{"id":602,"date":"2024-07-15T13:05:55","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T05:05:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/the-15-best-places-to-visit-in-italy-from-venice-to-the-cinque-terre\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T09:56:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T01:56:08","slug":"the-15-best-places-to-visit-in-italy-from-venice-to-the-cinque-terre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gagner-des-cadeaux.org\/?p=602","title":{"rendered":"The 15 best places to visit in Italy, from Venice to the Cinque Terre"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Home to some of the planet’s greatest artworks, historical monuments and food \u2013 and with the kind of varied landscapes that you often have to cross continents to see \u2013\u00a0Italy elates, inspires and moves its visitors like few other countries.<\/p>\n

Given Italy’s art- and architecture-stuffed cities to its astonishing diversity of natural landscapes \u2013 dramatic coastlines, serene lakes, pristine mountains, and those famous rolling hills \u2013 picking just a handful of destinations to visit in this wonderful country is not easy.<\/p>\n

So how do you decide where to go? It all depends on what you\u2019re looking for in your Italian odyssey, whether that\u2019s history, art, beaches, hiking or even food. No matter your passion, our list of 15 must-see places in Italy should be your starting point.<\/p>\n

1. Rome<\/h2>\n

Best for history<\/b><\/p>\n

Once caput mundi (capital of the world), Rome was legendarily spawned by a wolf-suckled boy, developed into a vast empire, rooted itself as the home of the Catholic church and is now the repository of more than two millennia of art and architecture.<\/p>\n

Rome should definitely be the centerpiece of your trip if you\u2019re going to Italy for the first time, but there’s simply too much to see in one visit, from the Pantheon and the Colosseum to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and countless works by Caravaggio. Do as countless others have before you: toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain and promise to return.<\/p>\n

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Planning tip: There\u2019s an overwhelming amount to see here, and with limited public transport in the city center, your choice of hotel can be crucial. Map out the sights you\u2019re most interested in before you book \u2013 if you want to be at the Vatican at opening time, for example, don’t stay near the Colosseum.<\/p>\n

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Rome is packed with things to see and do, and should be high on your list when visiting Italy for the first time. Di Gregorio Giulio\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Read more: Italians reveal their under-the-radar vacation spots in Italy<\/h3>\n

2. Tuscany<\/h3>\n

Best for a Renaissance fix<\/b><\/p>\n

From Botticelli\u2019s Venus, emerging coyly from the water in the Uffizi Gallery, to the mind-boggling dome of its cathedral, Florence is a feast for the eyes. This was, of course, the seat of the Renaissance, and there are knock-out names at every turn \u2013 Michelangelo in the Accademia, Donatello in the Bargello, Leonardo and Raphael in the Uffizi.<\/p>\n

Further afield in Tuscany \u2013 Italy’s most romanticized region \u2013 is an undulating landscape of sinuous cypress trees, olive groves and coveted regional treasures. Glory in the Gothic majesty of Siena and the Manhattan-esque skyline of medieval San Gimignano before exploring the vineyards of Italy’s most famous wine region, Chianti, and the rolling, cypress-studded hills of the Val d\u2019Orcia.<\/p>\n

Planning tip: You\u2019re best off without a car if you\u2019re sticking to major towns and cities since Tuscany has a good rail network. But if you want to explore the countryside, you\u2019ll definitely need a car.<\/p>\n

3. The Dolomites<\/h2>\n

Best for dramatic mountains<\/b><\/p>\n

Scour the globe, and you’ll find plenty of taller, bigger and more geologically volatile mountains, but few can match the romance of the pink-hued granite Dolomites.<\/p>\n

Maybe it’s their harsh, jagged summits, the vibrant skirts of spring wildflowers, or the rich cache of Ladin legends. Then again, it could just be the magnetic draw of money, style and glamor at Italy’s most fabled ski resort, Cortina d’Ampezzo, or the linguistic curiosity of picture-postcard mountain village Sappada. Whatever the reason, this tiny pocket of northern Italy takes seductiveness to dizzying heights.<\/p>\n

