Delight in the the sheer value on what's on offer and take a trip of a like time to see the wonderful places below:
Lake Garda is an area of outstanding natural beauty and is the largest lake in Italy. It's popularity as a holiday destination first began in the late 19th century when the middle and upper classes visited during the summer to take in the clean mountain air and gentle climate. It is located in northern Italy, between Brescia and Verona, and between Venice and Milan.
The outstanding natural beauty of the place is helped by a particularly mild climate that favours the growth of some Mediterranean plants, including olive and citrus trees.
On the south of the lake sits the ancient fortified town of Sirmione, home to the Virgilio & Catullo Spa Complexes and their precious sulphurous water, containing sodium chloride, bromine and iodine, flowing naturally from the depths of the lake. The mineral properties in the water help in the cure of problems of the respiratory system, the treatment of rheumatic complaints and motory rehabilitation, and has made Sirmione one of the most important thermal spas in Europe.
The Dolomites are a stunning mountains range located in northeastern Italy and are a result of geological activity some 230 million years ago, giving them a gorgeous pink and lime-green hue. The foothills are strikingly green pastures dotted with the occasional small shepherd’s house, there are a few sheep and goats here and there and pine forests stretch into the distance. Interestingly, you could believe you were in another country as the houses in the picturesque tiny hamlets resemble Swiss or Austrian style chalets, low and sloping roofs with enormous window boxes crammed with flowers of every imaginable colour. The people are somewhat different too, generally taller than Italians and speaking a dialect of German!
One national park and many other regional parks are located in the Dolomites, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. There are also large amount of rare and unique wildlife in these parks, including chamois, ibex and golden eagles which are a wonderful sight to behold.
Venice is a unique city which seems to have been caught in a time warp. Its prominence in the 10th century grew in wealth and power and reached its peak during the 15th century. It was then that many of the amazing buildings you see today were built. At one pint, Venice was the greatest power in the Mediterranean with an empire encompassing Crete, parts of Turkey and a huge portion of Northern Italy and it soon created a capital to match.
St. Mark’s Basilica was built to house the relics of St. Mark himself, and is one of Europe’s most exotic and opulent cathedrals. The decadent decorations include over 40,000 square feet of detailed mosaics of every colour covering the entire interior and coloured marble columns in gold and red. St. Mark’s Square is also a major focal point of the city where you can enjoy the pavement cafés and shops while absorbing the beauty around you.
But Venice is not just art and monuments, it has to be seen from the water as well. This is where the gondola comes in, beautifully made boats that can provide a lovely and peaceful way to explore the backwaters of the city.
Verona is one of the most beautiful and pleasant cities in Italy and is one of the main tourist destinations in northern Italy. The beautiful old town has Medieval pink-hued buildings complete with contrasting frescoes underneath archways unchanged for centuries.�� Quaint cafés with serenading violinists and tasteful shops, so typical of Italy, are abundant, and reminders of Verona's artistic heritage are everywhere. The city has also been awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO because of its urban structure and beautiful architecture.
Three of Shakespeare's plays, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew and The Two Gentlemen of Verona, are set in Verona. Romeo and Juliet in particular has inspired countless films, poems and dramas and you can actually see the balcony where the immortal words “O Romeo, Romeo” were reputedly spoken.
