Europe Up Close

First Time Visitor Guide to Rome

Published/Revised May 10, 2018 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Most first-time visitors are filled with excitement and suspense when they first arrive in Rome. This guide will help you get to your hotel and plan the rest of your stay. Rome is so full of unfathomable beauty that it’s worth knowing what you’re getting into. Before you head out and see the Colosseum in Rome and all the other sights, it is best to know what you are getting yourself into. Some ... Read Full Article

Italy Tourist Information

Published/Revised June 12, 2014 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Introduction to Italy The tenth largest country in Europe; Italy reaches into the central Mediterranean and includes the islands Sardinia and Sicily. Before Italy became a nation-state in 1861, the country was divided into city-states. Those political divisions may no longer exist but they are still present culturally. One will find a long-standing rivalry between Florence and Siena, for ... Read Full Article

Trains, Bikes and Robo Taxis: Riding Green in Sweden

Published/Revised June 12, 2014 By This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

It’s no wonder that Sweden is the leader in "green" transportation in Europe. Sweden was the second country in the world to introduce an eco-tourism charter, after Australia. Sweden also set up ‘Nature’s Best’, Europe’s first eco-label that assures the quality of approximately 180 holidays and activities run by its 80 eco-certified tour operators around the country. Here are three of the latest ... Read Full Article