The best Italy attractions and things to do
Italy is a favorite destination for foreign tourists. This developed country shares borders with Austria, France, Switzerland, Vatican, Slovenia, and Sant Marino. The Alps mountains are the backbone of this volcanic country. Rome is the capital of this civilized European country and embedded in the ruins of the Roman Empire. There are outstanding attractions in the Renaissance’s birthplace, including the Colosseum, Venice canals, Pompeii, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Lake Como, Amalfi Coast, Florence Duomo Santa Maria de Fiore, Cinque Terre, Vatican City, The Uffizi Gallery, and glorious Capri.
This spectacular destination, which is present in everybody’s bucket list of dream destinations, is considered rich in history and architecture. Its diverse nature and astonishing landscapes present delicious cuisine and a mild and pleasant climate. Italy has the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage cultural sites in the world and outstanding natural attractions. It is also home to several iconic great cities such as Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, and fabulous regions like Cinque Terre, Amalfi Coast, and Tuscany. Italian cities and regions have some remarkable unique things to offer, including beautiful scenery, outstanding architecture, regional cuisine specialties, renowned museums and collections of artwork, fabulous nightlife, and shopping opportunities. This article will introduce the best things to do in ITALY and recommend the ITALY attractions to experience.
Top 10 Things To See In Italy
Italy also has the title of “One Of The Most Visited Countries In The World” with its many beautiful sights, divine collections of art, breathtaking natural attractions, dramatic coastline, and picturesque cities. Therefore there will be no shortage of places to visit or things to see on your trip.
#1 See ancient and historical monuments in Rome.
Pay a visit to some of the most famous historical sites in the world; Iconic ancient structures such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon; And important religious and historical sites such as the Vatican which includes St. Peter’s Basilica, the Apostolic Palace and Sistine Chapel. At every corner of this stunning city’s streets, you will discover ancient monuments, Renaissance palaces, world-known museums with arrays of paintings, sculptures, and frescoes, old Baroque churches, medieval buildings, crowded piazzas, beautiful fountains, and the best restaurants in Italy.
#2 See the architectural treasures and art masterpieces in Florence.
The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence, is Tuscany’s capital and Italy’s most popular destinations. This city is considered a vast outdoor museum, as it is filled with magnificent architectural treasures and art masterpieces. Florence has many excellent museums filled with famous paintings and sculptures; For instance, You can pay a visit to Palazzo Pitti and look at Michelangelo’s famous “David” statue. Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus.” You may also pop over to Uffizi Museum and see artwork from some of the Renaissance’s most influential artists. Walk to the heart of Florence and Piazza del Duomo, the main square in this city, and watch the glory of the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore or the Duomo, the massive cathedral with its extraordinary dome, which is known to be the most famous landmark in the city. If you climb to the top of the dome, you can praise its fantastic engineering and enjoy Florence and its panoramic views. Florence is located in Tuscany’s region; therefore, it could be a great base to explore Tuscany’s nature and countryside.
#3 See Venice, the City of Water, and Romance.
The Queen of the Adriatic and the most romantic city in the world, Venice is loved for its labyrinth of outstanding canals, beautiful bridges, magical gondolas, stunning historic architecture, and breathtaking sunsets. Its spectacular landmarks are Piazza San Marco with its magnificent Basilica (Saint Mark’s Square and its church), Doge’s Palace, the Grand Canal, and Rialto Bridge.
#4 See the latest trends in fashion and arts in Milan.
Milan or Milano is Italy’s capital of fashion, financial hub, and one of Europe’s wealthiest cities. This stylish metropolis is known for chic shops, impressive galleries, rich artistic and cultural heritage, and great restaurants. Milan presents a more modern lifestyle and a faster pace of life than in most Italian cities. The most remarkable attraction in Milan is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Nascente or the Duomo di Milano as locals call it. This world’s largest gothic church is famous for its beautiful marble façade. Leonardo Da Vinci‘s super renowned painting of The Last Supper is exhibited at the Santa Maria Delle Grazie.
La Scala, one of the world’s most famous opera houses, is situated in Milan. But after exploring the city, you can also drive about 50 minutes from the center of the town and head to idyllic Lake Como, the world’s most glamorous lake.
#5 See the leaning tower of Pisa.
Situated along the Arno River in Tuscany, Pisa is most known for its Leaning Tower, also known as La Torre Pendente, located on the Piazza Dei Miracoli, near the beautiful Romanesque Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. This green city is divided by the Arno River and several charming bridges, such as the Ponte di Mezzo, connect one side of the town to the other and create a picturesque setting.
#6 See the breathtaking sea cliffs and dunes in Sicily.
The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily is a region rich in art and history. This island consists of smaller isles and is surrounded by the most beautiful and clean beaches in Italy. Torre Salsa is a famous beach in Montallegro, picturesque due to the sandy shoreline and breathtaking sea cliffs and dunes. In Palermo, Sicily’s capital, you can see a mixture of Byzantine mosaics, beautiful Arab influenced structures, Gothic palaces, and Renaissance buildings.
#7 See the Cinque Terre National Park.
Cinque Terre, in the Northwest of Florence, is a beautiful coastal region consisting of five coastal villages that are built on cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean. These five villages are called Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso. Along with the surrounding green hills and warm blue waters, form Cinque Terre National Park, which has some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes and is considered Italy’s famous tourist destination. The most reliable way to travel Cinque Terre is to hike between the villages and get the chance to enjoy the extraordinary landscape.
