Rail Tours in Italy

The land of the Romans and the Renaissance, of food and fashion and of myths and Michelangelo, Italy is an enigmatic mix of fascinating history and culture. As the centre of one of the first true centres of human civilisation in the world, Rome makes for a historical safari of ancient proportions. At its heart sits the majestic Colosseum, the largest amphitheatre in the world and an incredible reminder of the power of the Roman Empire. A short distance away is the smallest sovereign state in the world and the religious hub for the Catholic church, the magisterial Vatican City. Deep within the tangled web of alleys and walkways that make up Rome lies the babble of the Trevi Fountain, featured in the classic romantic film, 'Three Coins in the Fountain'.

Italian culture is a potent cocktail of art, sport and music. As the site of the Renaissance, Italy has produced many of the finest masters of sculpture, painting and architecture in history. Household names such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael were all born in Italy and many of their works still adorn the monuments and buildings of the Renaissance era including Michelangelo's work on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's work in the Palace of the Vatican.

As for music, Italy was the birthplace of opera and the operatic form, with an impressive list of opera composers such as Giuseppe Verdi and Claudio Monteverdi hailing from Italy. Many of the most famous operas in the world are written in Italian and set in Italy including the Marriage of Figaro and Rigoletto. As with much of Europe, Italy's main sport is football. Italians are particularly passionate about football and international tournaments can bring everyday life to a standstill, especially in the rural regions. Their national side is known as the 'azurri' which is 'blue' in Italian, after the colour which the team wears. Some of the biggest teams in Italian club football include Juventus, Inter Milan and A.S Roma

Italy's cuisine needs little introduction; most travellers will be familiar with classic Italian creations such as pizza, spaghetti Bolognese, salami and minestrone soup. As with other countries, however, Italy's food varies greatly between regions which have different traditions and styles of cookery. In general terms, Italian cuisine stems from the simple combination of fresh and flavoursome produce to create colourful dishes that preserve the identity of individual ingredients yet harmonise flavours perfectly. Pasta, polenta and risotto rice are staples of Italian cuisine and to these a variety of meats, fish, vegetables, herbs and sauces can be added to create simple yet utterly delicious meals. These can be accompanied by Italy's famous and excellent wines which include the white Pinot Grigiot, and the red Chianti.

Many festival days have their origins in the Catholic faith. One example is the Epiphany which is celebrated on the 6th of January, intended as a day for the birth of Jesus Christ. This day marks the end of the Christmas season and in many ways has similar festivities to Christmas, including children receiving presents from the Befana, a magical old lady. A particular event to watch out for is the Venice Carnival. 

This incredible carnival of masks and beautiful costumes happens just before Lent, and features parades and festivities across the city. In restaurants across Italy, a service charge is normally added to the bill which then goes to the staff. A small tip of €2 or €3 is always appreciated, however.

Italian people are open, passionate and talkative. The city population can tend to be more temperamental and reserved while the country people are often more friendly and welcoming.