Must See Places in Italy

If you asked us to pick one favourite country in the world, it would have to be Italy. It was our chosen honeymoon destination when we got married, opening up our eyes to world travel together as a couple. We were fascinated by the natural beauty, the history, culture and people of this incredible country. Italy holds a special place in our hearts. We have been on a couple of trips to Italy and have visited some truly memorable and unique places during that time. It is the sort of place we will continue returning to time and time again throughout our lives. There is just so much to do there. If you’re thinking of visiting this fascinating country, here are some must see places in Italy that I think everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.

Rome

Ancient Roman Forum, Rome

All roads lead to Rome. Italy’s ancient capital city is of course at the top of the list. Rome is the perfect place to start your Italian journey. Immerse yourself in the history of Rome and get to know the Roman culture. Known as the eternal city, Rome is full of historic sites dating back to Ancient Rome. You would need weeks to see everything Rome has to offer, but we recommend a minimum of 4 days to see the best of the city. A week would be even better!

Things to do in Rome

• Explore Ancient Rome with visits to the Roman Forum and the Colosseum.
• Learn about Rome’s history at important museums such as the Capitoline Museum.
• Visit some of Rome’s amazing monuments, such as the Vittorio Emmanuel II Monument at the busy Piazza Venezia, or the popular Spanish Steps in Piazza di Spagna.
• Don’t miss the Pantheon, dating back to Ancient Rome and still in use today.
• Immerse yourself in the Roman culture by relaxing in some of Rome’s impressive piazzas, such as Piazza Navona, and Piazza del Popolo.
• Visit some of Rome’s fountains, such as the popular Trevi Fountain.
• Explore Trastavere, one of Rome’s most interesting neighbourhoods.

Trastavere, Rome

• Eat amazing food, from pasta to gelato.
• If you love art, visit some of Rome’s fantastic galleries, such as the Galleria Borghese
• Finally, take a visit to the Vatican City, visit the museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica, all must see places in Italy.

The list could go on and on, but this is a good start!

Amalfi Coast

Positano

Italy is surrounded by stunning coastal scenery. Located south of Naples, the Amalfi Coast has some of the most impressive you will find. Steep mountains seemingly rise straight out of the turquoise Mediterranean Sea, where some of the most picturesque towns in Italy are located. The area is famous for its lemons, and the tasty liqueur limoncello is from here.

Visiting the Amalfi Coast

During our first trip to Italy, we took a train to Naples and then onto Sorrento, where we stayed to explore the area. We visited the ancient Roman ruins of Pompeii from here by train, although you could easily do this as a day trip from Naples or Rome.

The train line ends in Sorrento. From here, a winding road somehow makes its way along the steep coastline connecting the towns and villages. Outside of Sorrento, some of the most popular towns to visit are Positano and Amalfi. The towns somehow cling to the side of the steep slopes that plunge into the sea. The result is just breathtaking scenery that has to be seen to be believed.

Positano

It would be a bit crazy to hire a car to drive yourself along this route, unless you are very experienced with Italian driving conditions. A safer (though still hair-raising) option is the SITA bus service that runs from Sorrento to Salerno, connecting the towns.

Another popular place to visit on the Amalfi Coast is the Isle of Capri, dating back to Ancient Roman times and oozing with Mediterranean charm. You can take a ferry from Sorrento to spend the day on the island. It was terrible weather on the day we wanted to visit so the ferries were unfortunately shut. Just another reason we need to return!

Florence

Florence Cathedral

Tuscany’s capital city is on every Italian travel itinerary, often being the first stop after Rome. Florence (Firenze) is steeped in history and was the centre of the Italian Renaissance in the 15th and 16th century. As a result, the city is well known as a city of Italian culture and for the best Renaissance art and architecture in the country. A few days in Florence is a must to see the city’s highlights.

Things to do in Florence

• At the heart of the city is the Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore), completed in 1436. The cathedral’s facade is breathtaking and its magnificent dome and bell tower rises high above the piazza below.
• Florence is one of the great art cities of the world, and visiting at least one of the city’s impressive art galleries is a must. The Uffizi Gallery is the most popular, housed within a magnificent old palace, containing artwork by all the most important Italian Renaissance artists. The highlight is perhaps The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli. Book your tickets to Uffizi Gallery in advance as it gets incredibly popular.

Uffizi Gallery

• Another popular gallery is the Galleria dell’Accademia, containing Michelangelo’s masterpiece sculpture, David. This is another gallery where the line can go out the door and around the block. It is a good idea to book your tickets in advance here as well.
• While you are in Florence take some time to visit Piazza della Signora, the main city square dominated by Palazzo Vecchio. There are several cafes here where you can sip an espresso or a glass of wine (wine not?) and enjoy the views of the square.
• Finally, don’t miss Ponte Vecchio, an incredible Medieval covered bridge over the River Arno. The shops on the bridge are now predominantly jewellery shops for some reason, but the bridge itself is well worth seeing.

There is a lot more to do in Florence, but these should whet your appetite.

Siena

View of Siena from Facciatone

Beautiful Siena is probably the second most important city in Tuscany. It has always been Florence’s rival since the days when they were their own city state. Siena is one of Tuscany’s famous medieval hilltop cities and is definitely one of the must see places in Italy. Just wandering the streets of Siena is an incredible experience on its own. But the city is full of impressive sites and attractions that shouldn’t be missed.

