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: 96% [?]

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: 36% [?]

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: 24% [?]

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: 22% [?]

Parma is a city close to Modena, known for its famous architecture and beautiful country side that surrounds it. Parma is home to the University of Parma, the equivalent of an Ivy League School and one of the oldest universities in the world. Parma is a romantic getaway for site seeing couples who are looking for a relaxed vacation.

Parma is mostly famous for its churches and palaces. Most of it’s palaces were built from the 1100’s to the 1500’s, and most of them still stand today. The most famous cathedral in the city, the Romanesque Cathedral houses 12th century sculpture by Benedetto Antelami as well as a 16th century sculpture by Antonio da Correggio. Right next to the cathedral is the Bapistery of Parma, which was built in 1196.

The Palazzo della Pilotta is a palace that now houses the Parma Academy of Fine Arts in conjunction with the School of Parma and the Palatine Library. This is a great location to come and gander at different paintings, sculptures, and other artistic endeavors. Not far from Parma in neighboring Modena is the Ducal Palace, which was broken ground on in 1634 by Francesco l d’Este, and was finished by Francis V.

Parma is mostly a site-seeing city without much in the way of natural entertainment like hiking and camping, but is home to a wonderful market and shopping center near the city epicenter. Neighboring Modena is not a far cab ride from Parma, and also features alot of great site seeing of Italian vehicle plants including Ferrari, Lambhorgini, and Maserati. There is most definitely a lot you can find to occupy your time with in Parma and the neighboring cities.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Modena is a city on the south side of Po Valley that is known for its rich history and amazing landmarks. Modena has been or is still the home of many famous car manufacturing companies from Italy including Ferrari, De Tomaso, Lamborghini and Maserati. Many of the companies over guided tours throughout their plants or base of operations, and are great to check out some fantastic cars and accessories. However, Modena is much more than cars. Modena is famous for its awe-inspiring attractions and amazing cathedrals and churches.

The Cathedral of Modena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was first broken ground on, on June 6, 1099, and still stands just as it did to this day. The Cathedral was first under the direction of the Countess Matilda of Tuscany who has had many fictional novels based on her life. The cathedral is the city’s most popular tourist attraction to this day, standing over 200 feet in the air with vaulted cielings and dozens of columns.

Another famous site is the Ducal Palace. The Ducal palace was broken ground on in 1634 by Francesco l d’Este, and was finished by Francis V. The palace occupies the site of the former Este Castle, which was once located on the outskirts of the city. The Central Hall of the palace has a frescoed ceiling, with traces of ancient Roman architecture abound.

Other locations you should consider visiting in Modena include the Town Hall, and the Museum palace, which was once used to house the poor when it was built and is now used to house a handful of different museums. These museums include the Estense Gallery, a famous art museum, a library, The Museum of Mediaeval and Modern Art, and the Archaeological and Ethnological Museum.

Modena is a wonderful place to visit for those who are looking for a vacation full of rich historical sites and beautiful architecture.

Popularity: 18% [?]