Traveling to Italy on your own. How to travel to Italy on your own? Where to start routes in Italy

Holidays in Italy attract many tourists from all over the world. This country is magnificent both from the point of view of excursion programs and independent travel. Italy is considered a warm and hospitable country that carefully preserves cultural monuments and its history. There are over fifty cities on the territory of the state that are capable of at least attracting the attention of tourists. It is worth noting the fact that Italy ranks fourth in the list of countries for which tourism brings the greatest income.

In order to get acquainted with all the iconic places of this state and spend the least amount of money, you should go on a trip on your own. This way, you will be able to build your own individual route, rather than adapting to a large group of people, and also book rooms to your liking, both in terms of design and price category. It's no secret that all travel agencies, as a rule, charge a decent price for their tours.

In our article we will try to introduce readers in detail to the best tourist routes in Italy, talk about independent travel and briefly go through the best attractions of this country.

Visa

First of all, before you travel to Italy, you need to obtain the appropriate permission to enter the country, called a visa. To cross the international border, it is enough to show a Schengen visa, since Italy is on the list of Schengen countries. The package of documents for submitting an application is quite standard; a detailed list of everything needed can be found on the official website of the consulate.

All visas are divided into two categories: short-term and long-term. If you indicate in the application form that your main purpose of travel is tourism, then you will be issued the first type of visa. In this case, you are allowed to stay in the country for 30 days. Let's move on!

Flights

If you are going on an independent trip to Italy, then you need to choose the best flight. Today, there are many airlines offering individual special offers to various destinations; the traveler can only spend part of his time searching. As for domestic flights in Italy, you can travel quite cheaply in Europe using various low-cost airlines, an example is the world-famous Irish company Ryanair.

Let's take a closer look at the most popular destinations in Italy for independent travel.

Rome

Every year the Eternal City attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. There is no such abundance of architectural monuments, museums and fountains anywhere else. It is here that harmony is maintained between the modern frantic rhythm of life and the remnants of a once great civilization. What is worth seeing is the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Vatican or the Trevi Fountain... Many other historical monuments look quite aesthetically pleasing against the backdrop of busy streets and modern buildings in the Art Nouveau style. Definitely, Rome can surprise you with its architectural heritage and make you fall in love with it from the first minutes.

Venice

Venice rightfully takes pride of place among the most visited cities on the planet. This romantic corner of Europe, located on the northern Adriatic coast of Italy, doubles as an open-air museum. It is worth noting the fact that the entire historical center of Venice is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Majestic architecture, a unique atmosphere of freedom and lightness, lively labyrinths of streets - all this creates a unique ensemble that must be seen, heard and felt.

Florence

This wonderful city should definitely be included in your travel itinerary in Italy. Florence is the heart of Tuscany. Only here you will be able to enjoy the present and walk along the streets of the Renaissance.

Probably, no city on the planet has such an abundance of masterpieces of architecture, painting and sculpture of the 13th century. Here Dante, Boccaccio and Machiavelli wrote their immortal works, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli honed their skills, Michelangelo, Cellini and Donatello breathed life into marble.

When traveling independently in Italy, do not ignore this city. Moreover, it must be on the top lines of your route sheet. Once you see Florence in all its glory, you will be enchanted and captivated by it, it will forever remain in your heart.

Pisa

No trip to Italy is complete without the visiting card of this country - the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This city has already become a symbol of Italy and the embodiment of tourism in the country. Perhaps he would win the most original photo competition, as tourists here manage to outdo themselves during a photo shoot in front of the leaning tower. Pisa has an excellent geographical location and is located a few kilometers from Florence, which can serve as an excellent option when planning an itinerary for many travelers.

Naples

The world-famous city, located at the foot of Vesuvius, attracts travelers with its disorder and history. While here, be sure to visit the world famous ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The locality is famous for its football club, numerous historical monuments and character. It's no secret that Naples is a city with a temperament that can both surprise and upset.

Milan

If you want to talk about fashion and enjoy the Gothic architectural style, then Milan is definitely your place. It is the second largest city after Rome and an important commercial and economic point of the country. Milan is a city that is perfect for independent travel in Italy. In this case, you have a unique opportunity to walk through the streets of the fashion capital, look at the windows of brand stores in the Milan quadrangle, cross the Vittorio Emanuel II gallery and walk along the main square, admiring the grandeur of the Duomo Cathedral. The next day can be devoted to visiting art galleries and the main museums of the city, such as the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology.

