ITALY 2022
TOURISM
RURAL IDYLL With Florence, Rome and Venice (and that is just three of the most obvious ones) Italy boasts some of the most beautiful and rewarding cities in Europe. You can head there and find history, architecture, art and culture that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, and experience a lifestyle that’s almost impossible to forget. But the thing is, that’s not even the best part of Italy
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f you want to enjoy the full Italian experience, it is not enough just to lounge around in milling piazzas and learn the proper way to order an espresso – much of Italy’s true charm can be found in its abundant countryside. From the many gorgeous villas in Tuscany to the breath-taking vistas of vineyards and olive groves stretching to the horizon, the country shows a side of Italy that’s as intoxicating as any vintage Chianti.
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And the best way to experience this wonderful side of Italy? A day trip out from one of the bigger cities is all well and good, but if you really want to revel in the splendour, sun and relaxing atmosphere of rural Italy, the only thing to do is hire a car, head out and stay right at its heart. The culture you will find out there might not be as famous as Renaissance art, but it is certainly got as much pedigree – after all, rustic wine-making and farming techniques predate even the
Romans! And if you think Italy’s best food is confined to five-star restaurants in swish new neighborhoods, clearly, you’ve never indulged in some farm-bought goat’s cheese, freshly baked bread and artfully produced salami and ham. The countryside (especially around Naples) is also where you’ll find proper, authentic pizza – a world away from most of the tourist-friendly imitations you’ll be eating in the inner city. CETONA Cetona is a medieval hilltop town located in the southern slopes of Siena, Tuscany. The entire town is encircled by an imposing 10th century rocca (fortress), and is brimming with archaeological riches. Cetona is believed to have been one of Italy’s oldest settlements, with humans living at the foot of Mount Cetona over 40,000 years ago due to the area’s vast clay supply and forests. Steeped in history, Cetona marks a moment in time with its Etruscan archaeological sites and early neo-Paleolithic caves. Cetona boasts all the picturesque views you would expect from Tuscany, with striking cypress trees and a beautiful backdrop of pine forests. ASSISI Holidays to Assisi show visitors the true Italian countryside in all its glory. The town sits in the region of Umbria, just east of Perugia and lies nestled in the foothills of Mount Subasio. Assisi is known as the birthplace of St. Francis and has been attracting pilgrims since the 13th Century. The most famous site in Assisi is of course the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi, which is dedicated to the saint. There is also the 12th Century Rocca Maggiore Fortress and a huge medieval complex, all of which gave the town its UNESCO World Heritage status. The town is dotted with beautiful churches,
