WHY SHOULD YOU VISIT MELBOURNE?

On Australia’s southeast coast, Melbourne entices visitors with its alluring charm and wealth of activities. There are many reasons to consider a holiday in this multicultural metropolis, with thriving cultural scene, delectable cuisine and breathtaking natural surroundings.

Melbourne’s vibrant arts and culture sector is evidence of how passionately it embraces its artistic soul. The National Gallery of Victoria, which has a significant collection of local and foreign artwork, is one of the city’s top galleries. Wander the city’s famous lanes lined with eye-catching street art and step into unaffiliated galleries displaying up-andcoming artists.

Melbourne offers a variety of theatre, dance, and music for fans of the performing arts. Catch a mesmerizing stage show, take in a riveting ballet performance, or dance to the beat of live music in hip bars and clubs, which range from large theatres to small settings.

Enjoy Melbourne’s culinary paradise, which is renowned for its inventive and diverse food scene. The city offers a unique culinary experience, from upscale restaurants to secret laneway eateries. Taste the combination of flavours found in cuisines from throughout the world, explore mouthwatering street food at hopping markets, and indulge in seasonal local fare at renowned farm-to-table eateries.

Melbourne is known for its legendary love of coffee. Enjoy expertly prepared coffee at welcoming cafés or chic espresso bars to immerse yourself in the city’s burgeoning coffee culture. Bring out your inner foodie and go on a culinary adventure that will have you hankering for more.

Tommy S, Year 9 writes...

Having lived for eight years in Milan, I would like to recommend my top five places to visit in Italy.

Florence

5) Firenze is a beautiful city in central Italy, known as the capital of Tuscany. The city is noted for its culture, Renaissance past and monuments. It also contains numerous museums and art galleries, such as Uffizi, and still exerts a strong influence in the fields of art, culture and politics.

Due to Florence’s artistic and architectural heritage, it is consistently ranked as one of the world’s beautiful cities.

Naples

4) In fourth place we have Napoli. It is in the south and is also Italy’s third largest city. Naples has beautiful ancient and iconic tourist attractions and is known for the archaeological area of Pompeii and the amazing volcano, Mount Vesuvius. Other top tourist attractions are the Royal Palace of Naples and the San Carlo Theatre. Right now, it is also a good time to go as there are celebrations around the city since the Napoli football team won their third ever scudetto, after 33 years! Finally, you can enjoy the lovely food, such as the famous Pizza Napoletan.

Venice

3) With its architectural heritage, spectacular Grand Canal, and unmatched romantic vibes, there’s no question why people from all over the world flock here. Venice is one of Italy’s most famous cities and few places can compare to Venice. There’s this incredible Renaissance feeling to the city, sparked by the centuries-old, unchanged buildings. You feel like you’re entering a work of art, a masterpiece, when you come to Venice.

Any tourist could spend forever exploring Venice’s labyrinth of islands, canals, pedestrian alleys and bridges. Yet you can also enjoy a lovely ride on a famous gondola and find most restaurants having amazing, fresh seafood.

Rome

2) In at number two, we have Rome, the capital of Italy. This city is very well known for famous landmarks, such as the Colosseum. This ancient amphitheatre is a must-visit attraction in Rome. It is one of the most iconic symbols of the city and was once used for gladiator games and other events.

There is the Vatican Museums home to the Sistine Chapel and some of the world’s most famous art collections, including works by artists like Raphael and Caravaggio. There is also Vatican City, a city-state surrounded by Rome, which is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and home to the Pope.

Milan

1) In number one - with some bias as it’s the city I was born in and lived for most of my life - is Milan. The capital of Lombardy is considered a leading global city with its main strengths being art, finance and fashion. It is widely recognised as important in the fashion world as it is one of the globe’s four fashion capitals.

Milan is also known for its famous landmarks such as the Duomo, Castello Sforzesco and Teatro alla Scala, to name a few. It’s such a beautiful city with so many places to visit and activities to do.

Milan is also home to two of the most famous football teams in the world - Inter and Milan. These two Italian giants share the same stadium and a very big rivalry. The city itself has quite old buildings but they are developing better infrastructure over these years.

Lastly Milan is also very well known for food, going from traditional Italian dishes to restaurant chains from all over the world with some very particular tastes.

My recommended things to see in Milan are the amazing Duomo (which is the symbol of Milan) and the wonderful parks (like Parco Sempione), and il Castello Sforzesco.