MAIN Destination Guides Europe Italy

Its legacy of scenic wonders, great art and architecture, music, food and Italian wine - plus a unique talent for living la dolce vita - puts Italy forever at the forefront of great travel destinations.

For lovers of art and music, there are numberless ways to be fascinated.

These include the vast holdings of the Vatican in Rome, to timeless masterpieces found in Michelangelo's Florence - along with Milan and the world mecca of all grand opera at La Scala.

For scenery alone, the Amalfi Coast is a breathtaking ride down Italy's west coast.

Further north, legendary Tuscany is a gourmet's heaven holding picture-postcard views at every turn.

Then there's the other-worldly beauty of Venice which always properly falls under the category "has to be seen to be believed."

Turin and the Piedmont region were in the world spotlight as the home of the Winter Olympic Games in 2006, but even today continues to draw interest to this unusually beautiful and scenic area - even by Italy standards!

The beauty and sunshine of the Italian Riviera draws many tourists. The unsung gem of Italian cities, Genoa, with its world class aquarium, university, hillside climbing streets and architectural treasures surprises many visitors who come for the sun and stay for dinner and the opera. The nearby Cinque Terra, five hillside villages strung together by paths carved into the mountainsides, draws visitors to the spectacular views.

Around the Web, discover more about the sights, sounds, aromas and the friendly locals that make up Italy, with top online guides offering special looks by region, related photo galleries, travel video, and more reasons why a trip to Italy should be on any travelers must-see list:

Discover Italia - Our top pick for excellent city guides and online walking tours, hotel and restaurant suggestions, road maps, pictures, offbeat tourist attractions, suggested nature trails, wine and food excursions and lots more. Go...

Italian Tourism - The official tourism site offering an updated schedule of events, feature stories, pictures, guides to Italy by region, practical travel tips, extensive photo galleries, related links.

Rome Guide - A complete guide to the Eternal City with listings of hotels and accommodations, plus news and updates on theater, entertainment and museum exhibits, guides to Vatican City, city tours, shopping and restaurants, Rome for kids and an extensive collection of photos, maps and related links.

Florence Tourism and Tourist Information - Your complete guide to Florence with facts, information and tips on hotels and accommodation, art museums, restaurants & shopping, Florence markets, event calender, nearby attractions, maps and pictures.

Turin Tourist Attractions - A site that reflects the city's color and excitment as the host city for the 2006 Winter Olympics, with facts and information on hotels and restaurants, major tourist stops, nearby attractions, and an intriguing event calendar in Art & seductions.

Venice Travel Guide - Useful and fact-filled guide from Wikitravel with an overview of major attractions, how to get around, recommended hotels and restaurants, day trips, practical safety advice, related links, photos.

Italian Trips - A sister site to Chiff.com, with the focus on Tuscany and lots more information and resources for planning a trip throughout the region, including wine tours and weddings, cooking and language learning exursions, Rome for kids, Italy's top beaches and where to find the best gelato.

Italy Summer Event Travel Calendar:

also see -> Italy Beach Guide | Rome Colosseum

Venice Film Festival | Learn Italian

also see -> Getting from Rome to Florence by Train

Christmas in Italy