Italy, a great holiday destination

Italy is alluring, Sophia Loren with Alpine Mountains and La Dolce Vita on the Riviera with a Lambretta eating Pizza. Maybe also it is Europe's most complex destination. Of corse it is one of the G8, a modern, industrialized nation, but also, it has the timeless quality of a Mediterranean country, with a southern European sensibility more influenced by the Catholic church, Wine, Olive Oil and Pasta than Big Macs and Global Banking.. The country is covered with Agricultural land, much of which, certainly in the south of Italy, is still owned under near feudal conditions. Siesta stops everything in the middle of the day in towns and villages across the land, and life is very family-oriented, with the rituals of the Catholic Church still dominant even though the youth are getting a tad skeptical about that.

Italians can be rude, or incredibly generous, angry and happy, just like the rest of us, but then even more so. There is a volatility, a lack of indifference which gives the strong feeling that the people are embracing life to the full. You can see this in the multitude of local festivals taking place across the country every day, to celebrate a local harvest, saint or the arts and music, where a great importance is placed on good food and wine. You can see their passion in their obsessive love of chic clothes and image. You can see their sociability in the the daily ritual of the collective passeggiata (stroll in the evenoing), which is a very sociable affair still adhered to by all age groups in every Italian town and village.

Italy as a country is very new, it only became a unified state in 1861, and, as a result, Italians often have more loyalty to the region they live in than to the Italian nation as a whole. This shows itself in the many different cuisines, dialects, landscapes. And you cannot forget Italy’s vast cultural legacy. In just Tuscany alone there are more classified historical monuments than in any other country in the world.The Romans left there mark of course, especially in Rome, and the Renaissance leaves its mighty legacy all over, notably in Venice and Florence. But every region retains its own relics of an artistic tradition generally acknowledged to be among the world's richest. From Siciliy to Naples, Rome, Florence, Milan, Turin, Venice, Bologna you will find so much to delight.

If you are the type that wishes to immerse oneself in some of the most beautiful art, architecture, cuisine and fine wine anywhere in the world then Italy is the right place for you and you could even try a tailored art or cooking holiday. Italy is also a great place to be adventurous, and you’ll find there are loads of Italian activity holidays to choose from. But Italy also provides magnificently for those of you who want to lie on a beach, swim in a pool, and laze around relaxing. Try Family Holidays in Italy for a break in one of the child friendliest countries in the world where of course camping is well catered for. Mountains also run down the country's spine, from the Alps and Dolomites in the north right along the Apennines. Skiing, snowboarding and other winter sports are big in Italy. In the five national parks, protected from the national passion for hunting, wildlife of all sorts thrives and Italy is a great destination for Horseriding holidays and Fishing Holidays. Golf is on the up in Italy so catch it while its still possible to beat the crowds, book a Golf Holiday in Italy and play on some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. All in all, Italy really has a lot to offer.