Italy attractions

Had Shakespeare’s tale of star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet ended happily ever after, the two may have wed in Verona’s beautiful 12th-century cathedral; and, in fact, travelers flock to the duomo on Romeo and Juliet-themed tours. The mix of Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance elements make this one of the most beautiful churches in Verona.

Once the site of the famed Baths of Diocletian, this bustling piazza marks the top of Rome’s Viminal Hill. Visitors can stroll to its center to see the burbling Fountain of the Naiads, or visit the adjacent, 16th-century Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels and Martyrs (Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri). It’s also a pleasant stopover for travelers en route to nearby Roma Termini, the city’s biggest train station.

No visit to Lucca’s medieval center is complete without a passeggiata (stroll along Via Fillungo, the main thoroughfare stretching through the heart of the old town from the ancient city gate of Porta dei Borghi to Canto d'Arco. Lined with bustling shops and cafés, this street is ideal for experiencing Lucca’s lively atmosphere.

Pisa’s exquisite Church of Santa Maria della Spina (Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina) is covered in intricate and fanciful stonework, a hallmark of the 14th-century Pisan Gothic style. With its fairytale exterior and magnificent Madonna of the Rose by Andrea and Nino Pisano inside, this church is a tiny gem and the perfect foil to the grandeur of the city’s Duomo.

Piazza della Santissima Annunziata is one of the most elegant squares in Florence, and is considered to be an important Italian historical and cultural site. Located in the city’s historic center, it is lined on three sides by the Renaissance porticoes of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata, the Ospedale degli Innocenti, and the Loggia dei Servi di Maria. Tour the piazza to admire its architecture, Giambologna’s Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici equestrian statue at its center, and twin fountains.

Topped by impressive domes and spires, the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua is the city’s most important church, attracting pilgrims from around the world. Its architecture blends Romanesque, Byzantine, and Gothic styles, with domes that echo St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. Inside, visitors can explore richly decorated chapels, view sacred relics, and visit the Tomb of St. Anthony, while also exploring the collection of beautiful artwork.

Located near Piazza Navona, the 15th-century Basilica di Sant’Agostino is home to the Cavalletti Chapel, where visitors flock to view Caravaggio’s baroque masterpiece, The Madonna of Loreto (The Madonna of the Pilgrims), along with The Prophet Isaiah by Raphael, La Madonna del Parto statue by Sansovino, and the sumptuous high altar by Bernini. This art-filled church is a must-see for those who appreciate Renaissance and baroque painting and sculpture.

The picturesque Cloister of San Francesco—Chiostro of San Francesco in Italian—offers a tranquil reprieve from the bustling streets of Sorrento’s historic center. Set on the ruins of a 7th-century monastery, the cloister was built in the 1300s and is a showcase of architectural styles. Its pillars and stonework incorporate spoils from Roman temples and other ancient ruins, making it a top draw for both archaeology buffs and photographers.

Visit Sant’Ambrogio Market, which traces its roots back to 1873, and you’ll find more locals shopping than tourists. That’s because it’s an authentic alternative to the tourist-heavy Central Market, supermarket groceries, and fast-food lunch options. Here, you’ll find flavorful produce sourced straight from the Tuscan hills, and sold by local vendors. While the main draw is undoubtedly food, the market sells clothes, homewares, and flowers, too.

Taormina is best known for its 2nd-century Greek Theatre, but this Sicilian city perched high above the eastern coastline of Sicily has a number of impressive historic attractions. One of the most important is the Cathedral (Duomo), set on a pretty square of the same name (Piazza del Duomo) along the main Corso Umberto I thoroughfare.

The Fountain of Neptune in Florence’s historic center is known locally as “il Biancone” (the big white one), and it’s a nickname that suits it well. In a square where there’s no lack of big sights, the Fountain of Neptune commands attention with its mythical statues, carved mostly in white Carrara marble. Take a close-up look to admire the water-gushing tritons, nymphs, and horses that cavort around the colossal statue of the sea god Neptune.

The 15th-century Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti)—one of the grandest Renaissance buildings in Florence—houses the Palatine Gallery, which showcases over 500 paintings dating from the 15th century that were collected by the Medici family. The collection features works by Italian masters, including Titian, Raphael, Caravaggio, and Pietro da Cortona, as well as Rubens and Velázquez.

In the center of Modena, a historical brick factory building is dwarfed by the adjacent contemporary glass-and-steel hangar topped with a bright yellow car hood–shaped roof. Together, these two structures and their contents tell the story of Enzo Ferrari, race car driver and founder of one of the most famous car brands in the world.

Santa Lucia Station (Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia) is Venice’s main train station and principal transport hub that serves as a gateway to the island city, where many visitors catch their first glimpse of La Serenissima. While its modernist design doesn’t resemble the typical look of Venice, its location in the Cannaregio district means that local highlights are just a vaporetto (water bus) away.

Milan’s best-preserved 16th-century church, the Church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore (Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore) features frescoes by Bernardino Luini as well as the oldest pipe organ in the city. It is also home to the Archaeological Museum of Milan (Museo Archeologico di Milano), which displays artifacts from the Etruscans, Greeks, and Romans.

