Top selection of places in Italy to see at least once in life
I have a long, endless list of places to see before I die. I thing everyone has its personal list of places which have captured his interest. If Italy is in your top list of places to see before you die, I would like to suggest you some nice places to visit in my home country. Here’s the top ten of not-to-be-missed places in Italy …. Enjoy!
1. Walking through the historical centre of Florence, Tuscany
Credits: Flickr
Florence is the first one on my places-to-see-before-you-die list and it’s not by chance. Have a stroll in the historical centre through the most important monuments of the city, treading the same streets once travelled by Leonardo, Donatello, Giotto, Botticelli…really unforgettable moments.
2. St. Peters’ Square and Basilica, Rome, Lazio
Credits: Flickr
Designed by the popular architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini, St. Peters’ Square lies in front of the Basilica, the biggest existing Christian church. Rome is the city which holds the main concentration of historical and architectonical heritage of the world. How can you miss visiting the Eternal City? (Especially if you’ve just read Angels and Demons
3. Valley of the Temples, Agrigento, Sicily
Whith its 1300 hectares it is the biggest archaeological site in the world and was named World Heritage by Unesco in 1997. The Valley is composed by seven temples as well as sanctuaries, necropolis, fortifications…The visit at sunset is suggested, both to enjoy the romantic atmosphere and to avoid the sultry weather, really strong there during hot summer days!
4. Boat trip to Cala Luna, Sardinia
Cala Luna is maybe the most fascinating cove of the island. It is reachable by boat from Cala Gonone (where you can also visit the beautiful Caves) or by land through a coastal path. The clearness of its waters is simply amazing. Cala Luna needs to be present in my places-to see-before-you-die list!
5. The Trulli of Alberobello, Puglia
Credits: Flickr
The ancient white buildings are typical of south-centre of Puglia and the Trulli of Alberobello are the most popular. Just spend one night in a Trullo and experience the genuine Apulian atmosphere!
6. Aosta Valley Castles, Valle d’Aosta
Besides the amazing landscapes (the smallest Italian region is surrounded by the highest European mountains), Aosta Valley is popular for its medieval castles. Issogne, Fénis, Verrès…you’ll be spoiled for choice!
7. Siena and the Palio, Tuscany
Credits: Flickr
The medieval city of Siena is a popular tourist destination in Tuscany. If you decide to visit it during the Palio, one of the most ancient horse races in the world, you’ll kill two birds with a stone!
8. The Sea Stacks of Capri, Campania
Credits: Capri Hotel
Capri is located in the Gulf of Naples (to be visited as well!) and it’s a well-known holiday destination. The three Sea Stacks that characterize the island rise from the deep blue sea and create a wonderful visual effect.
9. Cinque terre (The five lands), Liguria
Credits: Flickr
Inserted on World Heritage List by UNESCO, the five lands are located in the northern Italian region of Liguria. They are represented by a rugged stretch of coast of the Italian Riviera and include five villages (anciently called five lands). Due to its long isolation, the five lands have kept their authentic and ancient traditions.
10. Venice, City of Love
Credits: Flickr
City of love, city of canals and city of bridges, Venice is the dream of lovers looking for romantic moments as well as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. I think it’s the perfect place to end my places-to-see-before-you-die list. Don’t you agree?
What are in your opinion the most beautiful spots in Italy? Do you have a personal places-to-see-before-you-die list that you would like to share whit us? Feel free to comment!
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Great list Giulia! I can’t think of anything I’d change in your top 10, though I must get to Cala Luna – it looks gorgeous!!
Thank you Madeline!! Cala Luna is truly a small paradise :) as well as the others coves nearby: Cala Fuili, Cala Sisine, Cala Goloritzé, Cala Mariolu, Cala Biriola….!
thank you verry match for this subject it was wonderful .I’m thinking to visite Italy maybe in the future
Thank you marwa for popping by! Nice to hear you enjoed the post. I hope you that our articles will help you to choose the places to visit!
What a fantastic list :) Just reminds me of how many beautiful places there are in Italy. Sardinia is high on my list of places to visit – Cala Luna looks amazing!
Thanks!
ventotene should be up there!!
Hi Emily, thank you! This is just a short list, but you’re right: there are so many wonderful places! Cala Luna is really amazaing, as well as the other small coves in the area. I warmly suggest you to visit the island :)
Hi Patrick! You are right, Ventotene and other wonderful places should be there, but there are so many beauties in Italy – they can’t fit in a top 10 list! Thanks for popping by!
Florence is my absolute favorite, even though I tumbled down the Medici palace steps and almost missed the Uffizzi, it will always be in my heart the most beautiful place I have ever been. Although, I am very intrigued with Five Lands.
