Chiesa Nuova, considered one of the great baroque churches of Rome, houses important paintings, including works by Pietro da Cortona depicting the Holy Trinity and an altarpiece by Peter Paul Rubens that includes a motorized element. Founded in 1575 as part of the Counter-Reformation, it is fabulously ornate, its central nave like stepping inside a grand palace dedicated to the heavens. The name Chiesa Nuova, or “New Church,” was given after being rebuilt by St. Philip Neri.
Like many of Genoa’s important churches and palaces, the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato is rather plain on the outside. Inside, however, magnificent Baroque interiors surprise with enormous frescoes framed by sumptuous gold stucco—a dramatic testimony to the former wealth of this historic marine republic.
Burano’s public library is a pocket-sized oasis for readers of all ages, with five rooms holding more than 10,000 books divided into sections for kids, teens, and adults, plus daily newspapers and a Wi-Fi connection. In addition, Biblioteca Burano holds regular cultural programs and events to promote literacy and literature for Italian speakers.
Piazza Vecchia, or the Old Square, is the heart of Bergamo’s Città Alta (Upper Town) and a favorite spot for photography enthusiasts. This elegant piazza connects the medieval streets of the upper city and showcases architectural landmarks such as the ornate Contarini Fountain, the Civic Tower, and the historic Palazzo della Ragione, making it a cultural centerpiece.
Towering over Piazza del Campo, this 14th-century Gothic gem was built as a symbol of Siena’s wealth and power and still functions as Siena’s City Hall 700 years later. The Civic Museum inside is home to spectacular Sienese school frescoes, while the Torre del Mangia bell tower offers views over the rooftops to the Crete Senesi hills beyond.
Set next to the aquarium on Genoa’s revitalized historic port, La Biosfera is a small futuristic glass-and-steel sphere that houses a tiny self-contained microclimate. Populated by a chatty parrot, fish, and reptiles, the miniature tropical botanical garden is a delightful refuge from the bustle of the crowded port.
Guarded by its pair of pink marble lions flanking the ornately carved main portal, the Ancona Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Ciriaco) is both an architectural gem and one of the most panoramic spots in the city. Climb Guasco Hill to admire its mix of Byzantine, Gothic, and Romanesque details, and take in sweeping vistas across the rooftops of Ancona to the Adriatic Sea below.
The largest surviving collection of notes by Leonardo da Vinci, the Codex Atlanticus is a priceless set of documents and the crown jewel of Milan’s historic Biblioteca Ambrosiana library. The more than 1,120 pages of the Codex Atlanticus contain handwritten text and drawings dating from 1478 to 1519 and a glimpse into da Vinci’s genius.
The Quadrilatero d’Oro, or the Golden Rectangle, is the center of high fashion in Milan—a district filled with luxe boutiques, swanky bars, smart cafés, and cool restaurants. The windows boast the latest haute couture from high-end labels such as Chanel, Gucci, Armani, Versace, Valentino, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana.
One of the most unique corners of Ancona, the Grotte del Passetto is a waterfront warren of hundreds of caves dug out of the coastal cliffs by local fishers more than a century ago. Originally used to moor fishing boats and store tackle, today these grottini are used by the builders’ descendants (known as grottaroli) as a summertime base for relaxing and dining along the water.
Important business goes on in this elegantly porticoed, red brick building with Gothic arches and a marble balcony. A hub for Bologna’s mercantile activities for the last 650 years, Palazzo della Mercanzia is currently the seat of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, and Crafts. Plus, it preserves the official recipes of some of the city’s most treasured dishes.
At Mercato Centrale Torino, a contemporary addition to Turin’s Porta Palazzo on the Piazza della Repubblica, dozens of artisans sell goods and cook up a variety of dishes. This 4,500-square-foot (420-square-meter) market has more than 26 food stalls, a mill, a roastery, and a culinary school spread out across three floors.
Alghero is known for its eclectic Spanish-influenced architecture, and Alghero Cathedral (Cattedrale di Santa Maria) is one of the city’s most striking examples. The Gothic-Catalan cathedral features a soaring bell tower piercing the sky above the old town, elegant main portal, and elaborate marble pulpit and altar.
Ponte Chiodo is located in Venice’s delightfully off-the-beaten-track Cannaregio neighborhood, away from the crowds of St. Mark's Square (Piazza San Marco) and the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto). While it’s one of over 400 bridges that connect the Venetian archipelago, this small stone structure has an unusual distinction: It is among the last bridges in Venice that has no hand railings or parapets, as these protection measures were added across most Venetian bridges in the 19th century.
Just a half-hour ferry ride from Venice, the islands of Mazzorbo feel a world away from the frenzy on the other side of the lagoon. While nearby Burano and Murano are famed for their colorful houses and craft traditions, agricultural Mazzorbo is rich in natural beauty, with vineyards, artichoke fields, and the oldest bell tower in the Venetian Lagoon.
