaches and architectural jewels like the Trulli. Calabria and its breathtaking coastline.

The two large islands follow: sunny Sicily, land of important monuments of the most important past civilizations, and proud Sardinia with its enchanted sea. Many pieces of one marvellous mosaic. Italy, as beautiful as a movie.

The Cities of Art

Italy is a living museum. Her public structures comprise vivid, visible art and architecture that stand as testaments to the country's history and culture. The Roman and Greek empires influenced early Italian design with their mighty temples and impressive amphitheatres, while Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic design later played important parts in inspiring both architects and artists in the centuries to come.

Their tangible, timeless legacies can be witnessed in every major Italian city and town. According to UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural branch, Italy has more historic and artistic treasures than any other country. It boasts 43 World Heritage Sites, 42 of them cited for their cultural significance. Geographically, the sites range from the late Baroque towns of the Val di Noto in southeastern Sicily to the Royal House of Savoy residences in Piedmont in Italy's northwest. So wherever one goes in the country, there's a Heritage Site nearby.

Rome

Founded in 754 BC by orphaned brothers Romulus and Remus, a walk through Rome is a walk through time. From the Colosseum to the Pantheon to the immaculate aqueducts and roads, the Roman Empire influenced design, engineering and architecture for centuries to come. The Vatican offers the awe-inspiring St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, housing enormous collections of art and the frescoed ceilings of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo. From Bernini to Bramante, Raphael and Caravaggio, marvel at the masterpieces that embellish and define the Eternal City: paintings, sculptures, palaces and ever-flowing fountains.

Venice

Venice is a feast of magnificent churches, lavish palazzi and stately bridges, all built upon a labyrinth of waterways and streets that are works of art in themselves. Stroll across the Rialto Bridge for an eagle-eye view of the Grand Canal and the gondolas. Delight in the Byzantine wonder of St Mark's Basilica, watch St Mark's Square bell tower pierce the sky and revel in the riches of the city's museums. The Gallerie dell'Accademia showcases Venetian masters such as Tintoretto, Bellini, Giorgione and Carpaccio, while the Peggy Guggenheim Collection presents modern giants like Picasso, Dali, Pollock and Miro.

Florence

Built by the Romans and immortalized by the Renaissance, Florence affords an unforgettable voyage through timeless art and architecture. Savour the contrast between the Boboli Garden's green, groomed perfection, Brunelleschi's bold, red-tiled Duomo and Giotto's 14th-century Campanile in red, white and green marble. Gothic and Romanesque facades joust for attention on the churches of Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella. Priceless works by Botticelli, Giotto, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci fill the halls of the Uffizi Gallery. Within the Brancacci Chapel Masaccio's Adam and Eve are expelled from the Garden of Eden, their shame and despair palpable. Meanwhile, on the Ponte Vecchio, the latest generation of craftsmen fashion unique art one can wear. It's as if the Renaissance never ceased: Florence's enlightenment continues to enchant the world.

Bologna

This enchanting medieval city in the heart of the Emilia-Romagna region is peppered with red-brick roofs and miles of porticos, around which waft intense aromas of Bologna's famous culinary delights. Visitors will be tempted by plump tortellini, scrumptious tagliatelle with ragu, fragrant mortadella and more. These hearty, savoury dishes literally capture the true flavour of this wonderful old town - as well as giving guests the fuel to explore it! Stroll through the Piazza Maggiore or scale the Torre Asinelli, one of Bologna's Due Torri (Two Towers), a monumental reminder of its historic past. The city is also home to the western world's oldest university, which fills the atmosphere with a vibrant and passionate spirit. A trip to Bologna is an absolute treat for all the senses.

Naples

In the 17th century Naples reigned as the undisputed cultural capital of Europe. Within its National Museum of Archeology lies a bountiful collection of artifacts, sculptures and mosaics recalling its past as well as that of Rome, Greece, Egypt, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Music and song has long defined this sunny city: Naples is home to the San Carlo opera house, Europe's oldest working theatre since 1737. Architecturally, the jewel in the crown is the Galleria UmbertoI; its elegant glass dome and barrelled vaults now host shops and restaurants. Nearby, the vast Piazza del Plebescito embraces the Royal Palace and the church of St Francis of Paola. At day's end, the sun glints on the towers of the 13th-century Maschio Angioino fortress.

Palermo

This ancient Phoenician seaside colony features a spectrum of architectural styles reflecting many civilizations: Greek, Roman, Arabic, Norman, Spanish, French and Byzantine. Each built upon and embellished buildings created by successive cultures, creating a wonderful harmony of designs. From the stunning Royal Palace to the Palatine chapel's lustrous Byzantine mosaics; from St John of the Hermit's original Arab crimson-coloured domes and its serene cloisters to the three-tiered Baroque sculptural magnificence at the intersection of Quattro Canti. Palermo's artistry also finds expression in its theatres: at The Teatro Massimo and the Teatro Politeama Garibaldi, concerts and ballets have been performed here for centuries.

Gastronomy and Wine - the art of living

In Italy, cooking is an art. As is the production of the wines fine enough to accompany exquisite recipes savoured all over the world. Pasta and pizza are the standard bearers of a tradition of good eating that no one would wish to do without. The fact is that everyone interprets these things in their own way, drawing from an unparalleled variety of recipes. Every region offers its own unique taste experiences, whose roots are sunk deep in the wealth of products available in every part of the country. You only need move a few kilometres to find some new variation, some unknown influence. Meat in the mountains, fruit and vegetables in the countryside, and fish along the coast are the stars of a diet that will win over even the most refined palates. With the invaluable assistance of famed wines, such as Barolo or Chianti, as well as other less well-known but top-quality labels. With so many amazing places to visit, Flight Centre can help you plan your next holiday to Italy.

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