#8 See the Amalfi Coast with its shimmering coastline.
Amalfi Coast, situated in Italy’s southeast, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and known for its extraordinary beauty, shimmering coastline, rugged cliffs, green landscapes, beautiful colored villas, and luxury resorts overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. One of the most popular towns on the side of a cliff along the Amalfi Coast is Positano. This colorful coastal town consists of terraces of colored houses, many little boutique hotels, and narrow streets that head down to the beach. Don’t forget to stay a night here because it has one of the best hotels in Italy.
#9 See Genoa, the largest port of Italy
Genoa is the largest port in Italy and the largest medieval quarter in Europe. An ancient city with a fantastic labyrinth of streets to explore and a historic center with a wealth of churches, palaces, and museums. AS Genoa (Genova) is on the northwest coast of Italy, many people use it to stop on their way to the nearby Cinque Terre.
#10 See the National Archaeological Museum and Pompeii, a town frozen in time in Naples
Naples or Napoli is a vibrant city with a wealth of historical buildings, Roman ruins, Baroque churches, and scenic landscapes. As it is nearby famous sites like the Pompeii, Bay of Naples and Naples presents an ideal place to stay while traveling the area. The most extensive collection of artistic works and artifacts from ancient Rome is exhibited at the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. Naples is the most notable city in southern Italy and could be an excellent base for day trips to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and the Amalfi Coast.
A town is frozen in time, Pompeii is a famous Roman city located near Naples’ modern city. This UNESCO World Heritage town was heavily destroyed and buried under several volcanic ash feet after Mount Vesuvius’s eruption in 79 A. D. As the explosion happened so fast, many Pompeii citizens died while doing whatever activity they were doing. Therefore it provides a look at life hundreds of years ago.
Best 20 Things To Do In ITALY
Italy is an incredible country, and you are guaranteed to have the time of your life on your trip to this extraordinary land.
1- You can marvel at visiting great ancient sites like Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and the Pantheon
2- You can enjoy relaxing on sandy beaches and swimming in crystal blue waters.
3- You can toss a coin into the Baroque style Trevi Fountain and expect to get good luck in return.
4- You may choose to go hiking the routes in Cinque Terre or experience gondola riding along Venice’s labyrinth canals.
5- You will make beautiful memories in Venice by getting lost in the city’s cobbled alleys and discovering existing buildings, shops, museums, churches, and restaurants.
6- You can enjoy riding a bike in Tuscany’s countryside and notice the picturesque countryside’s pleasant details and the Fairytale Castles.
7- You can have a tour of the Como Lake, which will provide you with the scenery of alpine forest, traditional villages, stunning villas, and manicured gardens in the setting of steep mountain slopes and hills covered in lush greenery.
8- You can find an idyllic beach to lie and relax on. As mentioned before, Italy is home to an incredible coastline and some of the most stunning beaches in Europe.
9- You can choose one of many different Italian ski resorts scattered in the Dolomites along the border between Austria and Italy if you are more interested in winter sports and mountainous areas. Trentino is one of the cheapest destinations with a rural Italian charm to have a ski holiday and appreciate the breathtaking scenery.
10- You can go to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, one of the most famous galleries globally, and marvel at artworks of great Italian artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, Raphael, and Michelangelo.
11- You can enjoy some of the best food and drinks in Sicily, where you can observe a different life side, very different from other parts of Italy. You will also have an opportunity to relax on this island’s soft and sandy beaches and enjoy watching glorious cliffs surrounded by endless crystalline blue waters.
12- You can have a tour at Pompeii and see the remains of shops, buildings, baths, religious centers, and many artworks and frescoes, providing you with a fascinating insight into the people’s everyday lives in the ancient Roman world. You can also buy drinks, food, and remembrances at several stores and souvenir shops.
13- You can enjoy a boat trip on the Amalfi coast. These boat tours usually take you to the most eye-catching areas and show you traditional Mediterranean villages along the way.
14- You can see the sunset of colorful Positano over the Mediterranean’s beautiful sapphire waters and have a fantastic view of the Amalfi coast.
15- You can see the Vatican, one of the most religious places in the world. It is worth a visit. It is home to the Piazza San Pietro, St Peter’s Basilica, and Sistine Chapel and is filled with marvelous works of art such as Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam.”
16- You can see Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli if you are a music fan, the oldest opera house in Italy.
17-You can climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa and take memorable, funny photos with it.
18- You can see the Last Supper, painted by Leonardo da Vinci and displayed at the Santa Maria Delle Grazie in Milan, is one of the main reasons people travel to this fashion hub.
19- You can see and admire the impressive Milan Cathedral, or as locals call it, the Duomo and climbing it to the top is another reason to plan a Milan trip.
20- You can climb to the top of the magnificent Duomo or the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence and enjoy the city’s panoramic view and beyond.
Italy is a gigantic country with many superb features and different regions, each with its own identity, that you may not be able to see the whole country on one trip. However, if you manage to cover many of the main highlights mentioned in this article, you will have a clear vision of this great country. Also, in case you want to celebrate your marriage in Italy and create memorable events with your loved ones, don’t forget to check our other articles on wedding venues in Italy.
