late deals, apartments and cheap flights can be found by searching on our home page.

Holidayco.co.uk specialises in cheap italian holidays, package holidays and late deals to a huge number of destinations. Find out more about Italy in our guide below.

Holidays in Italy

Italy Main Guide | Places to visit | Things to do

Italy has been a nation-state in its own right since 1861, when the many city-states of the Italian peninsula joined together with Sardinia and Sicily to create the nation of Italy. Each of the member states had its own long history up to that point, bringing together a wealth of culture and history in the new nation.

As a peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea from southern Europe, Italy has a great deal of coastline and a warm Mediterranean climate. The terrain varies considerably from the Alps in the north and the mountainous central region to the flat coastal plains.

Italy Facts At A Glance

Area: 301,230 square km.

Climate: Mediterranean for the most part; Alpine in the north

Terrain: Mostly mountainous with coastal lowlands

Population: 58.1 Million

Languages: Italian

Currency: Euro

Time Zone: 1 Hour ahead of GMT

International Dialling Code: +39

Why not search our database of cheap italian holidays now by visiting the holidayco.co.uk homepage and using the search facility.

Places to visit

The capital of Italy is Rome, a popular holiday destination in its own right. Rome is one of the most romantic cities in the world, with excellent shopping and sightseeing opportunities on offer as well as the obvious attractions of the city’s many historical sites. Rome has many fine museums displaying sculpture, art and history, including restored ancient Roman houses and public buildings.

There is also the Vatican to visit while you are in the Rome region. Even if you aren’t excited at being at the heart of the Catholic Church, the sheer grandeur of the Vatican is quite breathtaking.

Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region. It lies on the River Arno, which is spanned by the famous Ponte Vecchio, the only bridge in the city not to be blown up during the Second World War. The city contains many museums dedicated to the city’s history and culture, and of course it has Michelangelo’s statue of David.

Milan is the second city of Italy. It is an important centre for finance and shopping, and is a good jumping-off point for exploring all of northern Italy. Having been conquered and rebuilt several times, Milan has less historic monuments and buildings than many other cities of Italy. The city does have some great art galleries and museums, and of course it is a Mecca for those interested in designer clothing.

Naples, at the foot of Mount Vesuvius, is a vibrant and fascinating city with a long history and many ancient monuments. The Royal Palace (Palazzo Reale) is particularly worth a look. Some of the streets are an untidy and cramped sprawl that reflects the way the city grew up over the centuries. Among them you can find museums, churches and monuments from the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations as well as more recent periods in the nation’s history.

Close to Naples lies the Neapolitan Riviera , a cluster of coastal resorts lying on the Bay of Naples. Most resorts offer a range of watersports in addition to nightlife and entertainment, which varies somewhat depending on which resort you choose.

Venice on the northeast coast is famous for its canals plied by gondolas and waterbuses. It has a long history as one of the most powerful of the Italian maritime states, though its age of dominance over much of the Mediterranean is long past. The city is made up of over a hundred small islands and is slowly sinking into the sea.

Verona is a beautiful town in northern Italy. The city centre dates from the medieval period and there are several historic attractions to be seen. The Roman Arena is still used for concerts and operas. The city’s streets contain many hidden gems ranging from old churches and buildings with fascinating architecture to little coffee shops where you can spend a quiet afternoon people-watching.

The Italian Lakes region is centred around three large lakes: Como, Garda and Maggiore. Located in the north of the country, the Italian Lakes region contains many beautiful towns, gorgeous scenery and the opportunity for outdoor activities like climbing and hiking as well as the more obvious watersports, cruises and day trips on the lakes.

Things to do

Italy is a land of food and wine. Italian cuisine is among the finest in the world. It is well worth moving beyond the usual pasta dishes to find out what else is on offer. Exploring the nation’s cuisine would be a worthwhile project for an entire holiday.

Exploring the country at your own pace in a rental car is a good way to find hidden treasures off the beaten track, but it can be somewhat exciting due to the locals’ interesting driving habits – major population centres can be a bit of a madhouse where traffic is concerned. Out in the country this is not such a problem. Italy does have a very good train service, but obviously this only goes where the tracks do – you can’t go exploring the remote countryside by train.

Italy is home to vast numbers of art treasures. You can find art museums and galleries almost anywhere, and you’d be hard put just to see all those in any given big city. The great museums, galleries and archeological sites are all very impressive, but there are some hidden gems to be found if you’re looking for something a little offbeat. These include the Museums of the Macabre in Rome, the Egyptian and Automobile museums in Turin and the Naval Museum in Venice.