Italy

The Villa of the Mysteries, Pompeii

Birthplace of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance (don’t tell the French!), Italy could easily occupy a lifetime’s worth of travel. The Colosseum, Forum, Capitoline Museums, Pantheon, Trevi, the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica, and Ostia Antica are all located in Lazio province in or near the capital of Rome. To the North, sightseeing destinations include travel through the regions of Tuscany and Umbria. Cities to be visited include Florence, Venice, Assisi, Verona and Cinque Terre. South of Rome is the archaeologically rich Bay of Naples with Greco-Roman sites that include Cumae, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Mt. Vesuvio, and Paestum. Day trips by ferry from Sorrento or Naples to Capri, Ischia, or one of the other popular islands are easily doable. Further to the South, enjoy “la dolce vita” along the beautiful Amalfi coastline. Continue further south and discover the exotic and culturally rich island of Sicily. Italy is Cultural Encounters’ favorite destination. We love it and know it well.