Steeped in antiquity yet bursting with all that's fashionably modern, Italy is the birthplace of La Dolce Vita - the sweet life that celebrates beauty and happiness.
Climate
Winters are long and cold in the northern alps; the summers can be rainy with frequent storms. The far south is warm but often lashed by the sirocco - the hot and humid African wind that brings weeks of stifling heat to the areas south of Rome. Pleasant temperatures make spring and autumn the best times to visit Italy.
Accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts
Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of hotels in Italy
Milan:cutting edge design and fine shopping
Milan's drab facade belies the fact that it's the innovation capital of Europe.
transport: getting there and getting around
Malpensa airport, located about 31 miles northwest of Milan, handles most international flights. For domestic and some European flights, Linate airport is used. Stazione Central, which as the name suggests is in the city centre offers an extensive rail network.
Milan has an efficient public transport system is efficient. It includes four underground lines, buses and trams.
climate
Other than the odd heat wave, the climate in Milan is mostly temperate.
accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts
Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Milan hotels
events:what's on and what's hot
For all its consumer-driven culture, Milan celebrates the spiritual as well as the worldly.
*The first ten days of June celebrate the Festa del Naviglio, a potpourri of parades, music and various performances.
*The Milan Jazz Festival gets the city swinging in November.
*The Festa di Sant'Ambrogio, on 7 December is celebrated with services, offerings and fairs around the Fiera di Milano. This is also the day that Milan's renowned opera house La Scala opens its season.
Rome:the eternal city
Drenched in history and weighted with monuments famous the world over - the Vatican and the Colosseum, Rome stands as the epitome of history and culture.
transport:getting there and getting away
Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) airport is 16 miles southwest of the city with the Stazione Termini direct train running hourly into the city. The main bus station is located outside the Stazione Termini. The Rome Metro service has two lines, both of which go through Termini. It runs from 5:30 a.m to 11.30 p.m. and 0:30 on Saturdays.
climate
The climate is mild with sunny skies and pleasant temperatures. However July and August can be oppressively hot, November is often rainy, and December to February can be chill.
accommodation:from cheap stays to luxury resorts
Check on the internet for the range, location and cost of Rome hotels
Events: what's on and what's hot
*Holy Week (Easter) is time when Catholics from all over the world arrive on pilgrimages to visit the city's churches and to hear the Pope at the Vatican. On Good Friday a procession of the Cross goes from the Colosseum to Capitoline Hill.
The Estate Romana (Roman Summer), is at the heart of Roman social life from June to September. It's a time when the city reverberates to free concerts, street theatre and outdoor cinema.
In September museums, galleries and shops stay open all night from 20:00-08:00 on the occasion called Notte Bianca (white night). It's also a time of free concerts and other happenings all over the city.
Related Articles
Visit Italy: Rome and Milan
By: Alistair White | 14/09/2007 | Hotels
Beautifully historic yet so fashionably up to date, Italy has all the components of the Dolce Vita in good measure - good food, good wine and beautiful people impeccably attired in the latest fashions.
Your Holiday in Italy:venice, Rome, Turin
By: Alistair White | 31/08/2007 | Travel Tips
Your holiday in Italy, From Venice, Queen of the Adriatic to Rome, symbol of history and culture and Turin, the European capital of Baroque.
Shopping in Italy is a Wonderful Adventure
By: Alistair White | 22/11/2007 | Travel Tips
Shopping in Italy is a wonderful adventure. From the elegant hush of designer boutiques to the raucous bedlam of a flea market, it's an experience you'll never forget. And you might even make some good purchases.
Shopping in Italy
By: Alistair White | 02/11/2007 | Travel Tips
Think of shopping in Italy and what images spring to mind? The most elegant boutiques discreetly showcasing the most fashionable creations the world can offer. Here's the skivvy on shopping in Rome and Venice.
Rome and Milan
By: Richard Greaves | 08/06/2008 | Destinations
Rome and Milan have beautiful historic buildings, architecture and art to connect them. But there the similarity stops as each also has their very own unique and individual style to offer a visitor.
Rome Apartments: the Ultimate Culinary Experience for the Smart Traveller
By: Paola Lo Russo | 12/10/2007 | Travel
Rome ideal accommodation: apartments
Advice on Rome and Accommodation
By: BookHotelsinRome.com | 25/10/2008 | Hotels
Rome has much to offer to all travellers, whether you're seeking archaeological wonders, amazing shopping deals, or a romantic adventure.To avoid disappointment be sure to book your hotel in Rome well in advance and take the time to enjoy some of the greatest wonders of Italy when you visit Rome.
Rome Accommodation: a Different Weekend in Rome… Finding Peace of Mind in a Big Metropolis
By: Paola Lo Russo | 15/10/2007 | Travel
Rome ideal accommodations
Latest Travel Tips Articles
Great Experiences and Great Holiday Specials in Darwin, Northern Territory
By: Guy Fitter | 01/12/2008
Darwin, Northern Territory, is a vibrant and attractive city with a unique selection of budget and exclusive accommodation with many things to do for the visitor such as attractions and tours
Visiting London From Abroad? the Best Way to See the Sights
By: Keith McGregor | 01/12/2008
If you are visiting the Capital City of England from abroad the most visited site is the River Thames. The Thames in London is a beautiful tidal waterway carving through the heart of the City. Some of the most stunning architecture and most well known buildings in the World are dotted along the banks at various points. Big Ben, the palace of Westminster, Tower of London, Canary Wharf and of course Tower Bridge are all right on the river.
