Italy attractions

The 17th-century Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone (Chiesa di Sant’Agnese in Agone) in Piazza Navona was once the personal chapel of Pope Innocent X, who lived in the Palazzo Pamphili next door. A dazzling example of baroque architecture, the church is known for its frescoed ceilings, sculptures, altars, and marble work. Dedicated to Saint Agnes, who was martyred on this spot, the church displays her skull alongside a marble relief; her body lies within its massive crypt.

Milan hosts two top-division soccer (football) teams at San Siro Stadium, the largest in Italy. Also known as Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, the stadium was built in 1925 for the AC Milan team, and in 1947, the rival FC Internazionale team, known as Inter, also moved in. Today, up to 80,000 fans of Milanese football fill the stadium to watch live games.

This saddle-shaped indentation in the St. Elia promontory overlooks Cagliari’s popular Poetto beach. It's one of the most striking natural features along the coastline and a popular destination for hikers and kayakers. Though there are a number of ancient ruins nearby, the biggest draw is the view over the Gulf of Angels from the hilltop.

The Romanesque Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio (Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio) is dedicated to Milan's patron saint, St. Ambrose, who founded the church in the fourth century while bishop of Milan. The saint’s remains lay beneath the stunning ninth-century Golden Altar, a masterpiece of gold, gilded silver, precious stones, and enamel. The basilica’s unique architecture makes it a must-see.

Clinging to the cliffs of Liguria in attention-grabbing style are the five villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, which make up the Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Historically, their main focus was winemaking, though they also became home to farming and fishing communities over the years. Today, tourism is big business, and the Cinque Terre attracts people from around the world with coastal views from its hiking trails and shores.

The Baths of Diocletian (Terme di Diocleziano) were the largest public baths in Imperial Rome, once covering 32 acres (13 hectares) and hosting up to 3,000 bathers at a time. Though much of the original complex has been destroyed, what remains still offers a sense of the vast structure and insight into the daily lives of the ancient Romans.

Lording over busy Via Giuseppe Garibaldi where it runs into Piazza dell’Unità, the monumental Fountain of Neptune (Fontana del Nettuno) is one of Messina’s most eye-catching public fountains. Built in 1557 by Giovanni Angelo Montorsoli—a collaborator of Michelangelo—the fountain symbolizes the city’s power over the hostile sea.

Montecitorio Palace (Palazzo Montecitorio) is one of Rome’s most important civil buildings as the seat of the Chamber of Deputies, an Italian house of parliament. Its elegant baroque facade watches over Piazza di Monte Citorio, also home to the Obelisk of Montecitorio, which is covered in genuine ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. While the palace has a splendid 20th-century art nouveau interior, it is rarely open to the general public.

Taking its name from Mount Etna, the imposing volcano that looms over the city, Via Etnea is one of Catania’s most important thoroughfares, lined with shops, restaurants, and cafés. A lively destination both day and night, Via Etnea connects two of the city’s top attractions—Piazza Duomo and Villa Bellini.

The port city of Genoa (Genova may seem like an overwhelming monolith at first glance but it is actually a patchwork of distinct neighborhoods, each with a unique history and identity. One of the most scenic is hilltop Castelletto, home to the Spianata di Castelletto overlook, offering one of the most commanding views over the city.

One of Milan’s jewels of contemporary urban design, the futuristic Piazza Gae Aulenti was inaugurated in 2012 and is named after the Italian architect who designed Paris’ Musee d’Orsay. The square is lined by three steel-and-glass towers—one of which, Torre Unicredit, is Italy's tallest building—and is known for its vibrant nightlife.

A stark modernist structure, the Ara Pacis Museum (Museo dell’ Ara Pacis) houses the Ara Pacis, or Altar of Peace, one of the most significant monuments of ancient Rome. Commissioned by Emperor Augustus to celebrate the consolidation of his power, the Carrara marble monument features a sacrificial altar in a richly decorated enclosure.

The countryside surrounds the ruins of this monumental Roman complex at mile 5 (kilometer 8) of the ancient Appian Way. The second-century Villa of the Quintilii (Villa dei Quintili) was once the lavish residence of Emperor Commodus, son of Marcus Aurelius. Remains of its two entrances, mosaic and marble floors, private baths, aqueduct, and hippodrome still impress.

Sitting atop Janiculum Hill, Piazzale Giuseppe Garibaldi is one of Rome’s most popular scenic overlooks. This lofty square is named for the bronze equestrian statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi—a general who fought for Italian unification—that sits at its center, and it offers panoramic views stretching across Trastevere to the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Rome’s Botanical Garden sits just below, and the Fontana dell’Acqua Paola, another beloved viewpoint, is a short stroll away.

Don’t be fooled by its Venetian Gothic exterior—the Madonna dell’Orto Church (Chiesa della Madonna dell'Orto) is really a jewel of the Renaissance. Jacopo Tintoretto, one of the Floating City’s most important 16th-century painters, once lived and worked across the canal from the church. His remains are now housed inside the place of worship, as are 10 of his masterpieces and a standout altarpiece by Cima da Conegliano.

