Do you remember the boot-shaped country on the world map? Yes, that is Italy.
Italy, officially known as the Italian Republic, is a southern European country situated in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a peninsular country for most of its part. The mainland is connected to countries like France and Greece. Strait of Messina connects the rest of the land in the south consisting of Sicily. A small island in the west, off the coast of the mainland, called Sardinia, is also a part of the country.
The country that has been famous for its Renaissance culture all over the world has a lot to give to us. Italy has a huge number of tourist spots. And, hence, it has the highest number of UNESCO recognized heritage sites. The Italian cuisine is famous at a universal length throughout the globe- remember the famous Italian Pizzas and the White or Red Sauce Pasta?
Well, if you are planning a trip to Italy, you should be ready for the extravagant culture, cuisine, history, art, and architecture. Here is a list (not an exhaustive one) of 7 places that you must visit in Italy.
1. The Historical City of Rome
Image source: pexels.com
Rome is one of the most famous cities in the world. If you go through the world history, it is inevitable that you will find Rome mentioned many times. Roman civilization, art, and architecture are what attracts such a heavy tourist crowd. Rome has an incredibly beautiful climate. You should start your day with Piazza Navona-Rome’s public square with street artists and shops. This “eternal city” showcases its ancient history in amazing monuments like the incredibly famous Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Rome is also home to some of the finest fountains of the world- the Trevi Fountain, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, Fountain of the Naiads, Fountain of the Bees, and many more. The Pantheon is another historic monument in Rome. It is one of the oldest temple houses in Italy. You also have historical catacombs as well as exotic hillside gardens and rooftop hotels for a good stay. When you are in Rome, it feels like another country altogether. It has so many places to visit- not just historical ones, but also scenic beauties and restaurants.
2. The Holiest City of Christendom – The Vatican City
Image source: pexels.com
Who does not know the Venice City? You cannot miss the Vatican if you are in Italy, especially Rome. The Vatican is an independent country enclaved within Rome. It is the world’s smallest country by size. It is the main seat of the Roman Catholic Church. On VisitVatican.info, you can learn a lot about its importance and why you should visit it. Vatican City is especially important for its culture and art. It is famous for St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square, Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museum, and the Apostolic Palace, where the Pope of Rome lives.
On this Vatican info website, you will come around St. Peter’s Piazza which was designed by Bernini. St. Peter’s Square is a large field/plaza right in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. It is famous for the addresses the Pope delivers here. St Peter’s Basilica, aka the greatest church in Christendom, is world-famous for its religious reasons as well as architectural. It is home to the great domes with Michelangelo’s designs. It has artworks of the famous Bernini as well. The paintings on the walls and the ceilings are just remarkable.
Another important place on this Vatican info website is the Vatican Museum, which is enormously important for tourists when visiting Italy. The Vatican Museum has as many as 54 art galleries including works of Michelangelo, Vincent van Gogh, Salvador Dali, and Pablo Picasso. It is also home to beautiful Roman sculptures. It has the world famous-Sistine Chapel. Sistine Chapel is famous for its frescos and wall paintings by Michelangelo. The new Pope is elected in the Sistine Chapel, and hence, it is of due importance. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is the most famous attraction. It has the famous paintings of Michelangelo, including God creating Adam. On the altar, you can see another famous painting the Last Judgement.
Next on this Vatican info website is the Apostolic Palace, the world-famous Palace of Vatican. It a huge complex that consists of the Vatican Museum and the Vatican library. The Apostolic Palace and the Vatican Library are quite limited to tourists though. But you still can witness the beauty of the architecture from the outside of the building.
Read also: 7 Important Things to Know Before Visiting the Vatican
3. The City on Lakes – Venice
Image source: pexels.com
Venice, aka the city of water, is famous for its scenic beauty and architecture. You will not want to miss out on the Gondola rides to move in the city from one place to another. This place is also famous for its literature and music. Do you remember the Merchant of Venice by the famous Shakespeare? St. Mark’s Basilica, the Grand Canal, the Doge’s Palace, etc. The Lido di Venezia is famous for its luxurious history-it is home to the famous Venice Film Festival. It a very romantic place with good food and amazing beauty. You will definitely want to spend the most romantic evenings of your life in Venice. The Gondola rides with amazing Italian food and drinks is a crazy experience.
4. The Art Capital of Italy – Florence
Image source: pinterest.com
Florence is known as the “art capital of Italy” and “the cradle of Renaissance”. It is noted for its Renaissance culture and art. It has a number of museums and art galleries for you to visit- Palazzo Vecchio, Ponte Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti, etc. It has famous squares and gardens. Forbes Magazine has ranked Florence as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is also one of the fashion capitals of the world. Florence is a continually active place. You can even walk through the streets. It also has one of the most visited market squares in Italy. You can get beautiful souvenirs from here.
5. The Fashion Capital of Italy – Milan
Image source: pexles.com
Milan is a global city that is famous for its art, design, education, commerce, and fashion. The city is one of the world’s famous fashion capitals. Milan is also known for its football and basketball teams and clubs. The most important event in Milan is the Milan Fashion Week which is attended by top-class celebrities and designers. Milan also has museums and art galleries consisting of works by the incredibly famous Leonardo da Vinci. Milan is a very pretty place surrounded by beautiful architectural figures like the Palazzo Marino and Palazzo Lombardia. It also has a great number of towers and huge scrapers.
Read also: 10 Most Incredible Sculptures in Italy
6. The Leaning Tower of Pisa
If you are visiting Italy, you cannot go back without “holding up the Leaning Tower” picture. Pisa has the world-famous “Leaning Tower of Pisa”. But Pisa is not just limited to the Leaning Tower. There are other sites for you to discover as well like the Knight’s Square, St. Sixtus, the Gusto Gorge San Nicola, etc. The climate and the artistic streets of the city will sweep you away. It is an amazingly simple yet incredibly unique place. The city is pretty walkable and saves you a good amount too. If you are not too much into crowds and hustle-bustle, Pisa is the place for you. You can move around the place quietly and enjoy the most of it with the best scenic beauty.
Read also: Top 10 Most Beautiful Ancient Roman Temples
7. The Adventurous City of Tuscany
Image source: pexels.com
With so much history and art, you will want to travel somewhere when you can come close to nature and go on an adventure spree. Tuscany is the most adventurous place in Italy. It has such amazing hillside views. You will not want to switch off your camera. The rolling hill cities of San Gimignano, Montalcino and Piena are some of the beauties of Tuscany. Tuscany is a joy to explore with the vineyards and the little artsy shops and eating stalls across the streets. It also has amazing villas for its tourists. Tuscany is all about nature and picturesque views. You will never want to miss out on Tuscany if you are in Italy.
This list is not an exhaustive one. Therefore, there are innumerable more places and sites in Italy that you can also choose to visit. Some honorable mentions will be Lake Combo, Verona, the Dolomites, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coasts, Sorrento, the Island of Capri, and so much more. So, what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and embark on a memorable trip of Italy which will leave you with memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Happy Travelling!
