Italy is one of those countries to which you probably have already quite a number of preconceptions even before you have put one foot into the country. Country of olive oil and mafia, pasta, wine and sunshine, roman ruins and renaissance palaces.
Although some of these images are appealing, it would be a shame if that was the only thing you would get away with. Italy is certainly much more complex and interesting than that. Italy is a modern country with deep roman catholic roots, full of interesting stuff for the casual tourist and even more for the educated visitor. It is easy to spend two weeks in major tourist centers without any reason to get bored, but it is equally simple to get off the beaten track.
In the north, next to the Alps and the flatlands of the Po river, both cultural jewels and industrial highly developed cities attract. This is where Italy's economic heart beats. But even in the buzzling and busy cities, people live the "Italian way of life". In Lombardia's capital Milan, city of haute couture and business, you can easily spend weeks without being bored. On every corner you will discover something new.
The most famous tourist attractions in the north-east are probably Venice and Verona, that both let you think of romantic love affairs. But to discover the beautiful landscapes around, for example Verona province, may be even more fascinating.
The north-west of Italy is a paradise for every culinary interested traveler. For wine lovers, Piemonteis directly connected with Barolo and Barbaresco, the most famous wines made out of the Nebbiolo grape. Piemonte's capital, Turinoffers more than just a starting point to visit these wine regions. Lots of museums, modern art, book and music fairs make Turin one of the leading Italian cities concerning cultural life. At the same time is was and still is a booming industrial and multimedia city.
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