Are you planning a trip to Europe? Italy is a must. There is history, art, food, music, architecture, culture, holy sites, beautiful villages, and breath-taking scenery around every corner. A few destinations are prominent on vacationers’ wish lists as Italy. Regardless of your travel preferences, you’ll find something to your liking in this exotic and familiar land. There are many places to explore in Italy, from the rising Dolomite Alps in the north to Puglia’s beaches and Sicily’s ancient monuments. Here are 10 of the best places to visit in Italy.
Rome
Rome also tops the list of locations to visit because of its current status as one of Europe’s most lively cities. It is well-known for being the capital of most of ancient Europe. There are many attractions at the Vatican, including the Colosseum, Forum, Pantheon, Appian Way, and Palatine Hill.
Take a bit of time to experience the city itself in between seeing significant attractions like the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s Pieta. Unwind in the Borghese gardens, enjoy gelato on the Spanish Steps, wander through Trastevere’s narrow lanes, window shop on the Via Veneto, and toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain. One trip isn’t enough to see them all.
Florence
Florence, the capital of the Italian Renaissance, appears to be one giant art gallery at times. The Duomo, or Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, is a world-famous structure crowned by a gigantic dome that defies gravity. It is one of the world’s best Renaissance art complexes.
Paintings and sculptures can ve found in plentiful in a half-dozen art museums, while more treasures adorn the churches and palaces. Visit the Uffizi Gallery and Pitti Palace and stroll through the Boboli Gardens.
Venice – Top 10 Best Places To Visit In Italy
How do you not fall in love with a city where the streets are surrounded by water, the buses are boats, and the gondoliers’ music fills the air? It is a magical city, and the town itself is the main draw for visitors. One of the biggest delights of Venice is getting lost, and a postcard view beckons around every turn.
The city’s heart is the vast Piazza San Marco, or St. Mark’s Square, flanked by several of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Gondolas converge near the Grand Canal’s end of the plaza. St. Mark’s Basilica is located next to the Doge’s Palace.
Tuscany
Tuscany’s hilly landscape is capped by stone villages that date back to the Etruscans. Each rests atop a hill, and several retain the castles and turrets that formerly guarded their strategic positions. Towers abound, and mostly intact walls surround the city.
Volterra was a significant Etruscan settlement before the Romans arrived, and you can still see the ruins today. Arezzo’s tourist attractions are the heritage of the city’s great artists, architects, and poets.
Cortona is among the oldest towns in Italy. The closeness of these hill towns to the cities of Florence, Siena, Pisa, and Luca puts many of Italy’s top tourist attractions in Tuscany.
Milan
Although Milan is a popular tourist destination due to its airport, it is frequently ignored as a stand-alone destination. Milan has so many creative and architectural gems that it’s a pity people don’t visit more. Milan also offers one of Italy’s best design, fashion, and shopping concentrations.
Il Duomo is one of the world’s most beautiful churches and the best instance of Flamboyant Gothic architecture. Museums and castles flourish in the city, housing some of the world’s most valuable artwork. Milan also has La Scala – the most prestigious opera venue globally.
Lake Como – Top 10 Best Places To Visit In Italy
It is the most beautiful lake in Italy. Since ancient times, Romans escaped Milan’s hot summers to cool off in villas along its steep beaches. Como has been a popular summer hideaway for the affluent and famous. Later villas adorn its tightly crowded settlements, particularly Bellagio, which is beautifully positioned on a spot where the lake’s three narrow arms join.
The white Alps to the north may be seen between palm palms and camellias thanks to a microclimate that keeps Como’s western shore mild even in winter. Don’t miss Como, on the southern side, which is well worth a visit before catching a steamer to cruise the lake.
Amalfi Coast And Capri
It is not easy to envision a more beautiful – or unlikely – setting for the cities that stream down its steep hills than the high Amalfi Peninsula. Aside from the blooming flowers, beaches are tucked into emerald coves beneath the villages. Most of these charming villages’ streets are stairways, and the houses appear to be attached to the cliffs behind them.
The Amalfi Drive, which runs down the southern coast, is one of the most beautiful drives in the world. The renowned island of Capri, with its Blue Grotto, magnificent houses, and beautiful gardens, is located off the end of the peninsula and is easily accessible by regular boats.
Puglia
Italy’s boot heel is Puglia, a long stiletto heel running southeast into the Adriatic Sea. If it weren’t so remote, Puglia would be one of the country’s top tourist attractions. As Lecce’s capital, it is brimming with Baroque architecture, including stunning churches with intricately carved golden limestone facades.
It consists of sheer cliffs, high headlands, and sandy beaches that nestle between them on an entirely untouched coast at the very tip of the heel. Some of Italy’s most magnificent beaches run for kilometers along Salento’s western shore.
Siena – Top 10 Best Places To Visit In Italy
Siena challenged Florence for arts and culture in the 13th and 14th centuries. It now retains a plethora of art and architectural masterpieces. The majestic Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta stands out among Siena’s primarily red brick buildings, its inlaid marble exterior, and striped bell tower. The cathedral contains works by renowned artists and sculptors.
Italy is a country filled with riches in history and architecture. However, art riches are not Siena’s main attraction. The ancient winding lanes and spacious plazas beckon to be explored. The Piazza del Campo is one of Europe’s most beautiful medieval town squares. Each place has a story to tell, and each turn you take is worthy of being photographed.