Lago di Como, as it is commonly known in Italy, is located a short drive from the fashion capital, in the Lombardy region. This is a picturesque corner where you can be alone with nature, admire the luxurious villas, or take a cable car to the top point, where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the lake and its surroundings. There are simply no noisy settlements in this area; people come here to enjoy the silence and picturesque nature. Most of the advice and reviews about traveling to Italy relate specifically to Lombardy and the province of Como.

Lombardy

The outskirts of Milan, and the entire Lombardy region, are very popular not only among tourists, but also among local residents. Lombardy is a prosperous and rich region with beautiful nature. When going on a trip to northern Italy, you should definitely visit cities such as Genoa and Venice. Not far from Milan is the beautiful Lake Como, which offers breathtaking views.

Traveling around Italy by car. Routes

Many advanced travelers who have an appropriate European standard document confirming their driving skills can rent a car and travel around Italy. You can rent a vehicle in the country almost anywhere and you don’t need to go back across Italy to return the car to its place. Just park your car at a company branch in another city.

So, the best travel route in Italy will start from the Puglia region, or rather from the city of Bari. Getting to Bari by plane from Russia will not be difficult, since it is an important point for all Orthodox Christians. It is here that the Basilica of St. Nicholas is located, the walls of which carefully preserve the relics of the saint. The city is located on the shores of the Adriatic Sea and has beautiful beaches, which will be a salvation for many tourists in the sweltering heat. Why Bari? The fact is that the best way to see the country is to cross Italy from south to north.

Traveling around Italy by car and not stopping by Naples for at least a few days would be a crime. Believe me, there is definitely something to see in this city. Your next stops will be Rome, Florence and Pisa. After visiting all the sights, you can head higher to the north. Without changing direction, we move along the Ligurian coast to Genoa and enjoy the beautiful sea views along the way. From here it is a stone's throw to Turin and Milan - the main cities in northern Italy. It will take several days to explore the main attractions, then you can take a one-day vacation on the shores of Lake Como, located in the vicinity of Milan.

Next we go to an open-air and water museum in Venice. Along the way, you can stop in Bergamo (it is believed that the most beautiful square in Italy is located there). In the Veneto region there is a functioning Marco Polo International Airport, from where flights regularly depart to Russia.

Holidays in Italy

The route described above can be easily repeated without renting a car; this option will probably be even cheaper, since gasoline is quite expensive throughout Europe. As you know, companies that rent out cars require that the tank be filled with a full tank upon return of the vehicle.

For backpackers in Italy, this route can be transferred to buses. For example, the bus carrier FlixBus is widely popular throughout the European Union, and their prices are reasonable.

Sea

Many travelers often come to Italy for a beach holiday, because this country has an excellent geographical location. To avoid the mistakes of many tourists and choose the best places for a sea holiday, let's get to know some of them.

On the Adriatic coast, the most popular resorts are Rimini, which is affordable for absolutely any social class, Riccione and Catholica. If you move in the direction discussed above, you can relax in the Bay of Naples. Here are located such exquisite resorts as Capri.

On the Ligurian coast, San Remo, where the world-famous music festival takes place, Portofino and Genoa are considered to be quite pompous holiday destinations. Sicily also awaits you on the Mediterranean Sea.

It attracts many tourists because it allows them to independently plan their route, choose at their own discretion the cities that are worth visiting and the sights that need to be seen, and most importantly, do not depend on the strict schedule of the organized tour. On the other hand, such a trip requires careful preparation and detailed study of road routes, which will help you feel confident in an unfamiliar country. And if you also choose the paths laid by the ancient Romans themselves, then such a trip will definitely become unforgettable. You can rent a car at the lowest prices at.

Traveling along ancient routes

Via Flaminia, the section leading from Rome to the Umbrian city of Spoleto. Photo flickr.com

Continuing your journey from Rimini to the northwestern side of Italy, you can drive along Emilia road(Via Aemilia), which was built in 187 BC. consul Marcus Aemilius Lepidus, and currently coincides with the state highway SS-9. Along this picturesque road you can reach Cesena, Reggio Emilia, Piacenza, Novara, . The Milan-Bologna and Bologna-Ancona railways, as well as toll motorways, run parallel to the Via Emilia A-1(Autostrada del Sole), leading from Milan to Naples, and A-14(Autostrada Adriatica), connecting Bologna and Taranto ().

