has the longest range of Alpine mountains. This is more than a thousand kilometers of mountain ranges, glaciers, alpine meadows and cozy valleys. The Italian Alps are the highest peaks in Western Europe – Mont Blanc on the border with France (Courmayeur resort), Monte Rosa and Matterhorn on the border with Switzerland (Cervinia resort). And the unique area of the Dolomites in the north-east of Italy attracts with its beauty, cozy alpine towns with all the benefits of civilization. Italian ski resorts can be divided into two large territorial groups: western and eastern. The western group is formed by the resorts of Sestriere, La Thuile,
Courmayeur, Aosta /Pyla, Cervinia and Gressoney. Located on the border with France and Switzerland, they have absorbed all their best features: a beautiful modern system of lifts and a web of well-groomed slopes. There are about 200 km. serious slopes of any degree of difficulty, 37 lifts, 8 km. flat ski tracks, a large number of restaurants, six discos, shops, boutiques, cinemas, bowling, a variety of nightlife, game rooms, swimming pools, a sauna and a gym. Check top-medical-schools.org for travel information in Italy.
The eastern group of resorts is formed by the region of the Dolomites (Madonna di Campiglio, Val di Sole, Val di Fiemme, Val Gardena, Val di Fassa, Cortina d’Ampezzo and Kronplatz) and Alta Valtellina (Bormio, Santa Caterina, Livigno). The length of the tracks is 260 km. and 103 ski lifts
The resorts of Alta Valtellina, located in the province of Lombardy on the border with the Swiss canton of Grisons and South Tyrol, stand somewhat apart. No other place in Italy hosts so many international competitions of the highest rank. The height of the resort is 1203 m., there are 35 lifts serving over 200 km. trails in the Bormio, Santa Caterina and Livigno areas. And fans of a more relaxing holiday are attracted by the beauty of the Stelvio National Park, untouched nature and fantastic landscapes of the Alps.
This region is especially popular with young people, and the thermal springs also attract middle-aged people.
BEACH HOLIDAYS
The most popular resort area in Italy is located on the Adriatic coast. It has a mild climate, picturesque landscapes, excellent sandy beaches and developed infrastructure. The main resort areas of the Adriatic coast are Ravenna, Milano Marittima, Bellaria, Rimini, Riccione, Gabicce Mare and Gabicce Monte, Pesaro and the Abruzzo region. On the Ligurian coast, the most famous resort is Genoa. Vacationers here can combine a beach holiday with a rich excursion program. On the Tyrrhenian coast, the beaches are also sandy and very diverse: from small and cozy to wide and spacious. On the Tyrrhenian coast are the cities of Rome, Naples, Salerno, Cosenza. This means that it is also possible to combine a beach holiday with an excursion program.
All beaches in Italy are municipal. But they are divided into plots and leased to private entrepreneurs. Each site has a beach caretaker who keeps order and charges a fee for the use of umbrellas and sunbeds (about 10 EUR) per set. The first five meters of the beach from the water’s edge are free. Here you can sunbathe on a towel.
SHOPPING
Shopping in Italy – it is often much more than just shopping. It’s a whole ritual. In addition, this ritual can be performed without much damage to the wallet thanks to sales (saldi) held twice a year. Winter sales last from January 15 to the first week of March, in summer – from July 16 to mid-September. It is worth paying attention to the fact that the original price must be indicated on each discounted product. Total sale – “Liquidazioni” usually offers the lowest prices, other shop window signs, such as “Vendite promozionali” – (promotional prices) and “Sconti” – (discounts) are often placed only to lure you into the store. The sign on the door that says “Entrata libera” means something like “Just pop in”. Rome, Florence.
EXCURSIONS
Italy is the richest treasury of masterpieces of world culture – architecture, fine arts, monuments of history, antiquity, middle ages, renaissance. About 60% of the cultural values of Europe are concentrated in the country; almost every Italian city is a real open-air museum of history.