4. Amalfi Coast<\/h2>\n

Best for classic beauty<\/b><\/p>\n

Italy’s most celebrated coastline is a gripping strip: coastal mountains plunge into the piercing blue sea in a prime-time vertical scene of precipitous crags, sun-bleached villages and cliffs rearing up behind. Between sea and sky, mountaintop hiking trails deliver Tyrrhenian panoramas fit for a god.<\/p>\n

While some may argue that the peninsula’s most beautiful coast is Liguria’s Cinque Terre or Calabria’s Costa Viola, it is the Amalfi Coast that has seduced and inspired countless greats, from Tennessee Williams and D.H. Lawrence to Elizabeth Taylor, Virginia Woolf and Jackie Kennedy. Of course, its staggeringly romantic looks also make it one of the best places in Italy for couples.<\/p>\n

Planning tip: Yes, driving along the Amalfi Coast is one of the world\u2019s most famous road trips, but often it feels like everyone else on the planet has the same idea. Traffic can be nose-to-tail, and parking is effectively nonexistent. Instead, take the ferry between towns or travel by public transport.<\/p>\n

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Positano, a gem along the Amalfi Coast, is well worth a stop to catch the pastel-painted cliffs along the ocean. Andrew Mayovskyy\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Pompeii<\/h2>\n

Best for stepping back in time<\/b><\/p>\n

Frozen in its death throes, the time-warped ruins of Pompeii hurtle you 2000 years into the past. Wander through chariot-grooved Roman streets, lavishly frescoed villas and bathhouses, food stores and markets, theaters and even an ancient brothel.<\/p>\n

Then, in the eerie stillness, your eye on ominous Mt Vesuvius, ponder Pliny the Younger’s terrifying account of the town’s final hours: \u201cDarkness came on again, again ashes, thick and heavy. We got up repeatedly to shake these off; otherwise, we would have been buried and crushed by the weight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Planning tip: If you have time, the other major city destroyed by the eruption, Herculaneum, is also worth a visit. Much smaller than Pompeii, its buildings are better preserved, and the location \u2013 surrounded by its modern descendant, Ercolano \u2013 makes the site even more piquant. Like Pompeii, it\u2019s easily reached on the Circumvesuviana train.<\/p>\n

6. Emilia-Romagna<\/h2>\n

Best for foodies<\/b><\/p>\n

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In a region as overwhelmingly foodie as Emilia-Romagna, it’s fitting that its capital, Bologna, is dubbed \u201cLa Grassa\u201d (the fat one). Many belt-busting Italian classics hail from here, including mortadella, tortellini and tagliatelle al rag\u00f9. Shop in the deli-packed Quadrilatero district \u2013 home to food stalls since medieval times \u2013 then hop on the train for an afternoon in Modena for world-famous aged balsamic vinegar.<\/p>\n

Leave room for Parma, hometown of parmigiano reggiano cheese and the incomparable prosciutto di Parma. Wherever you plunge your fork, toast with a glass or three of Emilia-Romagna’s renowned Lambrusco \u2013 a world away from the sickly sweet wine that was exported in the past.<\/p>\n

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There is no such thing as a bad meal in Bologna. Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

7. Lago di Como<\/h2>\n

Best for a slice of luxury<\/b><\/p>\n

If it’s good enough for the Clooneys and vacationing Obamas, it’s good enough for mere mortals. Nestled in the shadow of the Rhaetian Alps, dazzling Lago di Como is Lombardy’s most spectacular lake. Its lavish Liberty-style villas are home to movie moguls, fashion royalty and literal royalty. The lake’s siren calls include gardens at Villas Melzi d’Eril, Carlotta\u00a0and Balbianello that blush pink with camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons in April and May.<\/p>\n

The city of Como itself is a hotbed of arresting architecture, from the Gothic cathedral to Palazzo Terragni \u2013 built by the Fascists as their party headquarters. It\u2019s a classic example of Italian 1930s Rationalism and a striking reminder of the atrocities committed by the regime.<\/p>\n

