Italy is a country where you are keen to explore each corner. This is just a little part of the inspiring places.
Choose the destination in Italy that inspires you the most and let's plan your trip!
Note: keep in mind that it's impossible to mention all the spots, but at leasT let me share with you where i have been and why each of these places is worth a visit.
MILAN
One of the main art cities of Italy and world's capitals of fashion. Milan is known for the majestic Duomo Cathedral, the prominent opera La Scala, the medieval Sforza Castle, the dazzling Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade, and Leonardo Da Vinci’s legacy. This city keeps many secrets and absolutely can surprise you.
LAKE COMO
A destination with a pure beauty, charming villas, a marvelous nature and breath-taking views. Among the many noted lakeside resorts are Como, Lecco, Bellagio, Tremezzo, Menaggio, and Varenna. It is worth a visit even for a simple stroll through the streets of the center or spend a day on a boat admiring the most beautiful parts of the lake.
THE ITALIAN ALPS & DOLOMITES
This destination offers you diversity of landscapes, terrain and apres-ski options. During spring and summer it's perfect for hiking, during the winter - good option for skiing. Towns Bormio, Livigno, Merano, Trento are worth be visited there. It's also a perfect option to feel the Christmas spirit.
VENICE
"La serenissima" or “the most serene”/“sublime” - the best characteristics for Venice, the city built on 100 islands. It looks like a picture postcard with crisscrossing canals, marvellous castles, ancient museums, cathedrals, art galleries, churches, and public squares. There are no roads, only canals and labyrinthine streets, linking St Mark's Basilica with the Grand Canal and the hidden gems of the city.
VERONA
Known as "a little Rome", Verona is full of Roman antiquities and famous as the setting of the love story Romeo and Juliet. You may be surprised but the symbol of the city is the great Roman amphitheatre (Arena di Verona), located in the city's largest piazza, the Piazza Bra. Verona is the destination where art, history and culture combine to give you wonderful memories.
LAKE GARDA
The largest lake of Italy, Lake Garda attracts by its scenery and its picturesque towns. It will surprise you by historic landmarks, spa towns such as Bardolino, Desenzano del Garda, Sirmione, and even a family-friendly amusement park, Gardaland. Lake Garda is also an exceptional beach destination, perfect to spend a peaceful weekend or holidays there.
LAKE MAGGIORE
Named by the Romans "Maximus" (or Maggiore) this lake is the second largest in Italy. A popular weekend gateway for Italian families from the big cities. Among Lake Maggiore's towns you have definitely to visit Stresa and its Borromean Islands, Baveno, Angera and Cannobio. It's also wonderful to swim: relax on one of its beaches or just rent a boat to enjoy the views from the water.
TURIN
The first capital of a united Italy [between 1861 and 1865] and home of the royal family, Turin is absolutely worth visiting. Immerse yourself in its aristocratic atmosphere with its grand boulevards, arcades, palaces, leafy parks, sophisticated shops and several art galleries. Don't miss an opportunity to visit its Egyptian museum and the National Museum of Cinema. The local cuisine will not leave you indifferent neither.
BERGAMO & BRESCIA
The Italian Capitals of Culture in 2023. Two neighboring cities are recognised for their artistic and cultural heritage. Bergamo is famous for its medieval atmosphere and being situated on a mountain, with a distinct upper and lower city. Brescia offers beautifully preserved ancient Roman sites & Renaissance architecture. The city is known and "Leonessa d'Italia" (Italian Lioness).
FLORENCE
The "Jewel of the Renaissance", Florence, the historic centre of which was declared s World Heritage Site by UNESCO. One of the most romantic and beautiful destinations in Italy, Florence is noted for its culture, Renaissance art, architecture, monuments, cathedrals, galleries and museums. Book your tickets for Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti, Galleria dell'Accademia and the Florence Duomo - Santa Maria del Fiore. You'll definitely fall in love with this city.
CHIANTI REGION (TUSCANY)
Home to probably the best-known of all Italian wine districts, Chianti is a delightful hilly region in Tuscany. This rural agricultural zone is mostly famous for its wine, olive oil, cheese, meat, impressing landscapes with rolling hills, cypress trees and historic stone castles where you can stay overnight. There you may experience wine tasting and the best of the Tuscan cuisine, having a lunch/dinner in a restaurant of Dario Cecchini in Panzano in Chianti, for example.
BOLOGNA
"La Grassa" [the fat one], the nickname of Bologna which received it due to its hospitality and rich cuisine. It's also called the Learned City as there is the oldest university in the world founded in 1088. Bologna is a perfect short break destination that offers many sites to visit: Le Due Torri [two towers], Fountain of Neptune, the Basilica of San Petronio, Palazzo Comunale and many others. But the best experience that you may have there is a gastronomic one.
ROME & VATICAN
"The Eternal City", the perfect blend of history and the modern world. It is home to landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, the Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel, Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Roman Forum, incredible food, gardens and art, and a world-famous film industry. One life is even not enough to explore all the secrets of Rome.
CASTEL GANDOLFO
It's commonly known as the "Pope's City" because there is the Pope's summer residence. It is a holiday resort located at the top of Lake Albano and is frequented by tourists from all over the world who appreciate the location, the panorama, the exquisite hospitality and the refined beauty.
GROTTE DI NERONE
The Caves of Nero have a very ancient origin, in fact they date back to Roman times. It was an ancient villa on the beach situated not so far from Rome. A perfect sea destination for a couple of days if you are visiting the Italian capital. The Caves of Nero are one of the most characteristic beaches of the town of Anzio.
