Italy and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia have beach resorts and a number of historic buildings in cities such as Rome, Florence, Verona, Pisa and Venice. What should you definitely not miss from Italy?
Sights in Italy
Italy has a history rich in monuments. We bring you a list of the best in this article.
Colosseum in Rome
It is clearly impossible to visit Rome without seeing its symbol, the Colosseum and its archaeological part of the Roman Forum, which, according to legend, was founded by Romulus in 753 B.C.
The Colosseum was originally called the Flavian Amphitheater and is located in the garden of Nero’s Golden House at the end of the Roman Forum. It originally served as an amphitheater and was the largest building in the Roman Empire.
To visit the Colosseum you need to buy a ticket, and you can do it in two ways:
- Either buy it on the spot, which we do not recommend, because the Colosseum is visited daily by around 30,000 visitors and you could wait hours in the line for a ticket. The ticket price for 2020 is € 16 for an adult and € 2 discounted ticket for European Union citizens aged 18 to 25 what is sold at the box office, right before entering the Colosseum.
- Or another option is to buy a ticket online and thus avoid long waits in line before entering. The price of this ticket is increased by an entrance fee of € 2, so the ticket will cost you a total of € 18. But it is necessary to buy it for a specific day and hour.
Tickets can be purchased online at the following address: https://parcocolosseo.it/en/visit/opening-times-and-tickets/
You can also get to the Colosseum for free, every first Sunday of the month. We do not recommend you to visit it on this day, due to the large crowd of visitors.
Pantheon in Rome
The Pantheon is one of the most visited monuments in Rome and has represented its fame for more than two thousand years. There are also many tombs of famous people. Here you can find, for example, the tomb of the Renaissance painter Raffaell.
This church is located in Piazza della Rotonda and its interest is the architecture formed by a dome, whose diameter (43m and 44cm) and height (43m 44cm) match perfectly.
The Pantheon is free of charge and is open on the following days:
- Working days: 9:00 - 19:15
- Sunday: 09:00 - 17:45
- Public holidays: 9:00 - 12:45
Florence
Florence could be called the heart of Tuscany, not least because of its unique atmosphere. Even the historic center of Florence was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982.
It is located in central Italy and is the capital of the Tuscany region and was once the capital of the Kingdom of Italy (1865-1871).
There are so many places to visit in Florence that it probably wouldn’t be enough for a month to see everything. That is why we will list only the most famous ones that you should definitely not miss:
Old Bridge
Ponte Vecchio is clearly one of the most beautiful bridges in the world and is a 5-minute walk from the center of Piazza della Signoria. The bridge crosses the Arno River and is approximately 95 meters long. From its construction to the present day, it is surrounded by small shops that are typical for it.
In the past, it was mainly a butcher’s shop, because in 1442 the city administration ordered butchers from the center to move their operations to the bridge. This decision was made for aesthetic and especially hygienic reasons, allowing them to throw the waste generated during meat processing directly into the river.
Today, you will find mainly goldsmiths and souvenir and art shops.
Piazza della Signoria
Piazza della Signoria is surrounded by famous buildings and landmarks and was the political center of Florence in the Middle Ages. Here you will find, for example, the Fountain of Neptune, a copy of the famous statue of David by Michelangelo or the medieval Palazzo vecchio.
Boboli
The Boboli Gardens are part of Palazzo Pitti and cover an area of approximately 40,000 km2. They were established in 1549, when they were gradually improved.
Among the most beautiful parts of the garden is the amphitheater with statues and the Neptune Fountain above it.
Admission to the park in 2020 is € 10 and can be purchased online.
Admission purchased online costs € 10 for an adult with the option to purchase a reservation for a specific hour for a fee of € 3. Children under 18 have free entry.
Tickets can be purchased on the following page, where opening hours can also be consulted: https://www.uffizi.it/en/boboli-garden
Uffizi Gallery
Galleria degli Uffizi - It is one of the two Florentine galleries and is one of the most famous in the world. It is located right by the Arno River and construction began in 1560.
The gallery houses works by many famous authors. Here you will find works by world-famous artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Raffaello Sanzio or Caravaggio.
Admission is € 20 for an adult and admission is free for children under 18. European Union citizens aged 18 to 25 are entitled to a discounted ticket for € 2. It is also possible to buy a reservation for a specific time for € 4.
