Are you also in love with those cute Italian scooters? You know, the ones that they have in many different colours but the red one always stays the favourite one of everybody? Of course we are talking about the Vespa scooter. Can you picture it already: put your helmet on, let the sun shine in your face and let’s go touring through the Tuscan vineyards… All of this is possible during a Vespa Tour in Italy this summer!
Let’s go on a Vespa Tour in Italy
To help you plan your Vespa Tour in Italy, we will tell you all about the best places to visit in Tuscany, on Sicily and the Amalfi coast. It is possible to rent the scooter yourself or travel with an organisation. There are many organisations but what is better than having the freedom to discover the most beautiful places in Italy by yourself?
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Tuscany
We start our Vespa Tour in Italy by travelling to Tuscany. First of all, if you travel to Tuscany then you certainly can not miss the two largest cities: Pisa and Florence. Discovering the city of Pisa is easily possible in one day. Of course, the first thing we visit is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. However, the city offers many more such as the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Camposanto which are all located on the same square as the Leaning Tower: Piazza dei Miracoli – Square of the Miracles.
Do you like shopping and good food? Then you should visit the Sant‘Antionio district. Here you’ll find the street Corso Italia, one of the best shopping streets of Pisa. Another place you cannot miss is the Ponte di Mezzo bridge, the best known and most beautiful bridge of Pisa. Would you like to try a real Italian gelato? Then we recommend you to visit La Bottega del Gato, one of the best ice cream parlors of Pisa.
Then we go to Florence, Firenze in Italian. In order to see all the sights you need more than one day. We will tell you about the essential places to visit. Florence is a city that is known for its history, architecture, art and culture. First of all, you can visit one of the most famous art galleries of the world: Uffizi. The art gallery was originally a government building, but soon it was used to exhibit the art of the Medici family. A tip we would like to give you, visit the art gallery at the end of the day, in order to avoid crowds. Besides that, visit sights such as Palazzo Pitti, Palazzo Vecchio, the sculpture “David” by Michelangelo, the Cathedral of Florence or Santa Maria Novella. All these sight will make Florence one of the best destinations you’ve ever visited.
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In Lucca, located in the northwest of Tuscany, you should visit the municipality of Bagni di Lucca; Bagni di Lucca is a gathering of Medieval towns located in a green valley along the Lima River. Besides that, the centre has many cultural sights: churches such as Duomo di San Martino and the San Frediano Basilica. Or the lively square, Piazza del’ Anfiteatro. Lucca also has a watchtower, Torre Guinigi, which gives a stunning view of the old city.
Do you like hiking? Then we would recommend you to make a stop in Massa Marittima and Cortona. In both cities you can make a walking tour with a guide who will tell you all about the history of this area. In Massa Marittima you should also visit the beautiful Saint Cerbone’s Cathedral; and in Cortona you have to visit the town hall “El Palacio Comunal”, the Cathedral of Cortona and the Santuario di Santa Margarita.
Sicily
The Vespa Tour in Italy can also be done on Sicily, the biggest island in the Mediterranean Sea. The island has excellent beaches with many colourful fishing boats and old towns that all have an interesting history. We start in the northwest of sicily, in the old port city of Trapani. In order to discover all the sights of Trapani, we will need approximately one day. The old centre is known for its baroque palaces, churches and white fishing houses. The two most important sights are the Cathedral of San Lorenza and the Chiesa del Collegio Gesuiti church. In addition, a cable car in Erica, with a height of 751 metres, will give you a goregeous panoramic view of the Egadi islands.
Besides the old centre, Trapani also has good beaches, with Lidi San Giuliano Beach as the most beautiful beach. The beach has a wide sandy beach with a clear blue sea. Do you like to walk through the shopping streets all day long? Then you should go to the area between Via Torrearsa and Piazetta Cuba. The last tip we would like to give you is visiting the salt pans of Trapani, they produce the best salt of Italy.
A place you should also visit during your Vespa Tour in Italy is the capital of Sicily, Palermo. It is a city full of history, music, art and good food. The best sights of the city are the palaces and churches: Palazzo dei Normanni, La Zisa and Palazzo Abatellis, or the Santa Maria dell’Ammiraglio church. Would you like to take a break during your visit to Palermo? Then go to Villa Giulia. A beautiful park that offers a wonderful refreshment on the hot summer days.
In addition, in the northeast of Sicily you’ll find the famous volcano Etna, it has a total height of 3,323 metres and you can visit it until 3,000 metres. The Etna still is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. At the foot of the Etna, the city of Catania is located. The city has the most theatres of the whole island. Also, the inhabitants are very proud of the magical cathedral of the city.
Further to the southeast of the country we’ll find the city of Syracuse. It is a quite relaxed city with little colourful fishing boats in its waters. The Greek theatre is something you should definitely see. In addition, the city has a historical island named Ortygia, where you can discover the ruins of the temple of Apollon, the archaeological museum Paolo Orsi and the Dom of Syracuse.
Finally, when we continue to the southwest, we find Agrigento. The city has a very rich archeology including the famous temple of Concordia and the temple Juno Lacinia. You should also pay a visit to the ancient Greek city of Akragas, which was placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1997. In this area you’ll find 10 different temples.
The Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is on the World Heritage list of UNESCO thanks to its rich cultural history and unique nature. In addition, Amalfi is known for its steep cliffs, colourful villages and the wonderful Italian atmosphere. The coast has several beautiful villages where you will definitely come along with the Vespa Tour. We will tell you a bit about what these beautiful villages have to offer.
Let’s start with the town of Positano. It is a colourful village located on a cliff, that also has many small streets. In addition, there is Sorrento, a popular sea resort known as the lemon capital of Italy. Praiano is a quiet town that is located on top of the cliffs. From this city you have a good view of the entire coast from Positano to Capri.
Ravello, located on top of a mountain, offers great views. It is a popular village among artists. After, we continue with the most touristy spot of the area: the town of Amalfi. It is a historic town and the cultural and historical heart of the Amalfi coast. The last village, Atrani, is a seaside village. In Atrani, they grow olives, lemons and grapes.
Do you love photography? Then we recommend you to visit the gardens of Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo in Ravella.