Italy attractions

The high green mountains rise around Villa del Balbianello, reflected in the deep, sky-blue waters of Lake Como. This elegant property is quintessential Italian luxury—its manicured gardens, ivy-twined balustrades, and well-preserved interior speak to its history as a retreat for nobility, politicians, and artists. If its distinctive red-tiled roofs and waterview patios look familiar, it's because it’s been used as a location in several major films since the National Trust of Italy took it over.

The Roman ruins of Hadrian’s Villa (Villa Adriana) and the Renaissance palace of Villa d’Este—both UNESCO World Heritage Sites—put the town of Tivoli on the tourist radar. These luxe residences and their splendid gardens offer an ideal break from the urban bustle of nearby Rome. Stroll the grounds to admire the ornate fountains and water features, original statuary, and treasures of ancient Roman and 16th-century architecture.

The Vittoriano was inaugurated in 1911 to honor the first king of the newly united Italy, and is one of the most famous landmarks in Rome. It’s home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a panoramic rooftop terrace, as well as a smattering of collections—including the Museo Centrale del Risorgimento—making up the Vittoriano e Palazzo Venezia (or VIVE), previously known as the Vittoriano Museum Complex.

Cross the Tiber River via the Ponte Sisto bridge, and Piazza Trilussa welcomes you to the bohemian neighborhood of Trastevere. Named after the 19th-century Roman satirical poet Carlo Alberto Salustri, better known as Trilussa, the cobbled square serves as a gathering place for locals and visitors alike in the evenings. Groups linger on the fountain’s stone steps to people-watch and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.

Orvieto’s magnificent cathedral (Duomo di Orvieto) can be seen from miles around, its soaring facade and spires towering high above the rooftops of the clifftop town. Once you get closer, you can take in its intricate external mosaics and stonework, rose window, bronze doors, and sumptuous Signorelli frescoes inside.

Dominated by the Basilica Santa Croce, the sweeping Piazza Santa Croce is one of the largest squares in Florence’s historic center. Created in grand style to accommodate more churchgoers in medieval times, the square now serves as the pitch of the annual calcio storico—the spectacle of a combative (and even brutal) 15th-century game that suggests soccer, rugby, and wrestling, which takes place in the square every June.

With its Arab-Norman Romanesque architecture punctuated by Gothic, baroque, and Byzantine elements and soaring bell tower, the Amalfi Cathedral—or Duomo—cuts a magnificent figure above Piazza Duomo. Highlights inside include the ancient bronze doors, mother-of-pearl cross, two Egyptian columns, and the Crypt of St. Andrew, the town’s patron saint. The adjacent 13th-century Cloister of Paradise is a peaceful refuge, with whitewashed Arabic-style arches encircling a lush palm-tree garden.

One of the most important churches in southern Italy, the impressive Naples Cathedral (Duomo di San Gennaro) was commissioned in the 13th century by King Charles I of Anjou and completed in the 14th century under Robert of Anjou. The Gothic cathedral was built on and around the paleo-Christian Basilica di Santa Restituta and is dedicated to the city's patron saint, St. Januarius. The duomo sits above fascinating catacombs containing archaeological remains of ancient Greek, Roman, and early Christian civilizations.

If you’ve ever seen a picture of the Tuscan countryside—softly rolling hills, towering cypress trees, winding country roads, and quaint hill towns—chances are that you were looking at the Val d'Orcia. This beautiful landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is considered among the loveliest in Italy, and the wines produced here include brunello di Montalcino, regularly ranked among the nation’s best.

An exquisite assemblage of masterworks, ranging from fifth-century mosaics to Renaissance paintings, this basilica atop Esquiline Hill draws art lovers and the faithful. It’s one of Rome’s four major papal basilicas, and the reported site of a miracle that saw snow falling in August—an occasion that’s celebrated each year with festivities and a light show on adjacent Piazza Santa Maria Maggiore.

Located just 50 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Rome, the Port of Civitavecchia is a popular jumping-off point for shore excursions to Italy’s capital. Home to some of the world’s most important art and architecture and bursting with bustling piazzas and restaurants, Rome is a highlight of any Mediterranean cruise. Other Civitavecchia shore excursions include Orvieto, Bagnoregio, and the Etruscan sites in Tarquinia and Tuscania.

Though Brunelleschi’s soaring cupola may be the most recognizable part of the Florence Duomo, the cathedral wouldn’t be complete without Giotto’s Bell Tower (Campanile di Giotto). Rising 278 feet (85 meters) above the rooftops of Florence, the Gothic tower is covered in multicolored marble, with impressive sculptures and bas-reliefs on its lower levels and a panoramic terrace on top—which you can reach by climbing 414 steps.

The Baths of Caracalla (Terme di Caracalla) were one of ancient Rome’s most luxurious thermal complexes, with saunas, swimming pools, sports facilities, and even libraries for both the imperial elite and everyday Romans. Built in 212 during the reign of Emperor Caracalla, the vast leisure center has lost its marble splendor but still stands in impressively preserved ruins, which you can visit on a tour of Rome’s ancient highlights.

Each day, Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper (Il Cenacolo) draws hundreds of art-loving visitors to the unassuming refectory of the Basilica of Santa Maria delle Grazie for just 15 minutes with the painting. Arguably Milan’s most famous masterpiece, this 15th-century wall mural can only be seen by booking entrance tickets in advance or signing up for a guided visit.

