Ranking amongst the top vacation destinations on the planet, Italy is a country that truly has it all; a delicious and authentic national cuisine, a moderate climate, the world’s greatest hoard of art treasures, warm and welcoming people, as well as the most diverse and beautiful landscapes in Europe.
When it comes to world-class tourist attractions, Italy is absolutely brimming with riches from its 44 UNESCO World Heritage Sites to its must-visit churches, beautiful museums, ancient ruins, charming opera houses, white sandy beaches, colorful galleries and its calendars that are teeming with explosions of music, folkloristic and gastronomic festivals. So whether you end up in the north, south or center of Italy, or decide to visit one of its captivating islands, there is so much for you to do, see and relish.
Top3 Main Attractions: Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon
Social Norms: Generally speaking, family ties are stronger in Italy than in most other countries in Western Europe. Dress is casual but smart in most places, and beachwear should be confined to the beach. Conservative clothes are expected when visiting religious buildings and smaller, traditional communities. Formal wear is usually indicated on invitations. Smoking is prohibited in public buildings, transport and cinemas. When visiting an Italian home for dinner, bring a small gift of sweets or chocolate, and dress well.
Price of Necessities: Bottle of water - 0.5 $, coffee - 1.6 $, average restaurant meal for 2 persons - 62.0 $
Emergency Numbers: Police 113, Ambulance 118, Fire Brigade 115
TopVaccinations: Two doses of MMR vaccinations are recommended for travelers born after 1956 if not previously taken. Influenza shot recommended for all travelers from November through April.
TopVisit Postojna Cave, the best-known cave in the world, and the Predjama Castle, the only preserved cave castle in Europe. Postojna Cave, the queen of all caves, is the best-known cave in the world. It is also the greatest tourist attraction in Slovenia and one of the world’s largest karst monuments. This is the only place in the world where the underground landscape can be traversed on an electric train and where you get to meet this underground kingdom’s most famous inhabitant – the proteus (olm) – up close. A fantastic web of tunnels, passages, galleries and halls, astonishing diversity of karst features, as well as easy access are certainly the main reasons for such popularity of the cave and a large number of visitors (more than 36 million of them in over 200 years). The Predjama Castle reigns over the surrounding area, not far from the Postojna Cave, in the idyllic village of Predjama. This picturesque, magnificent, defiant, mysterious and impregnable castle has been perched up in the middle of a vertical 123m high cliff for more than 800 years. Its romantic appeal is further emphasized by the idyllic Lokva River, which disappears into the underground world deep down below the castle. As the only preserved cave castle in Europe, the Predjama Castle offers a unique insight into the building techniques and resourcefulness of people in the Middle Ages, who were looking for and found a safe harbor for themselves right at the entrance into the cave. During a siege that took place in the 15thC, the castle provided a refuge for its best known and most notorious owner - Erazem of Predjama. The legend about the courageous robber baron Erazem, who remained undefeated until one of his servants betrayed him, is still in people’s minds, inspiring and alluring as ever. It was this safe abode of his which helped the brave knight resist the besiegers without much difficulty for more than a year.
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