Archive for the ‘History’ Category

Image: Colosseum at Night, Rome, Italy, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from lightmatter’s photostream

Rome, the Eternal City. What is it that makes Rome one of the most visited cities in Europe? We’ve compiled a list of five reasons that Rome might be the top city to visit on your trip to Italy.

History

From the Colossuem to the Forum to the Pantheon to Vatican City, history is all around you in Rome. Dating back to the 8th Century BC and home to important structures and artifacts from the building of Western Civilization, you can’t throw a stone in the center of Rome without hitting something more than a couple centuries old.
Please note: We don’t recommend throwing stones at history.

Art

Some of the most famous works of art are housed in Rome, including the paintings on the Sistine Chapel, the rest of the Vatican collection, the works in the Galleria Borghese and the Capitoline Museums.

Romance

Before there was the phrase “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” there was the phrase “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” a phrase that dates back to the fourth century. Rome has long been a destination for travelers who want to immerse themselves in local culture and traditions and for travelers looking for a little Romance. It’s no wonder that Rome is the romance movie destination of choice for Hollywood.

Cusine

We’ve already covered the basics of Italian cuisine (and I’m sure your mouth was watering just reading that). Is it any surprise that visitors flock to Rome on all sorts of Food and Wine tours of Rome?

Shopping

Many of the top Italian designers call Rome home to the flagship stores including Valentino, Hermès, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Gucci, Versace, Bulgari, Chanel, Armani, Dolce e Gabbana, Prada, Ferragamo and Campanile. All of those stores are on one street: the Via Condotti. Add to that other flagship stores, street vendors and the local merchants (with some of the most lovingly crafted leather goods in the world) and Rome is your power shopper’s paradise.

Image: Galleria degli Uffizi, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from gaspa’s photostream

Italy is home to some of the most famous art in history. Art is found all over in Italy: framed and on display, in the middle of a courtyard and sometimes art is the building you’re standing in. Instead of trying to cover all of Italy’s art in one entry, let’s break it down a couple places at a time. Today: The Uffizi Gallery and The Galleria dell’Accademia.

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy is one of Italy’s most popular tourist attractions and is housed in a former palace that dates back to 1560. While serving as a state building, the Uffizi’s original occupants, the Medici family, filled it with art and sculptures. In 1765, the Museum was opened to the public as one of the first modern museums.

The Birth of Venus

Today, The Uffizi Gallery is home to some of the most recognizable paintings in the world. These include:

• Sandro Bottecelli’s The Birth of Venus (pictured, right)
• Caravaggio’s Bacchus and Medusa
• Titian’s Venus of Urbino
• Michelangelo’s Doni Tondo
• Leonardo da Vinci’s The Adoration of the Magi
• Raphel’s Madonna of the Goldfinch

The Uffizi Gallery can be very busy and wait times to get in during the summer season can top 5 hours. Booking a ticket in advance will reduce your wait time.

While you’re seeing Art in Florence, a trip to the Galleria dell’Accademia is a natural stop. The Accademia di Belle Arti Firenze, which houses the Galleria, is Europe’s first drawing academy and still a functioning art school today. While providing a much smaller collection than that of the Uffizi, the Galleria dell’Accademia is home to perhaps the most famous statue in art history, Michelangelo’s David. Originally placed in the nearby Piazza della Signoria, the Accademia has housed the statue since 1873. Many other Renaissance paintings including those by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Paolo Uccello, and Giambologna are included in the collection.

Driver In Italy can make your art trip to Florence even easier by providing transportation, tickets, and your own professional, English-speaking tour guide. Check out the Guided Visit to the Uffizi & Accademy Galleries package on our website for more details.

Image: Giro d’Italia in Leiden, a Creative Commons Attribution No-Derivative-Works (2.0) image from archeon’s photostream

The Giro D’Italia (or Tour of Italy) is Italy’s answer to the Tour d’France. For three weeks in May or June every year, cyclists and cycling fans from around the world come to Italy (and nearby countries) to watch one of the most exciting cycling events of the year.

The first Giro d’Italia was run in 1909, but while the event may be over a hundred years old, this year marks the 93rd Giro (the race was suspended during both WWI and WWII). The race consists of 21 stages, ranging from just over 5 miles to 159 miles. At the end of each stage, the overall leader is given a pink jersey to wear. At the end of the last stage, the cyclist with the fastest time wins the Giro. There are also special awards given based on mountain times, points and youth classifications.

While the Giro began in Italy, in recent years the stages have branched out across Europe. This year’s Giro began on May 8th in Amsterdam. After spending the first three stages in the Netherlands, the race will move today to Italy, kicking off in Savigliano. The stages will make their way thoughout Italy before ending in Verona on May 30th.

As an annual event, the Giro d’Italia is something that you don’t want to miss on your May tour of Italy. When you’re traveling to Italy, make sure to check the Giro schedule and plan to be in one of the Italian towns that the race passes through. Driver in Italy can put together a special Italy package to take to to one or all of the Giro stages so you don’t miss any of the action

When traveling in foreign countries, it’s good to brush up on your local history. Sometimes, it can lead you to fun and interesting discoveries off the beaten path. Other times, it can keep you from getting stuck in a city that’s shut down for a local festival or event.

Image: Festa della Liberazione, a Creative Commons Attribution (2.0) image from liquene’s photostream

In Italy, April 25th marks Liberazione, or Liberation Day. Liberazione is celebrated yearly on the anniversary of the liberation of Italy during WWII by the Allied Troops (April 25, 1945). While the holiday primarily celebrates the members of the Italian Resistance who helped in the liberation, it also commemorates all Italian fallen soldiers. It’s comparable to a combination of the US Independence Day and Memorial Day.

Liberazione is celebrated with festivals, parades, concerts and rallies in cities, towns and villages throughout Italy. If you’ll be vacationing in Italy on April 25th, you’ll be sure to experience a truly Italian festival wherever you are, but make sure not to make any other big plans: Liberazione is a National Holiday, so many museums, restaurants and public transportation may be closed or on limited schedules. There’ll be no shortage of activities to take their place, though, and booking a Driver In Italy will ensure you get to all the festival parties in style.

Bonus Tip: April 25th is also the Feast Day of Venice’s Patron Saint Mark. Head to the Piazza San Marco for an extra big festival! Mark your calendars for six days later, too, for the May Day Celebrations on May 1st. Italians know how to celebrate and Spring is a great time to visit.