10 things Italy is known for that you need to experience

Every year Italy attracts millions of tourists. And that is not surprising. Italy is known for its beautiful landscapes and magnificent cities. This boot-shaped peninsula is so varied that every type of traveler will find something to their liking. Are you adventurous? Go hiking or practice winter sports in the Dolomites. For culture lovers there are the beautiful historic cities such as Florence and Rome. You can experience a romantic getaway in Venice, or in Verona better known as the city of Romeo and Julliet and don’t forget the beautiful picturesque villages of Cinque Terre. For the foodies, there is something new to taste in every region. Before you know it, you’ll have a never ending Italy bucket list.

It’s nearly impossible to write down all the fantastic things about a country so rich in history and culture, but I tried to compile a list of 10 things that make Italy so great. And that you should definitely experience on a trip to Italy.

Some of these regional Italian dishes are even known worldwide. Italy is the inventor of the pizza.  Because the pizza is served all over the world, it has so many variations. If you would like to taste a real authentic pizza, then you have to visit Naples. That’s where the pizza originated.

You can find fashion museums all over the peninsula. From Florence to Palermo there are no fewer than 17. Many other international fashion events such as Pitti Immagine, are also held In Italy. This is one of the most important fashion events in the world. Then Florence welcomes sellers and buyers from all over the world.

And don’t forget the luxury fashion streets. The most famous? Via Monte Napoleone and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan. There prestigious shops can be found next to the historic shops. But also Via de ‘Tornabuoni in Florence, Via Condotti in Rome, next to Piazza di Spagna, and via Chiaia in Naples, where you can take a break from your shopping session by tasting an original pizza or the best espresso coffee in the world.

Another showpiece for which Italy is known, are the stylish cars that are made there. Just think of Lamborghini, Ferrari and Maserati. These sportive cars come with a serious price tag. But also the more common brands such as Alpha Romeo, Lancia and Fiat sound familiar to us. The common denominator of all these brands is the unique, elegant Italian design with a sporty touch.

Some of these car brands have also succeeded in creating real classics. Just think of the Fiat 500. Even though it has a new design, it is still very popular. My mom also bought such a small, but feisty fiat. And I just love it.

By the way, one of my wildest dreams, that I have not mentioned on my bucket list yet, is to make a road trip through Italy with a real authentic Fiat 500. How amazing would that be?

The Vespa was actually created in 1946 when Italy was still recovering from the 2nd world war. This small means of transport immediately became extremely popular in Italy. It was not long before the Vespa was also produced outside of Italy. In no time the term Vespa became synonymous with scooter. Of course the Vespa is more than a normal scooter. It is an icon of Italian style and elegance and symbolizes freedom.

The talent of Vespa lies in adapting itself very subtly to a new period. Now there are already many different models. So when you decide to go on a Vespa trip in Italy, you can choose between more authentic or modern models. Can you already guess which Vespa I would go for?

Italy is by far the place-to-be for art lovers. Nowhere in the world can you find as much art as in Italy. Besides a lot of museums, you can find artworks on every street corner in almost every Italian metropolis.

Partly thanks to the amazing architecture through the centuries, Italy now has more than 50 places on the Unesco World Heritage List. With this number, Italy ranks first among all countries in the world. These are also the main sights for which Italy is known, and draw many tourists from all over the world.

Italy played a prominent role several times throughout history. At the time of classical antiquity, the Roman Empire was one of the greatest rulers of the Mediterranean Sea and far beyond.

You already learned above that Italy played an influential role in the Renaissance in the field of art and architecture. But that it’s partly thanks to Italy that we know the world as it is now, you might not know yet?

The most famous explorers such as Marco Polo, Amerigo Vespucci, Giovanni Caboto better known as John Cabot and yes, even Christopher Columbus are from Italy. During the era of the great discoveries, they went out in search of new trade routes. Besides new trading partners, they also found many unknown areas.

The Roman Catholic faith in Italy goes back to the beginning of our era. It entered the Roman Empire and became the dominant religion. The Roman Empire also played a major role in the spread of Catholicism through its many conquests. Until 1984 the Roman Catholic faith was the state religion in Italy.

You can say that the Roman Catholic faith still occupies an important place in Italian culture. The best times to experience this, is during religious festivals such as Christmas and Easter. Italy is known for its beautiful Easter processions in different cities.