The road from the south of France to Central Europe inevitably passes through the Alps of northern Italy, most unfriendly and severe lands of Italy. Liguria, Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto ... It will bring a traveler to the most important cities, major centers of European civilization - Genoa, Milan, Turin, Ferrara, Venice.

Cities of northern Italy once turned the whole history of imperial Europe into a completely new direction. Being formally a part of one or another empire they could assert their rights for independence with arms in their hands. Sometimes this ability led them too far and they began to bring major harm to each other. And then the intention for independence turned out the reverse side, when the successful confrontation with both the emperor and the pope created favorable conditions for growing in its environment a tyrant who knows no restraint in his violent whims.

However, such conditions in Italy proved to be beneficial for development of crafts, military science, commerce, city self-administration... Now, hopefully, both wars and tyranny have become a part of history, but cities of Italy extricating from their complicated urban problems don't get tired of remembering that their history, according to their famous compatriot's admonition, has never stopped to serve as a "teacher of life".

Now, hopefully, both wars and tyranny have become a part of history, but cities of Italy extricating from their complicated urban problems don't get tired of remembering that their history, according to their famous compatriot's admonition, has never stopped to serve as a "teacher of life".