by Jacob Fiennes

The best time to go to Italy could well be, well, anytime. In reality the best time is between April and June as the flood of school holidays hasnt yet hit the roads, the countryside is at its fullest bloom and the weather isnt uncomfortably hot yet.

When deciding at which time of the year to go to Italy it may be worth scheduling around a couple of festivals as they are invariably spectacular occasions.

Here is a shortlist of the best on offer:

Festa dei Ceri, Umbria in May
Il Palio, Siena in July and August
Carnevale, Venice in February
Festa di San Gennaro, Naples in December
I Candelieri, Sardinia in August
Palio delle Quattro Antiche Repubbliche Marinare, Venice / Pisa / Amalfe / Genoa in May / June
Processione dei Serpari, Abruzzo in May
Sa Sartiglia, Sardinia in February
Umbria Jazz, Perugia in July

In August prices tend to skyrocket across the country along with the weather, so is best avoided. However, that is not true of the whole of the country. In a country such as Italy the weather is incredibly diverse, ranging from stifling heat in the low-lands of Florence to the snow-capped chills of the Alps and the Dolomites.

Overall you can expect long hot summers the further south you are, with Sicily and Sardinia enjoying the best of all, where sea swimming is possible right into mid October.

Italy is a fairly expensive country with accommodation being the single most costly aspect of a trip. You may find cheaper accommodation out of the city centres and in surrounding satellite towns. Expect to pay around 12 to 20 euros for a youth hostel, 25 to 45 euros for a basic pensione or small hotel, and around 70 to 120 euros for a mid-range hotel.

Eating out is an incredible experience throughout Italy. As any Italian will tell you, there really is no such thing as Italian food, as each region tends to be known for its particular specialities. Budget for around 20 to 35 euros for a great full-course meal with a house wine on average.

The delectable Cucina Italiana is never far away in Italy. If youre a bit of a gastronomic connoiseur then id recommend touring around the Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Umbria regions for the quintessential food tour.

Shop for Italian delights to take home in the Mercato delle Erbe in Bologna, then head off to nearby Modena for a bottle of perhaps the worlds finest balsamic vinegar.

Next pick up a delicious antipasto in the most well-known food town of Parma – see Parma ham and Parmesan cheese.

For you first dish perhaps Umbria for some umbricelli (pasta served with shaved truffles). If you can try to get your hands on the ever-elusive tartufo nero or black truffle from Norcia.

For the next course perhaps a taste of the infamous bistecca alla fiorentina from Florence or head to Perugia for a porchetta, an Umbrian speciality of suckling pig stuffed with its own liver plus a handful of wild fennel and rosemary.

What to drink with these delights? Head to the Chianti region for a rocking red, or Orvieto for a succulent and sharp white.

Round off this tour with dessert in Siena in the form of a slice of panforte, a hard flatcake of candied fruits and nuts, or perhaps cantucci e vin santo (yes you guessed it – a biscuit doused in sweet white wine), a Tuscan speciality.

Getting around Italy is relatively easy and cheap, although car hire prices are on the rise. If you decide to take a train the regionale (local stopping trains) are much cheaper than the diretto (fast intercity and eurostar trains) and in my opinion are far more rewarding as you get to see more and take photos along the way.

It youre in search of good reading to help in capturing the spirit of Italy then id recommend picking up a copy of Il Gattopardo by GT di Lampedusa, The Aeneid by Virgil, La Storia by Elsa Morate or perhaps Grazia Deledda’s Canne al Vento.

Have fun!

About the author:
Jacob Fiennes is an enthusiastic traveller and photographer with a passion for discovery. He is a founder and regular contributor to the hugely popular worldwide hotel reservations site TravelBX.com. Visit the site for your next hotel room reservation, flight ticket, tailored holiday package and much more.

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

By Robert Palmer

With so much to see and do in Italy, visitors making plans to tour the country face some difficult choices. One of the best ways to make sense of all of your options is by creating a set itinerary. Start by deciding what’s important to you on your vacation. This will of course vary for every traveler; some people are into gastronomy, while others visit Italy primarily to see artistic masterpieces.

Still others visit the peninsula to enjoy natural beauty. For those looking for a great combination of all three, one suggested itinerary would be a tour through Tuscany and Umbria. With world class cities and gorgeous scenery, these two regions offer something for every kind of visitor.

Tuscany is known throughout the world for its wonderful wine. Much of the production is centered in the region of Chianti, which is famous for the distinctive wine sold in wicker baskets. Many people come here to tour the vineyards, spending the days tasting wine, and the evenings relaxing in one of the many holiday homes in Chianti. The gentle rolling hills will be familiar to many viewers from the postcards that are sent around the world.

From Chianti, head southeast towards Siena and San Gimignano. Stop in the latter (often called the City of the Beautiful Towers) first, and spend a couple of days admiring the rich culture of this ancient Etruscan locale. Visit the People’s Palace, and make sure to tour the Duomo, Collegiate Church, which dates back to 1148. There is plenty of San Gimignano accommodation to choose from; many people will advise you to stay on the Via San Giovanni, but try to find a bed a bit further off this main avenue.

Next make your way to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Siena, settled nearly 3000 years ago. Spend an afternoon drinking coffee in the Piazza del Campo, people watching as folks stroll through on their way to work and play. A great time to visit is during the Palio di Siena, a horse race run around the Piazza twice each year. If you would prefer a quieter holiday, check out the holiday villas near Siena, up in the hills.

From Siena, swing out east towards Cortona, located in the province of Arezzo. Here you’ll find a picturesque castle, along with several pleasant plazas perfect for a nighttime stroll. The entire city is built upon a hill, with narrow streets winding their way around past boutique stores. It’s not hard to find a Cortona holiday apartment, and if you plan in advance, you can probably find accommodation right in the middle of town. This quiet hamlet is the perfect place to relax after a great time in Siena.

At the end of your trip, after experiencing all that these fine cities have to offer, head north to Florence for a few days in this spectacular city. This short jaunt through central Italy will leave you wanting more, but you can say with certainty that you spent your week well.
–
Margherita Signorini works as real estate agent for www.eurocasa.com, one of the most important Italian tour operator focused on rental of holiday villas and holiday homes in Chianti,Tuscany.

More about Umbria:
Discover even more about Umbria what your fellow travellers recommend to visit while in Umbria and what to do:
http://www.italytravelnotes.com/category/umbria/