Overview

Stylish, cultured, good humoured and volatile –Italy, with its golden light, stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage, has inspired poets and painters for centuries. Perhaps more than any other country, it has influenced the course of European development, particularly in culture and political thought.

The most important early settlers were the enigmatic Etruscans, who had established settlements in northern and central Italy by the sixth century BC. By the third century BC, their culture had been displaced by the mighty city state of Rome, which was intent on extending its influence.

At its greatest extent, the Roman Empire stretched from Egypt to England and for several centuries conferred on its inhabitants the benefits of the Pax Romana: culture (mainly Hellenic in origin), law, relative peace and comparative prosperity.

In the 15th century, parts of Italy were at the heart of the greatest ever flowering of art and culture (the Renaissance), associated with artists such as Fra Angelico, Raphael, Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

Today, besides the renowned cities of Venice, Florence, Siena and Naples, each with its own unique identity and architecture, Italy features romantic medieval hill towns, such as San Gimignano in Tuscany, and unspoilt fishing villages, like Positano on the Amalfi coast. Operatic productions are staged in Verona’s ancient amphitheatre, while the influence of Federico Fellini is celebrated in Turin’s museum of cinema.

Italy combines art, history and contemporary fashion with stunning natural landscapes: the turquoise waters of the Costa Smeralda offer one of Europe’s most beautiful stretches of sand, sea and sunshine, while the snow-covered slopes of the Dolomite mountains are a haven for winter sports enthusiasts.

Throughout the country visitors can find vineyards and cellars to taste the very best regional wines, workshops where crafts are produced by hand, and friendly trattorie where simple but superb dishes are served.

Author

Jane Foster