Lecce is known for its 17th-century Baroque beauty, but the city’s history stretches back to the Roman empire. Nowhere is this legacy more evident than in Lecce’s Piazza Sant’Oronzo, where theLecce Roman Amphitheatre (Anfiteatro Romano di Lecce) from the second century BC is still used today for performances.

Part of the sumptuous 16th-century Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, where descendants of the aristocratic Pamphilj family still live in apartments today, the Doria Pamphilj Gallery is one of Rome’s top destinations for art enthusiasts. The colossal, richly decorated gallery houses an impressive array of paintings, sculptures, and other works by renowned artists spanning from antiquity to the 19th century—think Raphael, Caravaggio, Titian, and Velázquez.

The center of Milan was once crisscrossed with a series of interconnecting canals, called “navigli,” used to transport goods and people. Two still exist just south of the city center, and the surrounding Navigli District is one of Milan’s trendiest areas, full of galleries, cafés, restaurants, and clubs. It’s a hot spot worth a visit.

With its baroque palazzi, worn paving stones, and theatrical staircases, Via Crociferi is unabashedly photogenic, so much so that it is often used as a scenic backdrop in Italian films. Walking the length of this thoroughfare is like taking a stroll through Catania’s history, from ancient Rome to the Renaissance.

Via Mazzini is Verona’s top shopping street. It’s lined with stores selling the latest fashions and chic cafes where you can sit and people watch over a creamy cappuccino. Leading from the central square Piazza Bra to the Casa di Giulietta (Juliet’s balcony) it connects some of the city’s main sights.

Leading directly into Piazza di Spagna opposite the Spanish Steps, Via Condotti is considered the most fashionable street in Rome, lined with big-name boutiques: think Gucci, Valentino, Armani, Prada, Ferragamo, and Dolce & Gabbana. It’s also home to the historic Caffè Greco, Rome’s landmark coffeehouse. A must for fashion aficionados, this elegant thoroughfare is a great spot to experience Rome’s la dolce vita.

The 17th-century Barcaccia Fountain is one of the most famous in Rome. This popular gathering spot marks the center of Piazza di Spagna at the base of the city’s Spanish Steps. Commissioned by Pope Urban VIII Barberini and designed by Pietro Bernini, the fountain features two masks that spout potable water on either end of the central marble boat. Other decorations include bee motifs inspired by the Barberini coat of arms.

Set at the foot of Mt. Etna, the lush vineyards of the Gambino Winery are testament to the fertile volcanic soil this rumbling peak has created over millennia. The mountain’s unique terroir comes through in the area’s wines, and you can sample a variety at the winery while admiring the sweeping views across the Sicilian countryside.

Italy’s Amalfi Coast may be the capital of la dolce vita, but Lake Garda (Lago di Garda) has its own brand of effortless elegance that has attracted celebrities and artists for centuries. Ringed by steep alpine foothills, tiny spa towns, and vineyards, the lake offers a heady mix of languid leisure and cosmopolitan flair.

Among the most revered Catholic sites in Rome, the Holy Stairs (Scala Sancta) is a solemn destination for believers—from pilgrims to popes—who climb its 28 steps on their knees in devotion. The original marble steps, said to have been climbed by Jesus Christ on his way to trial in Jerusalem, have been covered by a protective wood casing for centuries and lead to the richly decorated Sancta Sanctorum (Chapel of San Lorenzo in Palatio), the private chapel of the early popes.

Verona’s largest church, the impressive brick facade of Basilica di Sant'Anastasia has been a fixture of the city for hundreds of years. Located in the historical center, it’s also one of the city’s finest examples of Italian Gothic architecture.

Trieste’s magnificent Piazza Unità d'Italia, also known as Piazza Grande, facing the Adriatic Sea, is one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. This large open space—the largest seafront square in Europe—lined with sumptuous 19th- and 20th-century palaces and historic cafés, is the very heart of the city.

Milan is the fashion and financial capital of Italy, but the city is also home to some surprising Roman ruins, including the Colonne di San Lorenzo (Columns of San Lorenzo. This row of 16 towering marble columns, part of a 2nd-century bath or temple complex, is among the top attractions in the Ticinese neighborhood today.

Capri may be the favorite among the yacht set and Ischia a popular spa destination, but the authentic atmosphere and few tourists on Procida make this sleepy island in the Campanian Archipelago a singular delight. Visit its colorful fishing village, pristine beaches, and picturesque coastline on a day trip from Naples or Ischia.

Created as a lush getaway for Agostino Chigi, a wealthy 16th-century banker, Villa Farnesina was decorated to the highest specifications by major artists of the Renaissance. Frescoes by the likes of Raphael, Baldassare Peruzzi, and Sebastiano del Piombo cover the walls and ceilings, from the trompe-l’oeil Hall of Perspectives to the mythology-inspired Loggia of Galatea. Once you’ve seen the artwork within, the manicured gardens are a peaceful way to continue your retreat from bustling Rome.