Italy's New Additions

Visitors will find Italy a more structured country with many changes taking effect in 2011. Many of these apply to frequently visited regions and sites benefiting tourists.

Rome:

• For example, in Rome the Vatican Museum’s new online reservation system is up and running. The museum has also extended its hours on Fridays in April through October from 7-11 pm for reservations only. Expect to see the museum’s Etruscan Rooms, which are now open after a long renovation.

• Also in Rome, the famous Coliseum is being cleaned from top to bottom. Lights will also be installed which will open up previously closed off sections to visitors.

• Tiburtina, Rome’s second largest train station, is undergoing renovations to house more high speed trains. Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (NTV), a new company, will run one of their high speed trains through the station along with Eurostar Italia bullet train which currently stops at this station.

Pisa:

• A big tourist attraction, the Leaning Tower has extended their summer hours making it possible to tour the landmark and survey the Field of Miracles like never before. Their reservations system and organizational methods while visiting the tower have been running smoothly.

Venice:

• Dogana traghetto, ferry gondola, is back and shuttling visitors across the mouth of the Grand Canal. Don’t miss this exciting ride!

• The new People Mover monorail is another new device making visitor transportation easier. The automated People Mover departs every few minutes carrying passengers from the parking lot at Tronchetto to Piazzale Roma in three minutes.

• The Punta della Dogana, a new art museum, recently opened in the former Customs House. The displays change every year featuring more cutting edge 21^st-century pieces by newer artists.

Europe’s rich culture is booming everywhere you go in Italy. Immerse yourself in this enchanting country’s abounding history and incomparable sites.