MRoute of the Via Aemilia road. Photo flickr.com

Via Aemilia passing through Bologna. Photo flickr.com

Appian Way(Via Appia), built in 312 BC. under the censor Appia Claudius Caecus, it led from Rome to the southeast of the Apennine Peninsula. Currently, it partially coincides with the modern state road SS-7. Of all the Roman roads, the ancient Roman Appian Way is the best preserved to this day, so lovers of history and archeology will have something to see when choosing this route for a road trip. The road passes through Albano, Capua, Taranto and ends at the “heel” of the Italian boot.

Traveling on high-speed routes

For those who like to travel quickly along convenient highways, we will offer several routes that will allow you to quickly get from one city to another.

By the way, the very concept of “motorway”, implying a high-quality toll road, in relation to Italy was first mentioned in 1922 in an official document in which the Italian engineer Piero Puricelli presented his project “Motorway of the Lakes”, designating a new type of road characterized by straight sections, absence of obstacles and the ability to develop speed. Travel along this first route was paid; the money was used to cover the costs of construction and maintenance of the road. "Highway of the Lakes"(Autostrada dei Laghi) can be considered the first of the modern toll autobahns; it was a truly innovative project, considering that in 1923, a total of 84,687 vehicles traveled on Italian roads, of which there were 57 thousand cars, 25 thousand trucks and 2,685 buses.

Highway of the Lakes route. Photo it.wikipedia.org

On September 21, 1924, with the personal participation of King Victor Emmanuel III, who was in the Lancia Tricappa car, accompanied by engineer Puricelli, the 42 km long “Highway of the Lakes” was inaugurated, connecting Milan and Varese. In 1926, at the V World Road Congress, this particular road was recognized as the first highway in the world. Those who wish to travel from Milan to tourist destinations can still make their journey today along the very first Italian motorway, which currently corresponds to three motorways: A-8, A-9 And A-8/A-26.

The modern "Lake Highway". Photo panoramio.com

In the 30-60s, 12 motorways were already built in Italy, and in 1964 the first four-lane road was completed A-1 entitled "Road of the Sun"(Autostrada del Sole) about 400 km long, connecting Milan and Rome. Currently, the country's highway network totals about 7,000 kilometers, of which 5,773 kilometers are toll roads. - the only region of Italy where there are no high-speed toll highways.

Map of toll motorways in Italy. Photo autostrade.it

Motorway A-3 495 km long, leading from to, has a toll section from Naples to, while from Salerno to Reggio Calabria there is a free part of the road.

Another important road “artery” that allows you to quickly travel from the center of Italy to the northeast of the country is a 250 km long state road SS-3(Strada Statale 3 Bis Tiberina), also known as E-45. It starts from the city of Orte in the region and ends in, reaching the Adriatic coast. The SS-3 Bis Tiberina road passes through. In addition, this road is very popular with minibus drivers transporting goods and passengers from Italy to Eastern European countries - Poland, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria.

Section SS-3 Bis Tiberina, passing through the Apennines. Photo italianotizie.net

Road Firenze-Pisa-Livorno (FI-PI-LI) 97 km long, passing through Tuscany, allows you to quickly travel from to the Tyrrhenian coast.

Road to the sea - FI-PI-LI, the section between Pisa and . Photo it.wikipedia.org

To cross Italy, to travel from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Adriatic, you can use the road E-78 with a length of about 280 km, connecting with Fano (). Another name for this road is “Road of the Two Seas” (Strada di Grande Comunicazione Dei Due Mari) or SGC.

Another road running through Italy from west to east is the “Parks Highway” (Autostrada dei parchi), which includes toll highways A-24 And A-25. It starts in Rome and goes to the Adriatic coast. Motorway A-24 passes through one of the longest tunnels in Italy, laid through the Gran Sasso d’Italia (Great Rock of Italy) mountain range.

A-24 motorway, tunnel through the "Great Rock of Italy". Photo stradadeiparchi.it

Tips and practical recommendations for tourists

Having decided to travel around Italy on your own, you, of course, get almost limitless scope for imagination and the opportunity to develop your own travel route. However, you need to understand that responsibility for all organizational issues falls entirely on your shoulders. However, if 10–15 years ago solving all these issues was a rather complex task, now everything is much simpler. The main desire. And don’t be afraid that you won’t succeed. We, the authors i- I talia.ru, and thousands of other tourists have wonderful independent travels around Italy :)

This article is based on our own experience. Below are our tips to help you plan and organize a trip to Italy on your own, no matter what interests you pursue, be it a beach holiday, a gastronomic tour, sightseeing or something else.

