Idyllic Italy: Exploring One of the Most Beautiful Countries in The World

Italy’s appeal as a destination for idyllic scenery and rustic simplicity can be traced back to the beautiful art generated during the Renaissance period. As images of the Tuscan countryside, with its rolling hills of gold and slender cypress trees reaching for the sky, were captured in paintings and made their way across Europe and beyond, travelers began to seek out the picturesque landscapes they had seen, eager to experience the natural charm of Italy first-hand.

The variety of terrain and scenery throughout Italy offer visitors plenty of visual inspiration; lofty alpine peaks and sheer marble walls; mirror-like lakes and tumbling rivers; rolling hills covered with golden wheat and ancient roads lined with cypress, olive and citrus trees. The best way to explore natural and idyllic Italy is slowly, which is why cycling and walking holidays are becoming ever more popular.

Walking and cycling through idyllic Italy

Mapping out routes and booking accommodation in advance are important requirements for a good ‘exercise’ vacation, whether cycling or walking. Some travel companies specialize in packages that not only arrange accommodation, cheap flights and provide maps and safe routes, but will even transport luggage between hotel stops.

The Tuscan and Umbrian countryside is what many think of when the phrase ‘idyllic Italy’ is mentioned. Filled with hill after hill of maize and barley fields, olive groves and, of course, vineyards, these provinces form the green heart of the country and are laced with hiking trails, quiet drover routes and trails. One challenging trek is the trail between Florence and Bologna, while the pilgrimage route of St. Francis leads hikers over 25 miles of beautiful countryside.

Considered by many to be the greatest walk in the world, Le Tour du Mont Blanc traverses alpine paths winding through France, Switzerland and Italy and offers endless panoramas of mountain landscapes and glaciers.

Coastal and island views abound. One of the most popular routes for walking and cycling is along the Ligurian coast through the series of beach towns and villages known as the Cinque Terre. Here, walking options range from casual strolls along the Adriatic coastline to energetic treks up the cliffs along narrow, winding roads. Natural wonders abound on the Aeolian Islands. Situated off the northern coast of Sicily, these islands have a rich history and quiet beaches, coupled with excellent walking opportunities. Lipari features many archaeological sites and a museum, while Stromboli’s active volcano becomes a glowing torch in the night sky.

Beautiful gardens in Italy

Beautiful gardens are located throughout mainland Italy and the many islands off its coast. One of the most fascinating is located in the Valle dei Templi in Sicily. Filled with citrus trees, olive groves and the nearby ruins of Agrigento, these verdant gardens, known as Giardino della Kolymbetra, are considered among the best in the country. Formal gardens, gorgeous fountains, trees and ponds; the exquisite Renaissance gardens of the Villa d’Este in Tivoli, outside Rome, are steps away from the ancient ruins and gardens of Hadrian’s villa; combine them to make a great day trip from the city. The Vittoriale degli Italiani estate in the Lake District of Lombardy offers interesting garden views, while Lake Maggiore is home to Isola Bella. Constructed in the 17th century it has an elaborate floating palazzo and stunning gardens.

Photos by francesco sgroi via Flickr Creative Commons

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4 Ideas that will Help you Budget for that Trip Away

I can almost hear you now; a loaded, piercing groan as your eyes passed over the dreaded word of financial reality, budget. It’s a bit boring, a necessary evil as you wind up to your time away from your work, your family, you worries, your friends and maybe even your partner – isn’t it supposed to be relaxing? Though I completely agree, lazing about and rolling from place to place doesn’t happen by osmosis, some serious planning and budgeting goes into even the most impromptu holidays. Whether you’re spending hour’s online leading up to the big day of the long anticipated getaway or cramming ideas into your head at the last minute, scrolling through travel sites and copy/pasting the best bits into your word processing app, knowledge is power and there is nothing more useful overseas than a well formed budget!

Determine a Spending Total and an Emergency Fund

Congratulations, you’ve managed to squirrel away several thousand (or hundred) dollars in preparation for your adventure into the unknown. While it may be tempting to pool the total and spend it easily, it may be prudent to hold back and allocate a certain amount to emergencies or unexpected situations; you never know what will happen. If you don’t trust yourself not to splash out and waste your excess funds, let your Mum or partner (somebody you trust) hang onto it until you need it.

Spend Smart. Go Pre-Paid

Travelling to multiple countries and using various currencies? A pre-paid currency card might be just the thing you need to take control of how much you spend in each place – this will eliminate the temptation around whipping out your credit card and accumulating debt while spending it up. 

Figure Out Your Itinerary

Knowing where you’re going will allow you to plan ahead and calculate how much you need to spend in certain places. For example, if you have enough to visit two monuments or full-fee attractions in one location, and several in another, assess your priorities and figure out a plan that suits your budget. Switching your monetary status to incorporate an activity you aren’t excited about, but feel compelled to visit because of fame or status, probably won’t be a satisfying experience. Instead, fill your days with little known tributes, famous pagodas and street vendors, leaving the indulgences of your neighbourhood behind.

Don’t Be Afraid to Do Something Different

Little known places normally don’t come saddled with the same exorbitant price tags as so-called highlights on a tourist tour. Similarly, a smaller hotel with a couple less stars might not be as luxurious, but will allow you to do more outside the four walls of your rented space – if you’ve done your research and followed the various testimonials now available online for all to see, nothing should stop you from slumming it a little and opting for a well-kitted out back packers.

What about you? You’ve seen inside my budget strategy and now it’s time to share yours. Do you have a few trade secrets or tips to share with your intrepid brothers and sisters? Let me know in the comments!

Image by DigiDreamGrafix.com via Flickr Creative Commons

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