Italy Review
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Throughout the pages of Italy Review, you'll find the very best of what Italy has to offer. At the time of writing (summer 2020), there are around 1,100 destination pages on the website, split into 50 categories. The category pages are lists such as Cities of Italy, or Seaside Towns of Italy and so on, in which I've placed the very best places from each of the 20 Italian regions. On those category/list pages, I've placed the best of each category towards the top of the list.
This provides you with an at-a-glance guide to which are the most exciting places to visit. However, even if something is at the bottom of one of these lists, it still means it's been selected from thousands of places across Italy to be one of the very best in its category and therefore, of the highest standard. The places closer to the top of each list are simply unmissable. In the slide show below there's a photo for each of the main 14 categories, most of which then have sub-categories. You can either click on the photo that interests you most from those below, or you can use the menu options at the top of the website to navigate your way around. |
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I have personally visited every destination listed on the website with just a few notable exceptions: the islands of Montecristo and Gorgona (currently a prison), which are largely inaccessible to visitors and the Sicilian Island of Lampione which requires patience, detailed planning and a fair wind due to its remote location. All of the photos on the website are my own, except for those from the few places listed above that I haven't yet visited, and from the Sistine Chapel in Rome where photos are not permitted.
All of the opinions expressed on the website are my own and based upon my own experiences of each place I've visited. There are countless lists of "Best Beaches in Italy" for example, and no two lists are ever the same; these are not definitive lists, they are just opinions and of course we all differ in our views. I am also happy to hear from any of you whose views may differ or if you feel that somewhere has been unfairly omitted from these pages. The lists aren't set in stone and the beauty of a website (as opposed to a printed guide book), is that it evolves over time to give the most up to date snapshot as possible of how things stand at the present time.
If you scroll down to the bottom of this page you'll see that Italy Review is the central website of the Italy Review Network. This is a series of 38 websites that drill down into more detail on the twenty regions, the major cities and a selection of the islands. The website you're on now: Italy Review, contains the very best from all of those regions, cities and islands, but there is still a great more of interest to discover on those other websites.
So I hope you enjoy the way the website has been laid-out, but more importantly, that you find it to be a useful tool in planning your trip to Italy.
Dion Protani: founder of the Italy Review series of websites.
All of the opinions expressed on the website are my own and based upon my own experiences of each place I've visited. There are countless lists of "Best Beaches in Italy" for example, and no two lists are ever the same; these are not definitive lists, they are just opinions and of course we all differ in our views. I am also happy to hear from any of you whose views may differ or if you feel that somewhere has been unfairly omitted from these pages. The lists aren't set in stone and the beauty of a website (as opposed to a printed guide book), is that it evolves over time to give the most up to date snapshot as possible of how things stand at the present time.
If you scroll down to the bottom of this page you'll see that Italy Review is the central website of the Italy Review Network. This is a series of 38 websites that drill down into more detail on the twenty regions, the major cities and a selection of the islands. The website you're on now: Italy Review, contains the very best from all of those regions, cities and islands, but there is still a great more of interest to discover on those other websites.
So I hope you enjoy the way the website has been laid-out, but more importantly, that you find it to be a useful tool in planning your trip to Italy.
Dion Protani: founder of the Italy Review series of websites.
Italy In - FocusCovering the six northernmost regions of Italy, hemmed in by international the borders with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia, The Italian Alps show nature at its most potent.
Stretching almost 5 kilometres skywards and a mighty 200,000 km² across eight countries, the Alps have always played an important role in marking boundaries between nations, ever since Hannibal did the unthinkable and marched his elephants across them in order to fight the Romans. Now, in more sedate times, they offer a range of holiday options from skiing to hiking. |
Rasun di Sotto, Trentino Alto-Adige, Alps
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The Italian Alps stretch from the border with France where the highest peak of Monte Bianco spills over into the region of Valle d'Aosta, just above Piedmont. The mountain range continues west to Lombardy, before reaching Trentino Alto-Adige, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia where they become the sub-range of the Dolomites.
Within this vast area of northern Italy there's a wealth of magnificent sights from glacial lakes to world-class ski resorts and cities with outstanding architecture. There's also a significant mixture of cultures with French, Germanic and Slavic influences in the various international border regions.
During the winter when the mountains are fully covered in snow, Italy's ski resorts are a magnet for visitors tempted by the excellent facilities and unmistakeable Italian hospitality. Among the most popular are Cortina d'Ampezzo, Madonna di Campiglio, Canazei and Sestriere, each of which are still full of life in the summer when tourism turns towards activity holidays such as walking and cycling.
Italy's biggest park, the Stelvio National Park which is split between Lombardy and Trentino Alto-Adige, is one of four vast parks that cover the Alps along with the Gran Paradiso, Val Grande and Bellunesi Dolomites National Park.
