Fodor’s Essential Italy 2019

1102 Pages·2018·99.4 MB·English

by  Fodor’s Travel Guides

WELCOME TO ITALY
Italy is the kind of destination that travelers return to over and over. They
come for awe-inspiring art and architecture that influenced Western
civilization, and stunning historical ruins—as well as for some of the
world’s best food and wine. Also beckoning irresistibly are Italy’s sun-
kissed olive groves and vineyards, the sparkling waters of Lake Como
and the Mediterranean, and atmospheric monasteries, castles, and
farmhouses. And if you seek vibrant cities with renowned museums,
restaurants, and shopping opportunities, Rome, Florence, and Milan
await.
TOP REASONS TO GO
Food: Italy is a pasta lover’s paradise; but don’t forget the pizza and the gelato.
Romance: Whether you’re strolling atmospheric Venice or sipping wine, Italy enchants.
History: The ruins of ancient Pompeii and the leaning tower of Pisa breathe antiquity.
Art: The big hitters—Botticelli, Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, and more
Shopping: Few things say quality or style like “made in Italy.”
Stunning landscapes: Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, the Cinque Terre, to name just a few
Editorial: Douglas Stallings, Editorial Director; Margaret Kelly, Jacinta
O’Halloran, Senior Editors; Kayla Becker, Alexis Kelly, Amanda Sadlowski,
Editors; Teddy Minford, Content Editor; Rachael Roth, Content Manager
Design: Tina Malaney, Design and Production Director; Jessica Gonzalez,
Production Designer Photography: Jill Krueger, Senior Photo Editor Maps:
Rebecca Baer, Senior Map Editor; David Lindroth, Mark Stroud (Moon Street
Carography), Cartographers Production: Jennifer DePrima, Editorial
Production Manager; Carrie Parker, Senior Production Editor; Elyse Rozelle,
Production Editor Business & Operations: Chuck Hoover, Chief Marketing
Officer; Joy Lai, Vice President and General Manager; Stephen Horowitz,
Director of Business Development and Revenue Operations; Tara McCrillis,
Director of Publishing Operations Public Relations and Marketing: Joe
Ewaskiw, Manager; Esther Su, Marketing Manager
Writers: Robert Andrews, Nick Bruno, Agnes Crawford, Liz Humphreys,
Fergal Kavanagh, Patricia Rucidlo, Liz Shermaria Editor: Margaret Kelly
Production Editor: Elyse Rozelle
Copyright © 2019 by Fodor’s Travel, a division of Internet Brands, Inc.
Fodor’s is a registered trademark of Internet Brands, Inc. All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Fodor’s Travel, a division of Internet Brands,
Inc. No maps, illustrations, or other portions of this book may be reproduced in
any form without written permission from the publisher.
ISBN 9781640970700
Ebook ISBN 9781640970717
ISSN 2476-0706
Library of Congress Control Number 2018907409
All details in this book are based on information supplied to us at press time.
Always confirm information when it matters, especially if you’re making a
detour to visit a specific place. Fodor’s expressly disclaims any liability, loss, or
risk, personal or otherwise, that is incurred as a consequence of the use of any of
the contents of this book.
Photo Credits: Cover: Jan Wlodarczyk Alamy Stock Photo; Experience Italy:
Angelo Campus; Rome: JPFShutterstock; Side Trips from Rome: dave
tonkin/iStockPhoto; Venice: Photomarine/Shutterstock; The Veneto and Friuli–
Venezia Giulia: Luca Lorenzelli/Shutterstock; The Dolomites:
kavram/Shutterstock; Milan, Lombardy and the Lakes: Andrew
Mayovskyy/Shutterstock; Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta: Luciano
Mortula/Shutterstock; The Italian Riviera: Jipen / Shutterstock; Emilia–
Romagna: Ixuskmitl | Dreamstime.com; Florence: Freesurf69 | Dreamstime.com;
Tuscany: JBVPhotos/Shutterstock; Umbria and the Marches: Gaspar Janos
Shutterstock; Naples and Campania: Balate DorinShutterstock; Puglia,
Basilicata, and Calabria: Ronszoey | Dreamstime.com; Sicily: Mkrzyzak |
Dreamstime.com; Sardinia: Patrice Wangen/Flickr v5.3.2
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CONTENTS
Cover
Welcome to Italy
Copyright
About This Guide
Italy Images
1 EXPERIENCE ITALY
Italy Today
What’s Where
Need to Know
Making the Most of Your Euros
Great Itineraries
2 ROME
Welcome To Rome
Eat Like a Local in Rome
Rome Planner
Exploring Rome
Where to Eat
Where to Stay