So, where to start planning an independent trip to Italy? There may be at least two options here. We will conditionally call the first “economic”, when the desire to save as much as possible comes to the fore. The second is conditionally “targeted”, when the purpose of the trip is of paramount importance (visiting the Uffizi Gallery, shopping in Milan, a beach holiday in Sicily, a trip to the Formula 1 Grand Prix, etc.). Next, we will consider the indicated approaches in more detail.

An “economic” approach to planning a trip to Italy

The starting point in this case will be to search for the best deals on the tourism market. We are, of course, not talking about tour operator vouchers, although this option is quite possible. To have a cheap vacation, you don’t have to go to Italy like a wild person. For example, for some dates it is possible to find a week-long tour to Rimini for 200–250 euros. If you wish, you can search for cheap tours and even buy them online (for example, on and other similar sites). For this money you will receive flights and hotel accommodation. At the same time, nothing prevents you, having arrived in Rimini, to continue traveling on your own, using this city as a base for trips to other cities in Italy (for a more detailed description of travel routes from Rimini, see). This option may be ideal for novice travelers to feel confident in their abilities and next time organize a trip to Italy on their own from the very beginning, especially since Rimini is far from the best Italian resort (read more about independent holidays on the beaches of Italy in this review).

So, when we talk about the “economic” approach to travel planning, we mean, first of all, searching for cheap air tickets. Indeed, it can be difficult to resist the temptation when tickets turn up, for example, to Rome or Milan for some 100–150 euros (and this is quite realistic, yes, with all the fees, round trip, regular flight, not charter) . Most often, these will be either direct flights of low-cost airlines, or flights with a transfer somewhere in Germany, Austria, Latvia or another European country, but for the sake of saving, you can tolerate this inconvenience. Here, however, a logical question arises: where to find cheap air tickets? We answer. There are several good search services: www.aviasales.ru, www.momondo.ru, etc. A similar air ticket search service is also implemented in the section "Air tickets", where the corresponding search form is presented.

All these services search both on the websites of ticket agencies and on the websites of the airlines themselves. By specifying different search options (for example, Moscow–Milan, Moscow–Rome, Moscow–Venice, etc.), you can find the best deals. Much depends on the dates of the planned trip and other factors (for example, on weekends and on the eve of public holidays, tickets are usually more expensive than on other days), and therefore the search can often last for several hours, or even days. However, this is a very exciting process.

These services find almost all possible flight options. In general, on this topic (about air travel between Italy and Russia), you can additionally read the article “To Italy by plane”, which discusses in detail which airlines fly to which cities in Italy from Russia. In addition, you can find detailed information on the best way to get to Italy, how to create a travel itinerary and how to get around within the country in the section "Routes".

Once you find suitable tickets, you can buy them without leaving your home. It's pretty simple. However, if you have never bought air tickets online before, we recommend that you read this material.

A “targeted” approach to planning a trip to Italy

If the key importance for you is not the desire to save money, but the desire to visit specific cities, attractions, shopping centers, events, etc., then when planning a trip to Italy, you can again start by looking for air tickets, but pay more attention not on their cost, but on factors such as the proximity of the airport through which you plan to fly from your main destination, dates and times of departures (large companies operate several flights daily, with flights in the early morning and late evening, as a rule, cheaper), etc. For example, if you are interested in a three-to-five-day raid on Milanese shops, then there is no point in flying to Rome, even if you have found cheaper air tickets to this city. Or if you need to be in Bologna on specific dates for an exhibition, then it makes no sense to buy tickets for other dates, even if they are half the price.

In short, with a “targeted” approach to organizing a trip, the main thing is the goal. In this case, almost everything depends on your interests and preferences. However, we recommend that you pay attention to the section "Cities ", where you can get some travel ideas.

Having decided on your travel goals, you can move on to choosing a place (or places) to stay during your Italian tour.

