map-of-italy

Italy

Italy is a surprisingly young country considering how much history is in this small country. It did not come together to a modern country until 1861.
Some facts about Italy:

  • Italy is located in Southern Europe
  • Italy is the home of pizza and imported pasta from China to Europe
  • The average life expectancy at birth for an Italian is 79.54 years.
  • Italy is slightly larger than Arizona.
  • Northern Italy is must more prosperous than Southern Italy
  • Italians love their evening Passeggiata, or stroll.
  • Italy brought the world ice cream, the piano and of course the Roman Empire
  • Italians is a popular travel destination and has been featured many times on the Amateur Traveler.
Church of Santa Maria della Salute – Venice, Italy – Daily Photo

Church of Santa Maria della Salute – Venice, Italy – Daily Photo

Just across the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy from the Piazza San Marco is the church of Santa Maria della Salute or Saint Mary of the health. The church’s construction came in ...
Harbor in the Cinque Terre – Vernazza, Italy – Daily Photo

Harbor in the Cinque Terre – Vernazza, Italy – Daily Photo

During a Summer Sunday afternoon the small harbor of Vernazza, Italy (one of the 5 towns of the Cinque Terre) is overflowing with tourists, most of whom have taken the train down ...
Staying in a Tuscany Villa – Italy

Staying in a Tuscany Villa – Italy

It never occurred to us to go to Italy. That strikes me as particularly odd considering how much we have discovered we love the place. We certainly were aware how much we ...
View from the Clock Tower – Sienna, Italy – Daily Photo

View from the Clock Tower – Sienna, Italy – Daily Photo

Sienna is one if my favorite cities in Italy. It is walled city dominated by the clock tower in city hall. You can climb the clock tower to view the city and ...
Italian Riviera- Rapallo, Italy – Daily Photo

Italian Riviera- Rapallo, Italy – Daily Photo

Near by the better known Portifino, Italy is the beach town of Rapallo. For more travel photos check out Photo Friday.
Travel to Tuscany, The Hill Towns of Southern Tuscany – Episode 350

Travel to Tuscany, The Hill Towns of Southern Tuscany – Episode 350

The Amateur Traveler talks to Mary Jo Manzanares about 4 of her favorite hill towns in southern Tuscany. When you travel to Tuscany she recommends: Contignano , Montalcino, Montepulciano and Pienza. Experience ...
Cinque Terre Plaza Restaurant – Vernazza, Italy – Daily Photo

Cinque Terre Plaza Restaurant – Vernazza, Italy – Daily Photo

Vernazza is one of the 5 cities in Italy’s Cinque Terre. In the middle of the day in the Summer, when this photograph was taken, the streets are busy as is this ...
Peering at the Marian Column – Rome, Italy – Daily Photo

Peering at the Marian Column – Rome, Italy – Daily Photo

This is the Marian Column, located at the nave end of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The basilica is such a massive structure- we started outside at the apse end and ...
Trekking Around Mont Blanc, France – Episode 332

Trekking Around Mont Blanc, France – Episode 332

The Amateur Traveler talks to Marc Barach about his recent trek around Monte Blanc. Hiking around the giant mountain on the tour Monte Blanc took him through portions of France, Italy and ...
Enchanting Homes Perched on the Amalfi Coast – Positano, Italy – Daily Photo

Enchanting Homes Perched on the Amalfi Coast – Positano, Italy – Daily Photo

Originally built in medieval times as a port of the Amalfi Republic, Positano is now an enchanting and picturesque village in the Campania region of Italy. John Steinbeck wrote about Positano in ...