Rome - the Eternal City. You can't see Rome in one day. When you walk around, you feel like you are in a gigantic museum - a living collage of squares, piazzas, markets, and incredible historic sights. Throw a coin into the Trevi Fountain, admire the Colosseum and the Pantheon. Sip a cappuccino to get ready for your afternoon shopping tour on the Campo de Fiori or in Via Veneto. Around the Spanish Steps, you can find all the famous Italian designers. The best time to visit St. Peters Basilica is in the late afternoon when the lines become shorter. You will be amazed by the size of this church - and by Michelangelo's Pietà. Climb up the cupola and enjoy the sunset over the roofs of this fascinating city!

Assisi is one of the most important Christian pilgrimage sites not only in Italy but in all of Europe. Here, Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, better known as Francis of Assisi or Saint Francis, the founder of the Franciscan Order, was born in 1181. Shortly after his death in 1226, he was canonized and construction began on a church where he would be laid to rest. Today, however, his tomb is the destination of all pilgrims, which would not have pleased St. Francis at all, nor would the extremely splendid decoration of the basilica.

A visit to this early Gothic basilica of St. Francis is of course a must for every visitor to Assisi, also the church of Santa Chiara, the cathedral of San Rufino, and the Palazzo dei Priori should be seen.

Not much has changed here since the Middle Ages. The views between the gaps in the houses out into the plain are unique and involuntarily one wonders whether people 600 years ago appreciated this view as much as we do today. Probably they did, but for different reasons.
The novel "Under the Tuscan Sun" is largely set here and was also filmed here. Moreover, in the city's Museo Diocesano, you can admire the world-famous Renaissance painting "Annunciation of the Virgin" by Fra Angelico. But you can also just observe the Italian lifestyle at Piazza del Duomo with a cappuccino and have a chat with the locals.

Immersed within the gently rolling hills of The Marches, amidst the Metauro and Foglia Valleys lies Urbino, a city rich in history and art. It is so easy to lose oneself in this jewel of a city, walking its streets and sidestreets with your eyes geared up toward its magnificent palazzi.
Surrounded by an expansive city (brick and sandstone) wall, Urbino was once a simple village whose historic center became the “Cradle of the Renaissance.” Still today, it is almost as if we can breathe the scent of the 14th Century in its very air.
With its Renaissance character, Urbino earned its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. (www.italia.it)

The most famous sons of the city are Raphael (1483 - 1520) and Valentino Rossi. The former created legendary masterpieces of the Renaissance, including the "Sistine Madonna" with the two angels at the bottom of the picture, which really everyone knows. The latter is one of the most successful motorcycle racers of all time, an idol and national hero in Italy.

San Marino, the oldest republic in the world, offers breathtaking views, charming cafes and little shops that will catch your eye. The center of San Marino is situated on top of a fascinating rock formation, Monte Titano, which we will reach by riding up and enjoying several switchbacks. There is no border between Italy and San Marino. We will only notice that we have just entered a different country by the different look of license plates and the fancy uniforms of the San Marino guards.

The home town of the famous "Medici" family is a museum in itself, and in the beautiful and lively historic city center there are many attractions that you should visit. The dome was built in the 14th century and is the most prominent sight in the city. For art lovers, the "Uffizi" gallery is the most important paintings museum worldwide, a mandatory stop. Another important historic building is the Ponte Vecchio with the Vasari corridor, the old bridge that crosses the river Arno joining the Palazzo Vecchio with the Pitti Palace.

The race-crazy Italians have conducted car races in the Mugello area since the 1920s. But, due to safety concerns, the last race on regular roads took place in 1970. The current Mugello circuit was first opened in 1974. The track is regularly used by Ferrari to test their cars, including the Formula 1 race cars, but the main event in Mugello is the Moto GP race. The first race was held in 1976 and the winners' list includes Mick Doohan, Max Biaggi and – seven times – Valentino Rossi. The fastest motorcycle lap time was set by Andrea Iannone: 1:46:489

Due to a lack of Ferraris, Rolex, and Gucci the rich and important families who ruled the region in the past needed to find their way to outdo each other. They came up with building higher towers than their neighbors. Around 1500 there were more than 72 examples of this picturesque nonsense. Today there are only 14 left but the result is still a must-see tourist attraction nicknamed “Manhattan of the Middle Ages” for its skyline.

The Gothic metropolis of Tuscany. It is the city of the 17 contrade, the districts that compete in the Palio, the famous horse race. City of palaces, banks, fountains, and churches on the surrounding hills. The most beautiful square in Italy, the Campo, the Town Hall, the Palazzo Pubblico, the tower Torre della Mangia, the impressive Cathedral of Santa Maria, all this and much more Siena offers the visitor.

The Chianti is probably Italy's most famous wine region. A 70 km-long wine road, the SS222, runs through it, embedded in a superbly cultivated landscape between the two cities Firenze and Siena. Along this road, we will find many famous wine villages stringed like on a pearl necklace. Only a tenth of the arable area (total approximately 173.000 acres) is used for the wine industry, which is influenced already by the Etruscan and Roman civilizations. The Gallo Nero („black rooster“) guarantees the quality of the Chianti Classico wines. The Chianti wine basically is made from Sangiovese grapes and has to be stored in oak casks for a certain time.

Well known for the Brunello. A lot of Enoteche around the town offer a great variety of Brunello wine, min. cost 20 € per bottle. They also ship it. The imposing 14th-century fortress that was later expanded by the Medici dukes, dominates the town. Climb up to the fort`s ramparts and you get a fantastic 360 degree view to the Brunello area, the Orcia valley and the Monte Amiata.

Beautiful Romanesque abbey, founded by Charlesmagne in 781, especially when the morning sun is coming through the eastern windows. Enjoy the surreal atmosphere and listen to the monks singing the Gregorian Chants.

The model city (Città ideale) designed on the drawing board was created here in his birthplace according to the will of Pope Pius II. In just two years of construction, Pienza was to become the "Pearl of the Renaissance. But Pius died before the completion of the enormous project. Pienza lives mainly from daytime tourism and has 1 million visitors a year. Only in the evening, it becomes quieter and numerous wine bars invite for a glass of wine. We should not miss visiting the bar Il Casello and enjoy the incredible view.

Lake Trasimeno is the largest lake on the Italian peninsula with a surface area of 128 km2, slightly less than Lake Como. The charming villages around the lake invite a cappuccino break.
In 217 B.C. a great battle took place here, in which the Roman army was decisively defeated by the Carthaginian commander Hannibal.

Situated on a tuff plateau at 325 meters above sea level, this town, known since Etruscan times, impresses above all with its Cathedral of Santa Maria, known all over the world. Begun in 1288, it offers us the opportunity to admire the mosaic facade, the rose window, as well as bas-reliefs, and many other details. But besides this typically basilical cathedral, Orvieto offers a lot more, for example, the Pozzo di San Patrizio. A 62 m deep well, in which two non-touching staircases allow for separate ascent and descent.

Volterra is one of the twelve original Etruscan settlements. First mentioned in the 4th century BC, the town was largely protected by a city wall, which was already built in that period. Parts of this wall still exist, best seen at the Porta all’Arco.

The little village dates back to Roman times and was later a popular overnight stop for pilgrims. 36 springs of hot sulphurous water bubble up into a picturesque pool, built by the Medicis. The whole piazza is a big pool surrounded by restaurants and mellow stone buildings.