World / Europe / Italy

An intoxicating mix of arts, culture, ancient history and spectacular natural diversity continues to attract leisure and business travellers to Italy. Tourism is thriving with visitors eager to explore Italy's historic cities, breathtaking galleries, architecture and unforgettable cuisine. A sunny, Mediterranean climate and unrivalled landscapes make holidays in Italy endlessly appealing. Leisure travellers flock to Italy's Alpine mountain ranges, vast lakes, stylish beaches and magnificent cities.

Business visitors are attracted to Italy's low business costs and key industries, including fashion, textiles, motor vehicles and petrochemicals. Thriving business centres are located in the prosperous northern cities of Milan and Turin. For tourists, the top attractions are the spectacular Northern Lakes and picturesque canals of Venice. A comprehensive rail and road network helps visitors travel down the ‘boot' to the rolling hills of Tuscany with its Renaissance-rich cities of Florence, Pisa and Siena. Further south is capital Rome, home to astonishing ancient monuments, cathedrals and art galleries bursting with works by Da Vinci, Caravaggio and Botticelli. Onwards is bustling Naples, which serves as a jumping off point for Pompeii and a boat route to the Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily.