Located in Southern Europe, Italy is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and among the top places to visit in Europe for many reasons that include art treasures, charming towns, spectacular landscapes, trendy fashion, passionate people, and amazing cuisine. From the sparkling waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea to the fairytale setting of the Italian Alps and in between renowned Renaissance masterpieces, this is a place that has something to entice every kind of traveler. The list of best places to visit in Italy is long, in fact, that it would take months to see all of them. But most people have just a week or two to explore this amazing country.
1. Colosseum [View map]
The Roman Colosseum has a long and rich history. From the times when it was used as a gladiatorial arena and witnessed staged hunts with thousands of wild beasts to today, it has seen the Roman Empire rise to its greatest splendor… and dwindle and disappear. It is said that up to 400,000 people met their end on the sands of the arena, as did one million wild animals of many different species. During the time when the Colosseum was still hosting bloodbaths on a regular basis, the underground tunnels known as the Hypogeum ran underneath the actual surface where events were staged, known as the arena.
The Hypogeum was where unfortunate fighters and wild animals waited for their turn to be brought into the arena. The gladiators were usually prisoners, convicts, or slaves, and more often than not, both people and animals were left to prepare and/or languish in small cells underneath the main event area. The Hypogeum also contained various passageways which allowed guards to not only keep an eye on the contenders of the day, but it also allowed actors, assistants, and non-fighting slaves, to navigate from place to place within the Colosseum, out of view from the spectators.
2. Pantheon [View map]
Stand in front of it on the piazza for a moment before you go in. Or maybe sit on the steps of Giacomo Della Porta’s 1578 fountain with the ugly, pug-nosed fishes spewing water beneath an obelisk from Ramses II’s time (this used to sit in a nearby temple to Isis, the Egyptian river goddess).
My favorite building in the entire world is the Pantheon. The Pantheon is, in my humble opinion, one of the best Rome tourist attractions. In the Eternal City, visiting the Pantheon is the first thing we do and the last. I have to see my beloved brown stone rotunda one last time before getting in a taxi to the airport (there is a taxi stand just to the side of it).
I’ll never forget the first time I saw this engineering marvel. We had arrived in Rome jet-lagged and missing our luggage, but decided to do a little sight-seeing. Wanting to take a nap, my husband asked me to pick just one place to see before he visited dreamland. Out of all the amazing sites that Rome has to offer, I chose the Pantheon; I was intrigued by it after reading Dan Brown’s Angels and Demons where “Santi’s earthly tomb with demon’s hole” played a role.
Before you is a massive and obviously ancient colonnade, with the uninspired comment “Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, Consul for the third time, made this” inscribed in abbreviated Latin on the architrave. This chunk o’ weathered history seems in better repair than most of the crumbling remains of the Caesars’ Rome, but other than that, it d oesn’t seem to be much.
3. Trevi Fountain [View map]
Rome an epicenter of history and culture, is globally renowned for its architectural marvels, especially from the Baroque era. Among these treasures, the Trevi Fountain stands out as a monumental testament to Baroque artistry and engineering. As the largest fountain in Rome and arguably one of the most exquisite Baroque structures worldwide, the Trevi Fountain is more than just an attraction; it is a symbol of Rome’s rich artistic heritage.
As one of the most centrally located attractions in Rome the Trevi Fountain is within walking distance of many iconic landmarks in the capital. The Spanish Steps are the closest by alongside Villa Borghese and its famous gallery a little further along in that direction while the heading in the opposite direction will take you towards the Pantheon and even the Roman Forum if you are up for a bit of a walk.
4. Duomo di Milano [View map]
Milan, often regarded as the “Style Capital of the World” is included in the list of 100 must see destinations. Madonnina a 14 foot-tall golden statue of Mother Mary welcomes tourists to Milan. In Milan Duomo Milano can be reached just by looking in the direction of the Cathedral which has long inspired awe and respect among Milanese and has been a valuable in teaching visitors the city past, present and future accomplishments and Christian values.
