Italy – Come, explore Italy.
Upon viewing a map of Italy however, one may note that Italy doesn’t seem at all like a big place when compared to its neighbouring European countries, but looks can be deceiving. Italy is one of the best places in Europe for sightseeing, and is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The colours in the Italian flag represent three virtues: hope, faith and charity. This seems to hint at the importance of religion in Italy, notably Roman Catholicism, and their tourist landmarks and attractions give testament to that fact. Italy boasts a large number of cathedrals worth visiting, from the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa, to Michaelangelo’s Piazza del Campidoglio, to the Duomo, the second largest cathedral in the world, to the majestic Vatican City, ruled by the Roman Catholic Pope, and the smallest independent nation in the world.
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist contains the legendary Shroud of Turin, and tourists are free to visit the Palatine Towers, ancient Roman buildings able to stand the test of time through careful renovations. The Superga Basilica Church offers one a breath taking view of Turin against the nearby snow-covered Alps, and can be reached via the Superga Rack Railway. Trains and air travel to different parts of Italy are usually available, making it easier to travel all over Italy in the span of a few days. Italian food should not be turned down while visiting Italy. Every Italian city has its own unique Italian cuisine and Italian recipes passed down from generation to generation. Italian food cannot be mentioned without pizza, or the pizza margherita, with the colours of the ingredients made to represent the colours of the Italian flag. Desserts are always a favourite, with different kinds of Italian recipes such as the sweet, rum-flavored babŕ or savarin; the Gorgonzola, a cheese popular in Milan; and the Italian gelato ice cream.
Christmas in Italy is also a treat for visitors. Italians celebrate Christmas for three weeks, starting with the Novena. They consume chocolate and a cake called panettone, and light a Yule log on Christmas Eve, which must burn until the New Year. Children believe in an entity called Befana, a kind witch who leaves presents for good girls and boys much in the same manner as Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve in Italy, artistic and majestic displays and variations of the Nativity scene are proudly displayed.
Having the most number of World Heritage landmarks, Italy is easily one of the best places to go in Europe. But in between exploring the ancient cathedrals and towers, and listening to popular opera, make sure to take the time to relax by an Italian café and nourish a cup of hot cappuccino when you can – doing things slowly but surely is the Italian way of life, and it’s always good to, when in Rome, do what the natives do.