Planning tip: Como is like the Amalfi Coast \u2013 the roads are clogged, and parking is a huge problem. Instead of driving, use public transport; there\u2019s an excellent ferry and bus network, as well as a train line along the eastern edge of the lake.<\/p>\n

8. Sardinia<\/h2>\n

Best for beaches and coastline<\/b><\/p>\n

The English language cannot accurately describe the varied blue, green and \u2013 in the deepest shadows \u2013 purple colors of Sardinia\u2019s seas. While models, ministers and perma-tanned celebrities wine, dine and sail along the glossy Costa Smeralda, much of the island \u2013 the Med\u2019s second largest after Sicily \u2013 remains a wild, raw playground.<\/p>\n

Explore its rugged coastal beauty, from the tumbledown boulders of Santa Teresa di Gallura and the wind-chiseled cliff face of the Golfo di Orosei to the windswept beauty of the Costa Verde’s dune-backed beaches.<\/p>\n

Be sure to spend time inland, too. You\u2019ll find some of Europe\u2019s finest prehistoric remains: mysterious nuraghi (megalithic buildings), burial sites so grand they\u2019re known as \u201cgiants\u2019 tombs,\u201d and the mountain villages of Barbagia, where locals still practice centuries-old traditions.<\/p>\n

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The joy of Naples is simply strolling around the bustling, atmospheric streets. Massimo Borchi\/Atlantide Phototravel\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

9. Naples<\/h2>\n

Best for sheer italianit\u00e0<\/b><\/p>\n

Pompeii, pizza and a whole lot of panache:\u00a0Naples is a city like no other. Layered like lasagna, each strip of history on top of the last, this is a place where (underground) you can walk along ancient Greek and Roman roads. Up at street level, there are sumptuous churches, baroque palaces and Maradona \u2013 Maradona everywhere.<\/p>\n

Outside the city, Vesuvius looms over the time capsules of Pompeii and Herculaneum, while in town, living in the shadow of a volcano gives life a sense of urgency. All that makes for a place like nowhere else.<\/p>\n

Planning tip: Naples becomes less chaotic from the water. Taking the ferry isn\u2019t only an option if you\u2019re going to islands like Ischia and Procida \u2013 you can also take a boat from the city to Sorrento, Positano and the Amalfi Coast.<\/p>\n

10. Venice<\/h2>\n

Best for a fairytale city<\/b><\/p>\n

‘Unique’ is an overused word, but in the case of Venice, there\u2019s no better description. The city really is a dreamscape of intricately carved palazzos, gilded churches and world-class museums, floating on water and crisscrossed by quiet canals.<\/p>\n

Avoid the temptation to do a quick drop-in visit to see the main sights; the real Venice is in the silent canals and narrow alleyways, which cast a spell on all who move through them. Tick off the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco, but then stay on to experience this most precious and precarious of cities.<\/p>\n

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Local tip: This is not the place to run a tight schedule. Leave time to wander the alleys, look inside the churches and artisan shops you pass, and hop on a vaporetto that\u2019ll chug through the islands of the lagoon.<\/p>\n

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Gran Paradiso National Park is a great Italian hiking destination. Roberto Moiola\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

11. Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso<\/h2>\n

Best for hiking<\/b><\/p>\n

If you’re pining for a mind-clearing retreat, lace up your hiking boots and explore over 500km (310 miles) of marked trails and mule tracks traversing \u201cGrand Paradise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Part of the Graian Alps and one of Italy’s very first national parks, Gran Paradiso\u00a0is a\u00a0pure, pristine spread that encompasses 57 glaciers and alpine pastures. It is awash with wild pansies, gentians and alpenroses, not to mention a healthy population of Alpine ibex, for whose protection the park was originally established. At 4061m (13,323ft), the eponymous Gran Paradiso is the park’s only peak, accessed from tranquil Cogne.<\/p>\n