Search and book hotels in Italy

You can book a hotel room, apartment (apartment), a place in a hostel, etc. Moreover, booking accommodation, as well as purchasing air tickets, can be easily done via the Internet, fortunately there are a huge number of hotel booking systems: www.booking.com, www.hotels.com, etc. Alternatively, you can use the hotel search service (including not only hotels, but also apartments, apart-hotels, guest houses, hostels and other accommodation facilities) in the section "Hotels". This service allows you to compare offers from the world's largest online hotel booking systems and choose the option that suits you best at the best price. If this is your first time encountering the task of booking hotels via the Internet, you can get more detailed information. Finally, do not forget about sites such as www.interhome.ru, with the help of which you can find houses and apartments for rent in various parts of Italy. Read more about online booking of apartments.

Regarding the criteria for choosing a place of residence, we will consider several nuances.

Firstly, when choosing a hotel, you should pay attention not only to the cost of living, but also to the convenience of the location in relation to attractions or transport hubs. Many independent travelers prefer to book hotels directly in historical city centers and, at the same time, close to public transport stops, from which it is convenient to get to the airport or other cities along the travel route. This allows you to significantly save not only time, but also energy, allowing in many cases not to use public transport at all (with the exception of transfers from the airport and back) and thus eliminating the need to make daily trips. Our recommendations for accommodation in various cities of Italy are presented in more detail in the subsection “Tips for choosing hotels”.

Secondly, you need to take into account that hotel reservation confirmation is included in the list of required documents submitted along with the application for a Schengen visa. The Italian consulate is very loyal to this issue. Therefore, a reservation printed from a hotel booking site will be quite sufficient. However, there may be changes in this regard, so it is better to clarify this issue at the Italian visa center or directly at the Italian embassy/consulate.

Thirdly, you should definitely read the booking conditions. In many cases, after you have booked a hotel room or, say, an apartment in an apart-hotel, not a penny will be debited from your bank card, but, nevertheless, the hotel has the right to block an amount equivalent to the cost of the first night of stay (or more). This is fine. After some time, the blocked amount will be “unfrozen” (however, this often does not happen immediately, but approximately within 10–20 days). However, hotels often offer prepaid reservations. As a rule, these are the best deals, but by making a non-refundable reservation, you risk losing money if you decide to cancel the trip, even due to circumstances beyond your control. In general, you should not ignore the description of the conditions for making a reservation, especially since these conditions are spelled out in detail on all popular booking sites. Read more on this topic.

Obtaining a visa to Italy + insurance

Getting an Italian Schengen visa is quite simple. To do this, it is most convenient to contact one of the offices of the Italian visa center, of which there are plenty in Russia.

On the visa center website you will find all the necessary information about the requirements for documents submitted for a visa. As practice shows, the main thing is to strictly follow all the requirements and you will not have any problems with obtaining a visa (even if you are a twenty-year-old unmarried blonde with a pristine foreign passport, yes, yes, yes). Read more about the process of obtaining a visa to Italy on your own.

Please also remember that you will need medical insurance – both for your visa to Italy and for your own peace of mind. Details in this article.

That's all, actually. Having tickets, hotel reservations, insurance and a visa in hand, you can go on a trip. Hooray!

You can plan your trip to Italy yourself, or you can use the ideas proposed in this article. Of course, there are a lot of similar routes, because the number of combinations is huge. Below we will consider a trip through Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice, Verona and Milan (Bergamo). This is perhaps the most classic route. It is designed for 7-8 days. This time should be enough to see the main attractions. If you wish, you can stay in a particular city for a longer period.

The indicated route will be built according to the following scheme: You have arrived in Rome and are departing from Milan. If on the dates of your tour it is more profitable to use the reverse order of visiting cities, then choose it. At the same time, do not forget that in Milan and its surroundings there are two airports that are relevant for those flying from post-Soviet countries. These are Malpensa (http://www.milanomalpensa-airport.com/en) and Bergamo (http://www.orioaeroporto.it/Airpor/).

Rome (A)

The first couple of days of your trip should be taken with excursions around Rome. The specified period is enough to touch a whole layer of history. Read more about the eternal city in separate articles dedicated to it. Main attractions of Rome:

1. Vatican Museum (http://www.museivaticani.va/).
2. St. Peter's Basilica (http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_pietro/index_it.htm).
3. Mausoleum of Hadrian (http://www.castelsantangelo.com/).
4. Piazza Navona.
5. Campo de Fiori.
6. Pantheon (http://www.pantheonroma.com/).
7. Trevi Fountain.
8. Capitol Square.
9. Roman forum.
10. Colosseum (http://archeoroma.beniculturali.it/).
11. Spanish Steps.
12. Galleria Borghese (http://www.galleriaborghese.it/).

