Italy - attractions - Countries Guide

Trastevere
Separated from central Rome by the Tiber River, Trastevere is a picturesque medieval neighbourhood characterised by a quirky Bohemian atmosphere. Its narrow cobblestone streets are lined with overhanging flower boxes and washing lines, and home to numerous cafes, boutiques, pubs and restaurants. The area has long attracted artists, famous people and expats, and is a charming place to explore, having escaped the grand developments of central Rome.
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Transport: Bus H from the main train station, or tram 8 from Piazza Argentina
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Galleria Regionale
Palermo's largest art museum, devoted to medieval works, is housed in the Gothic Palazzo Abbatellis, built in 1488. The collection includes several particularly interesting works. The Bust of Eleanor of Aragon by Francesco Laurana, for example, dates from 1471 and is considered to be the epitome of Renaissance Sicilian sculpture, while the beautiful masterpiece painting Our Lady of the Annunciation is considered Antonello da Messina's greatest work. Also renowned is the chilling Triumph of Death fresco by an unknown 15th-century artist that covers an entire wall.
Telephone: (091) 623 0011
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Opening times: Monday, Wednesday, Saturday 9am to 1.30pm; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9am to 1.30pm and 3pm to 7.30pm; and Sunday 9am to 12.30pm

Capitoline Hill
Capitoline Hill was the original capitol of the ancient city and continues to serve as the seat of the city's government. The main feature of the area is Michelangelo's Piazza del Campidoglio, a testimony to the superiority of Renaissance town planning. The piazza is bordered by three palaces: the Palazzo dei Conservatori and the twin structures of the Palazzo dei Senatori and Palazzo Nuovo which house the Musei Capitolini, containing the largest collection of classical statues in the world. Among the notable statues found here are the Dying Gaul and the Satyr, the Capitoline Wolf with Romulus and Remus and the Spinario. Paths cut along the side of the hill from the Campidoglio giving way to panoramic views of the ancient sites of the Forum and Colosseum.
Telephone: Tel: 06 820 59127
Website: www.museicapitolini.org/en/index_msie.htm
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Opening times: Museums open Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 7.30pm

Roman Forum (Foro Romano)
The site of ancient Rome's commercial, political and religious centre retires in the valley between the Capitoline and Palatine hills. The Forum's main thoroughfare, Via Sacra, slices through the old market square and former civic centre. To make sense of the ruins and relics of the old Republic it is helpful to consult a map of the area. Some of the best preserved and most notable monuments include the impressive Arch of Septimus Severus - a construction designed to celebrate Roman victory over the Parthinians - and the former atrium of the House of the Vestal Virgins and Temple of Vesta. Also of note are the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, and the Arch of Titus, built to celebrate Titus' destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. To the right of the arch are stairs snaking up the Palatine hill through a series of terraces to the Farnese gardens. The scented avenue festooned with roses and orange trees gives way to a vista over the Forum.
Telephone: (06) 3996 7700
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Opening times: Daily 9am to 7.30pm (April to September) and 9am to 4.30pm (October to March)

. The Colosseum
This enduring symbol of ancient Rome tenaciously clings to its foundations as the site of former gladiatorial conquests. Its architecture boasts an impressive array of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns and an underground network of cells, corridors, ramps and elevators that were used to transport animals from their cages to the arena. The magnificence of the original structure has been eroded through the years of pillaging and earthquakes so that only a skeletal framework remains.
Telephone: (06) 700 4261
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Transport: B line metro to Colosseo station; bus 60, 75, 85, 87, 175, 810 or 850; electric minibus 117; tram 3 or 8
Opening times: 8.30am to 7.30pm (April to August), 8.30am to 7pm (September), 8.30am to 6.30pm (October), 8.30am to 4.30pm (November to 15 February), 8.30am to 5pm (16 February to 15 March), 8.30am to 5.30pm (16 March to end March)

Pantheon
The stately Pantheon is one of the world's most inspiring architectural designs. Fittingly built as a temple to the Gods by Hadrian in 120AD, its perfectly proportioned floating dome rests seductively on sturdy marble columns. The only light source flowing through the central oculus was used by the Romans to measure time (with the aid of a sundial) and the dates of equinoxes and solstices. The south transept houses the Carafa Chapel and the tomb of Fra Angelico rests under the left side of the altar.
Telephone: (06) 6830 0230
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Opening times: Monday to Saturday between 8.30am and 7.30pm and Sunday from 9am to 6pm