SORRENTO COAST
Sorrento is known for its citrus fruits and abundance of lemons, beautiful views of Naples, and charming shopping streets. Beside the town Sorrento, it's recommended to visit Vico Equence, Meta di Sorrento, Nerano, Castellamare di Stabbia. Enjoy its resorts and beaches during summer vacations.
CAPRI
The most romantic and luxury island in southern Italy. Emperor Augustus and Emperor Tiberius both had homes here, Odysseus sailed past in Homer's Odyssey and Capri has attracted 'modern' tourists for at least 200 years. There are 2 towns to visit there: Capri & Anacapri, and such a lot of natural beauty to explore.
NAPLES
The Home Place of Pizza, Naples is considered to be one of the best touristic destinations in Italy. It's definitely worth seeing, despite the chaotic movements that you may find in the streets of Naples, you'll like its vibes. The city has castles [Ovo Castel, Castel Nuovo], museums among which the most famous one is Naples National Archaeological Museum, the Royal Palace and stunning surroundings Posilipo, Phlegraean Fields, Vesuvius and many others. "Must do" in Naples is to eat pizza Margherita, that was invented there.
POMPEII
The "Lost City", Pompeii got this name due to the tragical day in August in 79 AC when Mount Vesuvius buried it with scorching lave and merciless violence. The town is situated between Naples and Amalfi Coast and today you may visit its Archaeological Area and modern part of the town with its Roman Catholic Cathedral. Pompei and nearby town Herculaneum are inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage and is considered to be the largest excavated are that provides a complete picture of an Ancient Roman city.
VESUVIUS
The "sleeping giant", Mount Vesuvius is still the only active volcano all of Europe [on the continent, not islands]. It's famous for destroying the ancient Roman city of Pompeii but its history is dating back thousands of years before humans ever encountered it, maybe it's around 300,000 - 400,000 years old. Since 1995, Vesuvius became a national park and today you can walk up to its summit. The best route is of the Gran Cono that brings you through a steep path to the center of the crater and opens you the best panorama.
CILENTO
An unfamiliar to tourists, Cilento is an enchanting part of Campania region. It is known for healthy and rich cuisine, the land of the Mediterranean Diet. In Cilento you'll find empty Blue Flag beaches, atmospheric hilltop towns [Castellabate, Agropoli, Santa Maria di Castellabate, Acciaroli], some of the world's finest Ancient Greek temples [Paestum] and fantastic bays [Palinuro].
TROPEA & CALABRIA
The "pearl of the Tyrrhenian Sea", Tropea is a coastal town of Calabria region on the "toe of Italy's boot", famous for its sandy beaches and gorgeous tall cliffs. Tropea and Calabria itself is considered to be a good summer destination and gastronomic experience. The landscapes are stunning and the cuisine is rich of tastes. The region is a mix of cultures from Ancient Greece to Bourbon Spain and France.
APULIA
The "bread basket of Italy", the region Apulia is an Italian region where historically bread and pasta were always relevant products. It's also famous for its olive oil production. Apulia has an old-world charm that you barely find in other places and you will be able to experience this part of Italy in a different way from the other touristic destinations. The most beautiful towns and seaside places are Plignano a Mare, Alberobello [UNESCO heritage], Lecce, Otranto, Monopoli, Gallipoli and beaches of Salento [the Italian Maldives].
SICILY
"Trinacria", tha name given to Silicy because of its roughly triangular shape. The largest Italian island rich of history and culture and noted for its cuisine. Sicily offers you everything you could imagine for your holidays or an adventure trip: beaches, mountains, active volcanoes [Etna and on the Eolie Islands], archeological sites [Agrigento and its Valley of Temples], cathedrals, medieval towns. All this together shows the evidence of its history as a home for Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, Spanish, Italians. Include in your bucket list Palermo, Cefalù, Trapani, Marsala, Catania, Syracuse, Agrigento, San Vito Lo Capo, Reserve di Zingaro, Scala di turchi and it's just a little part that you have to see in Sicily.
THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS
Do you want to see the most pristine archipelago in the entire Mediterranean? Come to visit the Aeolian Islands that are also a UNSECO World Heritage Site. The islands are famous for their volcanic features, dark sandy virgin beaches and hiking trails. There are 7 significant islands: Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi & Panarea and set of minor islands and rocks to admire. They belong to Sicily that's why there you can try typical silicon food as well. Take a note: Stromboli is an active volcano that has erupted many times and is constantly active with timor eruptions that you may witness.
MATERA
The city of caves, stones and rock churches, Matera is one of the oldest still inhabited cities in the world included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage. It's a magical place that preserves evidence of human settlements since the Palaeolithic period. The "Sassi" of Matera are two districts (Sasso Caves and Sasso Barisano) that are considered one of the most unique landscapes in Europe. It's also a favourite spot for films shot, you can see it in "No Time to Die", "Wonder Woman", "Quantum of Solace", "The Omen". This southern Italian city is one of the most unique and spectacular places not only in Italy, but in the world.
SARDINIA
"The Italian Caribbean", the island Sardinia is home of some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world. It's not a mainstream Mediterranean destination but a sophisticated island with beautiful beaches, turquoise sea and fascinating rock formations. It's also famous for being a home to the world's longest-living men that makes it to be one of the happiest and harmonic places you would ever visit. The most impressive part of the island is the Costa Smeralda and Gold of Orosei.
GENOA & LIGURIA
The birthplace of Christopher Columbus, Genoa is a port city noted for its many sites of medieval, Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic architecture. The historical centre of Genoa is one of the largest in Europe. It's a well-known city of the region Liguria where focaccia [pillowy bread] was invented. For medieval villages lovers next to Genoa there are a lot of small towns to visit: Noli, Borgio Verezzi, Varigotti, Apricale, Bussana Vecchia.