Rome can be conditionally divided into ancient and medieval (Renaissance). The most famous representative of the first time period is the Colosseum, the second includes the Spanish Steps (Spanish Steps), Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, etc. A useful site for tourists who plan to visit Rome - http://www.turismoroma.it / .

Florence (B)

On the third day of the trip, it is worth setting off in the direction of Florence. By the way, for all movements from one city to another it is best to use trains. Read about how to do this in the article “Italian Railways: types of trains and purchasing tickets.” From Rome to Florence it takes only 1.5 hours by train. A ticket can be purchased for less than €20. The train stations in Rome and Florence are located in the central part of the cities. It is very comfortable. If you book accommodation in the center, you can reach your overnight stay in 5-10 minutes on foot. In addition, all Florentine attractions will be within walking distance. The main ones are:

1. Santa Maria Novella (http://www.chiesasantamarianovella.it/).
2. Academy of Fine Arts (http://www.accademia.firenze.it/en/).
3. Baptistery of San Giovanni.
4. Santa Maria del Fiore (http://www.ilgrandemuseodelduomo.it/).
5. National Museum of Bargello (http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/en/musei/?m=bargello).
6. Piazza Signorini.
7. Basilica of Santa Croce (http://www.santacroceopera.it/).
8. Uffizi Gallery.
9. Vecchio Bridge.
10. Pitti Palace (http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/) and Boboli Gardens.

During the high season (high summer), there are huge queues of people wanting to get into the Duomo Cathedral (Santa Maria del Fiore). Moreover, there are several queues: to the bell tower, to the cathedral itself, to the entrance to the dome. The latter is perhaps the most interesting, since viewing the frescoes up close is mesmerizing, as is the bird's eye view of Florence. If you don’t have the time or desire to stand in lines, then next to the Pitti Palace there is an observation deck, which also offers a beautiful view of the entire central Florence. Entry is free and there are no queues.

It makes sense to stay at least 2 nights in Florence. Let's say you arrive in the city in the evening: settle down for the night, and devote the next day entirely to exploring the sights. After spending one more night, travel to Venice via Bologna in the morning.

Website about Florence that may be useful for tourists: http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/. Here you will find a lot of useful information about events, museums, exhibitions, shops, etc.

Bologna (C)

From Florence to Bologna it takes just over an hour by train. Main attractions of Bologna:

1. Piazza Maggiore.
2. Basilica of St. Petronius.
3. Temple of Santa Maria della Vita.
4. Towers of Bologna.
5. Basilica of San Giacomo Maggiore.
6. Basilica of Santo Stefano.
7. National Pinacoteca of Bologna (http://www.pinacotecabologna.beniculturali.it/).
8. University of Bologna (http://www.unibo.it/it).
9. Basilica of Santa Maria de Servi.

You should definitely climb to the very top of the famous towers of Bologna. From there you have a beautiful view of the entire city center. In addition, Bologna is famous for its numerous passages. Vaulted streets stretch along the sidewalks and if, God forbid, the weather is bad, then it is very convenient to walk around Bologna without an umbrella. Currently, major restoration work is underway in the city center, and some streets are blocked, however, there will be plenty of places to walk. Among other things, Bologna is home to the oldest university in Europe, which still educates young people to this day. Perhaps this is due to the fact that there are a lot of young people in the city and a fairly vibrant nightlife, especially on weekends.

If you don’t have much time, then it’s worth spending about half a day in Bologna, and then take a train or bus to Venice.

Venice (D)

It makes sense to stay in Venice for at least 2 nights. This should be enough to at least briefly get acquainted with the main attractions of the city (http://www.visitmuve.it/):

1. Correr Museum.
2. Piazza San Marco.
3. Basilica of San Marco.
4. Doge's Palace.
5. Bridge of Sighs.
6. Grand Canal.
7. Cathedral of Santa Maria Gloriosa.
8. Peggy Guggenheim Museum.
9. Church of San Giovanni in Bragora.
10. Church of San Francescodella Vigna.