The Spanish Steps and Piazza di Spagna
The graceful steps built in 1725, elegantly curve their way from the Piazza di Spagna to the Church of Santa Trinit dei Monti, a pastel tinted neoclassical building. The shopper's paradise of Via Condotti leads back from the Spanish steps to Via del Corso, and during spring the steps are decorated with pink azaleas. At the foot of the steps lies Bernini's boat-shaped Barcaccia fountain and to the right is the unassuming Keats-Shelley Memorial House.
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Transport: Take Metro Linea A to the Spagna stop; bus 60 and 492 to Piazza Barberini or 117 to Piazza di Spagna
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Trevi Fountain (Fontana di Trevi)
The tiny Piazza di Trevi has been immortalised through this fountain built for Pope Clement XII. The statues adorning this watery display represent Abundance, Agrippa, Salubrity, the Virgin and Neptune guided by two tritons. Tossing a coin into the fountain is supposed to guarantee a return trip to Rome.
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Transport: Take the bus to Piazza San Silvestro
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St Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro)
The Basilica lies above the reputed site of St. Peter's tomb. It is an overwhelming interior containing notable sculptures including Michelangelo's Pieta, which is protected by bullet-proof glass since the damaging attack on it in 1972. In the central aisle stands Arnolfo da Cambio's bronze statue of St Peter, its foot worn down by the constant flow of pilgrims' kisses. Proudly resting above the papal altar is Bernini's Throne of St Peter. The Vatican Grottoes, containing papal tombs, can be reached by steps from the statue of St Longinus. The Necropolis is located one level below the grottoes. This is the legendary site of St Peter's tomb and advance permission has to be obtained to view it. A strict dress code is in place for the Basilica and no shorts, bare shoulders or miniskirts are allowed (for men and women).
Telephone: (06) 6988 1662
Website: www.stpetersbasilica.org
Transport: Metro Ottaviano or bus to Piazza del Risorgimento
Opening times: Daily between 7am and 7pm (April to September) and 7am to 6pm (October to March). Dome: 8am to 6pm (until 5pm in winter). Necropolis: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

The Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums
The Sistine Chapel's famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo looms above the frescoes on the side walls that were painted by an illustrious team of artists that included Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Roselli, Pinturicchio, Signorelli and della Gatta. The altar wall is covered by Michelangelo's Last Supper, revealing the figure of Christ hovering above centre and flanked by Mary and other saintly figures. The Vatican Museums provide an inspiring visit to one of the world's greatest collections of art.

The galleries stretch over four miles (6km) and include the magnificent Raphael rooms, the Etruscan Museum and the Pio-Clementino Museum, which boasts the world's largest collection of Classical statues.
Telephone: (06) 6988 4947
Website: www.vatican.va
Transport: Metro to Musei Vaticani or Ottaviano station; tram 19 or bus 32, 81 or 98 to Piazza del Risorgimento
Opening times: Monday to Friday 8.45am to 4.45pm, Saturday 8.45am to 1.45pm (8 March to 29 October and 27 December to 6 January); daily 8.45am to 1.45pm, last entry at 12.20pm (7 January to 6 March and 2 November to 24 December) Closed Sundays except the last Sunday of every month

. The Uffizi (Gallerie degli Uffizi)
The Uffizi is one of the world's greatest art galleries with a collection of Renaissance paintings that include the works of Giotto, Masaccio, Paolo Ucello, Sandro Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Titian and Caravaggio. The collection is housed on the top floor of a building designed as the offices (uffizi) of the Medici, commissioned by Duke Cosimo I. From 1581, Cosimo's heirs used the upper storey to display the Medici art treasures. Ancient Greek and Roman sculptures line the inner corridors of the gallery and a series of rooms jut off from here, showcasing the chronological development of Florentine art from Gothic to High Renaissance and beyond. The scale and magnitude of the collection may need to be enjoyed over two visits. Rooms 1-15 (Florentine Renaissance) could be explored more thoroughly on the first trip and on the next visit one could concentrate on rooms 16 to 45 (from High Renaissance to later Italian and European painting).
Telephone: (055) 238 8651
Website: www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/musei/uffizi
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Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday 8.15am to 6.50pm. Closed on Mondays, 1 January, 1 May and 25 December

The Accademia Gallery
Michelangelo's David stands self-assured above the crowds that flock to admire him. In the hallway leading up to the famous sculpture are further examples of Michelangelo's genius in the figures of the four Prisoners. The statues were deliberately left unfinished revealing the marble in its unfashioned state.
Telephone: (055) 238 8609
Website: www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/musei/accademia
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Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday 8.15am to 6.50pm

Piazza del Duomo (Cathedral Square)
Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo or Cathedral of Florence, is set in the heart of the city and perches above the metropolis like an emperor before his subjects. Its most distinctive feature is the enormous dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and built between 1420 and 1436. Visitors can climb between the two shells of the cupola for an unrivalled panorama of the city.

The original Gothic exterior was destroyed in 1587 so that it could be replaced by the styling of the High Renaissance. This vision however died prematurely with its patron, the Grand Duke Francesco de Medici and the funding to build the neo-Gothic façade that we see today was not found until the 19th century. The Campanile (bell tower) was built according to Giotto's designs in 1334 and is an elegant prop to Brunelleschi's stout Cathedral. The tower is decorated with two garlands of bas-reliefs, strung around its pink, white and green marble façade. Above, sculptures of the Prophets and Sybils, carved by Donatello, look down upon the city below. The Campanile can also be climbed for the magnificent views over the square and the adjacent cathedral. The neighbouring Baptistry, with its famous doors designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti, is one of Florence's oldest buildings, and was originally a pagan temple. The gilded brass doors, dubbed the 'Gates of Paradise' were commissioned in 1401 to mark Florence's deliverance from the plague. The original panels are in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo (the Duomo Works Museum) that exists largely to safeguard the sculptures removed from the doors and niches around the Piazza del Duomo. The museum also contains the machines used in the construction of the cathedral's dome and has displays devoted to the problematic construction of the cathedral's façade. A room containing Ghiberti's baptistry doors provides an opportunity to closely examine the stiacciato relief technique used. Other noteworthy artefacts found in the museum include Michelangelo's Pieta, the carved figures of Donatello's Prophets as well as his Magdalene sculpture. In the anteroom are Andrea Pisano's panels from the first few levels of the bell tower.
Telephone: (055) 215 380
Website: www.duomofirenze.it/index-eng.htm
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Opening times: Cathedral: Daily 10am to 5pm (Thursdays until 3.30pm, Saturdays until 4.45pm); Sunday 1.30pm to 4.45pm. Museum: Daily 9am to 7.30pm, Sunday 9am to 1.40pm

