Back to
Arts & Culture
Italy: The Art Of Good Living
Most
people's perception of Italy is
that of style, a country whose taste for the good life
is matched only by its panache. The food is full of
flavour, created with a desire to serve nothing but the
best.
Variety is the spice of life; kitchens all over the
country try to outwit one another with new recipes, each
one tastier than their neighbours.
But what drives the Italian people is their passion,
their zest for life. Nowhere else is life lived with so
much enthusiasm.
The boys cruise by
street cafes in their open top sports cars looking cool,
trying to catch the eyes of the girls. The girls drink
their coffees, dressed to the nines in their Versace
designer dresses and pretend not to notice. This modern
day mating ritual continues endlessly.
Elsewhere in Italy, tourists flock annually to this
culturally diverse country, making it the fourth most
popular destination in the world.
The majority of holidaymakers fly into Rome and
make a beeline for the Colosseum. Brought to life in the
recent Hollywood epic ‘Gladiator', the ancient ruin
makes no less impression in real life. Built in 80 AD,
this bloodthirsty arena became graveyard for many a
brave soldier, thrown to the lions with no mercy.
Within the walls of Rome lies the Vatican. Though
technically not part of Italy, it is in fact an
independent state and the smallest country in the world.
Considered by many to be Christianity's finest
Renaissance church, St Peter's Cathedral is a
magnificent piece of architecture. Michelangelo's
Sistine Chapel is another must see, though you may have
to compete with large crowds. It is advisable to book
your visit beforehand.
High up in the mountains sits the beautiful little town
of Assisi, overlooking Perugia. The 14th century
fortress of Rocca Maggiore sits predominantly, once the
sentinel guarding this proud city. It is the birthplace
of St Francis and well worth a visit, provided you can
negotiate the religious pilgrims.
In the north of Italy sits the vogue city of Milan.
The town is famous for its fashion businesses and
exquisite shopping. Indeed, the Galleria Vittorio
Emanuele is believed to be the oldest shopping mall in
the world.
The Biblioteca Ambrosiana holds sketches by Leonardo da
Vinci amid its considerable resources of books and
drawings. It is one of the main libraries of European
culture.
Steven Cronin owns the City Breaks
website featuring city break special offers from luxury
hotels to budget accommodations. For more information
please visit http://www.sargas.co.uk. Article
Source
