Italy Mini Guide
Italy, or the Italian republic to give its full name, forms part of the Italian Peninsula in the southern part of Europe, and also extends onto
Sicily and
Sardinia, the two largest islands to be found in the Mediterranean Sea. Italy has borders with Slovenia, Austria, Switzerland and France and contains two completely independent states which are Vatican City and San Marino.
The climate in Italy is quite varied, depending upon which parts of Italy we consider, in the South and upon the islands it has a typical Mediterranean climate, moving further inland and further North the climate is typically humid and subtropical. Italy has been a favourite European tourist destination for several decades, although most of the tourist trade happens on the southern coast and upon the two island of Sicily and Sardinia, many of the larger cities including Milan and Turin are very popular city break destinations.
Italy is synonymous with style and fashion, and although this mainly pertains to the clothing and fashion industry, Italy has also done much for the luxury car industry.
The Italian sports car brand Ferrari is a world renowned producer of high-performance sports vehicles. The company was founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, and has continued until present-day; to produce some of the world’s most valuable performance vehicles. During its long history, Ferrari has been deeply involved with Formula One racing, and the Italian Grand Prix is considered to be one of the highlights of the Formula One season.
Italy can be further subdivided into 20 separate regions; many of these are world renowned for their unique charm and character. Some of these regions make excellent choices for the visitor who wishes to see Italian culture up close, by touring in their own hire car or privately owned vehicle.
Tuscany is the region along the western coastline, and is renowned for its natural landscapes and its artistic influences. There are six locations within Tuscany that have been designated as UNESCO protected sites; these are the city of Florence, the city of Siena, the Cathedral of Pisa, San Gimignano and Pienza. Tuscany is typified by small towns and villages, its open countryside dotted with castles and impressive villas, and above all its winemaking industry. Access to the region of Tuscany is easy, as it is served by two major international airports, Pieter international airport Galileo Galilei and Florence airport Amerigo Vespucci.
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, covering an area of approximately 24,000 square miles. It is a mountainous island with several large, open the coastal plains, and exhibits a Mediterranean climate all year round. A popular destination for tourists looking for a beach holiday, Sardinia continues to be one of the best summer sun destinations in the world. Sardinia is not all about sun and sand, there are actually eight regional parks within Sardinia, all of which make a great choice of location to spend a day away from the beach.
Places of interest to be found within the city of Milan include The Duomo, which houses the largest collection of marble statues in the world, the Binlioteca Ambrosiana, a library which contains many of the drawings produced by Leonardo da Vinci, and is considered to be one of the major repositories of European culture within Europe and the Teatro alla Scala, considered to be one of the most important operatic centres in the world.
If we consider Milan to be the fashion centre of Italy, then surely Turin must be the historic and cultural centre. Famous as the home of the Shroud of Turin, the cloth which is believed by many to have been used to wrap the body of Jesus Christ after the crucifixion. Motoring enthusiasts will be enthralled by a visit to either headquarters of Fiat, or Lancia, both of which have their head offices in Turin, along with some of their more classic models on display. History buffs will enjoy a visit to Palatine Towers; these are some of the best and most well preserved Roman ruins in Italy. Of course most people will wish to visit the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, which houses the aforementioned Shroud of Turin.
The Museo Egizio is also another significant historical site, and houses one of the most important collections of Egyptian antiquities found anywhere in the world. Turin is a city with a long and rich history, a fascinating place to explore, with a charm and ambience unlike any other city in the world.
Other Top
Italy Car Hire Locations:
Car Hire Alghero
Car Hire Aosta
Car Hire Arezzo
Car Hire Ancona Airport
Car Hire Bologna
Car Hire Bologna Airport
Car Hire Bergamo
Car Hire Bergamo Airport
Car Hire Firenze
Car Hire Firenze Airport
Car Hire Florence Airport
Car Hire Florence
Car Hire Genoa
Car Hire Genoa Airport
Car Hire Leonardo Da Vinci Airport
Car Hire Milan Linate Airport
Car Hire Milan Malpensa Airport
Car Hire Naples
Car Hire Naples Airport
Car Hire Parma
Car Hire Parma Airport
Car Hire Pisa
Car Hire Pisa Airport
Car Hire Rome
Car Hire Rome Ciampino Airport
Car Hire Fiumicino Airport
Car Hire Treviso Airport
Car Hire Trieste Airport
Car Hire Turin Airport
Car Hire Turin
Car Hire Venice
Car Hire Venice Marco Polo Airport
Car Hire Fiumicino
Car Hire Fiumicino Airport
Car Hire Garda
Car Hire Modena
Car Hire Monza
Car Hire Rimini
Car Hire Siena
Car Hire Verona
See this page for a full list of all the
car hire locations available in Italy,