The Alps are also home to some of Italy's most spectacular lakes; so many are there that it would be impossible to list them all but among the highlights are the likes of Lake Molveno, Lake Braies, Lake Carezza, Lake Landro and the Lakes of Fusine on the Slovenian border.
From Piedmont's capital Turin you can see the Alps looming in the distance behind the city, while smaller cities such as Bolzano, Trento, Belluno, Asiago and Bressanone are nestled right in and amongst them.
Travelling around the Alps by car is easy during the summer months, especially after the middle of April when you're not obliged to carry snow chains in certain areas. The steep mountain roads, particularly those of the Stelvio National Park have the potential to expose any deficiency your car's engine may have and you should only countenance bringing your own car if you're fully confident of its roadworthiness.
Generally-speaking, rental cars are the better option in order to avoid any damage to your own car. In the winter, the roads can become quite hazardous and during these times, the worst roads are closed.
The major cities of the Alps are all accessible by train, often with spectacular scenery to carry you along the way such as with the Rhaetian Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Among the most convenient international airports to reach the Alps in Italy are Turin, the three around Milan and several in the east of the country such as Verona, Treviso, Venice and Trieste.
Within this vast area of northern Italy there's a wealth of magnificent sights from glacial lakes to world-class ski resorts and cities with outstanding architecture. There's also a significant mixture of cultures with French, Germanic and Slavic influences in the various international border regions.
During the winter when the mountains are fully covered in snow, Italy's ski resorts are a magnet for visitors tempted by the excellent facilities and unmistakeable Italian hospitality. Among the most popular are Cortina d'Ampezzo, Madonna di Campiglio, Canazei and Sestriere, each of which are still full of life in the summer when tourism turns towards activity holidays such as walking and cycling.
Italy's biggest park, the Stelvio National Park which is split between Lombardy and Trentino Alto-Adige, is one of four vast parks that cover the Alps along with the Gran Paradiso, Val Grande and Bellunesi Dolomites National Park.
The Alps are also home to some of Italy's most spectacular lakes; so many are there that it would be impossible to list them all but among the highlights are the likes of Lake Molveno, Lake Braies, Lake Carezza, Lake Landro and the Lakes of Fusine on the Slovenian border.
From Piedmont's capital Turin you can see the Alps looming in the distance behind the city, while smaller cities such as Bolzano, Trento, Belluno, Asiago and Bressanone are nestled right in and amongst them.
Travelling around the Alps by car is easy during the summer months, especially after the middle of April when you're not obliged to carry snow chains in certain areas. The steep mountain roads, particularly those of the Stelvio National Park have the potential to expose any deficiency your car's engine may have and you should only countenance bringing your own car if you're fully confident of its roadworthiness.
Generally-speaking, rental cars are the better option in order to avoid any damage to your own car. In the winter, the roads can become quite hazardous and during these times, the worst roads are closed.
The major cities of the Alps are all accessible by train, often with spectacular scenery to carry you along the way such as with the Rhaetian Railway, a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Among the most convenient international airports to reach the Alps in Italy are Turin, the three around Milan and several in the east of the country such as Verona, Treviso, Venice and Trieste.
THINGS TO SEE IN ITALYThere are so many beautiful sights just waiting to be discovered in Italy. I've listed cities, islands, regions, seaside towns, hill towns, lakes, ski resorts and much more all in one place.
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TravelThe Travel section will help you to navigate your way around Italy with practical advice. The guide currently includes Italian Ferry Ports and there will shortly be much more such as rail and air links.
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Italy Review has teamed up with Booking.com to provide accommodation ideas for every region of Italy. Just enter your travel dates in the search box for the latest prices and best hotels.
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Italy is divided into twenty regions which I've detailed in the Italy section. For each region you'll find statistical information as well as photos and ideas for the best places to visit within each region.
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About Italy Review
Italy Review is the central website of the Italy Review Network of guides to different Regions, Cities and Islands of Italy. There are currently 38 websites including this one from which you can quickly and easily access any of the others. The websites are all written exclusively in English and designed to provide ideas, inspiration and guidance for visitors to Italy. Throughout the pages of the various websites you'll find thousands of original images and as the websites evolve there will be more features added including travel advice, articles and useful tourist information.
The websites and the photos are the fruit of my own personal travels around this great country since 2013 when I started the Ischia Review website. In the years that have followed I've visited in excess of 2,000 different places be they towns, islands, cities, beaches or other places of beauty, hungrily snapping away wherever I've passed. I still have an enormous list of places I want to visit in the country and I'll be updating all of the websites with more photos and written content along the way. I hope, that through the websites and the various social networking pages, you'll be able join me on this wonderful journey and get involved with comments and e-mails.
So for now, I hope you enjoy exploring Italy through these web pages and find some ideas for places to visit.
Dion Protani, founder of the Italy Review series of websites.
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