. The Bargello (Museo Nazionale del Bargello)
This Gothic Palazzo shelters a treasured national collection of Renaissance sculpture. Before its renovation to become Italy's first national museum, the building, constructed in 1255, functioned as a town hall, private residence and prison. An extensive collection of decorative arts is on display in addition to the magnificent sculptures of Michelangelo, Donatello, Giambologna and Cellini. The Palazzo's inner courtyard is ornamented with numerous coats of arms and the grand stairwell leading to the second-story loggia overflows with bronze birds created for the Medici's gardens. Other notable displays include an Islamic collection, an assortment of ivories (the largest collection in the world) and 16th-century majolica porcelain from Urbino, Faenza and Florence.
Telephone: (055) 238 8606.

Reserve tickets on (055) 294 883
Website: http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/english/musei/bargello/
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Opening times: 8.15am to 6pm Tuesday to Sunday. Closed 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, New Year's Day, May 1st and Christmas Day

. Sante Croce
This magnificent Gothic church built in 1294 contains the tombs of many celebrated Florentines such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Ghiberti and Machiavelli. The Gothic interior is graced by the radiant frescoes of Giotto and his pupil Taddeo Gaddi and integrated into the cloister next to the church is Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel (Cappella de' Pazzi). When Lord Byron first laid eyes on the church he declared himself 'drunk with beauty'.
Telephone: (055) 244 619
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Opening times: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5.30pm, Sunday 1pm to 5.30pm

Ponte Vecchio
The Ponte Vecchio's status as the oldest bridge in Florence saved it from destruction during the Nazi retreat from Italy in 1944. They defied orders to blow up the stately bridge straddling the Arno River and bombed the ancient buildings on either side of it instead. The Arno flood of 1966 also tested the bridge's resilience and swept parts of it away in its powerful current. The most affected sections were the overhanging shops belonging to the gold and silversmiths. In 1593 the original tenants - butchers, tanners and blacksmiths - were evicted from the workshops because of the noise and stench they created. To one side of the bridge is the majestic bust of the most famous Florentine goldsmith, Benvenuto Cellini. Perched above the shops is a secret passageway, the Vasari Corridor, providing an elevated link to the Palazzo Pitti via the Uffizi. It was the private walkway of the Medicis who could move between the various residences without having to rub shoulders with the riff raff.
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Palazzo Pitti and Giardino Boboli
Originally owned by wealthy banker, Luca Pitti, the Palazzo later became the property of the Medici family. It is a grand structure that now boasts no less than seven museums. Amongst these are the Medici treasures that are showcased in the Museo degli Argenti, the Museum of Costumes and the Porcelain Museum. The Galleria d'Arte Moderna provides a fascinating display of works from the Macchiaioli school - early 19th century proto-impressionist paintings - as well as a collection of Neoclassical and Romantic art. Extending behind the palace are the elaborately landscaped and beautifully maintained Giardino Boboli (Boboli Gardens). The most celebrated aspects of the gardens include the Grotta del Buontalenti located close the entrance. In the deepest recess of the cave is Venus Emerging from her Bath attended by curious imps.

Another notable structure is the enormous amphitheatre designed on a scale to serve the Medici's tastes.
Telephone: (055) 294 883
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Opening times: Each museum has its own opening hours, but most are closed on Mondays

. Museo Archeologico Nazionale
This world-class museum houses the Farnese collection of antiquities from Lazio and Campania and the incredible treasures of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Notable among these collections are the Farnese Hercules and the Farnese Bull, the largest known ancient sculpture. On the mezzanine level is the Alexander Mosaic and at the furthest end of the mezzanine floor is the Secret Room (Gabinetto Segreto). The fascinating collection contained here showcases the erotic material found in the brothels, baths, houses and taverns of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The top section of the museum houses the Campanian wall paintings, well preserved creations attesting to a mysterious past world. These are supported by a range of artefacts in the form of glass, silver, ceramics, rope and even foodstuffs surviving from the Campanian cities.
Telephone: (081) 440 166
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Transport: Metropolitan line to Museum or Cavour Square
Opening times: Daily 9am to 7pm, Sundays 9am to 8pm (closed Tuesdays)

Duomo San Gennaro
The Chapel of San Gennaro is accessed from the south aisle of the Cathedral of Naples and this 13th-century Gothic building is dedicated to the patron saint of the city. Tradition tells the story of how two phials of San Gennaro's blood liquefied in the bishop's hand after his martyred body was transported to the church. Legend has it that disaster will strike if the blood fails to liquefy on specific festival days - the first Saturday in May, on September 19 and December 16. The liquefaction ceremony takes place during a special Mass in full view of the congregation. The first chapel on the right on entry into the cathedral is dedicated to San Gennaro and holds the famous phials of blood and a silver reliquary containing his skull. Beneath the Duomo are the excavations of well-preserved Greek and Roman roads that stretch beneath the modern city. Special tours of the excavations can be arranged.
Telephone: 081 449 097
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Opening times: Monday to Friday between 9am and 12pm and 4.30pm to 7pm