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Of course, you need to walk around Venice, or travel on the famous Venetian... no, not gondolas. Gondolas are now more of an attraction for wealthy tourists than a means of transportation. Of course, if you really want to, you can leave about €100 for a ride. By the way, there are very colorful gondoliers who tell very interesting things. Let's return to a more affordable option - the famous Venetian vaporetto (river buses). There are tickets for the whole day on sale, they cost about €13. With this pass you can ride along any route of the Grand Canal, as well as get to nearby islands.

The islands of Murano and Burano are definitely worth seeing. Murano is famous for its numerous glass factories. Murano glass is famous throughout the world. Most factories have small shops where you can buy a souvenir for yourself or something as a gift. In addition, here you will have the opportunity to watch how various figures are blown from glass.

Burano is a little further away. This is a very beautiful little island. There are no cars on it and local residents, in order to make their stay here more fun, paint houses in different colors of the rainbow. The picturesque canals will fascinate any tourist. Burano is a paradise for lace lovers. If you are partial to this matter, then on the island you can buy a souvenir for yourself directly from first hand. The choice is large, and the prices are lower than in the souvenir shops of Venice.

If you come to Venice during the warm season, you can swim in the Adriatic Sea. To do this, you need to take a vaporetto and get to Lido station. Lido is an island that faces one of its shores into the open sea. The coast is equipped with comfortable beaches. On the beaches you can rent a cabin; the price includes several sun loungers. The cabin is locked and you can leave valuables in it. If you want something simpler, all you need to do is take your towel and spread it on the beach. The beach is sandy, the sea is shallow. This is certainly not Bali, but you can swim.

1.5 days may be enough to visit the main attractions of Venice, Murano, Burano and Lido. If you arrive in Venice in the evening, you need to spend the night and spend the next day according to a very busy program. Stay overnight again and then head towards Milan, making a preliminary stop in Verona.

Verona (E)

It is very convenient to get to Verona from Venice by train. Verona is a city famous for the works of Shakespeare. Here you can see Juliet's house. In addition, the Roman Arena in Verona has been preserved in excellent condition. The map below shows the location of the city's main attractions:

1. Erbe Square.
2. Lamberti Tower.
3. Arches of the Scaligers.
4. Juliet's house.
5. Porta Borsari street.
6. Roman Arena.
7. Castelvecchio Museum.
8. Roman theater.
9. Giusti Garden.

If you don’t have a lot of time, then it’s better not to stay overnight in Verona. Stay here for a few hours and then continue your journey by train to Milan.

Milan (F)

In Milan you can stay for 1 or 2 nights, depending on how much time you have. Milan has a huge number of different attractions (http://www.visitamilano.it/) that are interesting for tourists. The most popular among them:

1. Sforza Castle (http://www.milanocastello.it/).
2. Monastery of San Maurizio.
3. Church of Santa Maria delleGrazie (http://www.grazieop.it/).
4. Basilica of San Ambrosio.
5. La Scala Theater (http://www.teatroallascala.org/).
6. Gallery of Victor Emmanuel II.
7. Duomo Square.
8. Duomo Palace.
9. Velasca Tower.
10. Monumental cemetery.
11. Pirelli skyscraper.

The Last Supper is located in the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazia. To get there, you need to stand in a huge line. Across the street from this place is an exhibition of various inventions and works of Leonardo da Vinci. It’s much easier to get here, there are no long queues. If there is something interesting on the day of your stay in Milan at the La Scala theater, then you can go there.

As for female tourists, it is difficult for them to resist going to the shops in Milan, especially if the tour time falls during the sales season. Via Montenapoleone (http://www.viamontenapoleone.org/) is the center of all the most fashionable boutiques. For avid fashionistas, visiting Milan and not going to Via Montenapoleone is equivalent to a movie lover visiting Los Angeles and not going to Hollywood.

It is worth saying that in country Italian outlets the prices are much lower than in Via Montenapoleone even during great discounts. Websites of the main outlets: http://www.mcarthurglen.com/, http://www.franciacortaoutlet.it/, http:// www.fidenzavillage.com/ , http://www.foxtown.ch/ .

