In the days before trains, planes, and automobiles medieval towns had to rely on sturdy, towering walls to protect their populations from hostile invaders. Countless remnants of formerly grand defensive rampart walls are scattered throughout Europe. One of the most stunning examples of a fully intact rampart wall is in the Tuscan town of Monteriggioni….
Near the border of Austria and Switzerland, the Italian waters of Lake Resia are home to a lone church tower that rises out of the serene lake like the final remnant of an enchanted city. The church tower is the last standing piece of the 14th-century Church of Santa Caterina di Alessandria—which many locals refer…
Centuries ago, fishermen in the Italian village of Burano—which is located on an island near the city of Venice—painted their houses vibrant colors so that their village would always be visible on the horizon when they were out at sea. Bright shades of pink, orange, red, and yellow also helped to separate one building from…
Cinque Terre is a collection of 5 villages located on the Italian Riviera that appears from the water as a colorful natural outcropping of the coast’s jagged mountains. The 5 villages of Cinque Terre—Monterosso Al Marne, Vernazza, Corniglia, Riomagglore, and Manarola—date back to the 11th century. Cinque Terre remained isolated from most of Italy until…
It is no wonder that Italy’s deep blue Y-shaped Lake Como has attracted royalty, aristocrats, and celebrities for centuries. Lake Como is home to luxury villas, high end spas, and countless small farms that sell delicious fresh food. In the early 1800s, romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley said that Lake Como was one of the…
The Schnals Valley Glacier ridge is located in the Italian province of South Tyrol. It’s part of the Alps and is close to the Austrian border. It towers above a huge reservoir, surrounded by snow-covered mountains of rugged stone shaped by millenia of unforgiving weather conditions. Besides it being a breathtaking part of an inspiring…
Sicily is probably in the list of must-visit places of many travelers. Only a few, however, are aware of the town of Cefalu, which is, for those who have explored most of Italy, considered as one of the most beautiful seaside destinations to visit in the boot-shaped country. One of the best things about Cefalu…
Located at the entrance of a Venice lagoon, the island of Lazzaretto Nuovo has a rich history that dates back to the Bronze Age. The island was used as a checkpoint, in order to control the waterway into the lagoon and the network of islands located there. The most notable part of the island’s history…