Turin -the Capital of Piedmont is known as the “Car Capital of Italy.” The Fiat is manufactured here. It is also the host of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.
Milan - is considered the industrial and fashion capital of Italy. Within the Lake District - specifically Lake Como & the town of Bellagio is where Mark and Susan will begin their Honeymoon.
Trent -a mountainous region where the Mediterranean, Germanic and Italian cultures blend, is known for its ski resorts, culture and arts. It is also bordered by Switzerland.
Trieste - known as the “insurance capital” of Italy, is best known as a famed destination stop on the Orient Express. Agatha Christie, Author Richard Burton, and James Joyce either lived or visited here.
Venice - is a city built entirely on water. It is called La Serenissima (the “most serene” one), and where Mark and Susan will spend the last days of their honeymoon.
Genoa -the Capital of Liguria, divides the Italian Riviera in two. It is known to moviegoers as the background for countless flicks about sports-car racing, jewel thieves, and spies. Mark & Susan will be visiting Santa Margherita in their travels.
Bologna - the capital of Emilia-Romagna and an ancient University City, stands between Venice and Florence. It is known for its food and art.
Florence - is known for the beautiful duomo in the center of town and the Albi river, and Michelangelo‘s’ David. It is home to many artists, poets, philosophers, architects, and musicians. Mark and Susan will be spending time here in a Tuscan cooking school.
Ancona -the capital of Le Marche and is the largest port in the Adriatic. It was founded by Greek merchants in about 390 B.C.
Assisi - has some of Italy‘s finest early Renaissance art and provides a beautiful backdrop with the sacred Mt. Subasio. It has an average of 4 to 5 million visitors every year.
Rome - according to legend, was built on seven hills, all combining to form a crescent-shape plateau, which great leaders have used to watch over the city below. It is also home to the Vatican, the Colosseum, and many architectural wonders.
Campobasso -is known as the “ankle” of the boot and its mountainous regions. This area is where Mark’s Father‘s parents are from.
Taranto - makes its mark by providing its name to the tarantella dance and the tarantula. It is also one of the largest producers of olive oil and wine in Italy.
Naples - is Italy’s most controversial city, known for it‘s Mafia-directed crime, and gypsies, however is trying to make a change using art, culture, and music as a medium for tourism.
Potenza -is a very rocky terrain and known as the instep of Italy’s “boot.” It is one of the poorest regions in Italy. In the Sassi (caves) district there are dwellings (homes), which were scooped out (built) of the steep rock.
Cantanzaro -is sparsely populated, although a very unspoiled countryside. It is often described as the mountains between the seas.
Mussomeli - is where Mark‘s mothers’ parents are from. It is a mystical land of three corners containing a fiery volcano and was written about in Homer‘s Odyssey.
Rome
"Romans" is the root word for romance. Local tradition in "the eternal city" is for lovers
to throw coins in the Trevi fountain with the wish that they'll return to Rome together someday.
Cosenza
The region's name "Calabria" means "land of woods" and its
oldest name was "Italia," eventually the name for all of Italy.
Jeff's paternal great grandparents came on the boat to Ellis Island
from Cosenza.
Palermo
On the Island of Sicily, is famous for its oranges, lemons
and beautiful views. Goethe described Polermo's Monte Pellegrino as
"the most beautiful promontory in the world." Jeff's maternal great
grandparents, "Papanonna and Nonni," came from this town.
Venice
The most popular place for weddings in Italy. Gondolas bedecked
with flowers transport the lovers. People wave from the bridges and
wish the couple "In bocca al lupo!" (good luck, literally, "into the
mouth of the wolf" to inspire courage in this great new undertaking.
The correct reply is crepi il lupo--"I will eat the
wolf"-- because if you say "grazie" you won't have good luck).
Florence
At the Ponte Vecchio in Florence-- lovers place padlocks on the bridge and throw the keys into the river,
symbolizing their union and everlasting bond.
The birthplace of the Renaissance, Firenze has been likened to a magnificent banquet
with it's endless delights to savour.
Verona
This town is home to the most famous romantic love story of all time - Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Via Mazzini ends at Via Cappello, the street where Juliet lived and loved Romeo.
There's the famous balcony and a statue of Juliet in the courtyard.
A plaque marks No. 4 Via Arche Scaliger as the house of Romeo.
