Europe Travel Guide | Comprehensive Information Blog

Rome. The very name evokes the grandeur of this ancient city of Europe. Founded almost two thousand and seven years ago, and occupied continuously ever since, the city has played as important a role in the history of the World as any other city. From Rome, carried on the shoulders and swords of the famous legions, spread much of the law, language, culture, and organization that would shape the Western World.
The birth of the city is shrouded in legend. From a simple town on the banks of the Tiber river, Rome grew under the rule of its early Kings. The local tribes were subdued and Rome grew to dominate, first, the Italian Peninsula, and then eventually the entire Mediterranean basin. When the Roman Republic was founded, the unique Roman culture that would one day influence one of the largest empires of all time was first developed.
This was followed by the period known as the Roman Empire when Rome rose to its greatest influence and glory.
Today, Rome is a modern city with a population approaching three million people. It is the home to the Vatican, the center of the world-wide Catholic Church. It is a city that exists both in the past and the present. The mighty ruins of landmarks such as the Coliseum and the Roman Forum exist side by side with the blazing lights of a modern and vibrant city.




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In order to travel to Italy from most Western countries, a passport is required, however a visa is not required for stays of up to ninety days. From the Schengen (borderless regions), no passport is needed, but the Schengen visa and an adequate amount of funds for the stay is needed. Italy is in many ways one of the world’s safer travel destinations. No specific health risks are associated with travel there, and danger from crime and violence is minimal.
Italy has several International Airports that serve as entry ports. The traveler has a choice of flying into Naples, Bologna, Milan, Pisa, Florence, and of course, Rome. Although most travelers visit Italy during the summer months of June to August, the Spring (April and May) and the Autumn (September and October) might be better choices due to the excellent and mild weather, and the smaller number of tourists. The oceans are warm enough for swimming during the summer months of June all the way to September. For travelers interested in winter sports, the ski season runs from December to April in the Northern area.
The official currency of Italy is the Euro, divided into 100 cents. Banks and exchange points, as well as a large number of ATM’s are easily located. The official language is, of course, Italian, but English is spoken and understood very widely in the major cities, although much less so in the more remote countryside.




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Italy, that country that sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea like the giant foot of Europe is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. It is a country that offers the traveler a mind boggling array of attractions that range from the ruins of ancient Rome to the fashion crazy urban life of Milan. It features sunny Naples, gleaming like a tropical port, in the southern part of the country known as the Mezzogiorno, or (Land of the Midday Sun). In contrast, there is the highly industrialized North, prosperous and growing, and crowned by the icy snow covered peaks of the Italian Alps.
The country has a population approaching sixty million, and occupies over one hundred and sixteen thousand square miles of land. The climate has warm and dry summers, and mild winters, except in the far North where the winters are somewhat colder. As the country is a long peninsula, the sea which surrounds it on three sides plays an important role in the life and story of Italy, and provides the traveler with a wide variety of water related activities.
The predominant religion in Italy is Roman Catholic, and the country is home to the Vatican. The Vatican is a small country inside a country that is the spiritual headquarters of the world’s billions of Catholics. The primary language of Italy is Italian, although several other languages are commonly spoken, mostly in the Northern border regions. Italy is a Republic, and a member of NATO, and has long been a gracious host to millions of travelers from virtually all corners of the World.




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