Ponte Vecchio:
The Ponte Vecchio’s status as the oldest bridge in Florence saved it from destruction during the Nazi retreat from Italy in 1944. They defied orders to blow up the stately bridge straddling the Arno river and bombed the ancient buildings on either side of it instead. To one side of the bridge is the majestic bust of the most famous Florentine goldsmith, Benvenuto Cellini. Perched above the shops is a secret passageway, the Vasari Corridor, providing an elevated link to the Palazzo Pitti via the Uffizi. It was the private walkway of the Medici’s who could move between the various residences without having to rub shoulders with the riff raff. Address: Via Por Santa Maria/Via Guicciardini

Portofino:
Nestled in a sheltered inlet within the stretch of the Italian Mediterranean is the coastal village of Portofino. It has long been the playground for the rich and famous, attracting the likes of Humphrey Bogart, Sophia Loren, Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Grace. The scenic surrounds can be explored from the outlying nature reserve graced with cypress and olive slopes. Set off from here on a ninety minute trek to San Fruttuoso or a 2½-hour hike to Santa Margherita. Other sights around Portofino include its castle and the lighthouse (faro) with its breathtaking view of the coastline

St Mark's Square:
St Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) has always been the nucleus of Venice. The first citadel and church were erected on its stony foundations, the Palazzo Ducale and the Basilica di San Marco respectively. The Basilica di San Marco is a unique juxtaposition of Byzantine, western European and Islamic architectural styles. Travelers and pigeons flock to the Piazza with equal zeal. It is the tourists however who pay dearly to eat or drink at the elegant cafes that spill onto the pavements. Designer shops line the streets that radiate from the square. There are worthwhile places of interest to explore beyond the square and include the Museo Correr, the Archeological museum and the Museo del Risorgimento which are housed within the Procuratie Nuova.

St Peter’s Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro):
The Basilica lies above the reputed site of St. Peter’s tomb. It is an overwhelming interior containing notable sculptures including Michelangelo’s Pieta which is protected by bullet-proof glass since the damaging attack on it. In the central aisle stands Arnolfo da Cambio’s bronze statue of St Peter, its foot worn down by the constant flow of pilgrims’ kisses. Proudly resting above the papal altar is Bernini’s Throne of St Peter. The Vatican Grottoes, containing papal tombs, can be reached by steps from the statue of St Longinus. The Necropolis is located one level below the grottoes. This is the legendary site of St Peter’s tomb and advance permission has to be obtained to view it. Address: Piazza San Pietro; Website: www.christusrex.org

The Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums:
The Sistine Chapel’s famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo looms above the frescoes on the side walls that were painted by an illustrious team of artists that included Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Roselli, Pinturicchio, Signorelli and della Gatta. The altar wall is covered by Michelangelo’s Last Supper, revealing the figure of Christ hovering above centre and flanked by Mary and other saintly figures. The Vatican Museums provide an inspiring visit to one of the world’s greatest collections of art. The galleries stretch over four miles and include the magnificent Raphael rooms, the Etruscan Museum and the Pio-Clementino Museum which boasts the world’s largest collection of Classical statues.

The Uffizi (Gallerie degli Uffizi):
The Uffizi is one of the world’s greatest art galleries with a collection of Renaissance paintings that include the works of Giotto, Masaccio, Paolo Ucello, Sandro Boticelli, Leonarda da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian and Caravaggio. The scale and magnitude of the collection may need to be enjoyed over two visits. Rooms 1-15 (Florentine Renaissance) could be explored more thoroughly on the first trip and on the next visit one could concentrate on rooms16 to 45 (from High Renaissance to later Italian and European painting). Website: www.arca.net/uffizi/reservation.htm

Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi):
The tiny Piazza di Trevi has been immortalised through this fountain built for Pope Clement XII. The statues adorning this watery display represent Abundance, Agrippa, Salubrity, the Virgin and Neptune guided by two tritons. Tossing a coin into the fountain is supposed to guarantee a return trip to Rome.