The ticket can be purchased at the following web address: https://www.ticketsflorence.com/en/
Palazzo Pitti
Palazzo Pitti - the palace was built in 1457 by the banker Lucca Pitti and is connected to the Boboli Gardens.
After the bankruptcy of Pitti’s heirs, the palace was bought by the Medici family, which expanded it by two more wings and made it its main residence in 1550.
Here you will find a gallery with more than 1000 paintings from the Baroque and Renaissance periods, a silver museum, a gallery of modern art and royal apartments.
The entrance fee for an adult is € 16 and the discounted price is € 2. It is also possible to buy online reservations for a specific hour in the amount of € 3.
Tickets can be purchased at the following page: https://www.ticketsflorence.com/en/
It is also possible to buy a 3-day Passepartout with unlimited access to Palazzo Pitti, the Uffizi Gallery and the Boboli Gardens for € 38.
Venice
Venice is the capital of the northern Italian region of Veneto (Veneto) and is also called the city of the carnival, which takes place here every year and about which you can read more on our blog:
In terms of population, it is the largest city in the region, with a population of over 250,000.
Venice is located 4 kilometers from the mainland, in a large Adriatic lagoon over 2 meters above sea level. This city was built on the water and consists of 118 islands, which are connected by over 400 arched bridges.
Venice is a very popular tourist destination. Over 19 million tourists visit them every year. Even in 1987, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Here you will find over 150 different canals that you can sail through. You can admire Venice from a boat or in the famous Venetian gondola.
The most famous canals include the Grand Canal, which is also Venice’s main thoroughfare. This canal is about 4 kilometers long and is lined by only 3 bridges.
The city is divided into 6 districts of Sestieri and these are Canaregio, Castello, Dorsoduro, San Palo, Santa Croce and San Marco.
As for places to visit and you can visit Piazza San Marco. The square, which is the social, cultural and spiritual center of the city.
There are symbols of the city, such as the Basilica and St. Mark’s Bell Tower.
Pompeii
Pompeii is approximately 25 km from Naples, which can be easily reached by airplain.
Pompeii is the most visited archeological site in the world and their visit is a truly amazing experience. It doesn’t take much imagination to imagine a Roman city that is all around you. The presence of Mount Vesuvius, appearing at the end of the street or above the ruined wall, is a constant reminder of the catastrophe, which had a devastating effect on the entire city and the population, which was ruthlessly buried under five meters of ash. This huge tragedy occurred in August 79. AD. Although the city still hides many secrets, today it has managed to uncover a huge part of it and archaeologists have gradually made it available to the public.
Every year, a large number of tourists come here to see what remains of Pompeii and the fossilized bodies of the dead, twisted in unnatural positions.
Pompeii is open to the public every day from 09:00 to 19:00 and you can buy a ticket online or on site. The entrance fee for an adult is € 14.50 if you buy a ticket between 09:00 - 16:30 and € 10 between 16:30 - 17:30. We recommend that you buy your ticket online to avoid waiting in line.
Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italian Torre Pendente di Pisa, is a medieval building in Pisa. It is known that due to the swampy foundations, after construction it fell 5.5 degrees from the original, vertical state. Subsequently, extensive work was done to level the tower and its tilt was eventually reduced to less than 4 degrees.
The bell tower, which began in 1173 as the third and final structure of the city’s cathedral complex, was designed to stand at a height of 56 meters and was constructed of white marble.
Tuscany
Central Italy is probably the most commonly perceived landscape image. Tuscany, with its classic rolling countryside and the artificially packed cities of Florence, Pisa and Siena, to name just the three most famous, is one of the most visited regions. Tuscany itself has more classified historical monuments than any country in the world.
Sicily
The island of Sicily is a completely different place. Here you will find a wide range of attractions, from the best preserved Hellenistic treasures in Europe to the most attractive Italian resorts in Taormina and Cefalu, not to mention the beautiful mountain scenery. The further west, the closer you are to Africa, for example in Trapani. It is reflected in the climate, architecture and also cooking. Couscous is on many offerings in the west of the island.
Sardinia
Even in Sardinia, you will feel very far from the Italian mainland, especially in its relatively undiscovered interior. Although it is definitely enough to lie on the fine beaches, which are among the best in Italy.
Dolomites
The Dolomites form a group of nine mountain groups in northeastern Italy, which stretch through the regions of Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. In 2009, these mountains were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List with an area of 142,000 hectares.
