If you’ve been thinking about visiting Italy for a while, there has never been a better time to go. And of course, you won’t have to worry about changing flights if you are going there from Heathrow Airport. That’s because there are a number of airports in Italy that you can reach direct from Heathrow itself.
Are you ready to explore and see what is on offer when you think about taking a holiday in Italy?
Where is Italy?
Italy is in the southern section of Europe, and it is well known for being affectionately called ‘the boot’. This is due to the shape of the country – long and thin with a flared top, and a heel and toe shaped area at the bottom. The capital is Rome, which is situated about halfway up the western side of the country.
Both British Airways and Alitalia offer flights to Rome, but you can also catch a direct flight from Heathrow to Venice or Milan. That gives you plenty of opportunity to explore the country and experience the best that it has to offer.
Why should you visit Italy?
Perhaps a better question would be, why not? The Italians have a lot packed into their long thin country, and no matter what you want to do you will find Italy to be a great place to do it.
The shape of the country leaves it with less inland areas than some other countries enjoy. However it offers more drama in some ways – not least thanks to its active collection of volcanoes!
What main areas are there to stay in?
Let’s start with Rome – the perfect way to see Italy if you are after a city break. The whole country bears the evidence of habitation dating back hundreds of thousands of years, but nowhere else has quite the same dramatic appeal as the capital city itself.
The Roman Empire can still very much be felt even today, and with such buildings as the Colosseum to visit, that is likely to remain the case long into the future as well.
The Roman Forum is perhaps not so well known, and yet it captures the mood of what the Roman Empire must have been like. You will find several different temples and basilicas within it, including the Temple of Caesar. As you can see, this is a real treat for those fascinated by ancient history.
If you are looking for a romantic location to spend a few days in with your partner, you couldn’t do better than to visit Venice. The canals alone are the best way to see the city as most visitors see it – and the scenery is superb.
Milan, meanwhile, is world famous for its expert hand in the world of fashion. You might not like the prices but the window shopping is fantastic! The city is located in the northern part of the country, along with Turin. This is another great city to visit, not least because the Alps tower up into the sky nearby.
What type of holidays is it good for?
As you have probably guessed, Italy offers a wealth of outstanding cities to visit for a long weekend away. The most exciting part of the country is the history it brings with it.
But it can offer a lot more than that too. Italy has some amazing landscapes to appreciate, and there is no better way to get up close to them than by heading off on a skiing holiday. The best resorts are all in the northern part of the country, so you can easily try more than one. How about Courmayeur and Val Gardena, for example?
You may not automatically think of Italy if you fancy a long beach holiday to while away your time off during the summer. But you might be surprised, because Italy can offer just this as well. The Amalfi coast is rather mountainous, and it doesn’t have the biggest beach you’ll ever see, but if it isn’t too busy you can enjoy all the trappings of a traditional beach based holiday.
So you can see, from the mountains to the beaches, and the farthest reaches of history to modern day fashion, Italy can pretty much offer it all.
In conclusion
It doesn’t take too long to fly to Italy from Heathrow Airport. And once you are in the country you may decide to explore more than one place as well. There is so much to see and do here that some people opt for a multi-centred holiday that allows them to see more of what Italy has to offer.
But whatever the reason is for going – from a long weekend shopping to a week long holiday on the coast – you won’t regret booking your flight from Heathrow to start it off.