REST ON THE LAKES.
Lake Maggiore is located in northern Italy, on the border with Switzerland, in the provinces of Lombardy and Piedmont. Numerous natural parks are located on the eastern shore of the lake, and the prestigious resorts of Stresa are located on the western shore., Verbania, Baveno, very beautiful islands are concentrated off the western coast.
Lake Garda is also located in northern Italy, in the foothills of the Alps. From the northeast and from the northwest the lake is bordered by low mountains. The southern shores of the lake are flat, with a drier climate. There are both sandy and rocky beaches on the lake, many hotel beaches are equipped with footbridges. In the vicinity of the lake (mainly at its southern tip) there are various parks. A natural park stretches along the west coast, and there are two nature reserves on the east coast.
The third lake, located in the north of the country – Como. It also attracts tourists with its unusually beautiful landscape. There are many villas along the shores of the lake.
In the summer months, the water in the lakes warms up to +26C.
REST ON THE ISLANDS
The largest Italian island is Sicily. In Sicily, tourists are attracted by a clean, calm and warm sea, delicious cuisine and nature rich in landscapes. In the south of the island, the beaches are sandy, in the north – sand and pebble or rocky.
Sardinia is located 200 km west of Italy and 12 km south of the French island of Corsica. This is a great place for an environmentally friendly and relaxing holiday. Most of the island is occupied by natural and archaeological reserves. The beaches are sandy with palm and pine groves.
The island of Capri is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, 5 km from the coast of Sorrento and 36 km from Naples. The shores of the island are steep with numerous caves and picturesque arches. The sea is crystal clear (up to a depth of 8-10 m). The beaches are mostly rocky.
The island of Ischia is located in the Gulf of Naples (in the Tyrrhenian Sea), 40 km from Naples and 7 km from the mainland. All the beaches of the island are sandy, relatively small.
DIVING
There are many places for divers in Italy. You can dive almost anywhere. The sea in the Villasimus area (a resort on the island of Sardinia) is of interest even to experienced divers. 4 sunken ships lie here, there are underwater reefs.
THERAPEUTIC AND IMPROVING.
One of the most visited in Italy places for recreation and treatment – the island of Ischia, which is located in the Gulf of Naples. There is an abundance of hot radon geysers, the waters of which mix with the sea. Therefore, you can swim in the winter. On the territory of the island there is a thermal park “Gardens of Eden”. The main disease profile of the island’s resorts is rheumatic and respiratory diseases.
But not only on the island of Ischia there is an opportunity to improve health, preserve youth and beauty. Regardless of the season, you can relax in such thermal resorts in Italy as Abano Terme (province of Veneto), Monsumano Terme (Pistoia, province of Tuscany) and Chianciano Terme (Siena). In the era of the ancient Romans, who were connoisseurs of the beauty of the body and health, real resorts were built in the area of the springs.
Hot mineral waters and mud created on their basis are successfully used to treat rhinitis, broncho-polmonitis, acute respiratory diseases, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, and other diseases. For women of all ages, rest in these resorts is an opportunity to prolong their youth and preserve their beauty.
Abano Terme is located in one of the most beautiful regions of northern Italy – in Veneto, 15 km from Padua and 48 km from Venice, at the foot of the Eguane hills. The combination of healing properties of mineral springs and the proximity of the historical centers of Italy adds to the attractiveness of this resort.
Chianciano Terme is also famous for its healing springs. This resort has a very favorable location – in the beautiful province of Tuscany with its numerous vineyards and olive groves, which makes it possible not only to improve the body, but also to get acquainted with the numerous historical and cultural monuments of this rich region. Nearby are such pearls of Italy as the cities of Orvietto, Assisi Arezzo, Pisa, Siena and Florence.
Milano Marittima is known for its centers of mud, water and salt cures. In addition, this resort is a real garden city with an abundance of pine and cedar groves. It is located 30 km north of Rimini on the Adriatic coast.
