Italy has more than 4,000 miles of coastline, so it’s no surprise that it has more beaches than any other country in continental Europe. No part of the country is more than a two-hour drive from the Italian coast, and Italians love the beach lifestyle. Unsurprisingly, Italian customs at the beach are as unique as any other facet of Italian culture. Here are few tips to help you enjoy your beach holidays In Italy. 

While not a large country, Italy offers everything from snowy mountain peaks to sandy beaches. Whether you're thinking about spending time on the Amalfi Coast or prefer to spend your time visiting cities like Rome and Florence, the country has remarkably varied weather that must be taken into consideration when you are planning your trip.

One of the first things you may notice on your visit to the Amalfi Coast is the scent of lemons in the air. This isn’t your garden variety lemon — Amalfi lemons are a unique breed native to this tiny corner of the world. These lemons are bigger, rounder, and sometimes more bulbous than the varieties you find at home, with softer skin and a sweeter flavor.

After a long train ride, say from Rome to Genoa, you might want to jump in the shower to freshen up. But private showers weren't the norm in ancient Rome. About 1,500 years ago you couldn’t throw a rock in Rome without hitting a public bathhouse. Since the third century BCE, when Romans borrowed the idea of the public bathhouse and the concept of the regular bathing ritual from the Greeks, Rome has refined the art of not just bathing, but relaxation itself. 

Hop on the train and head towards Florence to learn some of Italy's most interesting history. Any well-informed Florentine of the mid-15th century would have recognized the distinctive profile of Il Magnifico —  Lorenzo the Magnificent de’ Medici (b. 1449 - d. 1492). His was not a handsome face but it was a memorable one. He had a flattened, sloping nose that looked broken, a prominent jaw and wide, dark eyes lurking under bumpy, irregular brows. His was the visage of power. 

Hop off the train at Rome's Termini train station and you'll soon learn Rome isn’t simply one of the most beautiful cities in the world — it’s also one of the most delicious. If you’re planning a trip to the Eternal City, you owe it to yourself to experience the remarkable diversity of traditional Roman cuisine.

With so many excellent places to visit, a quick glance at some of the best cities to visit in Italy can make your trip planning that much smoother. 

Let’s take a look at some of the best urban Italy destinations to explore during your vacation in Italy.