Spectacular landscapes, rich history, and vibrant culture make Italy one of the world's most popular travel destinations.
With so much to offer, it's no surprise that the boot-shaped peninsula attracts millions of visitors yearly. But you must plan your trip to Italy wisely to avoid being overwhelmed by an overbooked itinerary.
This article shares some of our top picks of things to do in Italy.
Explore Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy, and the city brims with historical and architectural wonders. It's impossible to take in all the sights in Rome in one day. So we have listed what we feel are unmissable experiences.
The Colosseum, the famed site of gladiatorial matches, is one of the most famous amphitheaters ever built. The building stands largely intact at the heart of Rome's city center. We recommend taking a night tour, the illumination is magnificent and the night tour gives you access to the underground and arena floor of the ancient Amphitheater
The Pantheon is a domed granite temple that remains a functional chapel today and an important site for the Catholic religion. The Pantheon is the only building from ancient Rome that has remained entirely intact throughout all the centuries.
St Peter's Basilica is the largest church in the world and one of the Catholic Church's holiest sites to worship. We love this site for several reasons but Michelangelo's sculpture of the Pieta is particularly impressive.
Explore Florence
Florence is the world-famous capital of the Renaissance. In this city, the Medici family funded local arts development, where many treasures of this era are preserved.
The Uffizi is the most famous gallery in Florence. It is home to extraordinary artworks, including Botticelli's Birth of Venus "Annunciation" by Leonardo da Vinci (more than 100,000 pieces,
Galleria dell'Accademia houses Michaelangelo's 17 ft marble statue, David. If you visit the Galleria for no other reason than to view this masterpiece, the visit will be worth it.
Cappelle Medicee are two chapels built by the famous Medici family. The chapels are a masterpiece of marble and frescoes and contain some of the most beautiful statues carved by Michaelangelo.
Vivoli Gelato is said to be the oldest and best gelato shop in Italy. If you're a gelato fan, you don't want to pass up artisanal gelato from Vivoli.
Mercato Centrale is for the foodies. We thoroughly enjoyed chatting with the market vendors. On the ground level, you can buy wine, fruit, meat, fish, cheese, oil, and spices. Upstairs is the food court that offers an array of the freshest Italian cuisine.
Visit Venice
Venice in northeastern Italy is built on over one hundred small islands, separated by canals and linked by hundreds of bridges. Like most of Italy, Venice has a long list of attractions, but in our opinion, a few deserve priority.
Doge's Palace, built in the Venetian Gothic style, is one of the prominent landmarks of Venice.
Dominating the great hall is Tintoretto's painting Il Paradiso - one of the largest paintings on canvas in the world.
The Bell Tower in Saint Mark's Square is the highest point from which to admire all of Venice and the Basin of San Marco - even better if you can reach the top at sunset.
The Basilica of St. Mark's is not to be missed. Known as the golden church, the interior is adorned with over 8000m2 of mosaics, mainly gold.
Take A Road Trip In Tuscany
Tuscany boasts a history dating back to the Bronze Age and a landscape of rolling hills, vineyards, and olive groves that took our breath away.
Tuscany is the ideal place for a road trip, but it's also the home to the best-known Italian wine: Chianti.
Wineries in Tuscany aren’t generally open to the public, so if you want to visit vineyards, most will require that you make an appointment.
Experience The Good Life
Italians will tell you that discovering all of the best things to do in Italy is a lifelong project. Keep this in mind when planning your trip.
It can be tempting to squeeze in as many sites and activities as possible into one trip. But being overcommitted and over-tired will spoil your Italian adventure.
Locals live by "la dolce vita," meaning "the good life." Life moves slower, and a proper Italian holiday should too.
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