In the center of Bolzano’s main square you’ll find a marble monument to the German medieval bard Walther von der Vogelweide, but the main attractions are the cafés, restaurants, and shops lining the tiny pedestrian roads, and the Gothic cathedral across Piazza della Parrocchia. The piazza is the best place to start your exploration of the old town.
The Sorrentine Peninsula is full of coastal roads framed by greenery and sparkling sea views, but Via Capo—meaning “head” or “chief” street—might top them all. To the west of Sorrento, this winding route is dotted with olive groves, small vineyards, and paths to stellar swimming spots such as the Baths of Queen Giovanna (Bagni Regina Giovanna), offering a quiet escape from the bustle of the town’s historic center.
Offering colorful sunset and sea views, the 17th-century Bastione Capo Marchiafava is an intact stretch of Cefaù’s historic sea walls on the far northern tip of the city. The polygonal platform juts out over the water for a sweeping panorama of the gulf from east to west, including the coastal cliffs, lighthouse, and the Aeolian Islands in the distance.
This 17th-century baroque oratory, near the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola, is most famous for once hosting a concert by the teenage Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Today, the space in Rome’s historic center is both a religious site and a venue for opera and ballet performances. Both approaches allow visitors to see the ornate frescoes and gilded stucco that decorate the Oratory of St. Francis Xavier del Caravita and make it an overlooked Roman gem.
Rocca di Bergamo, perched on Sant’Eufemia hill, is a 14th-century fortress integral to Bergamo’s defense in the Venetian and Napoleonic periods. Visit to explore its historic ramparts and admire the panoramic views of the city and surrounding valleys. The on-site museum showcases medieval artifacts and stories from Bergamo's past.
The bold design of Ponte del Mare turns heads in the seaside city of Pescara. This contemporary bike and pedestrian bridge curves across the Aterno-Pescara River, uniting the city’s two marinas, and offering sweeping views across the Adriatic to the east and the peaks of Majella and Gran Sasso to the west. Photographers and architecture buffs are particularly drawn to this cable-stayed pedestrian bridge, one of the largest in Europe.
Sitting along Burano’s main Piazza Baldassare Galuppi, the Chiesa di San Martino (or, more fully, Chiesa di San Martino Vescovo) is the island’s most important church. The current church was built between the 16th and 17th centuries over a parish church dating from 1000, and is home to a number of masterpieces, including Giambattista Tiepolo’s Crucifixion.
Just inland from Rimini’s popular beaches, the Fiabilandia amusement park offers an alternative day of fun for kids. Centered around Lake Bernardo, the park includes a number of themed areas with rides geared primarily toward younger tots, though the 4D cinema and water rides are entertaining for the whole family.
Punta Giglio is a mecca for nature lovers. Part of Porto Conte Regional Nature Reserve, this limestone promontory and forest complex showcases views of Sardina’s crystal-clear waters and rugged coastline. Visitors primarily come here to hike along the area’s well-marked trails or cycle through the scenic landscape. With its natural beauty and abundant outdoor activities, Punta Giglio is an ideal escape.
With a name related to local quarries dating back to ancient Rome, Cavoli Beach is a soft-sanded beauty with protected waters on Elba’s southwest coast. Thanks to its café and restaurant, pedalo and kayak rentals, and playground, the beach is very popular with families—and lies within pedal-boat distance of the enchanting Grotta Azzura (Blue Grotto).
Situated across two popular Italian provinces—Tuscany and Emilia Romagna—the Casentinesi Forest National Park comprises forests, villages, peaks, and even ancient monasteries. From the protected stretches of Sasso Fratino to the towns of Premilcuore and Portico di Romagna, this forest park is easy to explore on both foot and horseback, as well as by bike and boat.
Known as the “Sicilian Sistine Chapel,” this baroque church on Catania’s photogenic Via Crociferi is home to dazzling frescoes by the 18th-century painter Giovanni Tuccari, sumptuous stuccoes, a lavish choir loft, and an ornate marble altar. Don’t miss theScalinata dell’Angelo, a stone staircase decorated with statues of angels.
Built to defend against pirate raids, this squat quadrangular tower is where Trapani ends. Walk across a narrow strip of land to the westernmost point in town, and you’ll encounter the restored watchtower and the civic archaeological museum inside. When open, the museum—and the views of the Tyrrhenian Sea from the top—make visiting worthwhile.
The last remaining vestige of Alghero’s defensive city walls, the half-moon-shaped Torre di Porta Terra, is one of the city’s medieval gems. Today, this stone tower houses a tourist information point, but from the 14th to the 18th century, it marked the main inland city gate and was closed each night from dusk to dawn to hinder attacks by land. A highlight of city sightseeing tours, this historic tower is one of the oldest town's most photographed sights.
This important shrine atop a hill outside Cefalù has a long history of religious importance for Christians, including a supposed miracle (confirmed by the Vatican) in 1760. Sicilians pilgrimage here to pray, while travelers visit to see the baroque shrine, highlighted by an intricate altarpiece, and catch unbeatable views of the Tyrrhenian Sea views from the belvedere.