My husband loved Venice with all it’s charming narrow streets and magnificent St. Mark’s square.
I find it delightful you have listed the city for the artist first and for the lover last. Very appropo!
Thank you Esther, it seems that you know Italy pretty well! Florence has a unique cultural and historical heritage and, in my opinion, it deserves the first place, even if each of us has his personal first one :)
Thank you for including our beautiful region, Aosta Valley, in your list! You use wonderful words for describing our area!
It’s a pleasure, it’s such a wonderful region!
I think you forget Milano :-)
Nice list, it seems that 10 places are too few for Italy :)
Hi Giacomo! We really have too many wonderful places in Italy, all of them are worth to be visited! I will include Milan in my next top 10 :) Thanks for popping by!
Thanks! And yes, I would have written a top 100…do you think it would have been enough? :)
It depends what your tastes are, this is not a very good list really
Hi Jono, this is just my personal opinion, it doesn’t pretend to be the only possible list! Everybody can share his opinion, please share yours: what’s your personal list?
The walled town of Lucca, San Gimigano, Tivoli, the joys of Italy never end. I hope to return in the Autumn.
I really hope that our articles will help you to choose the best places to visit during your next trips to Italy. Thanks for popping by!
Great list! In florence i recommend everyone to go up to ” piazza michelangelo” where you can enjoy the beautiful view of the city. Here is a pic of what it looks like. You just take the bus , its about a 10 min ride.http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.visitflorence.com/img/art/florence-ple-michelangelo.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.visitflorence.com/florence-monuments/piazzale-michelangelo.html&usg=__09fHfE_qCRtolrV9HqiPr_-n-Kg=&h=300&w=570&sz=35&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=wWZqGQpIFKi0nM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=229&ei=86rRTaLVBYb2tgPM6fCWCQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmichelangelo%2Bview%2Bof%2Bflorence%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26client%3Dsafari%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D981%26bih%3D661%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=259&vpy=5&dur=7070&hovh=163&hovw=310&tx=243&ty=211&page=1&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0
Great list! I lived in florence for a year and truly recommend going to piazzale michelangelo to enjoy the beautiful view of florence. It is a must see! Its like a ten min ride in bus.
another great recommendation would be La rinascente. Its just in front of piazza republica. It is a big store building with five stories facing piazza republica but on the very top floor there is a very cute cafe on the terrace whe you can sit and have the beautiful duomo right behind you and just in front the beautiful piazza republica. Not many tourists because this doesnt come in guide books hahah. Have fun!
Great recommendations!! I think I have seen all but one. I have many of these featured on my daily photoblog as well! http://catchthejiffy.com/ Awesome site! Ciao!
Hi Adam, thank you for your comment! What would you add to my list?
My God!
The city of love is VERONA not venice
Actually, BOTH are considered cities of love!
I’d add Lucca and Lake Como to that list!
Hi Cristina, thank you for sharing your opinion with us! I will insert them in my next list :)
Nice list, but Capri was a disappointment for me, and there are even nicer coves than Cala Luna in the area.
Hi Mark! Actually, I was very undecided about which cove insert in my list, but finally I’ve chosen Cala Luna. My second choice was Cala Fuili. It’s a personal opinion, of course!
Wow, there are some nice places to see. I have only been to Roma and Milano.
I think it’s not enough :)
I want to see so much of Italy…Siena, Verona, venice, tuscany, aosta…etc…it’s all so beautiful!
I have made it to 4 on the list and I feel Cinque terre (The five lands) is one of the most beautiful, unspoiled places I have visited.
Hi Daniel, we have similar tastes it seems! Now you need to experience the others 6 :)
Places are so different and beautiful for their uniqueness…thank you for stopping by!
You forgot the Dolomites!
Thank you Dario for your suggestion!
Nice list, I agree with Dario, Dolomites and the Trentino region in particular, deserve to be seen.
Greetings
Thank you Mr. Loto for sharing your comment!
I would recommend to anyone, and I noticed a few others agree with me, Lucca is a must if you plan on visiting Italy.
Thank you Claire for popping by. Keep on following CharmingItaly!
We Love Italia!!!! And we are always hoping to hear some dating stories from Italy as well! ;)
What about Verona? The balconi from Romeo and Juliet… :/
Good suggestion. Thank you lola!
Angels and demons is horrid, not to be connected with Rome…
Actually, it has sold more than 80 millions copies! I personally loved it. De gustibus :)
No mention of Castellino del Biferno? I didn’t really expext to see it on the list–it’s not famous. It’s just one of hundreds of little hill towns in southern Italy, but I dream of seeing it someday. My people came from there 110 years ago and founded an American family.
Thank you for your comment and for letting us know about Castellino del Biferno – does it have any particular attraction?