Rome and Florence, Italy

Nestled between the Piedmont and Aosta Valley regions in the Graian Alps is the Italian national park known as Gran Paradiso. The park, which shares a border with the French Vanoise National Park, is named after the Gran Paradiso peak, which is situated within it. Though it now also protects other species, the park's original purpose was to keep poachers away from the Alpine ibex, which King Victor Emmanuel II used as a personal hunting area.In the summer, Alpine ibex graze in the bountiful alpine pastures; in the winter, they move down to lower altitudes. The ibex is protected all year round thanks to Gran Paradiso's partnership with Vanoise National Park.In addition to ibex, the park is home to ermine, weasels, hares, alpine chamois, Eurasian badgers, wolves (who were just brought in from Central Italy), and maybe lynx.The majority of the year is spent above the tree line by chamois and ibex. In the winter and spring, they move down to the valleys. The plants along the snow line provide the food source for alpine marmots.The state created the Gran Paradiso National Park as a protected area to protect the valley ecosystems surrounding the Gran Paradiso mountain for current and future generations. These ecosystems are of national and worldwide significance. Therefore, managing and protecting the protected area, preserving the biodiversity of this region and its landscape, conducting scientific research, educating the public about the environment, and developing and promoting sustainable tourism are the goals of the body.

The largest island in the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, located 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the seaside town of Piombino on the Italian mainland. In addition, it is the third biggest island in Italy, after Sardinia and Sicily, and a component of the Arcipelago Toscano National Park. About 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of the French island of Corsica, it is situated in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Part of the province of Livorno, the island is home to seven municipalities and a total population of over 30,000, which rises significantly in the summer. Portoferraio, the main town of the island, Campo nell'Elba, Capoliveri, Marciana, Marciana Marina, Porto Azzurro, and Rio are the municipalities.With the exception of Mount Capanne, where winters are typically mildly cold, the island has a primarily Mediterranean climate. Autumn brings the most precipitation, which includes typical rainfall. The island receives less than 750 mm (30 inches) of precipitation annually than the mainland since it is located in the rain shadow of the big, mountainous island of Corsica. In the lowlands, winter snowfall is uncommon and swiftly disappears. The average monthly temperature for each island is displayed in the table below.Toremar, Moby Lines, Blunavy, and Sardinia Ferries are the four ferry companies that connect the island to the mainland. They all provide services between Piombino and the capital, Portoferraio, which is located in the north, and Cavo, Rio Marina, and Porto Azzurro, which are located on the island's east coast.The island is represented by the Elba football team. At the 2020 Annual General Meeting, they were accepted as a ConIFA member.It cannot participate in the UEFA European Championship or the FIFA World Cup since it is not connected to either UEFA or FIFA. Nonetheless, it participates in the ConIFA European Football Cup and is associated with ConIFA.

Free admission to Herculaneum is available on April 25, June 2, November 4, and the first Sunday of every month. Weekdays are the ideal time to visit Herculaneum, particularly during the slow season from November to March. There will be fewer tourists and a more laid-back atmosphere. The ancient Roman town of Herculaneum is situated in the present-day comune of Ercolano, Campania, Italy. When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, Herculaneum was buried beneath a huge pyroclastic flow.Herculaneum is renowned for being one of the few ancient cities that has been almost completely preserved, much like the nearby city of Pompeii. This is because the town was shielded from the elements and looting by the hardened debris from the volcano that covered it. Pompeii was identified in 1763 after being made public in 1748.In contrast to Pompeii, Herculaneum's mostly pyroclastic covering carbonized and preserved more wooden items, including doors, beds, and roofs, as well as other organic materials, such papyrus and food. The old story goes that the city was accidentally rediscovered in 1709 while a well was being drilled. However, prior earthworks had already discovered remnants of the city.Following the discovery of the site, archaeologists dug tunnels and removed relics. Since 1738, frequent excavations have been conducted sporadically. Only a small portion of the ancient site has been explored to this day. Instead of revealing more, the emphasis now is on protecting the areas of the city that have already been excavated.  

Located in Florence, Italy, the Ponte Vecchio is a closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge made of stone that spans the Arno. It is famous for the businesses that were constructed along it; it was previously normal practice to put shops on bridges like this. It is the only bridge in Florence that was not destroyed during World War II. Originally owned by farmers, butchers, and tanners, the stores are now filled by jewelers, art dealers, and souvenir vendors. The Ponte Santa Trinita and the Ponte alle Grazie are the two bridges that are adjacent to the Ponte Vecchio.Via de' Guicciardini (Borgo San Jacopo and Via de' Bardi) and Via Por Santa Maria (Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli and Lungarno degli Archibusieri) are connected by the bridge. When the Ponte alla Carraia was constructed, it was the oldest bridge in Florence and was dubbed Ponte Nuovo, in contrast to the old one. Beyond its historical significance, the bridge has been an essential part of the city's road system since it linked the Roman Florentia with the Via Cassia Nova, which was ordered by Emperor Hadrian in 123 AD.Even though the bridge is no longer open to cars, a significant number of pedestrians cross it because of its notoriety and the fact that it links popular tourist destinations on both banks of the river: the Oltrarno's Palazzo Pitti and Santo Spirito on one side and Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Signoria on the other. The bridge is included as a monumental structure that qualifies as national artistic heritage in the 1901 list created by the General Directorate of Antiquities and Fine Arts.