Food is a huge part of the Italian lifestyle. It is an integral part of family life, and mealtimes are to be savoured. Indeed, during holiday periods, family feasts have been known to last the entire day. Italian food is famous the world over, and contains lots of chicken, vegetables, seafood and of course, pasta.

Italy is a favourite with both young and old holidaymakers alike. The very name conjures up images of romance, style, beauty and culture. The Italian people are colourful, expressive and passionate. They like to talk loudly and laugh, but above all they are welcoming and embracing, and always ready to share a good story.

Food is a huge part of the Italian lifestyle. It is an integral part of family life, and mealtimes are to be savoured. Indeed, during holiday periods, family feasts have been known to last the entire day. Italian food is famous the world over, and contains lots of chicken, vegetables, seafood and of course, pasta. 

Italy has some fabulous cities. There is the capital, Rome, where you can see why there is the famous saying; Rome wasn’t built in a day. The historical buildings and attractions, like the Colosseum, are breathtaking. There are also some wonderful historical things to see, like the Scala Santa, or Holy Stairs, where Jesus is believed to have walked up for his trial before Pontius Pilate, and the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.

The romantic city of Venice is another firm favourite. Even if you have never visited the city before, its reputation precedes it, conjuring up images of Gondoliers in striped jumpers, singing to loved-up couples as they make their way down the canals. This stunning city has a lot to offer, and visitors will be simply astounded by its beauty. The Venice Card could be useful if you are planning to visit a lot of museums, and the Rolling Venice card is cheap for young travellers. It offers good discounts on things like travel and lasts for months. 

Milan is a city name on the lips of many fashion-conscious people, and is world-renowned for its designer tastes. But its importance to Italy goes a lot deeper than that. It is the financial centre for the country, home to the stock exchange, and while it is serious about work, it is also very serious about play too. A must-see is the Duomo, an amazing church that took about 500 years to build. It is not surprising then, that it is one of the largest churches in the world. There is also something for the sports fans - the magnificent San Siro stadium, home to footballing powerhouse AC Milan.

Italy means something different to each visitor, whether it be the pizza and the partying, the sights and the sounds or the art and the atmosphere. But it is odds-on that if you go there in search of one thing, you will come away with a whole lot more. 
While youth travel may focus more on the current lifestyle of a country than its past, it is easy to see why a young traveller with an open mind could have a more enriching visit to Italy.