ITALY

5th country of destination by international tourist arrivals in 2012
46.4 million visitors per year (+0.3)

TOP TRAVEL DESTINATION: Republic of Italy (Republica Italiana)

Italy is known for its vast history and culture which has always placed it in the world as top travel destination for many tourists. Italy is also considered as the birthplace of the today’s western culture. Italy has been rewarded as the top travel destination because of the availability of the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world. It is also famous for its delicious cuisine, its fashions, its luxury sports automotive and diverse regional cultures. Italy is too known for its beautiful coasts, alpine lakes and mountains.

Italy is also a country which hosts unique and fascinating events of international resonance throughout the year. Italy is considered to be a natural film set. It gives beautiful scenery that makes it the perfect background for every kind of films.

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The Climate

The climate of this top travel destination is highly diverse from place to place. Most of the interior northern regions of Italy have climate as humid continental or temperate. The coastal and most of the peninsula areas can be very different from the interior's higher ground and valleys, particularly during the winter months when the higher altitudes tend to be cold, wet and often snowy. The coastal regions have mild winters and warm.

The North and South areas can have a considerable difference in temperature. During the winter the temperature can go to −2 °C (28.4 °F) and snowing in the area of Milan while it is 8 °C (46.4 °F) in Rome and 20 °C (68.0 °F) in Palermo. Temperature differences are low during the summer.

The East coast of the peninsula is not as wet as the west coast but it has usually colder in the winter. During the frosty tenure the entire eastern hillside of the Apennines can be affected by the snow fall.

The North East coast mainly from Ravenna to Venice the snow falls more rarely. During the cold it starts from east, the cold can be harsh but with bright skies but during the snowfalls it can affect Northern Italy region.

The Adriatic coast has a milder wind which makes snow turn to rain. The city of Trieste may see snow falls with north-eastern winds during the cold winters. The Venice Lagoon may freeze and in the coldest time one may have to walk on the ice sheet.

The Culture and Religion

Italy is again a unified top travel destination for the world. Many people from outside the Italy have occupied Italy over the centuries. Italians have assimilated a number of people within their culture. From Albanians, French, Austrians, Greeks, Arabs to Africans have found a welcome in peaceful social interaction. This mixture is reflected in the wide variety of physical characteristics of the people with respect to the skin and hair colorings, size, and even temperaments.

As Italy is having mixed cultural background and so is the religion. The major religions in Italy includes: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jews and Islam.

Places to tour in Italy

The main reason to be the top travel destination is the variety that places in Italy offers. Here are some of the main tourist places in Italy:

Rome – Visit for the mark of society, civilization, art, culture and humanity.

Venice – Queen of the Adriatic holds a mystical atmosphere of a city of canals and palaces. Also have myriad magic festivals, exotic cuisine and magnificent architecture.

Naples – On a bay, Naples has a little but often a lot – of everything.

Parma – Availability of rich castles, cathedrals and fortresses, for the fashion-conscious and for the gourmand.

Erice – Find the history, beauty, culture, castles, churches, stunning views and the latest in science and technology.

Ravenna – Situated on coastal lagoons. Now a low-lying plain near the confluence of the Ronco and Montone rivers, and has to rely on a canal to link it to the Adriatic Sea.

Lecce – Get the look to the Baroque architecture.

Palermo – The orange groves. Situated in the northern part of the island. It is also the biggest city in Sicily with one of the best harbors in the world.

Perugia – The city of chocolates, churches and music.

When to go

The best time to visit Italy is during April to June and the late September to October are the best months for traveling as the temperatures are usually mild and the crowds aren't quite so intense. Starts in mid-June, the summer rush really picks up, and from July to September the country loads with visitors.

Travelling in Italy

Italy, the top travel destination can be toured by the following modes:

By plane – Domestic flights are available for city to city travelling in Italy.

By train – Italy offers a fast and affordable railway system that reaches many parts of the country.

By car – Italy has a well-developed system of highways in the country.

By bus – Get town bus tickets from corner stores and other shops before boarding. For tourists it may be very convenient to buy daily tickets that allow you to travel as much as you want in a single (or more) day.

By boat – A yacht charter to Italy is a fulfilling way to experience the country.

Organized tours – Organized tours are a great way to see the sites and soak up the local culture – especially if you’re travelling alone or are a first-time traveler. Check out some of the options for tours in Italy.

Major Airports in Italy

– Leonardo da Vinci International Airport,
– Rome
– Aviano Airport
– Baccarini Airport, Grosseto
– Capodichino Airport
– Marina Di Massa Airport

So, what are you waiting for, just get ready for the tour to Italy, the top travel destination in the world.