The Milan Cathedral is famous for being the third largest cathedral in the world and the second largest cathedral in Europe. Additionally it houses thousands of important pieces of art. The Duomo di Milano is an incredible attraction in Italy. It is a magnificent Gothic cathedral located in the heart of Milan. The architecture is absolutely stunning with intricate details and beautiful stained glass windows. You can visit the interior of the cathedral, climb to the rooftop for panoramic views of the city, or explore the museum to learn more about its history. It is definitely a must see when you are in Milan.
5. Uffizi Gallery [View map]
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence is the most important art collection in Italy and one of the oldest and most famous art museums in the world. It is located in the Uffizi Palace, the home of the European Renaissance. There are collections of works of Italian painting of all times and a notable selection of foreign artists. Its collection of early and high Renaissance masterpieces begun by the Medici family, then enlarged by the Grand Dukes of Lorraine and completed by the authorities of the Italian state, is second to none in the world.
The Uffizi Gallery is a must visit attraction in Florence Italy .It is one of the oldest and most renowned art museums in the world. Inside you will find an incredible collection of Renaissance masterpieces including works by Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. The gallery is housed in a historic building and offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty of Italian art and culture. If you are e a fan of art you will definitely appreciate the Uffizi Gallery.
6. Roman Forum [View map]
The Forum is so full of noteworthy buildings that it could take a full day to explore them all in their entirety. Upon entry, you will find yourself faced with three options. Either to go left and explore the Tempio di Antonio e Faustina, which was a temple built in 141 AD and later transformed into a church known as Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Miranda over 800 years later. If you instead decide to go right, you will find yourself walking amongst the remains of the Basilica Fulvia Aemilia.
This 100m long public hall was built in 179 BC and saw thousands of Romans gather over the years for various meetings. Heading straight on from the entrance will bring you to the Via Sacra, the Forum’s main walkway, this will lead you to a range of other attractions in the forum, each telling a different historical tale of the Rome of the past.
The Roman Forum (Foro Romano) sits at the top of any list of must-see Rome attractions for visitors, jostling for position along with the Colosseum, the Pantheon, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican Museums.
Though a highlight on the tourist trail around Rome, the Roman Forum can be a baffling disappointment as there is little to no signage and information for many visitors. That is why we’ve compiled a guide to visiting the Roman Forum which includes the history of the Forum, the best things to see, and tips.
7. Rialto Bridge [View map]
The Rialto Bridge is the oldest of the four bridges to cross the Grand Canal of Venice. It is also the most famous in Venice thanks to its peculiar history and design. For many years, the overpass was the most important financial centre in Venice. The present Ponte di Rialto was built in stone between 1588 and 1591 by Antonio da Ponte to substitute a wooden bridge which had collapsed in two occasions and had been partially burnt down in 1310.
The design of the stone bridge is similar to its predecessors with two inclined ramps that are connected by an arch in the middle. Any hour is good to visit the Rialto Bridge. We even recommend crossing the bridge at different times of the day to see the Grand Canal in all its splendour and like the rest of the crowd on the bridge, try and take a photo of the remarkable Venice lying below.
Venice, a city of Italy, popular as the floating city, looks just like a kaleidoscope of pictures. With its stunning canals, wonderful castles, historical museums and cathedrals, art galleries, marvellous churches and public squares, the city looks like a fantasy island. These attractions of Venice make it a city worth visiting, and these places cast spells on its tourists. Among these structures, the Rialto bridge is a spellbinding architecture.
8. Piazza Navona [View map]
Piazza Navona, arguably one of Rome’s most picturesque squares, stands out not only for its aesthetic appeal but for its rich historical tapestry and vibrant atmosphere. This architectural marvel, adorned with exquisite marble sculptures by Bernini and remnants of ancient Roman athleticism, continues to captivate visitors from around the globe. Rome is a city full of so much history and culture that it makes its way onto nearly everyone’s bucket list.
The challenge with Rome, and it’s one that we’ve heard over and over again, is that there is so much to do and see within the boundaries of the city that planning a trip can get overwhelming FAST. One of the best things to do in Rome is visit Piazza Navona which is situated Near The Tiber River for the bright details it has within its corners.
Therefore, it is considered one of the best squares in Rome that is the most visited by travelers! Furthermore, the Piazza Navona is a meeting place for numerous famous boulevards in Rome thanks to its strategic location that grants you access to a collection of other streets such as Salvatore, Giuseppe Zanardelli, and Agostino.