Museo e Gallerie di Capodimonte
The museum occupies a restored 18th century palace perched on the city's hills and its artworks are arranged by collections and not chronology. The Farnese and Bourbon rulers amassed impressive collections of Renaissance paintings and Flemish masterpieces that can be viewed along with other great works. Notable amongst these are Masaccio's Crucifixion, Filipino Lippi's Annunciation and Saints, Raphael's Leo X, Bellini's Transfiguration, Michelangelo's Three Soldiers and Breughel's The Allegory of the Blind.
Telephone: (081) 749 9111
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Opening times: Tuesday to Sundays 8.30am to 7.30pm

The Grand Canal (Canalazzo)
Venice's main waterway splits the city in half with sestieri in equal parts to the west and east of it. It is the hub around which much activity in Venice is concentrated and is encircled with elegant facades of the palazzi, which testify to the city's past opulence. The best way to explore the architectural splendour of these Renaissance buildings is on board a vaporetta. Pedestrian access across the canal is only provided along three bridges situated at the station, Rialto and Academia. Gondolas cross the canal at regular intervals and provide a romantic interlude to the sightseeing itinerary. The Grand Canal palaces and buildings to look out for include the Ca da Mosto, with its rounded arches in low relief. The 'House of Gold' (Ca d'Ora) is a beautiful Gothic building constructed between 1424 and 1430. Palazzo Corner-Spinelli and Palazzo Vendramin Calergi combine classical and Byzantine elements designed by Mauro Codussi. Architect Jacopo Sansovino was inspired by Codussi's style and infused this in his creation of the Palazzo Corner (Ca Granda). Another notable Palazzo is the Grimani di San Luca, designed by Michele Sanmicheli.
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St Mark's Square
St Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) has always been the nucleus of Venice. The first citadel and church were erected on its stony foundations, the Palazzo Ducale and the Basilica di San Marco respectively. The Basilica di San Marco is a unique juxtaposition of Byzantine, western European and Islamic architectural styles. The Basilica's most precious relic is the Pala d'Or, a Venetian-Byzantine gold relief adorned with precious gems. Travellers and pigeons flock to the Piazza with equal zeal. It is the tourists however who pay dearly to eat or drink at the elegant cafes that spill onto the pavements. Designer shops line the streets that radiate from the square. There are worthwhile places of interest to explore beyond the square that include the Museo Correr, the Archaeological Museum and the Museo del Risorgimento, which are housed within the Procuratie Nuova. Attached to the Procuratie Vecchie is the triumphal Torre dell'Orologio.

The adjoining archway guides one through to the Mercerie, Venice's main commercial street that stretches to the Rialto.
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. Rialto
The Rialto has long been the commercial core of Venice and is famed as the place where the first bridge over the Grand Canal was built. The original wooden bridge collapsed under the strain of the crowds gathered here to admire a wedding procession. It was replaced by the sturdier single stone arch design of Antonio da Ponte, built in 1588. Today the area still resembles the bustling fruit and vegetable market of former times but is additionally swamped with tourists and the accoutrements geared towards them.
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Basilica dei Frari
This great Gothic Franciscan church was constructed in the 14th century and is primarily known as the burial place of Titian and the Venetian sculptor, Antonio Canova. Titian's tomb in the south aisle watches over large marble pyramid created for Canova. The interior of the church is adorned with the works of famous artists. These include Donatello's St John the Baptist, Giovanni Bellini's triptych of the Madonna and Saints, Titian's famous Assumption of the Virgin and his Madonna of Case Pesaro.
Telephone: (041) 222 637
Website: www.basilicadeifrari.it
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Opening times: Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm, and Sunday 1pm to 6pm. Closed to visitors during services

School of St Roch (Scuola di San Rocco)
A Scuola in Venice was a mixture of guild and religious fraternity where members paid annual fees to support fellow members and to decorate the school's premises. The School of St Roch is known for the canvasses of Jacopo Tintoretto that adorn its interior. Tintoretto was commissioned to decorate the School in 1564 and dedicated 23 years to this task. The paintings are arranged in chronological order that can be followed by beginning on the second floor in the Sala dell'Albergo. Notable amongst his works are the scenes from the Life of the Virgin and the Crucifixion.
Telephone: (041) 523 4864
Website: www.scuolagrandesanrocco.it
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Opening times: Daily 10am to 5pm (3 November to 27 March) and 9am to 5.30pm (28 March to 2 November)

Academia
The Gallerie dell'Academia houses one of Europe's finest art collections. Its display follows the progression of Venetian art from the 14th to 18th centuries.

Notable works in the gallery include Paolo Veneziano's Coronation of Mary, Carpaccio's Crucifixion and Apotheosis, Giovanni Bellini's Madonna with Child between Saints Catherine and Mary Magdalen, Giorgione's Tempest, Lorenzo Lotto's Portrait of a Young Gentleman in His Studio, Paolo Veronese's Feast in the House of Levi, and Tintoretto's Theft of St Mark's Body and Crucifixion.
Telephone: (041) 522 2247 or (041) 520 0345
Website: http://www.firenzemusei.it/00_english/accademia/index.html
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Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday 8.15am to 6.50pm. Closed Monday, New Year's Day, May 1st, Christmas Day

