Sardinia in Italy is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, the largest being Sicily. It is surrounded by Corsica in the North, the Italian Peninsula, Tunisia and the Spanish Balealic Islands.

There are many places to visit in the island of Sardinia because it is a major tourist destination in Italy. Three of the most popular places are Alghero, Cagliari and Costa Smeralda.

Alghero is situated on the west coast of Sardinia. It used to be a major commercial port but has now because a tourist haven. You can reach Alghero either by plane or ferry.

In Alghero you can go to Neptune’s Grotto or Grotto di Neptune. This is a approximately 2 kilometers of limestone caves but only 800 meters are accessible to the public.  You can only reach these caves 2 ways: by boat or through a road trip. The ferry trip is available every hour and costs about 10 Euros. The boat trip is about 30 minutes. The scenery is spectacular with the vertical cliffs in Capo Caccia and the bay of Porte Conte.

If you prefer to get to Neptune’s Grotto by road, it is about a 45 minute drive from Alghero.  Before you can get to the entrance to the grotto, you have to walk the 656 steps called Escala del Cabirol. These goats steps were cut into the wall of the cliff in 1954 and circle the cliff in a zigzag manner, taking you directly to the entrance of the grotto.

Inside the sea level caves, you will see many stalactites and stalagmites that are dramatically enhanced by cleverly placed lighting.

Cagliari, which means castle, is the capital of Sardinia. Aside from tourism, Cagliari is well known as having one of the largest fish markets in Italy. The major tourist attractions here is the old city which is situated on top of a hill. You can also visit the historical Basilica di San Saturnino, the 16^th century church - Chiessa de la Purissima, and the Sanctuary of our Lady of Bonaria.

Cagliari also has one of the longest beaches among all the towns in Italy.

A third popular tourist site in Sardinia is the Costa Smeralda which is the more expensive location to visit in Italy. It has been developed with extreme care. The planning and zoning of this area was designed to cater to the more sophisticated traveler and vacationer.  Its stunning scenery, sports attractions, and beautiful beaches make it a favorite getaway for the rich and famous.

It is also located along the coast with an area of about 55km. The Sardinia Regatta which is held every year takes place here in Costa Smeralda.  There are also regular polo matches held between April and October every year.

During peak season, visitors to this exclusive coastal area in Sardinia have to pay between US$2,000 to $3,000 a night. Reservations are usually required prior to visiting the area.

Among the tourist attractions in Costa Smeralda is the Giants’ Graves, which is an archeological site. It is a megalithic gallery grave built during the Bronze Age.

These are not the only places of interest in Sardinia, but they give you an idea of the many things to do when you visit Italy.

Popularity: 14% [?]

What do Lucianno Pavarotti, Enzo Ferrari, Ferruccio Lamborghini, Pupi Avati, Giorgio Armani, Ligabue, and Guiseppe Verde all have in common?  They come from the scenic Italian region of Emilia Romagna.

Emilia Romagna is one of the 20 regions of Italy. It is located in the northern side of Italy with Bologna as its capital city. Bologna is the third richest Italian city and is the dividing line between 2 historic areas, Emilia and Romagna.

To the east of Emilia Romagna is the Adriatic Sea and the Po River is to its north. If you look south, you will see the magnificent Apennine Mountain Range which is famous for its marble, said to be the finest in the world.

In 2007, Bologna City was judged to have the highest standard of living in Italy and the entire region of Emilia Romagna is in contention as being one of the wealthiest cities in the country.

The wealth of this region comes from its agri-business. It is famous for its dairy products, wine, cereal, corn, fruits, potato, tomato and cattle. There are several world famous companies in the region like Barilla Foods, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Ducati and Maserati.

However, aside from its financial and business success, Emilia Romagna boasts of enriched and extensive arts and culture attraction sites. If your interests lie in the arts, there are wonderful museums to visit. The Piacenze e Ferrara and Cathedral of Moderna are examples of great Romanesque architecture. The Cathedral Museum in Ferrara holds painting, relics and sculptures.

