Italy is one of the most enticing countries to visit in Europe, with its delicious cuisine, luxurious architecture, breathtaking landscapes and vivid art and culture. In fact, Italy is so full of tourist attractions that it can be difficult to find what Italy has to offer if you only have a short time to go there. To make travelling a little easier, we have chosen ten of the best places to visit in Italy.
Before you travel to Italy, we recommend watching three of Italy’s most popular films – Rome in Splendour, Florence the Wonderful and Venice the Enchanted.
Rome
Rome is not only a city with a rich history, but also a cosmopolitan city with a sports car culture and fashion. As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and as the capital of Italy there are many famous sights to see and enjoy.
For example, the Colosseum, the 2,000-year-old Pantheon, the ruins of Palazzo Palatino, St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Fountain of the Maidens.
Florence and Tuscany
If you love the art that comes from Italy, then Florence is the place to visit. This beautiful city lies at the heart of the European Renaissance and is home to some of the world’s most famous masterpieces.
Enjoy a drink in the collection of the Uffizi Gallery, which includes the frescoes of the Duomo and Michelangelo’s David. Then go shopping at some of Italy’s leading fashion houses. After all, fashion is the other expression of modern art.
Once you have got to know Florence well enough, take a trip to the Tuscan countryside. There, the rural farmhouses of the Chianti region are replaced by vast expanses of verdant vineyards that shelter idyllic chapels. Remember to taste the olives here too!
Venice
The water city of Venice is undoubtedly one of the most inspiring cities in the world. Venice is famous for its palaces, picturesque canals, singing and dancing boatmen, world-famous artists, the iconic Rialto Bridge and boasts more artistic masterpieces per square kilometre than any other city in the world.
Pompeii
The ancient Roman city of Pompeii was destroyed by a catastrophic volcanic eruption in 79 AD, burying the entire city under six metres of pumice and ash. in 1599, during a massive excavation, archaeologists discovered the well-preserved remains. This amazing discovery has given modern historians and archaeologists a deeper understanding of the daily life of the ancient Romans.
Visitors today can tour the ruins of the past city and wander among the homes, malls, amphitheatres and brothels of the ancient Romans. for over 250 years Pompeii has been a major tourist city and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Verona
The setting for the city of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, this beautiful city is characterised by strife, drama and romantic art. Verona is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and boasts monuments and relics from all eras.
Naples
Naples is not the most picturesque city in Italy, but it is definitely a must-see for history buffs. And revel in the archaeological artefacts such as the National Archaeological Museum and Neapolitan art.
Sorrento
Sorrento is a holiday destination and the picturesque coastline of the Amma Coast on the Sorrento Peninsula is renowned for its glittering harbours, steep cliffs, bergamot gardens and magnificent villas that are Sorrento’s calling card. Sorrento is a city where you can indulge in food and soak up the sun!
The Five Fishing Villages
The Five Fishing Villages are located in Liguria, a coastal region in north-western Italy, and consist of five beautiful cliff-side villages. If you want to enjoy the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea, have lunch among quaint vineyards and stroll through cobbled streets free of traffic, the Five Fishing Villages are the place for you!
The Italian Lake District
The legendary Italian Lake District stretches across northern Italy and includes the flat and pleasant lakes in the south, as well as the deep mountain lakes that extend into the Italian Alps. Italy has over 1000 lakes, most of which are located in the Alpine region.
The largest lakes are Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, and for over 100 years the region has been popular with tourists because of its stunning weather and beautiful scenery. In fact, it is frequented by many modern celebrities and is even famous for the ancient Roman writer Pliny the Younger who spent his summer vacation here.
Pisa
As a child, we all read about the Leaning Tower of Pisa in our language books and imagined taking a selfie in front of it. The famous Leaning Tower has been standing here for centuries, its unique tilt has been restored for safety and it is destined to stand for many more years.