Siena
Siena's motto translates as "Siena opens its heart to you." Since
the 13th century the city has been divided into 17 contrade
surrounding the campo or central square. Loyalty to one's contrata
is TOTAL and the rivalry among the districts reaches fever pitch in
the run up to Siena's famous horse race around the campo, the Palio.
Naples
In the sixteenth century, the use of sugar was sometimes excessive in the pursuit of the good life
among the rich. Naples consumed the unbelievable quantity of 1,500 tons of sugar every year.
Rome
According to legend, was built on seven hills, all combining to form a crescent-shaped plateau,
which great leaders have used to watch over the city below. It is also home to the Vatican,
the Colosseum, and many archtectural wonders. Carlo's father was born in Rome.
Augusta
is a city and a sea port in northern Italy. Genoa is one of the oldest cities of art in Italy.
There is also a house where Christopher Columbus is believed to have been born. Lisa's
great grandparents are from a town in the Genoa region, called Lorsica
Genoa
is a city and a sea port in northern Italy. Genoa is one of the oldest cities of art in Italy.
There is also a house where Christopher Columbus is believed to have been born.
Lisa's great grandparents are from a town in the Genoa region, called Lorsica.
Venice
is world famous for its canals. In the old center, the canals serve the function of roads, and
every form of transport is on water or on foot. It is famous for its blown glass and annual
carnival and home of Marco Polo. Lisa's maternal great grandparents are from the Venice region
Florence
is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and was long ruled by the Medici family.
Florence is also famous for its magnificent art and architecture. Florence is home to Michaelangelo's "David".
Lucca
owes its birth to the Ligurians, Etruscans and Romans. Lucca deserves to be seen and admired not only for
the works of art it encloses, but also for being a rare and precious example of an almost intact historic center.
Naples
is located halfway between the valcano, Vesuvius and a separate volcanic area, the Campi Flegrei.
Subterranean Naples consists of old Greco-Roman reservoirs dug out from the soft Tufo Stone on which,
and from which, the city is built.
Milan
is the main city of northern Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. The city is one of the world's major
commercial and financial centers, and one of the wealthiest cities in the European Union. Milan is one of
the world capitals of fashion - along with New York City, Paris, London and Tokyo. - and design.
Capri
is an Italian island off the Sorentine Peninsula. On the south side of the Gulf of Naples, it has been a celebrated
beauty spot and resort since the time of the Roman Republic. The main features of the island are regularly
portrayed on postcards.
Bologna
During the Renaissance, Bologna was the only Italian city that allowed women to excel in any profession.
It is renowned for its culinary tradition and some regard it as the food capital of Italy.
Pisa
While the Leaning Tower is the most famous image of the city, it is one of many works of art and architecture
in the City's Campo dei Miracoli to the north of the old town center. The Campo dei Miracoli also houses the Duomo,
the Baptistry and the Camposanto (the monumental cemetery).
Siena
situated in the heart of Tuscany, this town is built on three hills, maintaining its medieval appearance characterized
by narrow winding streets and noble buildings. Being conscious of having a personality of their own, the Sienese people
kept their love for the old districts, their civil and religious traditions.
Cinque Terra
are five coastal villages in the province of La Spezia in the Liquria region of Italy. Discovered by foreigners in the late
20th century, they have come to be among the most popular areas of Italy among tourists. The coastline, the five
villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all encapsulated in a national park by the same name.
Portofino
is a typical fisherman village of the Liqurian Riviera which has become one of the most renonwed tourist spots in all of Italy,
best known in all the world for its tall coloured houses situated in a semicircular formation around the small port and piazza.
San Remo
lies on the Mediterranean coast of western LIguria in northwestern Italy. It was founded in Roman times and is now best
known for being a tourist destination of the Italian Riviera and the host of several cultural events such as the Sanremo Music Festival.
Lake Como
is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It is a jewel-like oasis of tranquility, a magical combination of lush Mediterranean foliage
and snowy alpine peaks. Lake Como is renowned for its exquisite villas.
Calabria
very popular with Italian holiday makers, the vacation delights of Italy's sun-bathed deep south are only now being discovered
by the rest of us. Calabria is the heart of the Mezzogiorno (the Italian for 'midday' the phrase refers to the baking sunshine in
which the region basks). You'll know it as the toe of Italy.
Turin
is a major industrial city as well as a business and cultural center in northwest Italy, capital of the Piedmont region,
located mainly on the west bank of the Po River. Headquarters of the Fiat automobile manufacturer and host of the
2006 Winter Olympics. It was the first capital of Italy.
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