This is the best-selling international title in Frommer's 'Complete Guide' series.
Italy's cities remain among the world's most popular destinations, as evidenced in Travel Leisure's 2001 "World's Best" awards, which named Florence the "World's Best City", followed by Rome in second place and Venice in fourth. The Hotel Gritti in Venice won the magazine's "World's Best Small Hotel" award.
The World Heritage List of important historic and cultural sites expanded in 2000, with the addition of the city of Verona, the Aeolian Islands, and Assisi, the Basilica of San Francisco and other Franciscan sites. Indeed, UNESCO, the cultural branch of the United Nations, reports that Italy holds two-thirds of the world's artistic heritage.
One of the world's most popular tourist attractions finally reopened late in 2001. The Leaning Tower of Pisa once again welcomed visitors after a decade-long reconstruction to shore up the structure's foundation.
