Italy-Destination Spots

Rome

Few cities in Europe and even the world can boast about their rich history like beautiful Rome can.  As the former caput mundi, or capital of the world in Latin, Rome is home to the Colosseum, Pantheon, Roman Forum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican, and an endless amount of museums, shops, attractions, and cafes. The Eternal City is the third most visited city in the EU, with both the Colosseum and the Vatican receiving over 4 million travelers each annually. Art fans will love to see the sights in Rome, the seat of the Renaissance movement.  Here, great artists like da Vinci, Michelangelo, Bramante, Raphael, de Chirico, and Bernini once lived and worked, and their contributions are still on display throughout the city today. Getting around while you're traveling, studying or volunteering in Rome is easy, thanks to the bus, tram, train, taxis, and moped, car and bike rentals.

Venice

Venice is known as the city with water for streets, where gondolas replace cars.  In the flooded calli, or alleyways, gondolas glide past each other as the singing voices of their drivers ring throughout the buildings.  Travelers will be amazed by Venice's architecture, which have survived the acqua alta (high water) for centuries. A bustling and modern northern Italian city, Venice offers travelers the old world mixed with contemporary times.  As the city with the most art per square kilometer, old masterpieces and modern art come together in its many galleries and museums.  Ancient architecture from the days of the Roman Empire is intermixed with the new. Fine cuisine, concerts, art, and cultural richness reside in the City of Water, a place that keeps current despite its ancient history.  With a population of 271,000, Venice can offer the student, volunteer or traveler endless cultural sights and sounds.  The Venice Film Festival and the Venice Biennale are held yearly in the city. Getting around is simple in Venice, whether it's by foot, vaporetti (waterbus), public transportation, or in the famed gondolas.  Cars won't be found in the city, since Venice is a no car zone!

Florence

Beautiful Florence is the capital and most populated city of Tuscany.  On par with the rest of Italy, Florence is home to the architectural wonders Santa Maria del Fiore (or The Duomo) and the Church of San Lorenzo, and the Uffizi Gallery, which contains some of the finest art in the world. Florence and Rome are both considered important cities during the Italian Renaissance, which shows in its collections of art from the period.  Considered the birthplace of the movement, Florence is also called the “Athens of the Middle Ages” for its importance during the time period. Florence has had a huge impact on Europe for its contributions of art, music, architecture, fashion, cuisine, philosophy, and religion.  Many famous Italians called Florence their home, including Dante, Botticelli, Machiavelli, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Galileo, and many modern fashion designers including Roberto Cavalli, Emilio Pucci, and Gucci.