Posts Tagged ‘tourist’

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.

The town of Maranello may not ring any bells for most people. For serious car fans, though… it’s a mecca.

Maranello, a small town near Modena, Italy (about midway between Florence and Pisa) is nestled in beautiful, winding, mountain roads. The air has a different quality, fresh and clean and the views are breathtaking. The views, however, are not what makes Maranello a specialty tourist attraction.

This is. Ferrari’s main factory and test track is located here. While you can’t get into the factory unless you’re someone like Jay Kay or Michael Schumacher (this picture was the closest we got when visiting), the Ferrari fan can get their fix at the Museo Galleria Ferrari – A museum for all things Ferrari. While I’ll admit that we took the trip primarily for my husband’s sake, there is plenty for everyone to enjoy. It’s almost impossible for even the least automotively-inclined not to appreciate the beauty of a Ferrari.

Exhibits include displays of over 40 cars (including some exceedingly rare models) and glimpses at the Ferrari F1 design process over the years. The museum is open Monday through Sunday (except major holidays). Being a specialty destination, Driver in Italy can prepare a custom quote if you’d like to experience this town. It makes a great add if you’re going to Pisa.

Bonus Tip: For the Ferrari Fanatics, the test track is kept pretty well hidden, but there are a few small bridges where you can get some decent (but obstructed) views. If you’re lucky, you might even see a car on the track. You didn’t hear that from us, though.

Images: Creative Commons Attribution No-Derivative-Works (2.0) images from 59546886@N00’s photostream