Italy attractions

Unfurling around a late 19th-century villa on the shores of Lake Maggiore, the English-style Gardens of Villa Taranto (Giardini Botanici Villa Taranto) are considered one of the finest botanical gardens in Italy. Carpets of colorful blooms, bubbling fountains, paths lined with rare species from across the globe, and a greenhouse bursting with tropical plants cover the vast grounds.

Set in the UNESCO-listed spa town of Montecatini Terme, the Terme di Montecatini is one of the most storied hot spring complexes in Italy. Mineral-rich water rises from four natural springs and is used for both drinking and bathing in the city’s clutch of elegant spas. Spend a day here soaking your cares away surrounded by magnificent Art Nouveau and neo-Gothic architecture for an authentic spa experience in the heart of Tuscany.

The Porta Maggiore is one of the eastern gates in the Aurelian Walls that once enclosed the seven hills of ancient Rome. During that period, two roads ran through its large arches, but now the gate is a surprisingly intact centerpiece within one of central Rome’s busy intersections. Outside the gate is the Tomb of the Baker, an unusual, extravagant tomb, making the entire site a draw for visitors interested in ancient Roman history.

Before the Fiumicino International Airport was built, the Rome–Ciampino International Airport G. B. Pastine (CIA), most commonly called Ciampino, was the capital city’s main airport. Today, this smaller airport handles domestic and European flights for more than 5 million passengers a year and is the hub for the Ryanair budget airline.

Movieland is a film-themed amusement park in Verona, Italy. Inspired by Hollywood’s Universal Studios, the park features more than 20 attractions including water rides, roller coasters, and live performances and stunt shows that recall such hits as Back to the Future, The Sound of Music, and Skyfall.

With its 49-acre (20-hectare) lawn, Cavour Water Park (Parco Cavour) is one of Italy’s lushest and greenest water parks. Water attractions at the family-friendly park include exciting slides and sand-bottom pools suitable for all ages, as well as plenty of places to simply relax.

The chic Mediterranean town of Taormina on Sicily’s northeast coast is located high in the mountains—which means rewarding hikes and beautiful views. However, for visitors arriving at the Taormina Cruise Port (Taormina Terminal Crociere) who want to stay closer to town, Taormina’s medieval center is full of unique shops, historical monuments, and sidewalk cafés.

Once the site of heavy fighting in World War I, this mountain pass between Agordo and Cortina d’Ampezzo is a popular cycling and motorcycling destination along the magnificent Great Dolomite Road, and where the Giro d’Italia bicycle race passes through the area. At the site of the pass, a simple chapel memorializes the historical fighting, and a gondola rises to Mt. Lagazuoi.

The House of Livia (Casa di Livia) is situated on the Palatine Hill, the panoramic perch that was once home to Rome’s high society in ancient times. It is one of the site’s best-preserved residential estates. Colorful frescoes and elaborate mosaics can be glimpsed on the walls and ceilings, giving you an astonishing peek into how lavishly the upper classes lived in imperial times.

The Stabian Baths (Terme Stabiane) are the oldest and most well-preserved baths in Pompeii, and showcase the sophistication of Roman engineering and leisure. These baths were more than just a place for cleanliness—they served as social hubs where residents gathered to relax, exercise, and socialize. Few places offer a better glimpse into the daily life of ancient Pompeii’s residents.

This nature reserve in the heart of the Italian Dolomite Mountains is (relatively) small but mighty, with a concentration of majestic peaks and scenic hiking trails found almost nowhere else in the mountain chain. Hit any number of trails in Puez-Odle, and you’re just as likely to find storybook Swiss and spruce pine forest as high-altitude rock deserts.

Built in 1030, San Sepolcro Church (Chiesa di San Sepolcro) was originally designed in the Romanesque style, though Baroque additions were made in the 17th century. Most visitors come to visit the church’s crypt, known as the Crypt of Leonardo after da Vinci, who appreciated the crypt so much that he placed it at the center of a map of Milan.

While the Fanes Waterfall (Cascate di Fanes) may be only accessible by hiking, you’ll be rewarded with vistas of one of the highest and most beautiful waterfalls in the Dolomites. Choose to take an easier, mostly flat route to a viewpoint to see the falls, or choose one of the more challenging hikes.

Genoa’s Palazzo Rosso, or Red Palace, was built in the 1670s as a private home for the wealthy Brignole-Sale family. Donated to the city 200 years later, it was turned into an art museum featuring works by Veronese, Strozzi, and van Dyck. The palace is located in the heart of Genoa’s historical center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Thanks to its proximity to Rome, Trevignano Romano on Lake Bracciano has long been a popular retreat from the city, and a strategic base for visiting the nearby medieval villages of Bracciano and Anguillara. The lakeside town boasts a waterfront promenade, and the lake is ideal for swimming, sailing, and water sports.