For a look at the Italy’s 16^th century furniture and art, you can visit the Museum of Industrial Art in the capital city. This museum is open to the public and entrance is free, although it usually closes during holidays.

In the city of Modena, there are several cultural attractions that you will enjoy: the Estense Gallery which has the works of the Italian historical painter, Antonio Consetti, the Biblioteca Estense which is a library full of historical manuscripts, the Estense Epigraphic Museum and the Museum of Risorgimento.

It is from Modena that we get the world’s most expensive condiment, the balsamic vinegar which is an aged vinegar known for its unique flavor and aroma.

Have you ever sampled Lambrusco sparkling red wine? It is considered the best Emilian wine. The original Lambrusco wine is actually of a dry style, unlike the sweeter Lambrusco wine that is exported around the world.

Other wines from Emilia are made from Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot, Merlot and Cabernbet.

A few years ago, there was this sparkling wine that rocked the world with its delicate semi sweetness, the Albana Spumante. Another popular white wine is Trebbiano di Romagna which is a light bubbly wine. The Sangiovese red wine though is considered the king all Romagna wines with its rich fruity flavor.

As you can see, Emilia Romagna is a fascinating tourist destination. Aside from the lovely scenery, the history, art, and culinary delights make it a top tourist destination in Italy. It has a combination of rich cultural heritage with all the convenient trappings of a modern, highly successful region.

Popularity: 27% [?]

The impressive structure of the Roman Colosseum has stood since 80A.D, as a window overlooking Rome’s ancient past.  To visit the Colosseum, one can hear the echoes of the crowd’s roar as gladiators fought bloodily to the death.  The parade of exotic wild animals was fanfare for those who waited to see the glorious victory of those who would conquer beast and man and be named the undefeated hero.  The Roman Colosseum has been the source of fascination, the landscape of historical exploration, and the subject of rumors and speculation for thousands of years.  Its appeal is just as magnetic for the Roman traveler today as it was for the sadistic tendencies of those who feasted on gore and death in visual form.

Due to it’s massive structure and it’s condition that has survived major earthquakes as well as the detrimental effects of elements over time, the Roman Colosseum is one of the world’s most visited tourist attractions.  Once seating accommodated 50,000 people, today the Roman Colosseum feature two elevators that enable tourists to visit the upper level, or tier of the Colosseum with ease and comfort.  Whether on a guided tour, or simply exploring these ancient ruins alone or with the company of friends, visitors and sightseers agree that the Roman Colosseum is a structure unparalleled.

When visiting the Roman Colosseum it is important to plan your trip carefully.  Tickets are readily available for purchase at the site, however you might want to purchase them ahead of time.  Determining whether or not you would like to participate in a guided tour will help enhance your visit, by ensuring that you won’t miss any of the great historical sites.  If you shy away from crowds, you’ll find a small group tour might be the best choice.  Since the Roman Colosseum is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, it is often impacted by great numbers of visitors.

Under certain conditions, residents and educational faculty can enter the Colosseum for free.  However, most people will need to secure tickets.  An Archaeologia Card is a ticket that is purchased and allows visitors access to nine of Rome’s most visited historical sites.  The Archaeologia Card is valid for seven days and includes access to the Colosseum, the Palazzo Massimo, the Palazzo Altemps, the Crypta Balbi, the Baths of Diocletian, the Palatino, the Baths of Caracalla, the Villa dei Quintili, and the Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella.  For those planning a week long, sightseeing tour of Rome focusing on the Colosseum, the Archaeologia Card provides the most benefits.

Popularity: 27% [?]

Molise, the second smallest region of southern Italy is spread over 4438 square kilometers and has a demographic status of 3, 00,000. It was earlier a part of Abruzzi e Molise but is now a completely independent entity. Not only is it sparsely populated but it also has a very low average population density.

