Italy Jewels: Rome ,Venice & Lake Como City Break

From famous historic sites to relatively obscure catacombs, basilicas, fountains and museums, the Eternal City has many things to offer, as historic landmarks go hand in hand with the vibrant city nightlife.

Passing through old cobblestone streets and ruins, visitors can catch a glimpse of Rome’s main attractions such as the Pantheon, one of the best kept classical architecture buildings in the world, the iconic Trevi Fountain and the Vatican Museums. Sweeping views of the city can be captured on film and camera from the Spanish Steps, where holidaymakers can unwind over a prosciutto panini or a gelato after a day of exploring numerous shopping centres and bazaars. Nestled beneath the Vatican walls, the Prati district mixes elegant office buildings with high-end boutiques and public squares, while imposing military barracks and Museo delle Anime dei Defunti provides a unique experience. Tourists can also get a taste of a typical Italian night out by visiting local restaurants, bars and clubs and enjoying a classic pizza or pasta.

The capital of the Veneto region, listed as a World Heritage Site, Venice is set on a group of 118 small islands separated by a labyrinth of canals and linked by century-old bridges. Collonaded squares, domes and arches can be seen while on a sleek motorboat or during a gondola ride that will carry visitors through the city’s main waterways.

Tourists shouldn’t miss out on the opportunity to visit the Doge’s Palace, a symbol of the republic’s wealth and mastery over land and sea. On the eastern end of St. Mark’s Square, the world-renowned Byzantine basilica has become a landmark of the city with its four bulbous domes and golden mosaics. Throughout the cobbled streets, there are countless shops where travellers can pick out unique handmade masks painted according to the 800-year-old Venetian tradition.

The third-largest lake in Italy, Como blooms in the fresh breezes of the Alps, exposing flourishing wildlife in a vast and verdant scenery. With ancient lakeside villas and landscaped parks scattered around, the region bears witness to the regal past and decadent wealth of the Roman Empire.

Crystal-clear waters invite holidaymakers to set sail and go yachting or make the most of the refreshing winds from the Alps and try out a session of windsurfing or kitesurfing at one of the on-shore sporting centres. Lakeside hiking trails will lead to the Tremezzo village, where the manicured gardens of the medieval Villa Carlotta fill the air with sweet perfume. Amid rustling olive groves and exotic woods on the western edge of the lake, The Sacro Monte di Ossuccio attracts cultural sightseers with its 15 Baroque-inspired chapels leading up to the famous sanctuary. Similarly inspiring historic sights await at the Gothic Como Cathedral, which features imposing Renaissance architecture and statues.