Around the World in A Week with Big Picture Press - Italy

Day 4 of our Maps: Poster Book World Tour and Elisa is our guide to the sights of Italy...

Hello everyone! My name is Elisa and I come from Italy.

Even though I moved to England eight years ago, I still miss my country, especially its historical landmarks and the beautiful landscapes. 

As the former seat of the Roman Empire, Italy is a country with a spectacular history in which every city has evolved in a unique way, leaving tourists spoilt for choice when it comes to historical sightseeing destinations.

Although every city in Italy is beautiful in its own right, I am going to walk you through some of the historical sites I consider an absolute must-visit:

1) Colosseum - Rome If you are planning a trip to Italy, the Colosseum is definitely the first place you should visit. The Colosseum is the largest Amphitheater of its kind ever built by the Roman Empire and I guarantee its beauty will never fail to take your breath away, no matter how many times you have visited Rome.

2) Canal Grande – Venice Everyone should enjoy a gondola ride through the canals of Venice at least once in a lifetime. Venice is a city of islands and the canals are, in many ways, the equivalent of London’s busy streets. Lining the canals are traditional and striking buildings, which for the most part have remained unchanged for hundreds of years, adding to the romantic charm. The most famous of these watercourses is Canal Grande, dominated by one of the most beautiful bridges in the country: Ponte di Rialto.

3) Santa Maria del Fiore - Florence Regarded as one of the most fascinating cathedrals in the world, Santa Maria del Fiore is a must see if you are in Florence. The cathedral was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. Its astonishing dome, was completed by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1434. The Campanile, which is 82 meters high (with a total of total of 414 steps), can be climbed. The entrance fee is really inexpensive and the view of the city from the top is spectacular. I highly recommend it! 

4) Basilica di San Pietro – Vatican City The Vatican is home to some of the greatest and most beautiful landmarks and art collections in the world. Designed by greatest renaissance artists such as Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, Carlo Maderno and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, St. Peter's is not only one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture, but also one of the largest churches in the world. 

5) La Torre Pendente – Pisa Although the Leaning Tower of Pisa is just one of the many architectural landmarks in Pisa, I think it is fair to say that its fame is renown all over the world. Works on the tower started in the 1100s and the sinking, which led to the lean, began by the time the tower reached the third story. Many predicted that the tower was going to collapse by the year 2000, but its stability has greatly improved thanks to extensive restoration works carried out in the early ‘90’s. Today, visitors can climb up the stairs of the tower for a fabulous view over the Piazza del Duomo. 

 Maps: Poster Book is available now from all good bookshops - put the world on your wall today. Paperback  9781783702039 £12.99