Action Packed Nine Days on Rugby Tour to Ireland

The Vatican City

The Vatican City is actually its own state within Italy and is the smallest in the world.

When you’re here then you should definitely consider one of the most important religious spots in the world. Located inside its square are powerhouses such as the Piazza San Pietro and St Peter’s Basilica.

You can also take in the majesty of the Vatican Palace. Also recommended is the Sistine Chapel which features the Creation of Adam.

The Colosseum

You can’t come to Rome and not visit one of the most famous attractions in the world, the mighty Coliseum.

The ruins of what was once a magnificent amphitheatre are one of the greatest historical relics of our time and once it would have had a capacity of over 50,000 spectators.

The amphitheatre is most well known for the gladiator matches. Spectators would spend the day baying for blood and didn’t care who’s it was.

Rome’s Ancient Forum

Just a stone’s throw from the Colosseum lies the fantastic ruins of Rome’s ancient Forum.

The Roman Forum is another one of Italy’s big hitter attractions and lies between the Capitoline and the Palatine hills in Rome.

This would once have been the centre of the mighty Roman Empire. You can take in the beautiful complex here as well as enjoy views from the terraces all over the wider city.

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as being designated as a national park.

Nestled in Liguria, the ‘Five Lands’ is made up of five distinct villages. These villages sit on top of the craggy cliffs overlooking the famous Italian Riviera.

The five villages include Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore, and Monterosso, and each has its own unique charms and sights.

The area of Cinque Terra sprawls between La Spezia and Levanto.

Here you will find romantic olive groves and traditional eateries. There are Azure sea views all the way along the coast.

Boat Trip Along The Almalfi Coast

The gorgeous Amalfi Coast is one of the most scenic spots in Italy. If you want to experience as much of it as possible then consider taking a boat trip along the shore line.

A number of companies offer boat rental and you can take in sights such as the towering Lattari Mountains. Plus, you can take in all the various cute coves and inlets as well.

Seemingly out of nowhere traditional Mediterranean villages will appear. Boat tours usually come with food and drinks included so that you can snack on local produce as you take in the views.

Valley Of The Temples

If you are going to visit charming Sicily as part of your travels, your first stop needs to be the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento.

Here you will find a huge archaeological complex that has some of the most intact Doric temples that were built here in the 5th century.

One of the best things about the temples here is that they overlook the town below and you can take in the stunning views as you tour the historical site.

Climb Stromboli

On a visit to Sicily you absolutely can’t miss the chance to climb at least part way up Stromboli, a still active volcano. If you are looking for an easy trek, you can walk 400 meters up the sides of Stromboli by yourself.

Wishing to continue on to the crater which still billows clouds of ash and fire, you will need a certified guide to take you.

To get to the top takes around 3 hours with the descent coming in at around 2 hours, so all in all you need to allow a five to six hour trek in order to see everything.

A slog to the top but it is well worth it for the spectacular views. In addition to saying, I have stood at the top of a live volcano, tick bucket list.

Juliet’s Balcony

Verona is home to what is said to be the balcony of Juliet, the character made famous in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet.

Unfortunately, the reality is that the city of Verona bought the home featuring the balcony in 1905.  The purpose of doing this was to make it into an attraction sadly Romeo and Juliet never existed in real life.

Still, the balcony is a pretty spot in the city and couples flock here to declare their love for each other.

If you want to reenact the famous scene, line your lines and away you go.

Pompeii

Pompeii is famous for the events that took place here in 79 AD, when Mount Vesuvius erupted and covered the town in ash.

The eruption meant that Roman life was captured and frozen in time, and when the site was excavated it offered a glimpse of a bygone era.

If you visit Pompeii today you can expect a kind of open air museum. Here you will find preserved houses, baths, and ancient Roman forums. They are all filled with the relics of the people who were living here when the eruption took place.

Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is one of the most famous mountains in the world. Trueof its famous eruption that covered the unsuspecting town of Pompeii in volcanic ash.

Nowadays Vesuvius is mostly considered safe to climb. You can trek to the crater of the mountain which looks like something you would find on the surface of the moon.

Needless to say, the views from the top are just spectacular. The hike is suitable for a range of abilities so you will be well looked after.

Lake Como

Lake Como in Lombardy spans an amazing 146 square kilometres and is the perfect place to get out on the water and explore Italy by boat.

The area around Lake Como has houses owned by some of the richest celebrities in the world. This tells you everything to know about the kind of views you can expect here.

The landscape surrounding the lake is covered with alpine forest and traditional villages. Plus, dainty ornate houses that make you feel as if you are in a picture postcard version of an Italian masterpiece.

Nearby is Gardaland a huge theme park for all the family, age has no boundary when you want some enjoyment.

Historic Siena

The city of Siena is often overlooked in favour of Florence. Although this is unfair as there is a huge amount to see and do here. Parts of the city are as pretty as its neighbouring rival.

The Historic Centre of Siena in particular is well worth a visit. It starts at the Piazza del Campo which leads to a historic district that is covered with Gothic architecture that dates from the 12th century.

This mingles with buildings from the Middle Ages and signature points.  Look out for include the mighty Duomo, the Pinacoteca Nazionale, and the pretty Palazzo Salimbeni.

Saint Mark’s Basilica

Venice has a range of peerless attractions although perhaps the most famous of these is Saint Mark’s Basilica.This is located on the famed Piazza San Marco or Saint Mark’s Square.

The basilica is the final resting place of Saint Mark the Evangelist and started life as a Byzantine church before being developed over the years.

The church is a work of art in its own right. You will find glittering mosaics and gorgeous marble decorations all over the complex as well as bas-reliefs and touches of gold leaf.

Venice Grand Canal

The Grand Canal in Venice is one of the most famous waterways in the world. There are a variety of ways that you can enjoy it.

One of these is to take a water bus known as a vaporetto. This takes in various parts of the canal where you can marvel at the little bridges and traditional Venetian homes.

Another more romantic way to travel around the canal is to take an iconic gondola ride. Here you can imagine that you are back in the Venice of a different time.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Leaning Tower of Pisa in Pisa is a fluke of architecture. When the tower was constructed it immediately started to sink into the marshy ground beneath it.

This gave the tower its signature crooked stance. At various times in its existence it has been open and closed to the public as architects struggle to asses its safety.

When the tower is open you can climb to the viewing platform at the top where you can look across all of Pisa.

Blue Grotto Boat Trip

One of the premium sights in Capri is the Blue Grotto, also known as the Grotta Azzurra.

The grotto is the result of a cavern which is filled with water that glows a luminescent blue.

This happens when the sun hits it through shafts in the sides of the rock. The acoustics must be incredible, imagine playing an instrument from the boat.