The Italian Dolomites are without a doubt one of the most dramatic alpine destinations in the world. Each mountain group has a unique shape. So if you spend enough time in the region, you will get to know each mountain by its name and you will appreciate all the viewpoints, trails and mountain passes, from which there is a different view of this mountain.
In addition to the shapes of the mountains, you will also be interested in the unique color of the Dolomites. Light and time of day reveal different shades of crimson, peach, pink, white and purple in the rock.
Between the cliffs you will find alpine pastures and meadows dotted with rifugia - mountain huts, cows and horses. During the summer season, food and drink are served in the rugugi. So when you go hiking in the Dolomites, you don’t have to pack lunch, because delicious food usually awaits you.
Lake Garda
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy (52 km long and 17 km wide): it is so large that it changes the local climate, which is milder and - thanks to the lake breeze - sunnier than might be expected. It is also the most popular lake, attracting about seven percent of all tourists who come to Italy and serves as a bridge between the Alps and the rest of the country. The narrow northern part of the lake is firmly bounded by mountains that fall into the water and the villages are wedged into gaps in the cliffs. Further south, the lake is lined with gentle hills and quiet resorts.
Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius is a famous volcano, which is known for the destruction of the historic city of Pompeii in 79 BC. This fascinating peak, which is the only active volcano in continental Europe, contributes to an important part of Italian history. Today, Pompeii is one of the largest archaeological sites in the world and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe. Mount Vesuvius is an ancient volcano, with the oldest rock, estimated at about 300,000 years. During her lifetime, there were several eruptions, about 30 of which destroyed Pompeii. The last eruption was in 1944 during World War II.
Bibione
Bibione is located in the northwestern part of Italy, just beside Slovenia.
It is a popular tourist destination especially for vacationers from Central Europe, mainly for its position and affordable hotels. Thanks to which Bibione has been extremely popular with tourists for years and has become synonymous with family holidays in Italy. It is a relatively new resort, which was established in the 80s.
Bibione can be divided into 3 main parts:
- Bibione Spiaggia - it is the main and busiest part of Bibione, with many attractions, bars, restaurants, cafes and shops. There is also the famous wellness center and thermal swimming pool Bibione Thermae.
- Bibione Lido del Sole - this is a slightly quieter part and is located between Bibione Spiaggia and Bibione Pineda.
- Bibione Pineda - it is the greenest and quietest part of Bibione, surrounded by pine trees, between which you can relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings.
The main beach is over 11 km long and up to 400 meters in average. This beach is popular with families with children, mainly for its depth of water, which reaches only a waist,far from the shore.
Rimini
Rimini is located along the Adriatic Sea, in the eastern part of the Italian peninsula.
It is a popular destination not only for foreign tourists but also for Italy. Together with Riccione, it is probably the most popular seaside resort on the Adriatic Riviera among Italy. Its kilometers of sandy beaches along the Adriatic coast made the city a trendy destination in the 1960s and 1970s. As many tourists from all over Europe come to this city every year, it is also called Miami, Italy.
From June to September, the city is very crowded, as young people and families come here to enjoy a summer holiday at sea. There are countless hotels along the coast, and during the summer season many holidaymakers rent apartments for a month or more to enjoy a longer holiday in Rimini. Each hotel along the sea has its own beach with access to the sea.
Rimini is a popular destination mainly for young people, because there are all the most famous nightclubs in Italy. And many beach discos run during the day. But families with children will also enjoy themselves, as there are also many amusement parks and a dolphinarium.
Families with children will also enjoy themselves in Rimini, as there are also many amusement parks and a dolphinarium.
Calabria
Calabria is located in the far south of Italy and is surrounded by the beautiful crystal blue Ionian and Tyrrhenian Seas and is separated from Sicily by the Strait of Messina. The warm climate, the beautiful colors of the sea, the rocky coast, which alternates with sandy beaches, wild and mysterious nature, strong and original tastes of local cuisine, make Calabria a unique place that you can enjoy in summer and winter.
If you are one of those people who love nature, its scents and secrets, you can explore Calabria and discover its natural scenery, where lush greenery alternates with blue lakes and waterfalls.
If you prefer basking in the sun and immersing yourself in the crystal clear sea, you can choose from many charming locations along the long Tyrrhenian and Ionian coasts.
And if you are among those who prefer to get to know the past of this region, the cradle of Magna Graecia and the region of ancient settlements, which are full of beautiful churches, monasteries, castles and palaces, then here you will find what you are looking for.
