Italy Complete Motorhome (2–3 Weeks)

Roman VillaEven in antiquity, the peninsula was a coveted location. The so-called Grotte di Catullo are the remains of a large villa dating from between the late 1st century BC and the 1st century AD; the family of the poet Catull owned a villa in Sirmione, but the attribution of the ruins to him is merely tradition.Scaliger, Venice and AustriaFrom 1277, the Scaligers from Verona built the water castle. In 1405, Sirmione came under the Republic of Venice, and after its end, to the Habsburgs. In 1859, after the battles of Solferino and San Martino, the town fell to the Kingdom of Sardinia; until 1866, the border with Habsburg Venetia ran near Lugana.Spa TownThe hot spring Boiola in the lakebed has been documented since 1546 and was rediscovered in 1889 by a Venetian diver. Since then, thermal baths and tourism have thrived on its healing waters.

The Opera Festival in the Arena has been held since 1913, interrupted only by wars. The 2026 season ran from June 12 to September 12, primarily featuring works by Verdi and Puccini.The city's churches illustrate the development from Romanesque (San Zeno, Duomo) to Gothic (Sant'Anastasia). Castelvecchio exhibits paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages to the 18th century. The Verona Card is valid for 24 or 48 hours and includes, among other things, the Arena, the Torre dei Lamberti, the Castelvecchio Museum, and San Zeno, as well as city buses.

From Roman Colony to Medici CityFlorence was founded in 59 BC as the Roman settlement Florentia, laid out like a military camp. In the Middle Ages, the city grew wealthy through trade and banking. From the 15th century, the Medici determined its politics, becoming Grand Dukes of Tuscany from 1569. From 1865 to 1871, Florence served as the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.RenaissanceBrunelleschi, Donatello, Masaccio, Botticelli, Leonardo, and Michelangelo worked here. You can see their works in the Uffizi, the Accademia, the Bargello, and many churches. Dante also hailed from Florence.Crafts and FestivalsIn Oltrarno, especially around Santo Spirito and San Frediano, goldsmiths, bookbinders, gilders, intarsia carvers, and leather artisans still work today. Leather goods are primarily sold at the San Lorenzo market. On Easter Sunday, a cart with fireworks is set off in front of the Duomo during the Scoppio del Carro. In late June and early July, the Calcio Storico games take place on Piazza Santa Croce, and on June 24th, the city's patron saint, John the Baptist, is celebrated.ExcursionsYou can reach Fiesole, on the hill north of the city, with bus line 7. Pisa, Lucca, Siena, and the Chianti region are feasible as day trips.

City-Republic and GothicIn the 13th and early 14th centuries, Siena was a wealthy trading and banking city. The Monte dei Paschi di Siena, active since 1472, is considered the world's oldest continuously operating bank. The Plague of 1348 killed about half the population and halted construction of the New Duomo. In 1555, Siena capitulated to Spain; an exile republic held out in Montalcino until 1559.Sienese PaintingDuccio, Simone Martini, and the brothers Pietro and Ambrogio Lorenzetti shaped a distinct school of painting. You can see their works primarily in the Palazzo Pubblico and the Duomo Museum.Contrade and PalioAt the Palio on July 2nd and August 16th, ten of the 17 Contrade compete against each other: seven are set, three are drawn by lot. The racetrack on the edge of the Campo is covered with a mix of tuff, clay, and sand for the event. Six trial races take place beforehand; the city is very crowded on these days.ExcursionsFrom Siena, you can reach Chianti, the Val d'Orcia with Pienza and Montalcino, San Gimignano, and the Abbey San Galgano.

From Foundation to World EmpireAccording to tradition, Rome was founded in 753 BC. From a city-state on the Tiber, it evolved over centuries into the capital of a Republic and, from 27 BC, with Augustus as the first emperor, an Empire that dominated the entire Mediterranean region. The Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, and the remains of the imperial palaces on the Palatine date from this period.City of PopesLater, Rome became the capital of the Papal States. During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, the Popes had the city reshaped: Bramante and Michelangelo left their mark on St. Peter's Basilica, while Bernini and Borromini shaped the churches, squares, and fountains of the city center. Since 1871, Rome has been the capital of Italy, and the Vatican has been an independent state within the city since the Lateran Treaties of 1929. The historic center has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1980.FestivitiesOn April 21st, Rome celebrates its founding day, the Natale di Roma, with a parade in historical costumes.

The Grotto of TiberiusOn the coast stood a Republican-era villa, later owned by Emperor Tiberius. He had the natural sea grotto converted into a magnificent dining hall. During the construction of the coastal road Via Flacca in 1957, sculpture groups depicting scenes from the Odyssey were discovered inside, which are exhibited in the local Archaeological Museum.The Town on the PromontoryAfter the fall of the Western Roman Empire, locals sought refuge in the villa's ruins, later moving to the promontory to escape the swamps and Saracen raids. In the summer of 1534, the Ottoman fleet under Barbarossa destroyed the town. The oldest church is Santa Maria from the early 12th century.

Greek settlers first founded the settlement of Parthenope in the 8th century BC, and in the 6th century BC, further inland, Neapolis, the 'new city'. After a period as a Byzantine Duchy, Naples came under Norman rule in the 12th century. From 1282, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Naples, later of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, until the unification of Italy in 1861.Opened in 1737, the Teatro San Carlo is considered the oldest continuously operating opera house in the world.Among its vibrant traditions are the art of nativity scenes, with workshops lining Via San Gregorio Armeno, the veneration of the city's patron saint San Gennaro, and the art of the Neapolitan pizza maker, which UNESCO recognized as intangible cultural heritage in 2017.

From the 9th century, Amalfi was an independent maritime republic; its merchants traded with Byzantium, North Africa, and the Levant. Its collection of maritime laws, the Tabula de Amalpha, is considered the oldest Italian maritime law and was applied throughout the Mediterranean until the 16th century. After its conquest by the Normans in 1073 and its plundering by Pisa in 1135 and 1137, the city lost its significance.From these trade contacts emerged Arab-Norman architectural styles, such as those seen in the Chiostro del Paradiso in Amalfi. To this day, Amalfi produces handmade Bambagina paper, while Vietri sul Mare is known for its painted ceramics.The lemons of the coast, especially the variety Sfusato Amalfitano, grow in terraced gardens on the steep slopes and are protected as Limone Costa d'Amalfi by a geographical indication (IGP).