Frommer's Italy 2009
Chapter One
The Best of Italy
Italy is so packed with attractions that it's hard to know where to start. That's where
we come in. In this chapter we present our personal, opinionated list of what we consider
to be Italy's top highlights. This will get you started and point you toward some
of the possibilities for designing your own vacation. Whether this is your first trip or
your 10th, you're bound to come away with your own favorites to add to the list.
1 The Best Travel Experiences
Visiting the Art Cities: When Italy
consisted of dozens of principalities,
art treasures were concentrated in
many small capitals, each blessed with
the patronage of a papal representative
or ducal family. Consequently,
these cities became treasure-troves of
exquisite paintings, statues, and frescoes
displayed in churches, monasteries,
and palaces, whose architects are
now world acclaimed. Although
Rome, Florence, and Venice are the
best known, you'll find stunning collections
in Assisi, Cremona, Genoa,
Mantua, Padua, Palermo, Parma, ... read full excerpt from Frommer's Italy 2009 (Frommer's Complete #589) ebook