Things to do in Siena

• Like Florence, the heart of Siena is its Medieval Cathedral (Duomo di Siena), completed in 1348. In my opinion, Siena’s cathedral is far more impressive than the one in Florence. Its facade is incredible, but the interior is what truly takes your breath away. Every inch of the Cathedral’s walls and ceiling is adorned with stunning frescoes and artwork. Even the floor is stunning. You can also visit the Baptistery and the Crypt. The Duomo’s museum (Museo dell’Opera) is also well worth checking out for the priceless artefacts it holds.
• Just outside the cathedral is the Facciatone Panoramic Terrace, accessed through the museum. The terrace is actually the wall of a huge incomplete section of the cathedral. Climbing the narrow winding stairs up to the terrace is well worth it for the incredible panoramic views across Siena. All of the above attractions are easily visited with the city’s Opa Si Pass.

Inside Siena Cathedral

• The main square (Piazza del Campo) is one of the great city squares of Europe. Palazzo Pubblico (the old town hall) with its 100 metre high clock tower dominates the piazza. It is well worth taking some time here to sit at a cafe or grab some gelato and relax for a while in this beautiful public space.

These are just the highlights of Siena and this can be done as a day trip if staying in Florence (just hop on the train) or other parts of Tuscany. We rented a villa for a week in the country and did day trips to the towns from there. A longer stay in Siena, however, is high up on my list of things to do.

Cinque Terre

Vernazza, Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre is another stunning piece of Mediterranean coastline that has to be seen to be believed. Rugged mountains plunge into the stunning waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Along this coastline, five small villages, known as Cinque Terre (five villages), sit perched in tiny nooks in the most spectacular setting.

Visiting Cinque Terre

Surprisingly, a train line connects the villages to the nearby city of La Spezia, an engineering feat. The train somehow tunnels through the mountains and emerges from the tunnels at each of the villages.

Pick any of the villages to stay in for a few days and explore the area by train, ferry or on foot with the amazing walking trails.

We stayed in Monterosso al Mare, the largest of the villages, and explored from there. We took a ferry from Monterosso to the next village, Vernazza. From here we walked up through the village and hiked along the trail to Corniglia. The coastal scenery is just stunning, and the trails go through terraces of olive groves and vineyards. The great things about Cinque Terre is that you can always catch the train back from any of the villages after a long walk if your legs are tired.

Monterosso Beach

We did a similar thing on our final day, catching the ferry from Monterosso to Riomaggiore. We then walked the Via Amore (Lovers Walk) to Manarola and took the train back to Monterosso.

Reward yourself at the end of the day with a glass of wine and some delicious local seafood, or sample the pesto pasta that the area is famous for.

Three days is enough to see all the villages, but I would love to spend a week here sometime so that I can do all of the hikes in the area.

Venice

There is simply no other place in the world like Venice. It is a city that must be seen in person to truly appreciate it. Situated in the Veneto in Northern Italy, facing the Adriatic Sea, the historic city of Venice (Venezia) is built entirely on islands in a spacious lagoon. In many ways, it is almost unbelievable that the city should exist at all. But Venice has a very long history and it was built into a thriving city state with a huge trading empire throughout the middle ages and renaissance. Today, the city has remarkably remained unchanged in many ways. Opulent buildings and palaces line tranquil canals, and the only way to get around is by foot or by boat. There are no cars or scooters zooming around, only adding to the charm of the city.

Just walking around Venice is like being in a dream. It is hard to put into words. Each neighbourhood has something different, and three or four days here will get you to some of the main sites. Weeks would be needed to really immerse yourself in the city. If you have a few days, here are some highlights that you must check out when in Venice.

Things to do in Venice

• Cruise down the Grand Canal. This is the main “highway” in Venice and likely how you will get around when you arrive. You can hire a private water taxi or just buy a ticket for the water bus that stops regularly all along the canal.
• Visit Piazza San Marco (St Mark’s Square), the main square in Venice. This is the heart of Venezia and one of the few places in the city with a large amount of open space (although it gets very crowded with tourists). Here you will find many of Venice’s main historic sites, dominated by the huge Campanile (bell tower). Line up to visit St Mark’s Basilica, unique in appearance to many other basilicas in Italy, and stunning inside. Next, learn about the history of the city by exploring the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale), with its impressive Gothic architecture. This was the Doge’s residence (the elected leader of the city) and the main seat of government. The infamous Bridge of Sighs takes you across a canal from the palace to the prison.
• Wander the streets of San Marco to the Rialto Bridge, the most impressive of only four bridges that cross the Grand Canal. Then browse the stalls of the Rialto Market if you’re there early enough in the day.

Rialto Bridge

• Visit some museums and art galleries. Venice is full of them! Popular ones include the Guggenheim Museum and the Galleria dell’Accademia. One of my personal favourites is Ca’ Rezzonico, a beautifully preserved Venetian mansion on the Grand Canal with an impressive collection. It’s also a lot quieter and more enjoyable (I hate crowds).
• If you aren’t “churched” out, visit some of the stunning churches in Venice. There are too many to list, but select a few or just wander aimlessly and see what you stumble upon. A good one to check out is Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute in Dorsoduro. It is stunning architecturally, quieter than San Marco and it’s free. An added bonus is the location, situated on the island directly across from San Marco, providing uninterrupted views across the Grand Canal to St Mark’s Square.

Burano

• Take a trip to the other islands. Venice’s main cluster of islands are connected by bridges, however there are several other islands within the lagoon that are well worth checking out. You can get to these islands by ferry. Your first stop will probably be Murano, where the famous Murano glass factories are located. If you want a beach day, head to the Lido. My absolute favourite island, however, is Burano. Colourful houses are located along quiet canals, and it is the sort of place that just feels happy. Burano is also famous for intricate Venetian lace. We only had a day to visit both Murano and Burano. Next time we visit, we would love to spend a couple of nights here.

Venice, for me, is the ultimate ending to any trip to Italy. It is one of the absolute must see places in Italy.

These are just a few of the must see places in Italy. The country is full of incredible destinations, many of which we are still yet to explore.

Have you been to Italy? What was your favourite place?