. Peggy Guggenheim Collection
The Guggenheim collection is housed in the former Palazzo of the wealthy American heiress and has become one of the most illustrious collections of Modern Art in Italy. It spans the artistic movements of Cubism, European Abstraction and Surrealism with notable works by Brancusi, Marino Marini, Kandinsky, Picasso, Magritte, Rothko, Max Ernst, Dali and Jackson Pollock. Peggy Guggenheim built up her collection between 1938 and 1947 and bought the Palazzo Venier dei Leoni in 1948 where she lived until her death in 1979.
Telephone: (041) 240 5411
Website: www.guggenheim-venice.it
Transport: Ferry boat to Academia stop
Opening times: Daily except Tuesdays 10am to 6pm

Duomo (Cathedral)
The looming Duomo, the world's largest Gothic cathedral, presides over the Piazza that bears its name. Its construction began in 1386 and continued sporadically until Napoleon ordered its completion in 1809. Its lengthy creation bestowed on it 3,400 statues, 135 spires and 96 gargoyles. It is best visited in full sunshine when the interior is illuminated by the colourful mosaic of its stained glass windows. The church is a five-aisled cruciform seating 40,000 worshippers. The 16th-century marble tomb of Giacomo de Medici lies in the south transept and lying buried at its heart is St Charles Borromeo, the cathedral's most important benefactor. Every year in May and September a nail from the cross of Christ is displayed to worshippers and is retrieved from its resting place by the bishop who is hoisted to the nivola to reach it. Across the piazza in the Palazzo Reale is the Museo del Duomo that displays the treasures from the cathedral. It also houses the Museo d'Arte Contomporanea, showcasing a collection of Italian Futurist art.
Telephone: (02) 8646 3456
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Opening times: Daily 7am to 7pm. The dome is open from 9am daily, closing between 5pm and 6.30pm depending on the season. Treasury: Monday to Friday 9.30am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm (Saturday until 5pm), Sunday 1.30pm to 4pm

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
This four-storey, glass-domed arcade is entered from the Piazza in front of the Cathedral and extends to the Piazza della Scala. It was originally built as a link to the opera house but has become a fashionable place to hang out, sip coffee or camparis, or take a stroll through its many exclusive shops. Milanese gather in this conservatory to escape the winter rains or to socialise after a busy working day.
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Theatre Museum at La Scala (Museo Teatrale alla Scala)
This world famous opera house rests on the site of the Church of Santa Maria alla Scala, its namesake. The Museum provides a wealth of mementos from the opera house dedicated to the nation's beloved composers and performers. These include Rossini, Puccini and Toscanini. Two halls are devoted to Verdi alone and contain memorabilia such as the spinet on which he learnt to play, hand-written scores and the baton given to him after the momentous reception of Aida.
Telephone: (02) 8879 2473
Website: www.lascala.milano.it
Transport: Bus 61, tram 1 or 2, or subway to Duomo or Montenapoleone
Opening times: Daily 9am to 12.30pm and 1.30pm to 5.30pm

Santa Maria delle Grazie
Located next to the church in the former monastery's refectory is Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, The Last Supper (Cenacolo Vinciano). The fresco depicts the moment of Christ's revelation of the betrayal. Judas hovers to the right of the painting with his hand placed protectively on the bag of silver. Scaffolding covers the bottom of the painting (an ongoing restoration project), leaving the rest in full view. Controversy has erupted over the removal of layers of corrective over-painting completed in the 18th and 19th centuries. The painting has endured more than hot debate however as it escaped the bombing during WWII that destroyed the roof of the refectory.
Telephone: (02) 8942 1146
Website: www.cenacolovinciano.it/html/eng/smgrazie.htm
Transport: Tram 24, subway to Conciliazione or Cadorna
Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday 8.15am to 7.30pm. Reservations are essential and visitors must arrive 15 minutes before allocated time of visit

Museo Poldi-Pezzoli
The Museo Poldi-Pezzoli contains a spectacular private collection that was bequeathed by its namesake Poldi Pezzoli to the city in 1879. Numerous masterpieces hang from the walls of the Golden Room with its vista onto a picturesque garden. Antonio Pollaiolo's Portrait of a Lady has become the symbol for Milan's own style and elegance and depicts the profile of an elegant woman. Other famous paintings include a Virgin and Child by Andrea Mantegna, Bellini's Ecco Homo, Piero della Francesca's St Nicholas and Guardi's Gray Lagoon.
Telephone: (02) 796 334
Website: www.museopoldipezzoli.it
Transport: Subway to Duomo, Cordusio, S.

Babila or Montenapoleone; bus 94 or 61; tram 1 or 2
Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 6pm

. Museum of Historic Art of the Sforzesco Castle
The gargantuan Sforzesco Castle built in the 15th century is one of Milan's foremost monuments. It was restored after being bombed in 1943. The vast interior, which is broken here and there by smaller courtyards, contains three museums, the most notable of which is Museum of Historic Art (Museo d'Arte Antica del Castello Sforzesco). Within its collection of sculptures is the famous Pieta Rondanini, Michelangelo's final work. The picture gallery features paintings by Mantegna, Bellini, da Vinci and Fra Filippo Lippi. The two other museums within the Castle's ramparts are the Museum of Applied Arts and the Archaeological Museum.
Telephone: (02) 8846 3700
Website: www.milanocastello.it
Transport: Subway to Cadorna, Lanza or Cairoli. Bus 43, 50, 57, 58, 61, 70 or 94. Tram 1, 3, 4, 12, 14, 20 or 27
Opening times: Castle: Daily 7am to 6pm (winter), closing at 7pm in summer. Closed 25 December, 1 January and 1 May, Easter Monday. Museums are closed on Mondays

