AVION TOURISM #74 Special Edition for Milan Bergamo Airport Destinations

Special Destinations Italy

14 FASCINATING ITALIAN CITIES LAPPED BY THE SEA

On holiday discovering the "Bel Paese"

There are many splendid Italian cities connected to Milan Bergamo Airport, which offer travellers marvellous places for a short or long summer holiday. These cities, all reached with direct flights in a few hours from the Bergamask airport, are located in the some of the most beautiful regions of Italy: Abruzzo, Calabria, Campania, Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily.

Alghero, Bari, Brindisi, Cagliari, Catania, Crotone, Lamezia Terme, Lampedusa, Naples, Olbia, Palermo, Pescara, Pantelleria and Trapani are the Italian cities we invite you discover on your next trip. Each one offers numerous attractions, whether you prefer a relaxing vacation or activity-filled holiday: sea, nature, rich artistic heritage and ancient traditions, which, together tours and trips to the surrounding areas, exciting travel experiences discovering new gourmet aromas and flavours of the simple regional cuisine and locally produced wines, are sure to enrich your holiday.

Holidays in Italian seaside cities are a unique experience because they combine beach life with artistic and cultural treasures, such as the incredible monuments, museums and unparalleled tourist and artistic attractions that Italy is well qualified to offer through its countless open-air treasures.

Charming coastlines dotted with beaches and bays, a crystal-clear sea - at times either turquoise or deep blue, protected natural areas and unspoilt Mediterranean wildlife, archaeology parks, fishermen’s villages and small medieval towns, which, with the historical and artistic attractions of each city, will make your holiday unforgettable.

Text by Alisè Vitri

ALGHERO

A terrace on the sea

From the north it is possible to admire the extraordinary spectacle of small coves and inlets, as well as Piana Island, Capo Caccia, and the forest refuge of Mount Timidone, where tours on horseback or rock climbing can be undertaken.

The city boasts an enviable Mediterranean climate and offers visitors a look back into its rich historic and cultural heritage, evidence of which is provided at first glance by the walls, demonstrating its vocation as an ancient walled city, which were built out of a necessity to defend itself from numerous enemy attacks.

BARI

The city with unfolded wings

The chief town of Puglia (Apulia), Bari faces the sea and, seen from above, appears like a bird with unfolded wings, whose head is old Bari. From the ancient name Barion, Bari has been inhabited by a long list of civilisations, ranging from the Romans to the Arabs, and then the Longobards, Byzantines and Saracens. After the construction of the Church of San Nicola (St. Nicholas) in the XI century, Bari became one of the most vital centres of Christianity, a meeting place and point of arrival of the Crusades. The origins of this Church of the Patron saint - St. Nicholas - who is venerated not only by Catholics but also Orthodox and Protestant Christians, are unusual.

BRINDISI

A unique port city, a crossroads of peoples and cultures

Since the Romans, Brindisi represented the access to the East. The city have a two millennium history on its back, a life entangled with its port upon which were built the last two columns ending the famous Via Appia. The twin columns date back to II AC and are the symbol of Brindisi; today only one of the pair is still entire, crowned with a capital sculptured in Corinthian order with acanthus leaves, heads of gods and eight Tritons in the corners. The only thing left of the other column is the base. Brindisi, icon of Puglia, identifies in its cultural heritage the value of centuries-old monuments and treasures.

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CAGLIARI

A city made of historic districts to be discovered

The age-old history of Cagliari is clearly perceived on a stroll through the streets of the city, which was founded in the Neolithic period when it was constructed by Phoenician-Punic rulers. The city is divided into different districts, each with specific features: the Marina district, inhabited by traders and fishermen, the Castello district, home to Medieval relics, the Stampace district, positioned below the castle walls and once the home of artists and craftsmen, and the Villanova district, where farmers who emigrated from the nearby Campidano plain became established.