12. Mount Etna<\/h2>\n

Best for thrill seekers<\/b><\/p>\n

Known to the Greeks as the ‘column that holds up the sky,’\u00a0Mt Etna is not only Europe’s largest volcano, it’s one of the world’s most active. The ancients believed the giant monster named\u00a0Tifone<\/i> (Typhoon) lived in its crater and lit the sky with spectacular pyrotechnics; today they simply call it idda<\/i>, or ‘her.’<\/p>\n

At 3326m (10,912ft), she literally towers above Sicily’s Ionian Coast. Tackle the climb on foot, on a guided 4WD tour, or stick to the lower slopes, where you\u2019ll find some of Italy\u2019s most exciting wines being grown in the uber-fertile volcanic soil. Sicily is one of the nicest places in Italy to visit, thanks to its extraordinary wealth of history and architecture, its jaw-dropping coastline and, of course, the ever-welcoming Sicilians.<\/p>\n

13. Cinque Terre and the Liguria coast<\/h2>\n

Best for classic coastline<\/b><\/p>\n

Liguria\u2019s remote Cinque Terre area is coastal Italy at its most spectacular. Five seaside villages wedged between cliffs, encircled by a national park and connected by clifftop footpaths, this is a place where humanity has lived in symbiosis with nature for thousands of years. People have chiseled terraces into the steep cliffs and grown wine here since Roman times; until the 20th century, the locals got about by sea or footpath.<\/p>\n

The villages themselves are gorgeous, but spare some time for a hike along the Sentiero Azzurro, the most popular of the paths connecting them. Cinque Terre may be the best known, but Liguria\u2019s coastline is one showstopper coastal village after another \u2013 additional highlights include Portofino, Portovenere and Santa Margherita Ligure.<\/p>\n

Planning tip: This is another area where it\u2019s not worth driving \u2013 there are ferry services, but our favorite option is the train, which runs along the coast and stops at each of the villages.<\/p>\n

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The centro storico of Alberobello is nothing but streets of short conical-roofed houses called trulli. Martin Jung\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

14. Valle d\u2019Itria<\/h2>\n

Best for picture-perfect villages<\/b><\/p>\n

They look like hobbit houses \u2013 small conical-roofed cottages called trulli, often stitched together to form a bigger home but always fairytale pretty, whatever the size. Puglia, the heel of Italy\u2019s boot, is famous for its trulli, but you won\u2019t find them all over the region.<\/p>\n

Head south of Bari, in from the coast and up onto the high karst plateau, and you\u2019ll find the Valle d\u2019Itria, where the green fields around towns like Cisternino and Locorotondo are dotted with trulli. Alberobello is the center of it all \u2013 the centro storico<\/i> of the town is nothing but streets of them. This is one of the prettiest parts of Italy \u2013 truly.<\/p>\n

15. Milan<\/h2>\n

Best for a real city break<\/b><\/p>\n

Italy\u2019s fashion capital often gets a bad rap \u2013 too international, too organized, not chaotic enough. Don\u2019t believe it. Where else can you go from a Gothic-style cathedral, started in the 14th century, to masterpieces by Leonardo? After all, his Last Supper fresco in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie is a showstopper, but so is the Sala delle Asse in the Castello Sforzesco, which he painted as a trompe l\u2019oeil forest bower.<\/p>\n

Milan’s restaurants pull together the best food from the Italian peninsula, it\u2019s home to one of Italy\u2019s rare cocktail scenes. Similarly, its fashion houses are transforming the city\u2019s modern art scene with venues like Fondazione Prada, an old distillery now housing works by the likes of Jeff Koons and Damien Hirst, as well as putting on top-notch temporary exhibitions.<\/p>\n

Planning tip: Milan doesn\u2019t really have high and low seasons like the rest of Italy does; instead, its hotel rates rocket up and down depending on whether there\u2019s a major event in town. Avoid Design and Fashion Weeks if you’re traveling on a budget.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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