Leonardo da Vinci National Science & Technology Museum
Within the Leonardo Gallery of the museum is a collection of Leonardo's ingenious designs from war machines to architectural visions. Applied physics is the focus of another room in keeping with the museum's tribute to the history of science.
Telephone: (02) 485 551
Website: www.museoscienza.org
Transport: Underground to St Ambrogio or Cadorna, or bus 50, 54, 58 or 94
Opening times: Tuesday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm. Holidays and weekends 9.30am to 6.30pm

The Gallery of Modern Art
The Gallery of Modern Art (Civica Galleria d'Arte Moderna) is housed in the building, which once served at Napoleon's summer palace and was occupied by the famous statesman and Josephine between 1805 and 1814. It is now recognised for its collection of modern art with works by Picasso, Matisse, Renoir, Gaugin and Cézanne.
Telephone: (02) 7600 2819
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Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 5.30pm

Marionette Museum
One of Palermo's most unique attractions is the engaging Museo delle Marionette, a museum dedicated to the art of puppetry, which is an age-old traditional Sicilian entertainment. Free shows are often put on in summer, but the museum collection itself, the greatest of its kind in the world, is entertainment enough. Most of the antique puppets on display evoke Norman Sicily, representing chivalrous heroes and Saracen pirates, knights, ladies and troubadours. The collection includes puppets from the Far East and even some English 'Punch and Judy' dolls.
Telephone: (091) 328 060
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Opening times: Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm and 3.30pm to 6.30pm

Time Elevator Rome
Time Elevator Rome is an interactive movie theatre featuring panoramic screens, flight simulators and surround-sound. This modern technology offers kids the opportunity to be enthralled by a cinematic, 3-D journey back through 2750 years of Roman history.
Telephone: 069 774 6243
Website: www.time-elevator.it
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Opening times: Daily, 10.30am to 7.30pm

The Citadel of Museums
Sardinia's history and culture is conveniently packaged in the Citadel of Museums complex in the centre of the capital, Cagliari. Here is sited the National Archaeological Museum, the National Picture Gallery, the Cardu Siamese Museum and a collection of anatomical waxes by Florentine sculptor, Clemente Susini, all administered by the University. The Archaeological Museum houses artefacts from all the ancient cultures of the island, including ceramics from Phoenician tombs, Punic jewellery and Nuragic bronzes. The Picture Gallery contains a collection of contemporary art and sculpture, while the Siamese museum exhibits fascinating items from the east. The unique Collection of Waxes consists of 23 models of parts of the human body created by Clemente Susini, from waxes, resin, tallow, pitch and balsam.
Telephone: (070) 662 837. Archaeological Museum: (070) 655 911; Picture Gallery: (070) 674 054; Collection of Waxes: (070) 664 783
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Opening times: Archaeological Museum: 9am to 7.30pm (closed Mondays); Picture Gallery: 8.30am to 7.30pm (11.30pm in summer); Collection of Waxes: Monday to Friday 9am to 1pm and 5pm to 9pm

Monreale Cathedral
Of all the many architecturally beautiful and fascinating places of worship in Palermo, probably the most renowned is the 12th-century cathedral in the suburb of Monreale, high on the mountain slope about five miles (eight km) from the city centre. The dazzling cathedral is a mixture of Arab, Byzantine and Norman artistic styles, a blend of medieval Christian and Muslim architecture. The magnificent mosaics that cover 68,243 square feet (6,340 sq metres) of the cathedral's dome and all of the walls on the interior are unsurpassed. The adjacent Benedictine abbey features a cloister with 228 carved stone columns, many inlaid with mosaics, depicting scenes from Sicily's Norman history.
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Transport: Monreale can be reached on bus 389 from the Piazza Indipendenza in Palermo, taking about 20 minutes to reach the cathedral
Opening times: Daily 8am to 12pm and 3.30pm to 6pm

Capuchin Catacombs
The subterranean catacombs that contain the mummified remains of about 8,000 ancient inhabitants of Palermo may be macabre, but are fascinating to visit. The Capuchin friars began mummifying and embalming the bodies of the city's nobles back in 1533, and the tradition continued for centuries with the last body (a seven-year-old girl named Rosalia) being embalmed in 1920.

After embalming, the corpses were hung along the walls of the catacombs, dressed in their best, which they still wear proudly, like the military officer in an 18th-century uniform complete with tricorn.
Telephone: (091) 212 117
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Opening times: Daily 9am to 12pm and 3pm to 5pm (until 7pm in summer)

. Palazzo Mirto
The excessive opulence of Baroque is nowhere better demonstrated than in the magnificent Palazzo Mirto, one of the few aristocratic homes of Palermo that is open to the public, offering visitors a glimpse into the lifestyle of Sicily's noble 19th-century families. The Palace was the residence of the Lanza Filangeri family whose last heir left the estate to the Ministry of Cultural Assets in 1982. Most of the princely rooms and salons are furnished with original items that belonged to the family.
Telephone: (091) 616 4751
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Opening times: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 9am to 1.30pm; Tuesday, Thursday 9am to 1.30pm and 3pm to 6pm