Theatre Museum at La Scala (Museo Teatrale alla Scala):
This world famous opera house rests on the site of the Church of Santa Maria alla Scala, its namesake. The Museum provides a wealth of mementos from the opera house dedicated to the nation’s beloved composers and performers. These include Rossini, Puccini and Toscanini. Two halls are devoted to Verdi alone and contain memorabilia such as the spinet on which he learnt to play, hand-written scores and the baton given to him after the momentous reception of Aida.
Address: Piazza della Scala; Website: www.lascala.milano.it

Of course, to see all these sights you need to sustain yourself...
How about spaghetti, pizza, tomatoes, olive oil, espresso coffee and cappuccino! But is it all really Italian in origin? The answer is of course "no" but even food products from other continents have been enhanced in a way only the Italians know. A thousand mouth watering dishes await the intrepid traveler, hundreds of gastronomy specialties, a host of truly tasty typical products, and all kept very much alive by a modern agricultural system that is careful about preserving the traditional flavours and nutritional values.

Wholesomeness and freshness are the watchwords in all Italy's table specialties, in all of their countless variants, from the Piedmont's fondue in the north to Sicily's caponata in the south, from the risotto alla milanese to Campania's mozzarella cheese, from the Veneto's risi e bisi (sweet-peas and rice) to Rome's porchetta, from the trenette al pesto of the Ligurian coast to the Florentine steaks, to the lasagna of Emilia Romagna or the spaghetti alla chitarra of Abruzzo.

To complement your meal perfectly you will want to order a good wine that is free from the chemical processes so much in use today. So relax and choose an Italian wine - again, the choice is broad, but always satisfying; the bright whites to go with white meats, the robust reds for red meats, and then there are the rosés, the sparkling wines, the fortified wines, the liqueurs and the grappas: something to go with every stage of your meal, from an aperitivo at the beginning to a refreshing lemon or strawberry sorbet to round off a perfect evening.
In sum, never has there been a better time to eat and drink well in Italy.

To see all this, you need to know how to get around.
Driving Itineraries: Most countries have recommend tourist routes to take in your areas of interest and Italy is no exception.
An example of some route types would be: The Alps, the lakes and the Sea traveling a circular route encompassing Turin, Oasta, Novara, Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore, Milan, Pavia, Genoa and ending in Savona. Other route titles would be:
Adriatic and Venetian civilization; Beaches, abbeys and castles between Rome and Naples; Nature and Art in Sardinia etc. When you book a car with us, we would be happy to give you a detailed itinerary for the route of your choice with all the highlights of the route.

Some good links with regard to transport services www.autostrade.it , www.sta.roma.it for Rome and for Florence www.firenzeparcheggi.it

Car Rental - Car Lease
If you are traveling for under 21 days and starting in Italy, we recommend car rental. For a choice of 4 companies, click on Car Hire

For those longer trips, especially for trips ending in France, we recommend car leasing. So what's the difference between renting and leasing you now want to know? In a nutshell - car leasing is a tax free scheme initiated by the French government to encourage tourism and it works very well ! You are 'buying' the car and then 'selling' it back - all at a predetermined price and it includes everything - comprehensive insurance with NO excess.
There is no charge for additional drivers and no young drivers surcharge. The longer you take it, the cheaper it becomes. Ideally, pick it up and return it in France. However, the cars can be delivered to Italy and you pay a set price for this. For example: To deliver the vehicle to Milan or Rome costs $420 each way. However, when you think that the additional day rate for car leasing is as low as $22 per day for a 1.5l diesel compared to say $50 per day for rental, of course you have to add the delivery/collection costs and there are many other considerations to take into account - but it makes sense to compare.
The savings will be even larger if you are looking at say a station wagon or people mover. Our qualified staff are experts at comparing the overall costs between leasing and renting and the fact that we are the only company to represent all 3 leasing companies assures you of a true and accurate comparison. For details on leasing click here:
Car Leasing

Incidentally, traveling to Eastern European countries is often a big no-no with car rental companies. With car leasing, you can take the vehicles to a variety of Eastern European countries eg. Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic etc. The downside is that leasing is only available to non EU citizens. For details on eligibility you will find details on the link provided above.

Motorhome - RV - Campervan - Camper
Another way of seeing Italy would be by motorhome and this offers terrific value - especially for families. Points to consider here would be: The luxury of only having to pack and unpack once!!