The Vatican
The Vatican City State is a sovereign city-state, which can be found in central Rome. Home to the Catholic Church, it has some of Rome’s most splendid sights, such as the Vatican Museums, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica, which are of great historical and cultural significance. These sights display some of the most famous sculptures and paintings of the world. Governed by the pope, Vatican City has a very unique economy that thrives on the sale of tourist mementos and postage stamps, among other things. The Vatican is on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. Fra Angelico and Raphael are among the artists who adorned the Vatican’s interior. Because of the small size, the Vatican City has no highways or airports. It is home to a small system of transportation
The Old Rome
The city’s ancient past left remarkable ruins such as the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, which are great tourist attractions. Designed by the Renaissance artist Michelangelo, the Piazza del Campidoglio sits above it all. It has museums that display an excellent collection of the world’s ancient art.
Grand Canal of Venice
If you want a true and uniquely Italian experience, then you must take a trip through the Main Street of Venice. One end of the Grand Canal takes you into a lagoon and the other takes you into Saint Mark Basin; between these two ends, the canal meanders in a reverse-S shape. Whether you take it by a gondola or a water bus, it will be something to tell your folks about back home. The banks of the canal are lined by buildings that date back to the 13th century. The Historical Regatta is a Venetian event that takes place on September’s first Sunday; it is a competition between boats, which thousands of people come to see.
Palladio’s Villas of Veneto
‘Villa’ meant a country house and the rich families in Veneto also owned a house in town, which was called a ‘palazzo’. Villas and palazzos were usually named after their owners. Andrea Palladio – influenced by Greek and Roman architecture, and considered to be the most influential architect in Western architecture’s history – was the genius behind some spectacular buildings that you can visit in Vicenza, Venice, and out of Treviso. The villas designed by this genius architect have been marked as World Heritage Sites by the UNESCO.
Mosaics of Ravenna
Ravenna is an inland city that is connected by the Candiano Canal to the Adriatic Sea. From 402 to 476, it served as the capital city of the Western Roman Empire. Mosaics dating back to the 5th and 6th century, reside in this city; and they are ranked among Italy’s greatest treasures of art. The city is also home to eight sites that are on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Uffizi Gallery
One of the western world’s most famous art museums, the Uffizi Gallery is located in Florence, with masterpieces by Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael, and various other artists.
Duomo
The main church of an Italian city is called “duomo”. The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is the main church of the city of Florence. Completed by Filippo Bruneschelli, the “duomo” is among the world’s most amazing works of engineering.
Piazza del Compo
Piazza del Campo is located in the centre of the classic hill town of Siena in Tuscany. It is a beautiful town square, which is considered among the greatest medieval squares of Europe. The shell-shaped piazza is renowned for its architectural integrity and beauty.
Basilica di San Francesco
The mother church of the Franciscan Order, the Basilica di San Francesco honours the memory of St. Francis who was born and died in the city of Assisi. The massive basilica consists of two churches – Upper Church and Lower Church – that are built on top of each other. The interior of the Upper Church is in the Gothic style and that of the Lower Church is in the medieval style.
Palazzo Ducale
No other building can represent the principles of the Renaissance better than this spectacular palace, which is located in the city of Urbino in Marche. It is among Italy’s most important monuments and is marked as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
Ruins of Pompeii
With the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79, the city of Pompeii destroyed and was mostly buried under a pile of pumice and ash. The city has frozen in time and walking down its streets will take you back into the past.
Ravello
Situated atop the Amalfi Coast is the town of Ravello, which is a popular destination for tourists, thanks to its scenic beauty. No other place can capture the gorgeous essence of the Amalfi Coast as well as Ravello can. Various musicians, writers, and artists visited this destination, therefore, influencing its culture. The Ravello Festival takes place every summer; it consists of arts and music, and has been held every year since 1953.
Lecce
Nicknamed as the Florence of the South, it is the most attractive town in the south of Italy, thanks to its captivating street life, and extravagant Baroque architecture. Because of its wine and olive oil production, the city is also an important centre of agriculture.
Vallei dei Templi
The Valley of Temples is an archaeological site, which is an outstanding example of the Greek architecture and art. Not only is it a national monument of the country but it is also among Sicily’s major attractions. Because of the Vallei dei Templi, the region of Sicily deserves a visit.