Bergamo (G)

From Milan it is very convenient to get to Bergamo. If you don’t have time to explore the city itself, then buses depart from Milan Central Station and take you to Bergamo Airport for just €5. If you have free time, then Bergamo is a very nice town. It consists of two parts: flat and mountainous (CittaAlta). The second is led by transition paths and a funicular (http://www.trasportipubblici.info/funibergalta.htm). In addition, in Bergamo you can see:

1. Piazza Vecchia.
2. Palace of Rajone.
3. Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
4. Contarini Fountain.

The airport is very close to the city center. After sightseeing for a couple of hours, you can easily catch your flight. Bergamo is a good entry/exit point from Italy. Read more about this in the article “How to get to Italy: airports and airlines.”

In the following materials we will talk about other, no less interesting routes in Italy.

Are you planning the first trip in your life, but don’t know how to plan a route around Italy? And in order not to miss anything interesting, enjoy your vacation and experience that very La Dolce Vita...

Maybe someone will be surprised: “What, you haven’t been to Italy?” But there is no need for embarrassment, the important thing is that you go. Italy is great for travelers. First, let's define those places that can be called just damn touristy. But it's for good reason: they're amazing.

Where to start routes in Italy?

Let's go through the route of the trip. A little in Venice, then on to Florence and Tuscany, then a stop on the Amalfi Coast and heading home from Rome. Another option: from Tuscany to Rome, and end your trip with a few days of complete relaxation on the Amalfi Coast, then fly home from Naples.

Traveling around Italy: when is the best time to go?

You should know the golden rule of Italy: to avoid unnecessary expenses, do not plan a trip to the country in August. The fact is that on August 15th Italians celebrate the national holiday Ferragosto. Everyone takes a week's vacation, prices at resorts and hotels soar, city streets are empty, many shops are closed. Winter can be foggy and cloudy, which is not conducive to a fun time, especially in Venice. Italy is most beautiful in May, June, September and October.

So, we are planning routes around Italy

Venice: 2 days

With the exception of winter, Venice is a tourist-heavy mess, like a madhouse. But this is Venice, which takes your breath away, even when it is cursed for the crowds of people. This point simply must be included when compiling . You will see the splendor of St. Mark's Cathedral, glassblowing in Murano, the famous canals.

Bologna: 1-2 days

Bologna is a great little city. There's a lot here with a capital "A": incredible food, cultural heritage, good hotels. Most visitors, including Italians themselves, enjoy staying at Corona D’Oro.

Padua: 1/2 days

Padua is 40 minutes west by rail from Venice. In Padua you can feel the life of Italy. Stop by Zabaglione for Caffè Pedrocchi (considered by Stendhal to be the best café in Europe).

Florence: 2 days

Florence is like a small magic box: it is compact, therefore completely pedestrian and surprisingly charming. There is beauty at every turn: art, architecture, churches. Your first thought about the Renaissance will be born here. I recommend having dinner at Officina della Bistecca. The establishment is known for its avant-garde approach to traditional Italian cuisine. Don't just get used to traditional dishes, come to art even in food.

Routes around Italy Tuscany: 2-3 days

Tuscany is a series of sweet and picturesque villages. No one can really claim greatness over others, but boisterous Tuscans will try to convince you that their city is the best.

The cities most visited by tourists are San Gimignano and Lucca. Sienna is cute, but that's all there is to say about her. It is better to take all this into account when drawing up. In Panzano in Tuscany there is a lovely family run hotel, Villa Le Barone, with stunning views of the vineyard. And in two restaurants nearby, Officina della Bistecca and Solo Ciccia, the meat is tasty and a lot.

It is better to travel between cities by train. Traveling by train in Italy is easy, convenient and not too expensive. You can end your trip in Rome or spend some time soaking up the Amalfi Coast.

Rome: 2-3 days

A stay in Rome can usually be a bit stressful due to visiting museums and churches. However, you don't have to go far to find them: the ancient walls of Rome are visible from Termini Station. I recommend the hotel Casa Howard or Locarno.

Amalfi: 3-4 days

Lo Scoglio in Nerano is a piece of paradise on the Sorrento Peninsula. This is a family run restaurant and hotel located right on the water. Sorrento has unspoiled nature of extreme beauty, with cliffs and views of the sea. Lo Scoglio's rooms, named after the constellations, have balconies overlooking the sea - all at very reasonable prices. There are practically no foreigners here.

The city's attractions are natural: Ieranto Bay and Verveche Rock. You can take a day trip by boat around Capri, organized by a local Italian boat rental service.

Of course, this Italy itinerary doesn't cover much. But perhaps you will fall in love with Italy, wanting to come back here again and again.