On the southeastern coast of Sicily, the pretty limestone town of Noto—part of a sprawling UNESCO World Heritage Site—is a masterwork of the Sicilian baroque style. Architecture buffs love to stroll the Corso Vittorio Emanuele III and marvel at the grand St. Nicholas Cathedral and other baroque structures.

Visitors flock to Pisa’s famous leaning tower, which is part of a magnificent cathedral complex centered around the 17th-century Duomo and adjacent baptistery. A splendid example of Pisan Romanesque architecture, the Duomo’s original and renovated elements include a splendid apse mosaic, ornate pulpit, golden coffered ceiling, and more.

Feel like part of history as you attend an event in the Verona Arena (Arena di Verona), a spectacular Roman amphitheater that has dominated Piazza Bra since the first century. Once a venue for sporting events, games, and gladiatorial battles, today audiences of up to 15,000 gather to watch opera, music concerts, and dance performances.

Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, named after the ornate church located on the northern end of the square, is the heart of Naples’ vibrant historic center. From here, it’s a few steps to the Santa Chiara Monastery with its famed majolica cloister, and an easy stroll down the length of Spaccanapoli, one of Naples’ most atmospheric streets.

Over the centuries, Sicily was ruled by successive waves of conquerors, each one leaving their mark on the island’s architecture, culture, and cuisine. A perfect example of this blend of cultures is the Palermo Cathedral (Cattedrale di Palermo), a fascinating patchwork of Norman, Arabic, Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassical architectural styles.

It may not have an ornate marble facade like the neighboring Duomo, but the Basilica of San Lorenzo (Basilica di San Lorenzo) is one of the oldest and most important Renaissance churches in Florence. Commissioned by Cosimo the Elder—patriarch of the Medici dynasty—the church is home to magnificent sculptural and architectural works by Michelangelo, including the Medici Chapels and Laurentian Library.

The Italian name of Isola Bella contains both a truth and a misnomer: although worthy of being called beautiful, this tiny rocky outcrop along Sicily’s east coast is not actually an island. Located just offshore from the beach of the same name, Isola Bella is connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand covered with water at high tide. Wait for low tide to walk across, or visit on a boat cruise.

Ringed with bustling cafes and elegant Baroque-style buildings, Piazza delle Erbe (or market square has been the home of Verona’s main market since ancient Roman times. Today, visitors still come to browse the market tables stacked high with regional produce, olive oil, and wine; or just enjoy a traditional Italian espresso while enjoying the sounds of the open-air market.

Venice is made up of over 100 small islands, but “the Venice islands” generally refer to the three most famous in the Venetian lagoon: Murano, Burano, and Torcello. Murano, just north of Venice proper, is known for its glassblowing workshops. Further north, Burano has canals lined with brightly painted fishermen’s houses and is home to traditional lace artisans. Its neighboring island of Torcello is believed to be the first populated island in the Venetian lagoon.

As poignant as it is beautiful, Venice’s white limestone Bridge of Sighs (Ponte dei Sospiri) spans the Rio di Palazzo canal between the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace (Palazzo Ducale) and the New Prisons just opposite. One of the Floating City’s most famous bridges, the 17th-century landmark is most striking when viewed from outside, but inside, its small windows offer unique glimpses of the city—just as convicts passing over the bridge once saw it.

To get a glimpse (and a taste) of authentic Venice, the historic Rialto Fish Market (Mercato di Rialto) is a must for foodies. Operating since 1097, it’s one of the city’s oldest and best-known markets. Today, it remains a busy and bustling hub where locals buy fresh fish and seafood, as well as seasonal fruit, vegetables, and other tasty local produce.

One of Italy’s best-preserved archaeological sites, Ancient Ostia (Ostia Antica) was once a thriving port city home to roughly 50,000 inhabitants. As the Roman Empire expanded, Ostia was eventually abandoned and buried under silt as the course of the Tiber River changed. This layer of mud protected the town’s dwellings and commercial structures from the ravages of time, which is why the Ostia Antica archaeological park is considered by some to be the “better Pompeii."

William Shakespeare put Verona on the map for the English-speaking world when he staged Romeo and Juliet within the Italian city. The Bard’s timeless work has inspired a steady flow of lovers to visit Juliet’s House (Casa di Giulietta), as the 13th-century palazzo is known. Though its famous balcony was added centuries after the play was written, the romance of the setting is undeniable, and the medieval townhouse remains one of Verona’s most visited sights.

Towering above Florence, Filippo Brunelleschi’s Dome (Cupola di Brunelleschi) is a bona fide feat of engineering and architecture. Completed in 1436 after 16 years of construction, the symbol of the city—and the world’s largest masonry dome—crowns the Florence Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) and dwarfs every other building in the historic center. Frescoes by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari decorate the inside of the terracotta-tiled dome, while its terrace offers some of the best views over Florence.

Move over, Verona: Italy’s most romantic balcony is on Janiculum Hill (Gianicolo) in Rome. Affectionately called the eighth of the Seven Hills of Rome (Sette Colli di Roma), Janiculum is home to the San Pietro in Montorio church, which was built on the site where St. Peter was believed to have been crucified; the Fontana dell’Acqua Paola, a monumental fountain; and Orto Botanico, 30 acres (12 hectares) of botanical gardens. However, the main draw is the sumptuous view from the belvedere overlooking Piazza Garibaldi.

Francis may be more famous, but Assisi was the birthplace of another extraordinary saint: Clare, founder of the Order of Saint Clares and one of the most ardent early followers of Francis. This soaring basilica dedicated to this important female saint is one of the most magnificent in Assisi, and home to her remains and sacred relics.