Regional Archaeological Museum
Some of Europe's greatest archaeological treasures are tucked away in Palermo's somewhat musty museum, which is well worth visiting even though it is rather shabby. The collection is housed in several old convent buildings, dating back to the 13th century, and includes artefacts from the Phoenician, Punic, Greek, Roman and Saracen periods found on the island. Highlights include two Phoenician sarcophagi dating from 5 BC, and the Pietra di Palermo, a black slab discovered in Egypt containing hieroglyphics that is known as the 'Rosetta Stone' of Sicily. One room is devoted to the marvellous finds unearthed at the temples of Selinunte. There is also an interesting section devoted to underwater archaeology.
Telephone: (091) 611 6805
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Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 8.30am to 6.15pm, Sundays 9am to 1pm

Ortygia
The Ponte Nuova ('New Bridge') connects the mainland city of Syracuse to the island of Ortygia, where most of the worthy sights are located. The remains of the Temple of Apollo are sited in the Piazza Pancali; this is the oldest Greek temple in Sicily, built in the Doric style in around 565 BC. The cathedral in the nearby Piazza Duomo is uniquely made up of the original walls of a 5th-century BC Greek temple known as the Athenaion and near the sea, reached along Via Capodieci, which is the mythical Spring of Arethusa. There are medieval relics on the island too, including Maniaces Castle dating from the 11th century. Apart from the many historic sights, the island of Ortygia also offers numerous boutiques and craft shops, as well as restaurants and cafes galore. Several hours are required to explore the island fully.
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Paolo Orsi Regional Archaeological Museum
Syracuse's archaeological museum is one of the most extensive in all of Italy, preserving relics and remains from the Greek, Roman and early Christian eras of Sicily's history. The museum building itself is ultra-modern, consisting of glass and steel exhibition halls connected in a hexagonal shape. The exhibits cover a vast range, from the skeletons of prehistoric animals to the renowned Landolina Venus statue.
Telephone: (0931) 464 022
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Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 9am to 1pm; Monday and Wednesday 3.30pm to 6.30pm

Parco Archeologico della Neapolis
The archaeological park on the western edge of the city of Syracuse contains the celebrated rock-hewn Greek amphitheatre, capable of holding about 15,000 people, where Euripides and Aeschylus' works were performed in antiquity. Today Greek dramas are still played here on occasion. Inside a leafy quarry at the site near the theatre is the ear-shaped cavern, the Orecchio di Dionigi, reputedly used by Dionysius as a prison. Nearby is the Roman Amphitheatre, built in the time of Augustus, where gladiators fought each other and wild animals in gory contests.
Telephone: (0931) 66206
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Opening times: Daily 9am to 6pm (April to October), 9am to 3pm (November to March)

Basilica di San Giovanni
The Basilica of St John Lateran was built in the 4th century by Constantine the Great and was the first church built in Rome. It is the cathedral of the diocese of Rome, and as such ranks above all other Roman Catholic churches, even St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It is the official ecclesiastical seat of the Pope, and it is here that he celebrates Mass on certain religious holidays. The building has suffered much damage in the past and has been rebuilt several times, leaving only fragmented parts of the original church. The present building is characterised by its 18th-century façade and contains several important relics, a 13th-century cloister and an ancient baptistery. Inside are numerous statues, paintings, the High Altar that can only be used by the Pope, and a cedar table that is said to be the one used by Christ at the Last Supper. Across the street is one of the holiest sites in Christendom that is visited by pilgrims from around the world: the Palace of the Holy Steps, believed to be the 28 marble steps originally at Pontius Pilate's villa in Jerusalem that Christ climbed the day he was brought before Pilate. They have been in Rome since 1589.
Telephone: (0)60 669 8643
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Transport: San Giovanni metro
Opening times: Daily 7am to 6.45pm

Pinacoteca di Brera
Housing one of Italy's finest collections of medieval and Renaissance art, the 17th-century Palazzo is by far the best collection of northern Italian paintings.

Many of the masterpieces here are the work of Napoleon, who used the Palazzo as a storeroom for all the art he confiscated from public and private holdings and his a bronze sculpture in his likeness greets visitors as they enter the courtyard. Three of Italy's great masterpieces can be found here, namely Andrea Mantegna's Dead Christ, Raphael's Betrothal of the Virgin, and Piero della Francesca's Madonna with Saints (the Montefeltro Altarpiece).
Telephone: 02 8942 1146
Website: www.brera.beniculturali.it
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Opening times: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30am - 7:15pm

. Milan Aquarium
One of the oldest and largest of its kind in Italy, the Milan aquarium houses 36 gigantic pools filled with more than 100 different species of fish, living in recreated environments ranging from the Amazon to the Mediterranean. The main focus of the pools is more towards native Italian fish life, both fresh and saltwater, and plenty of exotic sea life from other continents. The Amazon freshwater pool contains a wonderful exhibit of the infamous piranha. The aquarium hosts events throughout the year suitable for the family and the library is one of the most important resources for marine biology and oceanic studies in Italy.
Telephone: 02 8 846 5754
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Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday from 9am - 1pm and 2pm - 5.30pm. Closed Mondays

Orto Botanico di Brera
The Orto Botanico di Brera is a botanical garden located behind the Pinacoteca di Brera in the centre of Milan, and is operated by the Istituto di Fisica Generale Applicata of the University of Milan. The garden was established in 1774 under the direction of Maria Theresa of Austria, transforming an existing Jesuit garden to be used by students of medicine and pharmacology. The garden has greenhouses from the 19th century that are now used by the Academy of Fine Arts, as well as flowerbeds and elliptical ponds from the 18th century. Orto Botanico di Brera is home to one of the oldest Ginkgo biloba trees in Europe and various other mature flora specimens can be found within the grounds; a true plant lover's paradise.
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Opening times: Open weekdays.

Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio
The Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio is one of the oldest churches in Milan, built by Bishop Ambrose in 379-386 AD. Located in an area where numerous martyrs of the Roman persecutions were buried, it was originally called Basilica Martyrum. In 1099 the church was rebuilt in the Romanesque architectural style but the basilica plan of the original edifice was maintained, including a portico with elegant arches in the front entrance. In keeping with Lombard medieval architecture, the hut-like façade has a typically flat appearance. Of the two bell towers, the left and higher tower dates back to 1144 AD.

Inside there is an apse mosaic from the early 13th century that portrays the Christ Pantokrator (Ruler of All), an inspirational religious and artistic artefact. The church also houses the tomb of Emperor Louis II, who died in Lombardy in 875 AD.
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. Bell Tower (Campanile di San Marco)
Originally built in the 9th century, this 318-foot (97-metre) bell tower is the highest structure in Venice and offers visitors breathtaking views of the cupolas of St. Mark's, the lagoon, its neighbouring islands and the red rooftops and church domes of Venice. When the air is clear, one can even spot a snow-capped peak of the distant Dolomite Mountains but, strangely enough, not one canal can be seen from this bell tower. The tower collapsed unexpectedly in 1902 and was rebuilt exactly as before, even rescuing one of the five historical bells that are still in use today (each bell was rung for a different purpose, such as war, the death of a doge, religious holidays, etc).
Telephone: 041 522 4064
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Opening times: April to June from 9:30am - 5pm; July to September from 9am - 9pm

Clock Tower (Torre dell'Orologio)
Entering the Piazza San Marco, the clock tower is one of the first things to be seen, towering above the Procuratie Vecchie (the ancient administration buildings for the republic). Built in 1496, the clock mechanism of that same period still keeps perfect time. The two bronze figures, known as 'Moors' because of their dark colour, pivot to strike the hour.
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Opening times: Daily from 9am - 3:30pm

Unusual Rome for Kids
Unusual Rome offers fun, tailor-made tours and activities for children, planned and presented according to age and interests. With options ranging from visiting the popular sites of Ancient Rome to modern museums and shows, as well as taking part in cultural and outdoor activities, kids in Rome certainly won't be bored!
Telephone: 348 329 6384
Website: www.unusualrome.com
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Villa Doria Pamphili Park
Villa Doria Pamphili is a wonderful park to take children to while on holiday in Rome. The park's playground, skating rink and soccer fields will keep kids happy (and very active!) for hours, and the pony rides around Villa Doria Pamphili are also great fun.
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Transport: On the Janiculum Hill
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Looney's
Looney's Indoor Entertainment Center is a great place for kids to hang out, featuring costumed characters and entertaining shows, as well as fun play areas. While the centre offers recreation for children as old as 14, there are also play groups for toddlers and their mothers to enjoy together.
Telephone: 067 932 1977
Website: www.looneys.it
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Puppet Shows
There are many theatres throughout Rome staging excellent puppet shows (in English) that will keep the kids amused. Well-known venues include the Pulcinella Puppet Theatre, an open-air theatre on Gianicolo Hill, and the Teatro delle Marionette degli Accettella, on Via Genocchi. The Teatro San Carlino is a puppet theatre in Borghese Gardens, while Teatro Verde is located in Circonvallazione Gianicolense.
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Museum of Natural History
Kids will love the Museum of Natural History, which is home to the skeleton of an Ouranosaurus, which was found in the Sahara Desert by a Venetian palaeontologist in 1973. The museum also features an aquarium where children will be able to view and learn about the marine life living off the Venetian cost.
Telephone: 041 275 0206
Website: nat.mus.ve@comune.venezia.it
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Opening times: Open Tuesday to Friday from 9am – 1pm. Saturday and Sunday from 10am – 4pm. Closed Mondays, 12 May, Christmas Day and 1 January

Naval Museum
With a rich and fascinating maritime history, Venice's Naval Museum is a great place for kids to explore. Displaying intricate models and, in many cases, the real life thing, kids will find this museum mesmerizing. Gondola making is also demonstrated.
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Opening times: Open Monday to Friday from 8.45am – 1.30pm. Saturday from 8.45am – 1pm

Murano
The Venetian Island of Murano is a great trip for the whole family. Visitors can enjoy watching the local art of glass-blowing and amaze in the products that are created. And, since glass-blowing is the thing to do here, there are plenty of glassware shops and factories, most of which can be visited free of charge, where visitors can take home souvenirs, or simply enjoy looking around. The Museo Vetrario is another great place to admire glassworks.
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Transport: Via vaporetto: line 41, 42 or DM from Fondamente Nuove, or 71 & 72 from San Zaccaria or Piazzale Roma
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Parco delle Rimembranze
One of the nicest parks in Venice, Parco delle Rimembranze is the best suited to kids in Venice. Featuring plenty of play areas for children and a roller-skating rink, this park is a must for a family day out on a sunny day.
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Po Delta Natural Park
Visitors to the Po Delta Natural Park can enjoy exploring a day in the great outdoors. Discover the park by bike, boat, canoe, horseback, or on foot. Tours are also available for those who want to discover the more protected areas of the park and avid fisherman can enjoy the fishing lagoons where they can catch bream, bass and grey mullet. There are great bird-watching opportunities here too, so bring the binoculars.
Telephone: 042 681 219
Website: www.parcodeltapo.org
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Opening times: Open daily

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