Italy is blessed with breathtaking natural beauty, rich history and culture and excellent food and wine. The country’s diverse landscape ranges from world-class cities to jaw-dropping mountain scenery. While Italy is home to luxury fashion and automobile brands, it is also the birthplace of great minds like Dante, Titian and Verd. Fun fact: Italy tops the list when it comes to the most number of UNESCO world heritage sites.
Italy’s capital Rome doesn’t need an introduction. It is one of the world’s most historical capital cities with a glorious artistic heritage and also encompasses the world’s smallest country and one of the holiest places of Christianity – Vatican City. Rome hosts an array of excellent museums, art galleries, churches, ruins and top-notch restaurants. Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre) is the most iconic landmark of the capital. The extensive ruins of the Roman Forum is a 7th-century ruin complex marked by various ancient government buildings. The former Roman temple, Pantheon is another gem in Rome’s endless list of historical treasures. Trevi Fountain, Palatino – the centremost of the Seven Hills of Rome, Piazza Navona are other notable sights.
Italy’s second-largest city Milan, is located in the Lombardy region and known as the powerhouse of the world’s fashion and design industry. Milan flourishes with its top-notch culinary scene and sophisticated urban cityscape. The region also contains the lovely Lago di Como – a picturesque lake with a backdrop of stunning mountains.
The shorelines of the second-largest lake in Italy, Lake Maggiore, is divided between the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy and the Swiss canton of Ticino. The lake is ringed with impressive villas, castles and beautiful gardens with a mountainous backdrop, which is simply perfect for an evening stroll. Piedmont is home to the football-crazy city of Turin – where you can walk through lovely avenues painted with neoclassical, baroque, rococo and art nouveau architectural styles.
In the Campania region lies the birthplace of pizza – Naples. Here, you can taste the world’s best pizzas and discover historical architecture and museums like the imposing Baroque Royal Palace of Caserta and Museo di Capodimonte. Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast are Campania region’s other notable highlights. Pompeii is an ancient Roman city, which was completely destroyed by a volcanic eruption and is one of the most important archaeological sites in Italy. Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s favorite honeymoon destinations, with pristine beaches and picture-perfect coastal villages and towns.
Venice, in the Veneto region, is a world-renowned destination known for its magical canals and gondola trips. It is worth noting that the city doesn’t have any roads – except for one main road. The Veneto region is also home to cities like Padua, famous for its artworks and architecture and Verona, the setting for Shakespeare’s signature work, Romeo and Juliet.
Tuscany has a dramatic landscape filled with historic elements and picturesque vineyards. The UNESCO listed Florence City is the capital of the region and is considered the birthplace of Renaissance art and architecture. It is home to the orange-domed Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and David – a world-renowned Renaissance sculpture. Some of the popular destinations in Tuscany include Siena – popular for its medieval brick buildings , Pisa – known for its iconic leaning tower, and the walled medieval town of San Gimignano.
The Italian Riviera region has some of Italy’s best coastal offerings like the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cinque Terre (which in Italian means five lands). Cinque Terre is a cluster of 5 picturesque villages – Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare, which can be characterized by its colourful buildings, hilly terrain and excellent seaside views.
Dolomites mountain range is a prime skiing and hiking destination in the country and here you will find some of Europe’s most beautiful resorts. It also offers plenty of other activities like paragliding, hang gliding, mountain climbing and cycling.
Italy is recognised worldwide for its impressive architectural landmarks, remarkable artworks, fashion labels and delicious culinary scene. With its ancient and modern cities, sophisticated lifestyle and natural treasures, the country rightly stands as one of the most popular travel destinations in the world.
Italy has the most number of UNESCO world heritage sites in the world.
the world’s smallest sovereign state
Christianity’s most sacred church
massive collection of the Vatican Museums
historical architecture and verdant surrounding
one of the world’s oldest republics
third smallest country in Europe
