| When I think of the tiny towns nestled along Italy’s Mediterranean coast, I think of the multi-hued sherbet cubes tucked into cliffsides, varying shades of aquamarine water with colorful boats bobbing up and down, gray pebbly beaches with lounge chairs and colorful umbrellas, steep craggy coastlines that abruptly drop into the forcefully churning surf and ports where fishmongers row in their catch of the day. And though many of them possess these same characteristics, each one has its own history, charm, and reasons to visit. Enjoy this photo essay of some of the best seaside towns along the Mediterranean in Italy. Sanremo
Sanremo is one of the westernmost town, so very close to the French border. It’s home to a casino, palm trees and a luxurious looking Marina! Genoa
Genoa is one of the largest cities on the Northern Italy Coast. It’s a large industrial port city and actually was Italy’s first. Lerici
Lerici is in the province of Liguria. It’s considered part of the Italian Riviera. And in case you can’t tell from the photo…it’s a port town. Manarola
Cinque Terre means five towns. It is literally made up of five tiny villages, all connected by ancient paths. This photo is of Manarola, one of the most recognizable in the Cinque Terre. Portofino
Another hugely popular town on the Italian Riviera is Portofino. The small fishing village was supposedly discovered by Romans and named for dolphins. The stunning half-moon shape of the harbor is best viewed from above, as in this photo. Livorno
Livorno is an ancient tangle of canals and walls. It’s also known as Leghorn, and there is a breed of chicken named after the city. Rumor has it that it’s how Foghorn Leghorn got his name. Monterosso al Mare
Another tiny town included in the Cinque Terre. I love how the little beach is anchored on either side by the huge rocks. And check out the walkway just clinging to that cliff face on the right. Vernazza
This unique town of the Cinque Terre wraps completely around the coast, offering spectacular views. The Doria Castle, which was erected to protect against pirates and the church’s octagonal bell tower are two notable sights. Camogli
amogli, which means houses close together in Italian, is a tiny fishing village on the coast. If this picture is any indication, it looks adorable. Riomaggiore
The southernmost town in the Cinque Terre group. It sits on the Gulf of Genoa and is known for its wine and aquariums. Portovenere
This tiny fishing village is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its name is said to come from a temple to the goddess Venus. I know I’d feel like a goddess if I spent any time there. Piombino
Piombino is an ancient Etruscan port. The area attracts snorkelers and divers from all over the world. There is also a Marine Biology Center and aquarium. Nettuno
Nettuno, named for the Roman god Neptune, is located in the Lazio region. It’s a popular spot for sunbathers since it’s a stop on the local train out of Rome. Gaeta
Gaeta has had a turbulent history, but is currently an important seaport for both fishing and oil. You can also get tiella here, which is a unique combination of a pizza and calzone. I can imagine eating one on that stretch of golden sand. Sorrento
Sorrento is a tourist destination in the Campania region, which overlooks the beautiful Bay of Naples. Other than delicious views and luxury resorts, Sorrento is known for its Limoncello. How ’bout a chilled sip while drooling over this view? Positano
Made famous by the scenes shot here in Under the Tuscan Sun, this gem had been frequented by celebs long before that. Located on the Amalfi coast, Positano was a medieval port and boasts two separate beaches- both equally beautiful. Atrani
Atrani, located a few minutes drive from Amalfi, is one of the most romantic towns of them all. The location is stunning,even dramatic, and looking at this photo it’s clear why. Their abundance of fish is evident in the Sagre del Pesce Azzurro, the celebratory fish festival. Praiano
Praiano, located between Positano and Amalfi, is home to the famed Grotto Esmerela, or Green Grotto. Not quite as talked about as the famous Blue Grotto on Capri, but with views like this, how could it not be beautiful? Cetara
Once used by pirates as a naval base and later destroyed by Turkish pirates in the 16th century, this tiny gem is known for its anchovy and tuna production. Oh, and it looks dreamy at dusk, wouldn’t you agree? Tropea
Tropea is situated on a reef in the toe of the boot, the Calabria region. From the photo, we can tell it’s a favorite spot of beach-goers. The people seem ant-like in relation to the giant sandstone cliffs. Amalfi
Located at the mouth of a ravine called Monte Cerrato, Amalfi is certainly one of the most well-known towns. An entire section of Italy’s southern coast is named after it. Amalfi is home to a Duomo, campanile (bell tower) and hosts an ancient regatta once every four years. Note : Though many of these little villages are set in more specific areas of Italy’s coastline, such as the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas, I have grouped these bodies of water all together as part of the larger Mediterranean Sea for the pupose of this piece. Photo Credits : Mike Flemming / Perrimoon / Alex Scarcella / Rob Inh00d / Extravigator / Conormac / LeeMcarthur / Tylerc083 / RoSSella Rebonato / [MP] / Nick’s Pics / Raffaelesergi1977 / Sunshinecity / Michaelwm25 / S J Pickney / Robin Locker / Allerina & Glen MacLarty / MHJohnston / Ale Bovini / Simo0082 / Paul and Jill
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domingo, 7 de junho de 2015
Photo Essay : Stunning Seaside Towns on Italy’s Mediterranean
sábado, 12 de abril de 2014
Top Ten Cities in Italy
Italian Cities to Visit on Your Travels
Italy has many beautiful and historic cities worth a visit. These are our picks for the top ten Italian cities to see on our travels in Italy. Check the distances between cities with our City Map and Distance Calculator.