The 15th-century Scuola Grande di San Rocco is one of Venice’s most important Renaissance attractions, famed for its stunning collection of Tintoretto’s works. The building houses some of the artist’s most celebrated paintings, alongside other notable pieces by a variety of artists, including Titian and Tiepolo. Visitors come here to explore over 60 paintings in opulent halls, making it a city highlight for art lovers.

Settled into a nook on the eastern side of Liguria’s Portofino peninsula is Santa Margherita Ligure. Like its glamorous Portofino neighbor, the town started out as a fishing village, although little trace of this lingers today. For visitors nowadays, the vibe is more refined riviera resort with Belle Epoque hotels, a yacht-filled harbor, and genteel palaces such as Villa Durazzo. Nearby beach hangout Paraggi Bay is also a draw.

With its placid waters lined by rolling vineyards and olive groves, Lake Trasimeno (Lago Trasimeno) is one of the most picturesque corners of Umbria and a popular day trip destination. Take the ferry to one of the lake’s three islets, relax on its beaches, or explore the lakeside towns of Castiglione del Lago and Passignano sul Trasimeno.

Sitting high above one of Venice’s most famous squares, the 15th-century St. Mark’s Clock Tower has marked the time in the city for over 500 years. Its blue-and-gold dial and bronze bell-striking Moors statues make it a popular photo spot, but there’s more to discover. Climb the narrow staircase past the intricate clock mechanism to reach the rooftop terrace, where you can see panoramic city views.

Castel San Pietro is a hilltop fortress in Verona. Built in the Austrian style in the 19th century and surrounded by cypress trees, it offers panoramic views of the city, including the Roman theater and the Adige river.

Naples’ elegant Posillipo Hill neighborhood is bookended by two lovely public parks, both dedicated to the poet Virgil: the Parco Virgiliano a Piedigrotta at the foot of the hill and Parco Virgiliano a Posillipo at the top. Both provide a welcome respite from the bustle of central Naples and are a highlight of this residential area.

Only four churches of the original seven that once made up this stylistic jumble of buildings remain, but a visit to the Bologna’s Basilica of Santo Stefano (Basilica di Santo Stefano) is still a fascinating stroll through centuries of religious architecture. With winding passageways linking chapels and cloisters, this is one of the city’s most captivating churches.

Dominating Piazza Navona, Pamphilj Palace (Palazzo Pamphilj) was commissioned in the 17th century by Pope Innocent X (born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj). Some of the best-known artists and architects in Rome—including Borromini and da Cortona—were called on to design and decorate the interiors and facade of this sumptuous symbol of the family’s power and prestige. Today, this baroque masterpiece’s lavish interior halls, courtyards, and galleries house the Brazilian Embassy.

Italy’s idyllic island of Sardinia is known for its beaches and turquoise waters, which encircle beautiful inland parks and natural areas. One of the most important is Molentargius - Saline Regional Park (Parco Naturale Regionale Molentargius - Saline), a wetland of shallow pools once used to harvest salt that now hosts a wealth of bird life.

Cutting a striking figure high atop Vomero Hill, this former monastery is now an impressive museum dedicated to Naples’ art and history from the 15th to the 19th centuries, as well as home to a spectacular Neapolitan Nativity scene. The beauty of the museum’s interior is rivaled only by the splendid views over the city and bay.

Built in 1298 to demonstrate Genoa's wealth after it had become an important maritime trade center, the Doge's Palace in Genoa (Palazzo Ducale) was the residence of the doge, ruler of Genoa. Today a cultural center, event space, and museum hosting rotating exhibits, the palace offers visitors a glimpse of the splendor of Genoa's history.

This glorious Renaissance church is set below the hill town of Montepulciano, and its soaring dome and pyramid-topped bell tower turn heads from miles away. Designed in the 16th century by Antonio da Sangallo (Sangallo il Vecchio), the Temple of San Biagio (Tempio di San Biagio) has an elegant travertine exterior and airy pastel interior.

The baroque Basilica di Sant’Andrea della Valle was designed by some of the premier architects of the 17th century, and its dome is the second tallest in Rome after St. Peter’s. Giovanni Lanfranco and Domenichino have works in the church, which features extravagant side chapels and monumental tombs. The church is also famous for providing the setting for the opening of Puccini’s Tosca, making it a must-see for both art and opera buffs.

Step back into Naples’ layered history at the Basilica di San Lorenzo Maggiore, a gem of a basilica and monastery with a museum sitting above extraordinary Roman ruins. The basilica has one of Naples’ finest Gothic interiors and lies above the remains of a macellum—an ancient market that feels very much like an underground Pompeii.

The pure white marble from Carrara’s quarries has been used since Roman times for everything from landmarks like the Pantheon to Renaissance sculptures like Michelangelo’sDavid. Take a guided tour through the massive underground caverns and open-air quarries and see where this stone has been mined for centuries.