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Europe has certainly become one of my favourite places to visit in the world, there are so many special places and Italy is definitely one of them. It is home to some fascinating cities that are well known for their art, ancient ruins, beautiful countryside and more. If you’re planning to visit soon this guide offers great insight into some of these amazing must visit cities in Italy. You should really go beyond the usual tourist spots and see them in a whole new light.
It was hard to keep the list to only six locations, but trust me, visiting any one of them will be a life changing experience. Here’s are the six of the most beautiful and interesting cities in Italy.
Must Visit Cities in Italy
Verona
First on our list is the city of Verona, with its beautiful Adige river, Verona is undeniably one of the most stunning cities in Italy. It is also famous for William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet set. But Verona isn’t just about Romeo and Juliet; the city offers a lot of things also to do and see. From stunning piazzas to historic churches, from ancient Roman ruins to medieval castle. Added to that is an incredibly well-preserved arena. Every bit as romantic as you’d expect!
Venice
Built on water in the middle of a lagoon, with its canals and gondolas, Venice (Venezia) is one of the most popular for tourist in Italy and one of the nicest places to start a luxury Italian vacation. It is also one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. The heart of Venice is Piazza San Marco with its magnificent church, Saint Mark’s Basilica.
You can visit museums, churches, and palaces and wander along canals in Venice is a must-do. Another thing about Venice is that it is built entirely on canals; so there’s no bus exhaust or traffic, all you can hear is the lapping of the water along many canals. The best season to visit Venice is during autumn or winter to make the most of Venice’s tranquil side and a perfect romantic feel when a lovely mist hangs over the entire city.
Bologna
Known for its wealth, cuisine, left-wing politics, and beauty, Bologna is one of the lesser known beautiful cities in Italy. It is the biggest city in region of Emilia-Romagna in northern part of Italy. It has one of Europe’s oldest universities, several attractive squares, and a nice medieval center. Bologna’s streets are lined with arcades, so it’s a good place to walk even in the rain. There are tons of things to do here like soaking in the academic ambience, enjoy the region’s excellent cuisine in local trattoria, or taking fun photos with the leaning tower of Bologna.
Rome
Rome (Roma), The Eternal City, is the capital of modern Italy. It is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy and in the world. Everywhere you look, Rome is full of history. It is visible through many ancient monuments, ruins, medieval churches, renaissance palaces, beautiful fountains, museums, and innumerable archaeological sites. It is also the largest city in Italy with its 2,500 years of history.
A month of exploring Rome isn’t enough to see all the beautiful places in Rome. There are a lot to discover in Rome despite its relatively compact and beautiful historic center. It is a crime if you’re visiting Italy and not coming to Rome. Rome is a lively and bustling city and has some great restaurants and nightlife.
Naples
Naples is one of the busiest cities in Italy. It is the capital of the Campania Region and is located in Southern Italy. People describes Naples as the much grittier of all the famous cities in Italy. Naples is a bit disorderly compared to Rome of Venice where there is some sort of organization in it. However, this is what makes Naples appealing and beautiful to tourists.
If you look at the crumbling and decaying palaces, castles, and churches in Naples, there is just something bittersweet about it. The city is under renovation, but the gritty character of the city just gives it a much more unique personality than its other counterparts. There are tons of things to do and see in Naples like enjoying the city’s world-famous food (Neapolitan pizza), exploring its eerie underground to seeing some of the most important art and archaeology in Italy and Naples’ top-notch museums. You need to experience the true core of Naples’ bellezza at least once in your lifetime.
Sicily
Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and it is an autonomous region of Italy. It is rich in art and history same with the cities on the mainland. You’ll surely enjoy the famous spots here like the Agrigento Valley of the Temples, Palermo’s Baroque churches, and Mount Etna – Europe’s tallest active volcano.
But the most beautiful spot of all is Siracusa or Syracuse which can be found along the coastline of Sicily. You can find beaches, mountains, and sheer-cliffs here, perfect for the active travellers. Siracusa is also really old, like ancient world old. It was considered to be one of the largest cities in ancient history, with settlements that date as far back as 734 BCE. There are ancient Greek ruins that were built at least 2,000 years ago, one of which is the amphitheatre where tragedies written by Euripides and Aeschylus were performed. You can also visit what once was the Temple of Athena, now called the Duomo Cathedral.
On your first trip to Italy, make sure you get to visit all of these cities so you can experience the different sides of the country. There are still a lot more cities to visit like Florence, Verona, Cinque Terra, Matera, and Trieste. But the cities listed here are the perfect introduction to Italy — go on and get to know her by taking that Italian trip right now.
Are you from Italy or have you already travelled to Italy? Do you agree with this list of must visit cities in Italy or maybe you would like to make an addition/recommendation? Either way, we’d love to hear from you! You can add your thoughts by leaving a comment below or dropping us a note through email!
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