6 Things To Be Aware Of Whilst Travelling In Italy

Apse of Bramante's Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)By Paulus Van Henderson


Since Italy hosts over half of the world's great art treasures, any lover of art and history is assured of a richly rewarding experience, which will be all the more rewarding and less frustrating if you know a few things first. As with any country, there are local customs, traditions and ways of doing things that can seem a little strange to the unwary visitor. But importantly, as visitors, it is our responsibility to know as much as possible beforehand so that we don't risk causing offence unnecessarily.

Top 10 Reasons to Go See the Last Supper

Image via Wikipedia
By Mimi Rippy


1. The Last Supper, or Il Cenacolo, as it is called in Italian, is one of the most popular attractions on the Italian tourism circuit. So buy your Last Supper Painting Tickets before hand to ensure you are able to view the painting and don't miss out on this incredible experience.

Dinner and a Betrayal!

Image via Wikipedia
By Mimi Rippy


Discover why The Last Supper is one of the most famous religious images in the world. This article explains The Last Supper's appeal and why it has been the centre of so much debate. It will highlight the elements that are often over looked and how being in its presence will make you reassess the brilliance of Leonardo da Vinci.

Your Italian Holiday in Milan

Image by jrgcastro via Flickr

Milan, one the largest cities in Italy, is situated in Northern Italy and is the capital city of the region of Lombardy. It has a population of more than one million and is a great place to start your Italian holiday with some culture and shopping.

The oldest shopping mall in the world is said to be the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II which was designed and built in the 19th century. It features a glass and steel arch covering a street and in the centre a glass dome. You can shop for anything here, including haute couture and the world famous fashion houses. There are also plenty of restaurants where you can get a bite to eat and a drink and sit and watch the world go by for a while. The mall leads to two of Milan's most famous edifices, the Duomo and the Teatro alla Scala.

If you want to include some culture in your Italian holiday, then the Duomo is where to start. The residence of the Archbishop of Milan has incredible Gothic architecture and plays a major part in maintaining and spreading the Catholic faith. If you take a guided tour of Milan, this is sure to be included.

The Teatro alla Scala was built late in the 18th century after a fire destroyed its predecessor. The rich used to gather here but there was a gallery above the boxes where the poor were permitted to attend the opera. It has recently been renovated very sympathetically ensuring the preservation of the historical details.

The Castello Sforzesco or Sforza Castle is another landmark of Milan, home of the Sforza family who ruled here in the 14th and 15th centuries and surrounded by a walled hunting park. There are several museums, one of which is home to an art collection which includes Michelangelo's last sculpture, the Rondanini Pietà, Andrea Mantegna's Trivulzio Madonna and Leonardo da Vinci's Codex Trivulzianus manuscript.

No Italian holiday in Milan would be complete without seeing Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper which is a mural measuring 450 × 870 centimeters (15 feet × 29 ft) and covering the back wall of the dining hall at Santa Maria delle Grazie.

So, whether your preference is art and architecture or shopping for high fashion, you couldn't choose a better place for an Italian holiday than Milan.

For more hints and tips on how to make the best of an Italian holiday, click here.

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