AP Features, March 26th, 2007
High season is here for travel to Italy, with most tourists visiting the country between April and October. A new guide from Fodor's, "Essential Italy: Rome, Florence, Venice & the Top Spots in Between" ($18.95) can help you plan the perfect itinerary for sightseeing the classics - art, churches and historic sites - while finding time to experience the countryside and "the Italians' knack for living well," as the book's introduction puts it.
"Essential Italy" starts out with a chapter on "A Great Itinerary," which touches on highlights that can be seen in two weeks or less. Start with a couple of days in Rome, from the Pantheon and other ancient ruins, to the Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo, to the famed Trevi Fountain. Other musts include St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, the open-air market at Campo de'Fiori, the Colosseum, and the Piazza di Spagna, where you can fit in a little shopping and have gelato.
A couple hours north of Rome is Perugia in Umbria, where you can stroll the pedestrian-only Corso Vannucci and appreciate the city's preserved medieval core. From there, spend a day or two in Chianti, Tuscany, enjoying the landscapes and the vineyards, and consider a stay in a converted villa or a farm that takes overnight guests, part of a program called agriturismo.
"Essential Italy" recommends reserving two to four days of your trip for Florence, known for its Renaissance art and architecture. Top spots include the Piaza del Duomo, the Galleria degli Uffizi, and the city's most impressive square, Piazza della Signoria. Visit Michelangelo's "David" in the Galleria dell'Accademia and the frescoes of Fra Angelico at the Museo di San Marco, and take in the view from the Piazzale Michelangelo on a hill above the city.
The leaning tower of Pisa is west of Florence. Another possible side trip would take you to Bologna, an hour north of Florence, known for fine food, great nightlife, and Europe's oldest university. Less than two hours away is charming Verona, where you'll find medieval piazzas, an ancient Roman arena and an old castle.
Finally, head to Venice. Take a vaporetto (water bus) cruise along the Grand Canal, visit the Piazza San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale. The Gallerie dell'Academia is the city's most important art gallery, and the Piazza San Marco is the magnificent main square. But other spectacular attractions are many, including the Ca' Rezzonico and the Ca' d'Oro palaces, and churches like the Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, the Scuola Grande di San Rocco, the Santa Maria del Miracoli and the Santi Giovanni e Paolo. It's a great city for wandering; just prepare yourself for the crowds of tourists just like yourself.