Benefits From San Francisco Shuttle Tours
By: JishnuRaj | 01/12/2008
San Fran shuttle is a smaller but more intimate, very interactive, informative and fun group tour. This group takes us to more tour spots, includes bay cruise to Sausalito and free refreshment. This tour group doesn't use large motor coaches. Instead, they use shuttle bus which has easy on and off access. Only this group gets you very near to Lombard Street so that you can walk down.
Benefits From San Francisco Shuttle Tours
By: JishnuRaj | 01/12/2008
San Fran shuttle is a smaller but more intimate, very interactive, informative and fun group tour. This group takes us to more tour spots, includes bay cruise to Sausalito and free refreshment. This tour group doesn't use large motor coaches. Instead, they use shuttle bus which has easy on and off access. Only this group gets you very near to Lombard Street so that you can walk down.
White Water Rafting
By: SHIRE CHIN TRAVEL STATION | 30/11/2008
Rivers have long been the life blood of the indigenous people of Malaysia. They have served as a means of transport, a source of food and now, a resource for eco-tourism. The native groups of Sabah have been using rafts for centuries but white water rafting has only been a recreational activity since the 1980s.
The two main rivers for rafting in Sabah are the Padas and Kiulu rivers which are certified as Grade 3 and Grade 2 respectively in the international white water rafting grading system.
Driving a Vehicle Versus Public Transit: Which is Better?
By: Laura Zeimer | 30/11/2008
Statistics and tips on whether you should use public transportation or your own vehicle to reach your destination.
Cambodia Adventure Travel
By: Rom | 30/11/2008
Once you decided on taking this Cambodia adventure travel it is time to make yet another decision: do you mind travelling with other tourists or not? If you don't mind, your best bet is to try a travel agency who will assist you with your booking of the flights and hotels.
The travel agency will also be helpful with choosing the best tourist locations that will be sure to reveal as much of the Cambodian culture as well as Cambodian country sightseeing.
Why Biking to Work Saves Money on Travel and Gym Fees
By: Melanie Click | 30/11/2008
Exercise and savings at the same time!
More from Alistair White
Have a Break in Brighton: London by the Sea
By: Alistair White | 13/12/2007 | Travel
Brighton on the south coast on England is a popular seaside destination known as ‘London by the Sea’. In the 18th century, London’s elite made Brighton a fashionable place to be. Today, it is still popular, with its amusement parks and piers.
Travel to Broome: the Pearl in the Wilderness
By: Alistair White | 27/11/2007 | Travel
Broome is a fast growing city in the extreme North of Western Australia. Broome is a perfect seaside resort for visitors, with its great architectural styles and unusual history, and the fantastic beach there is something for everyone. Shoppers can enjoy the chic art galleries, street cafes and jewel stores, and 14 miles of the pristine sands with a tropical influence of the Indian Ocean.
Shopping in Spain is an Adventure
By: Alistair White | 23/11/2007 | Travel Tips
Shopping in Spain offers a delightful contrast to some other cities in Europe. The pace is more relaxed, the shopkeepers friendlier, and the range of good excellent. Here's a look at the shopping scene in Barcelona and Madrid.
Shopping in Italy is a Wonderful Adventure
By: Alistair White | 22/11/2007 | Travel Tips
Shopping in Italy is a wonderful adventure. From the elegant hush of designer boutiques to the raucous bedlam of a flea market, it's an experience you'll never forget. And you might even make some good purchases.
Shopping in Germany: Berlin and Munich
By: Alistair White | 22/11/2007 | Travel Tips
Shopping in Germany may not have the cachet of France or Italy, but it's still great fun to pick up some local and imported treasures. Berlin and Munich are the major shopping centers in Germany and you'll be sure to find something that pleases.
The Great Joys of Shopping in France
By: Alistair White | 21/11/2007 | Travel Tips
Shopping is one of the great joys of a visit to France. Not only is the range of goods incomparable in range and quality, but the act shopping itself is like in no other place. It's almost an art form. The way to get the most from your French shopping experience is to take your time. This article looks at the scene in two of France's top shopping centers. The first, of course is Paris. The second might come as a surprise. It's Bordeaux and we guarantee the surprise will be a very pleasant one.
The Great British Shopping Experience
By: Alistair White | 08/11/2007 | Travel Tips
Shopping in Britain offers it all – great department stores, chic boutiques, and bustling markets. And though prices aren't cheap, bargains abound. A look at the shopping scene in three of the UK's great cities – London, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
Shopping in the UK
By: Alistair White | 04/11/2007 | Travel Tips
Once the world's premier trading nation, the UK today is still a commercial powerhouse where you can pick up products from all over the world.. While London the country's biggest shopping experience, Manchester and Leicester also have their own shopping charms.
Travel 
