Italy's cities are singular monuments to the canons of Western art and architecture.
Rome, Florence, Assisi, Venice, Siena, Pisa and Naples are all world renowned, but with 20,000 historical cities and towns, there is plenty for art lovers to enjoy.
Darya Camacci
Recent Posts
It may seem like travel agents are a thing of the past, but we work with travel agencies every day at Bella Vista Tours.
Why would our clients prefer to work with travel agents? For our discerning customers, value and service are important—and travel is much more than a commodity where one tries to get the cheapest price for a mass marketed experience. They have high expectations for their precious leisure time.
Topics: Insider, custom tours, travel
Italy has several cemeteries, memorials and monuments that honor American servicemen who contributed to liberating the country from the Nazi grip during World War II.
Italians do many things well, and gelato is definitely one.
Gelaterias have become more common in the United States where you can sample this famous Italian import. When you go to Italy, you'll be able to taste the real thing.
Topics: limoncello, italian food, travel
What does the Pope eat?
You'll find lots of tidbits about the last three popes' eating habits in the new English translation of "The Vatican Cookbook," as well as details about what it's like to live and dine in the world's smallest country.
Topics: italian culture, italian food, Rome, church
You don't have to be a wine connoisseur to have enjoyed Soave, a popular white wine, and Valpolicella, a red.
Famous around the world, Soave and Valpolicella are both DOC classified. They both come from a highly prolific region in Italy, Veneto, a small northeastern region that contains the legendary canal city, Venice, and the Adriatic Coast.
Topics: Italian Wine, northern Italy, Venice
Being a ninth century glassmaker and belonging to a brand new industry in Venice gave you a privileged position, except for one thing.
You could not leave the island where you worked. Ever.
Topics: Insider, italian culture, art, northern Italy, history, Venice
The Piemonte region in northwest Italy is home not just to the Alps and Apennine mountain ranges, but to some of the most excellent wines in the country, known as Piemonte wines.
No other region in Italy produces as many DOC and DOCG wines, with 58 of the most highly regarded wines, including Barolo and Barbaresco from the Nebbiolo grape (reds) and whites such as Moscato Bianco, which includes the sweet, bubbly Asti Spumante.
Topics: Italian Wine, alps, italian food
You've booked your overseas vacation and you're excited about the upcoming trip.
Great! But before you go—
We’ve put together a checklist with important things you need to do before you leave the country and visit your dream destination.
Topics: Groups and Family Tours, flying, travel
On St. Mark’s Square in Venice stands a cultural landmark, Caffè Florian.
Established in 1720, it is the oldest coffeehouse in Venice, and possibly in Europe. It was originally named “Triumphant Venice (Alla Venezia Trionfante)” but ultimately became known as Florian’s, after its owner, Floriano Francesconi.
Topics: Italian Wine, italian culture, italian food, art, history, coffee, Venice