Northern Molise is comprised of highlands. Generally it has scattered broad plains which slope down towards the Adriatic confluence. Interior towns in Molise have become sparsely populated as people are looking to move to greener pastures for the sake of employment. Molise is old; in fact very old. It predates the ancient Colosseum of Rome. Molise though in its present derivative is the newest region in Italy. It was at the receiving end of massive destruction caused by the fury of Allied forces during World War II.

Agriculture in Molise still is the top mantra. Though the economy is not thriving and the land is divided into tiny holdings and subsistence farming is the general norm. Even those employed with the public sector allot a part of their time to the fending of their farms.

International tourism is picking up in a big way in Molise. This is not a result of sites and places of tourist potential but because Pescara, not far away from Molise is a transition point for diverse international flights.

Molise has central right-local government but it gave a shade over half the votes to Romano Prodi of the left wing in April 2006 elections.

Popularity: 28% [?]

Verona is the provincial capital of Veneto, located in Northern Italy. Verona is the second largest city located in Veneto, second only to Venice. Verona is also home to the most famous lovers in all literary history, Romeo and Juliet. While Verona may be a lovers paradise, there is much more that this wonderful city has to offer tourists.

Verona is a wonderful city for cultural and architectural sight seeing. The most famous stop for most tourists, is the giant Roman Amphitheater. The giant arena which is still standing in most of its entirety, and was originally constructed outside of the city walls in the first century, but has since been encompassed by the giant city of Verona. Every summer, operas are performed inside of the arena which still holds more than 22,000 people comfortably.

The city is world famous for its wonderful shopping in the city center. If you follow Via Mazzini, a pedestrian only street in Verona, you will find some of the most fashionable shops in all of Italy, along with some world famous restaurants. Because Via Mazzini is a pedestrian only street, everything is easy to find and it is easy to navigate from one shop to another. Imagine a high class shopping center that is miles long.

Piazza delle Erbe is an exquisite square in Verona. The square is surrounded by wonderful architecture and is home to a loud, vibrant market where you can come to acquire fresh fruits and vegetables from the hundreds of merchants who populate the square. Piazza delle Erbe has been in the same location for hundreds of years, and was used for the Roman Forum.

Verona is an interesting and lovable city filled with wonder and lots of interested locations. Any family or travelling couple should consider Verona.

Popularity: 72% [?]

Perugia is located in central Italy and is the capital city in the region of Umbria. The city symbol is the griffin, and can be seen on various statues and plaques throughout the city of Perugia. Perugia is considered by many to be the central artistic contributer in Italy. The city has been the home of many famous painters, including Perugino (who taught Raphael, the famous renaissance painter), Pinturiccio, and Galeazzo Alessi.

 A favorite location in Perugia for many travellers is Lake Trasimene. Trasimene is the largest stretch of inland water in the Italian penninsula. The lake is home to pike, eel, carp, tench, and catfish and is open for sport and natural fishing with natural and artificial bait. In the surrounding lands on all sidefs of the lake are the remians of ancient Etruscan civilization, which are often visited by standalone travellers and tour groups.

In the hills surrounding Lake Trasimene, ruins castles and fortresses from the middle ages remain. Passignano, Monte del Lago and Castiglione del Lago are all still virtually in tact even after all of the time that has passed with little to no restoration effort. On the Maggiore and Polvese islands, remains of two castles survive and are often visited by tours.

 Perugia is a city rich in culture, with roots deep in the artistic movement during and before the renaissance. With so much beautiful art, it is hard to choose where to begin. While the city may not have as many sites to see as other cities in Italy, it is by far the most historically artistically advanced city in this region, and throughout the whole of Italy. Perugia would be a wonderful romantic getaway for couples with interest in fine art and ancient civilizations. The country side provides the perfect backdrop for a romantic picnic with a bottle of the regions locally produced wine.

Popularity: 83% [?]