Nightlife and Performing Arts
Shopping
3 SIDE TRIPS FROM ROME
Welcome To Side Trips from Rome
Planning
Tuscia
Ostia Antica
Tivoli and Palestrina
The Castelli Romani
4 VENICE
Welcome To Venice
Eating and Drinking Well in Venice
Venice Planner
Exploring Venice
Where to Eat
Where to Stay
Nightlife and Performing Arts
Shopping
5 THE VENETO AND FRIULI–VENEZIA GIULIA
Welcome To the Veneto and Friuli–Venezia Giulia
Eating and Drinking Well in the Veneto and Friuli–Venezia Giulia
The Veneto and Friuli–Venezia Planner
Padua
Verona
Vicenza
Treviso and the Hillside Towns
Friuli–Venezia Giulia
6 THE DOLOMITES
Welcome To the Dolomites
Eating and Drinking Well in the Dolomites
The Dolomites Planner
Trentino
Bolzano (Bozen)
Alto Adige
The Heart of the Dolomites
Cortina d’Ampezzo
7 MILAN, LOMBARDY AND THE LAKES
Welcome To Milan, Lombardy, and the Lakes
Eating Well in Milan, Lombardy, and the Lakes
Milan, Lombardy, and the Lakes Planner
Milan
Bergamo, Pavia, Cremona, and Mantua
Lake Iseo and Franciacorta
Lake Garda
Lake Como
Lake Maggiore
8 PIEDMONT AND VALLE D’AOSTA
Welcome To Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta
Eating and Drinking Well in Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta
Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta Planner
Turin
The Monferrato and the Langhe
Valle d’Aosta
The Colline and Savoy Palaces
9 THE ITALIAN RIVIERA
Welcome To the Italian Riviera
Eating and Drinking Well in the Italian Riviera
The Italian Riviera Planner
Cinque Terre
Riviera di Levante
Genoa
Riviera di Ponente
10 EMILIA–ROMAGNA
Welcome To Emilia–Romagna
Eating and Drinking Well in Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna Planner
Emilia
Bologna
Ferrara
Romagna
Ravenna
11 FLORENCE
Welcome To Florence
Eating and Drinking Well in Florence
Florence Planner
Exploring
Where to Eat
Where to Stay
Nightlife and Performing Arts
Shopping
Fiesole: Side Trip from Florence
12 TUSCANY
Welcome To Tuscany
Eating and Drinking Well in Tuscany
Tuscany Planner
Lucca
Pisa
Chianti
Hill Towns Southwest of Florence
Siena
Arezzo and Cortona
Southern Tuscany
13 UMBRIA AND THE MARCHES
Welcome To Umbria and the Marches
Eating and Drinking Well in Umbria and the Marches
Umbria and the Marches Planner
Perugia
Assisi
Northern Umbria
Spoleto
Southern Umbria
The Marches
14 NAPLES AND CAMPANIA
Welcome To Naples and Campania
Eating and Drinking Well in Naples and Campania
Naples and Campania Planner
Naples
Herculaneum, Vesuvius, and Pompeii
Ischia and Procida
Capri
Sorrento and the Sorrentine Peninsula
The Amalfi Coast
15 PUGLIA, BASILICATA, AND CALABRIA
Welcome To Puglia, Basilicata, and Calabria
Eating and Drinking Well in Puglia, Basilicata, and Calabria
Puglia, Basilicata, and Calabria Planner
Bari and the Adriatic Coast
The Gargano Promontory
The Trulli District
The Salento Peninsula
Basilicata
Calabria
16 SICILY
Welcome To Sicily
Eating and Drinking Well in Sicily
Sicily Planner
The Ionian Coast
Siracusa
The Interior
Agrigento and Western Sicily
Palermo
The Tyrrhenian Coast
The Aeolian Islands
17 SARDINIA
Welcome To Sardinia
Eating and Drinking Well in Sardinia
Sardinia Planner
Cagliari and the Southern Coast
Su Nuraxi to the Costa Smeralda
TRAVEL SMART ITALY
ABOUT OUR WRITERS
MAPS
Rome Metro and Suburban Railway
Ancient Rome
Piazza Navona, Campo de Fiori, and the Jewish Ghetto
Piazza di Spagna
Repubblica and the Quirinale
Villa Borghese and Piazza del Popolo
The Vatican
Trastevere
The Catacombs and Via Appia Antica
Where to Eat in Rome
Where to Stay in Rome
Side Trips from Rome
Scavi di Ostia Antica (Ostia Antica excavations)
Piazza San Marco
San Marco and Dorsoduro
San Polo and Santa Croce
Cannaregio
Castello, San Giogio Maggiore, and the Guidecca
Islands of the Lagoon
Where to Eat and Stay in Venice
Padua
Verona
Vicenza
Treviso and the Hillside Towns
Friuli–Venezia Giulia
Trentino and the Western Dolomites
Bolzano (Bozen)
Alto Adige and the Heart of the Dolomites
Milan
The Po Plain, Lake Garda, and Lake Iseo
Lakes Como and Maggiore
Turin
Piedmont
Valle d’Aosta
Cinque Terre and Riviera di Levante
Genoa
Riviera di Ponente
Emilia
Bologna
Romagna
Ravenna
Around the Duomo
San Lorenzo
Santa Maria Novella
Santa Croce
The Oltrarno
Where to Eat and Stay in Florence
Lucca
Pisa
Chianti and the Hill Towns Southwest of Florence