CATANIA

The queen of Baroque

Catania is the Baroque queen of the Ionian Sea. It has an eighteen-century architectural layout, but its origins date back to the ancient Greek colony of the Chalcis people of Naxos, who settled on the slopes of Etna in 729 BC. Under Frederick II, Catania gained its first municipal coat of arms depicting the legendary elephant, which is still a symbol of the city today.

After Frederick II it was the turn of the Angevins and then the Aragonese, who made Catania capital of the Kingdom of Sicily and remained until 1411. The Spanish rule of Charles V brought about the construction of the outer defensive walls of the city, which are still visible along Via Plebiscito.

CROTONE

The pearl of Magna Grecia

We are flying towards a wonderful corner of Calabria lapped by the clear blue waters of the Ionian Sea, a land of harmonious hills and immense expanses of green vegetation. Crotone, the pearl of Magna Grecia, a place of beautiful landscapes and coastline, has a rich cultural heritage.

With its blend of ancient and modern, Crotone reveals its ancient splendours through a striking cultural tourism itinerary. Suffice it to say that this age-old city was chosen by the mathematician Pythagoras of Samos (around 532 B.C.) as the ideal learning centre for the many studies and activities inspired by his genius. Crotone, known for its proverbial hospitality, is also a land of ancient flavours, sun and sea.

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LAMEZIA TERME

A blend of culture and well-being

The Municipality of Lamezia Terme in the province of Catanzaro has reached over fifty years of life. It was formed with a resolution of the Senate in 1967 by the merger of the three Calabrian municipalities of Nicastro, Sambiase and Santa Eufemia Lamezia. However, in this short period of time, Lamezia Terme has succeeded in stealing the limelight in Italy and abroad, both for its accommodation and tourist facilities (including a strategic airport and renowned spa) and for its interesting archaeological sites.

LAMPEDUSA

The island of turtles with crystal clear water

The island of Lampedusa, part of the archipelago of the Pelagie Islands of Sicily, is the largest of the group. The island surprises for its spectacular natural environment, which is abundant with rare plant species, but also for its ancient history and archaeology. The history of Lampedusa has roots reaching deep into prehistory. Archaeological studies and excavations have brought to light ancient structures from eras ranging from Neolithic to Roman and Byzantine. Of particular interest are the ancient “timpuna”, defined by archaeologists as “circles of stone”, constructions only a few dozen centimetres high. The island has over two hundred of these “timpuna”, which are grouped together like small settlements.

NAPLES

The magical ancient city at the foot of Vesuvius

The city of Naples, sits in a bay, encompasses 2,500 years of history and extraordinary places, surrounded by one of the most enchanting areas of the Mediterranean. Piazza del Plebiscito, a pedestrian area in front of the Palazzo Reale, is a symbol of the redevelopment of Naples. Inside the Palazzo a monumental staircase of particular beauty leads to the main floor, where you can visit the Throne Room, the Court Theatre and other magnificent halls of the Court.

OLBIA

The main port of North Sardina and of the Emerald Coast

Olbia is one of the most important cities in Sardinia. Together with the famous Porto Rotondo and San Pantaleo, nestled between the granitic rocks overlying the Costa Smeralda, Olbia boasts the Marina di Portisco and the Marina in Olbia, among the most important yacht harbours the Sardinia. In Romanesque style, rich with medieval frescoes and built in blocks of local granite, the Basilica of San Simplicio is one of the monuments of greatest importance in town; originally stood outside the medieval city, surrounded by a large graveyard dating from the Punic age.

PALERMO

City unique and surprising cultural heritage

Palermo is one of richest cities in Italy in terms of artistic monuments, which are found in numerous styles and are the legacy of the various dominations. Each of which has left significant traces of its passing: from the Romans and the Byzantines, to the Swabians, French, Spanish and Austrians. Palermo is also the fifth largest city in Italy with one of the largest old towns in Europe, where more than 500 buildings and churches, as well as seven theatres can be found. The Cathedral, dating back to 1184, is considered “The history book of Palermo”, due to the presence of traces of all the dominations that ruled over the city.