1. Rome - Roma
Rome is the capital of modern Italy. Rome is full of history everywhere you look. It has many ancient monuments, interesting medieval churches, beautiful fountains, museums, and Renaissance palaces. Modern Rome is a bustling and lively city and has some excellent restaurants and nightlife. Saint Peter's Square and the Vatican City are also easily visited when in Rome.
Rome: Where to Stay in Rome | Rome Photos
2. Venice - Venezia
Venice is a unique city built on water in the middle of a lagoon. Venice is one of Italy's most beautiful and romantic cities as well as one of the most popular for visitors to Italy. The heart of Venice is Piazza San Marco with its magnificent church. There are many museums, palaces, and churches to visit and wandering along Venice's canals is interesting. Venice is in the northeast of Italy and historically was a bridge between East and West.
Venice: Best Rated Hotels in Venice | Venice Photos
3. Florence - Firenze
Florence is one of the most important Renaissance architectural and art centers. Its Duomo and Baptistery are magnificent but crowded with tourists as is their large piazza. Florence has several interesting museums with many famous paintings and sculptures. There are also Medici palaces and gardens. Florence is in Tuscany.
Florence: Best Rated Hotels in Florence | Florence Photos
4. Milan - Milano
Milan, one of Europe's richest cities, is known for stylish shops, galleries, and restaurants and has a faster pace of life than most Italian cities. It also has a rich artistic and cultural heritage. Its Duomo, with its beautiful marble facade, is magnificent. La Scala is one of the world's most famous opera houses.
Milan: Best Rated Milan Hotels | Milan Pictures
5. Naples - Napoli
Naples is one of Italy's most vibrant cities. It lies on the coast south of Rome and is the most important city in southern Italy. Naples has recently undergone some renovation but still retains much of its old character. It holds many historical and artistic treasures.
Naples: Best Rated Naples Hotels | A Look at Naples Historic Center
6. Verona
Verona is known for the story of Romeo and Juliet and for its Roman Arena, the third largest in Italy and the venue for a top opera festival. Verona has a good medieval center, Roman remains, and an interesting castle complex. It's the fourth most visited city in Italy and well worth a stop on a northern Italy travel itinerary.
Verona: Verona Travel Directory | Verona Photos
7. Turin - Torino
Turin, host of the 2006 Winter Olympics, is a major cultural hub with excellent museums, elegant shops, and good restaurants. There are also some very nice examples of baroque architecture and historic palaces. Turin has many historic cafes, artisan workshops, and arcades. Turin is in the northwest of Italy, between the Po River and the foothills of the Alps.
Turin: Best Rated Turin Hotels | Turin Photos
8. Bologna
Bologna is known for its beauty, wealth, cuisine, and left-wing politics. Its streets are lined with beautiful arcades, making it a good place to walk even in the rain. It has one of Europe's oldest universities and a nice medieval center. There are several attractive squares, lined with buildings with nice porticoes. Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy.
Bologna: Best Rated Bologna Hotels | Bologna Environs Itinerary
9. Perugia
Perugia is a very cosmopolitan city and home to two universities. It hosts a world-famous jazz festival in the summer and its University for Foreigners is a great place to learn Italian. It's a walled city on a hilltop with great views over the valley and has several important monuments and a good central square. Its history goes back to the ninth century BC. Perugia is in the center of Italy and is the capital of the region of Umbria.
Perugia: Best Rated Perugia Hotels | Perugia Pictures
10. Genoa - Genova
Genoa, on the northwest coast of Italy, is Italy's principal seaport. Genoa was a 2004 European Culture Capital; money flowed into the port city made famous by Columbus and now it's a better place than ever to visit. Genoa has a fascinating aquarium, an interesting port area, and a historic center said to be the largest medieval quarter in Europe, with a wealth of churches, palaces, and museums.
Genoa: Best Rated Genoa Hotels | Genoa Pictures
11. Poll - Italy's Most Popular Travel Cities
Rome, Florence, and Venice are Italy's three top cities for visitors but each is completely different from the others. Here's a chance to vote for your favorite of the three cities or see how others voted.12. Smaller Cities to Visit in Italy
If you've visited Italy's top cities or prefer to travel to smaller cities with fewer tourists, consider these recommendations for less-visited but interesting Italian cities.
Traveling by Train in Italy
Travel between big cities is best done by train as driving in Italian cities may be very difficult and the extensive Italian rail system is fairly inexpensive. Most city centers are well-suited to walking and parts of the city centers may be closed to transportation. Large Italian cities generally have good public transportation, too.
