Italy Travel Guide

Rome

Rome is one of the most iconic and most traveled to cities in all of Europe, with a long history and mix of cultures from around the world. Roam the cobblestone streets with a delicious gelato in hand, spend some time solely observing people go by from the Spanish Steps, or take in all of the stunning architecture the city has to offer – you can do it all.

Rome is also known to most as a foodie’s heaven. This popular city offers everything from world-class cuisine to casual trattorias, to take away pizzas that will make your heart sing.

Pantheon

The Pantheon, which is an exceptionally well-preserved relic from Roman times, reveals the most incredible architectural achievements that the Roman Empire offered. The stellar proportions of the building, with the height equal to the diameter, and single beams of light penetrating the room from the top of the dome, give the Pantheon a memorable character.

The Colosseum and Roman Forum

Rome’s Colosseum, which we’re sure many have heard of, is the world’s largest and most visited Roman arena. This sizable amphitheater, which was built by Emperor Vespasian in AD 80, held as many as 55,000 spectators. Deadly gladiatorial and wild animal fights were often held in the Colosseum, but it was mostly used for other events as well. Pillars, partial structures, and foundations of former temples, market halls, courts, and public buildings still stand, paying tribute to Ancient Rome, which stood here for a thousand years.

A ticket to the Colosseum additionally includes an entrance to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which are located near to the Colosseum, among Rome’s top ancient sites.

Venice

If you imagine strolling down quaint alleys or eating genuine gelato while window shopping for Italian leather handbags, Venice would-be city to visit. Whether you wish to visit the Basilica di San Marco, located in the heart of the Piazza San Marco, the Rialto Bridge, or the Ponte Dei Sospiri, there are endless amounts of history that can be learned and discovered within this magical little city.

Venice is a city of islands, with its canals taking their place as main roads. Surrounding the canals are aged buildings that have remained relatively unchanged for hundreds of years, adding to this city’s romantic charm. The Grand Canal, which is known as the most famous and most photographed waterway in Venice, is one of the best ways to see many of the grand palaces that face the river.

The Venice Carnival is yet another thing that shouldn’t be missed while visiting Venice. This carnival lasts ten days and nights, filled with masquerade madness, right before Lent. This tradition goes back centuries and is said to be one of the biggest parties and festivals in Italy. If you have the funds, you can even pay to attend a traditional masquerade ball as well. It’s best to make plans early though because the entire city becomes packed and very expensive, so it will definitely change your Venice experience.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Most often visited by tourists wanting to see or climb the famous leaning tower, which is one of Italy’s most well-known attractions, Pisa is a great choice for exploring. In order to get to the top, you will have to climb almost 300 steps, but it is well worth the climb.

Other monuments that should be visited along with the tower are the nearby white marble cathedral, which was built in the 12th century, for a bell tower, making it the largest in Italy.

Keep in mind that the souvenir shops found at this attraction have taken advantage of the tourist crowds and line the street path to the tower, so the best advice is to keep your head down, take a quick photo, and head onto your next adventure.

Ancient City of Pompeii

The Roman city of Pompeii was known for getting buried by an eruption from the Mount Vesuvius volcano in 79 AD and now gives travelers a good look at what an ancient Roman city was like. The site includes villas, baths, shops, an arena, temples, and the Forum. Because there’s so much to see, it’s best to spend several hours wandering around.

Pompeii can easily be visited as a day trip from Naples or from Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. The train station in Pompeii is a short walk from the excavations, but if you’d like to visit Pompeii from Rome, then you should consider a guided day trip with transportation tours.

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

One of the world’s most visited museums, bringing in more than 6 million visitors in 2014, is the Vatican Museums complex, which includes the legendary Sistine Chapel. Although technically not in Italy but in Vatican City, it’s the most visited museum by tourists when traveling through Rome.

The museum is enormous and usually crowded, so be sure to expect to spend at least several hours here, and do a little research beforehand so you know exactly what to look for while in the walls. You should buy tickets in advance or even book a tour prior to visiting, so you don’t waste time in the ticket line. Sometimes, the best time to visit is before tour hours, which leaves minimal crowds.