PANTELLERIA

An island with an ancient past

Since ancient times, because of its strategic geographical position between Sicily and Africa, the Island of Pantelleria, ancient Cossyra, played a fundamental role in trade between the two continents. Fought over by the Carthaginians and the Romans during the Punic wars, it passed definitively in 217BC under Roman administration.

The oldest area, overlooking the sea and surrounded by powerful walls, is the ancient fortified village of Murcia, dating back to 1700 - 1900 BC, which today due to its exceptional state of conservation allows us to see what life was like in ancient times, with housing similar to circular huts. Adjacent to the village is the necropolis, with more than fifty Sesi, dome-shaped tombs made with volcanic stone.

PESCARA

Active seaside town

Pescara is a bright, modern city, which is situated at the mouth of the river of the same, on the Adriatic Sea in Abruzzo, but less than an hour away from the highest peaks of the Apennine Mountains.

The city has been an exclusive tourism destination since the early twentieth century, as testified by period photos and the city’s elegant Art Nouveau villas, which are still carefully maintained. A stroll along the sea front lives up to all expectations: from the beautiful views and the scent of the trees and plants, including the cheerful palms, to the night clubs that energise the tourist scene on summer nights. But there are also picturesque open-air restaurants and a cycle path for taking in the healthy sea air.

TRAPANI

A city between two seas

Trapani is situated in the west of Sicily and is known as the “city between two seas” due to its location on a strip of land bathed by the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the Tyrrhenian Sea on the other. Over the centuries the city of Trapani has undergone numerous transformations but still retains its characteristic sickle shape. At its tip stands the Ligny Tower, built in 1671 and today the site of the Museum of Prehistory.

The sea that embraces the city of Trapani is as much a source of life today as it was in the past. Since the mid-sixteenth century, the master ‘corallers’ have made the city famous throughout the world with their exquisite items. A wonderful collection of items in coral can be seen at the Pepoli Museum, located in the old Carmelite Convent next to the Sanctuary of the Annunziata, where a marble statue of the Madonna of Trapani dating back to the fourteenth century can be found.

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Bergamo and its province

A warm welcome for arriving travellers

The spectacular skyline of Upper Bergamo welcomes passengers arriving at the airport with towers and belfries that soar over the roofs of the old city, which is encircled by Venetian Walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Monument. Churches and monuments, ancient, modern and contemporary works of art, buildings with splendid facades, as well as events, make Bergamo a city to discover together with the tourist offer of its surroundings. Bergamo province is a land enclosed by hills and mountains, with rivers, lakes and a vast plain. Each of these areas offer surprising and beautiful natural and cultural attractions. A stay in Bergamo combines a visit to one of the most beautiful art cities of Lombardy with trips outdoors to its valleys, rivers and lakes. Discover Bergamo and its surroundings.

Text by Alisè Vitri

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AMAZING BERGAMO

A unique kaleidoscope of history, art and nature

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Modern and ancient at the same time, Bergamo has two hearts: the medieval Upper Town and the new Lower Town. Reach Città Alta (the Upper Town) with the nineteenth-century funicular railway or the stone stairs to experience an exciting ascent through gardens, villas and unusual views in the shadow of the Venetian walls, a UNESCO world heritage site since 2017.

In the old town, you will find - in addition to historical insignia - the magnificent Piazza Vecchia with the high Campanone Bell Tower, the Angelo Maj Library and the Palazzo della Ragione, whose arcades lead to the Cathedral and the Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore, a Romanesque-Lombard and Baroque jewel.

BERGAMO

The beautiful hilltop city

Those who arrive and see Bergamo for the first time can’t help but think that a good portion of its history is found in the beautiful hilltop city. And this is precisely the case: 2,500 years are concentrated up there, and many have passed since the traces of the first inhabitants, who date back to the fifth century BC, were discovered. An exciting story to which new details are continuously added as new archaeological investigations reveal details of the old city. It is therefore no coincidence that Upper Bergamo offers the visitor the possibility of making an extraordinary excursion combining the beauty of the monuments and locations with the discovery of the past.

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