9. Ponte Vecchio [View map]
Ponte Vecchio is closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge in Florence, Italy. It spans Arno River, it is made of stone and it is placed at the location where Romans built first bridge in Florence before 994 AD when it was mentioned for the first time. There can be few sights that capture the alluring beauty of Florence better than the ramshackle Ponte Vecchio, its soft yellow facade and mighty brick piers gently illuminated under the soft light of the Tuscan sun and reflected in perfect mirror image in the glassy waters of the river Arno below.
Fabulously picturesque and rich in history, the Ponte Vecchio is located right in the centre of the old city, linking the historic centre with the buzzing Oltrarno neighbourhood across the river. Look north along the length of the iconic bridge and you’ll spy the unmistakable forms of the Duomo and tower of the Palazzo Vecchio rising up from the tangled thread of streets; the road south, meanwhile, will take you to the aristocratic splendours of the Pitti palace and the Boboli gardens.
As you make your way along the cobbled river crossing, past the jewellers and the goldsmiths, past the impossibly elegant Florentines going serenely about their daily business, past the tourists gawping in wonder at the city’s impossible beauty, just remember: you’re walking in the footsteps of history.
10. Saint Mark’s Basilica [View map]
The Basilica of St. Mark located in the St. Mark Square (Piazza San Marco) where it is possible to visit other magnificent museums of Venice. To start, next to the basilica is the Doge’s Palace, this sumptuous building was the home of the rulers of Venice for centuries and still today is a monument to wealth and power. Here it is possible to choose between several routes but the one of the “Secret Itineraries of the Doge’s Palace” will surely surprise you.
This is a tour through the political and civil history of Venice passing through the secret places of the Palace protagonist of the activities of the Serenissima. In this same square you can visit the Correr Museum, a building rebuilt at the beginning of the 19th century in an elegant neoclassical style. Here is also the Marciana Library, which is open to anyone interested in reading, studying, consulting, searching or just walking through its rooms and visiting it.
On a short distance from the Basilica of St. Mark is the departure pier to visit the wonderful islands of Venice, Murano with its spectacular crystals, Burano with its elaborate lace and Torcello which with only 17 residents has an invaluable archaeological heritage. The first St. Mark’s Basilica was built on this spot in the 9th century to house very sacred relics—relics that had been stolen! In 828, merchants from Venice stole the body of St. Mark the Evangelist, one of the four Apostles, from Alexandria, Egypt.
11. Leaning Tower of pisa [View map]
It took 3 stages and 177 years to build the Tower of Pisa. The architect Bonanno Pisano began its construction in 1173 with the first floor which was surrounded by 15 columns in white marble with classic capitals and blind arches. With the construction of the third floor in 1178, the tower bent 5 cm. to the southeast, due to the unstable subsoil on which the tower was built, thus ceasing its construction. This period was very important and allowed the settlement of the ground, otherwise the tower would have collapsed.
Pisa known mainly for its Leaning Tower, but this city offers many other attractions like its beautiful “Piazza dei Miracoli” (in English Miracles Square) or Cathedral Square. Here we can see the cathedral and the baptistery besides the Leaning Tower. Along the perimeter of the square are also the Cemetery, the Opera Museum and the Sinopie Museum. Enjoy a walk along the Arno River until you reach the ancient Palazzo dell’Orologio (Clock Palace) and Piazza dei Cavalieri (Knight Square) where the prestigious “Scuola Normale di Pisa” is located.
12. Doge’s Palace [View map]
Doge’s Palace was probably built between the 10th and 11th centuries on the basis of a fortified central core. This nucleus was constituted with a central body with towers in the corners forming one of the masterpieces of the Venetian Gothic. In the 12th century, the first restructuring was carried out with the duke Sebastiano Ziani, who transformed the fort into an elegant palace. Later in 1200 a new expansion was realized.
The Doge’s Palace called in Italian Palazzo Ducale, has a Gothic style and is located in the center of the city of Venice next to the Basilica of San Marco, the most characteristic monument of Byzantine art that gives you the possibility of accessing the balcony from where you will have a complete view of St. Mark square and the Bell Tower. It will allow you to enjoy incredible views of Venice being one of the most striking monuments of the Square.