Commissioned by the wealthy Florentine Medici family in the 16th century, this structure in the Boboli Gardens was brought to life by Bernardo Buontalenti. Bestowing the space with whimsical stalactites to evoke a natural cave, Buontalenti then added Renaissance flourishes of mythical beasts, coats of arms, fountains, and frescoes through its three rooms. The imagery caught the eye of Dan Brown, who propelled the grotto to fame in the Inferno novel and film.

Among the largest protected areas in the region of Alto Adige, or South Tyrol, this expanse of Alpine peaks, meadows, and lakes (hello, Lake Braies!) is a haven for hikers and climbers. It’s also part of the Europe-wide Natura 2000 initiative, which aims to promote conservation, due partly to the resident wildlife, which include chamois, marmots, badgers, and foxes.

Located on the Alghero coast, Spiaggia di Mugoni is a white sand beach situated within the bay of Porto Conte. A favorite among locals, it is fringed by pine and eucalyptus trees and offers views of the mountains near Tramariglio. Visitors come here for a peaceful spot that doesn’t feel too isolated, with parasols available to rent and beach bars for drinks by the sea.

Situated on Piazza Duomo in the heart of Bergamo’s Città Alta, Cattedrale di Bergamo—also known as the Cathedral of Saint Alexander—celebrates the city’s patron saint. Completed in 1889, this neoclassical landmark boasts a striking white marble facade. Inside, visitors can explore the frescoes, sculptures, and paintings by masters such as Giovanni Battista Moroni and Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.

Stroll through the 16th century in Perugia’s atmospheric Rocca Paolina, an imposing papal fortress with an intact medieval cityscape hidden beneath the streets of the city center. Perugia’s main Piazza Partigiani transport hub sits just below the complex, and escalators carry visitors up through the Rocca Paolina to the main Corso Vannucci pedestrian thoroughfare above—a theatrical introduction to this historic hill town.

Also known as Naples’ Beverly Hills, the neighborhood of Chiaia—right on the seafront—is one of the city’s wealthiest, most upscale districts. With luxury shopping on the main drag and grand 17th-century villas lining the water (plus plenty of spots for gelato and espresso), this is one locale where most tourists won’t mind whiling away an afternoon.

The historic center of Naples tumbles so effortlessly downhill toward the sea that you might not know the seafront area actually has a name all its own: Mergellina. Tucked at the foot of Posillipo Hill, the marina here was once the home to the city’s fishing fleet but is now a bustling yacht harbor and ferry port.

Formula 1 racing enthusiasts will love visiting the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, one of the most famous car and motorcycle race tracks in the world. There are three tracks on the grounds surrounding a historic royal palace; the main 3.6-mile (8-kilometer track hosts both the Formula 1 and the motorcycle Italian Grands Prix each year.

During the Middle Ages, a series of canals were constructed through Bologna’s city center. The Canale delle Moline—“Canal of the Mills”—helped power the city’s watermills, weave silk, and grind grain to supply Bologna’s bakeries with flour. Few canals are still visible today, but a portion of the Canale delle Moline can be glimpsed from a tiny viewpoint along Via Piella.

This ancient Roman resort town is one of the most captivating archaeological sites in Campania. Founded by the Greeks in the sixth century BC, the center is a mix of architectural styles. Admire original Greek streets and an intact arch, as well as Roman temples, thermal baths, and a theater.

Cala Dragunara, a pocket-sized cove on the northwestern corner of Sardinia, is one of the most famous beaches in Capo Caccia. Lined by lush Mediterranean vegetation, the cove can be accessed either via a stone staircase by land or directly by sea. Bask on fine golden sand, take a dip in the crystalline water, and hike along the path south to visit the 16th-century watchtower.

Set on the northside of Monte Conero inside Conero Park (Parco del Conero), Mezzavalle Beach (Spiaggia Mezzavalle) is a welcome departure from the crowded beaches to the south. Completely undeveloped, this pristine coastline can only be reached via footpath or by boat, making it much quieter than its more accessible neighbors near the coastal towns of Numana and Sirolo.

Named after the courthouse (tribunale) at its eastern end, this alley-sized street cuts through Naples’ historic center and is among the most atmospheric of the city’s decumani, east-west roads built by ancient Greeks and Romans. It’s the haunt of local lawyers and a tourist thoroughfare near top attractions such as the Sansevero Chapel (Museo Cappella Sansevero) and the artisan shops of San Gregorio Armeno.

Located in the heart of Anacapri, Chiesa di San Michele is a stunning baroque church best known for its intricate, hand-painted ceramic floor. This unique feature—which depicts the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden—makes the church a must-visit for art and history enthusiasts exploring the island of Capri.

Just across Piazza Bra from the Arena, the majestic Gran Guardia Palace (Palazzo della Gran Guardia) is one of Verona’s most important historic buildings. Today a popular venue for exhibitions and cultural events, the palace had been used for various military purposes for centuries.