Lake Como

Lake Como is said to be one of Italy’s most scenic areas and is surrounded by mountains and charming towns. Since Roman times, this lake has many wealthy villas and palaces along its shores, and additionally, many of them contain gardens that are open to the public. These gardens are popular among tourists because their characteristics are similar to that of the Mediterranean.

Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most talked-about stretches of coastline throughout the whole world. With hillside towns built along the steep mountainsides that cascade down to the sea, traveling here will give you dramatic views of the best Italy has to offer. The main towns along this coast are Positano and Amalfi, and visitors can tour the coast by road or hop between towns from the sea, for different perspectives of the dramatic and almost vertical shore.

Florence Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore

There’s no widely known reason to go here except for the great food, amazing museums, ancient buildings, small streets, and awesome gelato!

Florence’s Cathedral, the il Duomo di Santa Maria del Fiore, tops the list of things to see in Florence because it’s regarded as one of the finest cathedrals in the world and overlooks the city’s skyline.

This cathedral was built between the 13th and 15th centuries, but its most famous piece being the extraordinary dome, completed by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1434. The cathedral’s bell tower stands close to the cathedral found in Piazza del Duomo, covered in the same patterned marble, which is typical of the Tuscan Romanesque architecture style.

In order to see the done, visitors must first purchase a ticket, and then climb the 436 stairs to the top for fantastic views of Florence.

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre, a lovely coastal region with steep hills and sheer cliffs, overlooks the Mediterranean and gives travelers picturesque views. These five scenic villages, Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, can be reached by various means. You can travel to each by taking the walking paths, a railroad, or a scenic road that loops on the hillside above.

Hiking between the villages is one of the most popular things to do as it gives travelers the chance to enjoy the landscape in their own time without the confines of a bus or train. The small towns have maintained a feel of old-world fishing villages and offer travelers a sense of remoteness even in the face of modern tourism.

The Uffizi Gallery

Known as one of the world’s leading art museums, the Uffizi is a knockout when it comes to learning about the history of Italian Renaissance art. It contains works by some of the great masters of western art, and its greatest asset is its collection of paintings, showing the step-by-step evolution of painting that transpired here from during the 14th to 16th centuries. At this gallery, you will see the first experiments with perspective art, as well as some of the early portraits leading painters beyond religious art or even some of the first uses of naturalistic and scenic backgrounds. Botticelli’s Birth of Venus is also on display here.

Milan Duomo

Milan’s magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente, “Il Duomo” to the locals, is one of the world’s most considerable churches and probably one of the best examples of the flamboyant Gothic style. Its exterior has a whopping total of 2,245 marble statues and 135 carved stone spires that complete its roof. These features give it quite the first impression. This is then reinforced as you step inside, with fifty-two immense pillars supporting the soaring ceiling of the nave, decorated walls, and some of the world’s largest stained glass windows.

Highlights found here are the tomb of Gian Giacomo Medici and a 12th-century bronze candelabrum. Below the lofty altars are the crypt and the octagonal chapel that’s filled with the gold reliquary of San Carlo Borromeo. Under Piazza del Duomo, only to be reached by stairs near the entrance, are the foundations of a fourth-century baptistery and basilica. If you wish to head to the roof, there are elevators that will take you partway up, where you can then walk at a dizzying height among the carved stone pinnacles.

Capri

The Blue Grotto is one of the most visited spots in all of Italy, but there are multiple other reasons for taking the short boat ride from Naples, Sorrento, or the Amalfi Coast to visit this legendary Isle of Capri. This steep rocky island juts out over a vast blue sea, with rocky cliffs softened by green pines and tropical plants.

The Blue Grotto, which is one of the only sea caves cut in cliffs, is best seen on a boat tour around the island. Several villas and gardens on this island are also open to tourists, and walking trails allow visitors to wander around. From almost anywhere on the island you can be certain of a good view.

Siena

Everyone who traveled here always says “I looooove Siena” and with good reason. It’s one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Italy and hosts summer horse racing in its large area called, Piazza del Campo.