From the busy cosmopolitan Milan to tiny villages of Sicily, Italian cities are a sensory delight with layers of history and culture and so much art in everything around you. You will visit hundreds of museums with the world’s most priceless treasures in Florence, Rome, and Milan, but it is beauty of the streets, markets, squares, and fountains that will leave the most lasting impression.
When you roam through steep cobblestone streets of Corniglia or Manarola cut into the rock that drops almost vertically into the sea, painted pastel pinks and blues, you will realize that it is Italians who make the country what it is, along with their pure pleasure in life, the same pleasure that makes their food and their wines so incomparable.
1. Rome
Coming to Rome, be prepared for a total sensory overload. The entire city is a living, breathing museum. Everything around you is thousands of years old, from the cobblestones you walk on to the massive fountains and ancient stone houses that line the narrow streets.
There is so much beauty all around you that it is difficult to take it all in, especially if you are trying to cram all Rome has to offer in a few days: the Vatican, St. Peter's Square, St. Peter’s Basilica and eighteen additional basilicas, the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Colosseum, Piazza Navona, Roman Forum, Aquaducts, Catacombs, and so much more. And then there is Via Veneto with all its fabulous shops, small gellaterias, and trattorias with aromas that pull you in from miles away. As you sit in one of the fabulous outdoor cafes on Piazza Navona, you have to wonder how anyone can get any work done with so much beauty all around.
2. Pisa
Once a powerful Italian maritime republic and a university city that attracted young minds since 12th century, Pisa is now attracting millions of tourists who come to see its famous leaning church tower – one architectural project that went wrong. Naturally, you will start your exploring by visiting the magnificent Piazza del Miracoli with its bright white leaning tower surrounded by a field of green grass. It is stunningly beautiful, and the Cathedral and the Baptistry are nearby.
Climb the tower, as the view at the top is spectacular, and then walk through ancient streets of Pisa with its magnificent Romanesque houses, imposing Gothic churches, beautiful Renaissance piazzas, opulent palaces, fountains, and museums. Walk along the River Arne, sit in one of the quintessential outdoor Italian cafes, and enjoy the vibrant, lively atmosphere of this incredibly charming university town that even ancient Romans considered old.
3. Castellina in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti is a small municipality in Tuscany about 22 miles from Florence. It is part of the beautiful Chianti Hills region and stretches between Elsa, Pesa, and Arbia river valleys. Ancient cobblestoned streets lined with old stone houses are perched on the hill, and they are wonderful for exploring and for soaking up the feel of ages past.
The most impressive sight is enormous 14th century Rocca or castle where you can learn about the Etruscan culture in a small museum. Visit beautiful old Church of San Salvatore to see the breathtaking 15th-century fresco Madonna with Child. Some of the most beautiful palaces in and around the city are Palazzo Ugolini-Squarcialupi and Palazzo Bianciardi. Venture around the city and enjoy the view of the orderly lines of grapes and ancient olive groves and stop at one of many trattorias to try local wine and food.
4. Corniglia
Corniglia is one of five incredibly picturesque villages of Cinque Terre in Liguria in Northern Italy. Its colorful old stone houses are clinging to the steep rock that on one side drops almost vertically to the Mediterranian and on three others is dotted with vineyards and olive groves. Corniglia is ancient, incredibly beautiful and unique, and it is connected to four other villages by the Sentiero Azzurro cliffside hiking trail.
To get to the sea and small picturesque port, you have to climb 382 steps cut in the stone, but there is also a normal road. The views from anywhere in the village are breathtaking, and spending some time roaming its streets and tasting the famous pesto in one of the local trattorias always makes for an special experience.
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5. Best Cities to Visit in Italy: Florence
One of the wealthiest and most powerful European cities from medieval times, Florence is called “the cradle of Renaissance,” and its magnificent architecture, churches, and palaces full of art never stopped attracting artists and art lovers. Its center is closed to traffic, and walking through ancient cobblestoned streets presents you with surprises on every corner.
Walk from the magnificent Duomo cathedral, the Uffizi gallery, and Pitti Palace to the Baptistry, the Bargello, and the Accademia and churches such as Santa Maria Novella and Santa Maria della Croce. You can also admire the priceless art treasures left behind by Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Giotto, and Michelangelo. Cross the Ponte Vecchio Bridge over River Arne packed with artists and visit modern Florence in Oltrarno, spend some time in the majesty of Boboli Gardens, and go up the hill to the San Miniato al Monte church to take in the view of the timeless beauty of Florence.
6. Lucca
Just a short drive from Florence, Lucca is one of the most beautiful cities in Tuscany. Surrounded by wonderfully preserved 16th and 17th-century Renaissance walls, it is an ancient city perfect for walking and discovering the layers of its history in its cobbled streets, shady promenades, and glorious piazzas. The massive old walls are now topped by a large park wonderful for strolling and biking.
Stop by Casa di Puccini, a museum dedicated to the famous composer born within its walls. Visit the old Roman amphitheater at the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, check out the Church of San Michele in Foro at the Piazza of San Michele, and climb the fascinating Guinigi Tower with holm oaks growing on its top. Don’t forget to find time to sit in one of many outdoor restaurants on the Lucca’s spacious piazzas to try the local goodies.
7. Manarola
One of the five incredibly beautiful villages of Cinque Terre on the rugged coast of Ligurian Sea, Manarola’s colorful houses look like they are piled on top of each other, dug into the side of the vertical cliff that drops into the sea. Established in 12th century by inhabitants of the nearby village of Volastra, Manarola is the oldest of the five villages and has a unique fishing port – fishermen have to lift their boats by crane and park them on one of the terraces like cars.
You can explore the village through narrow steep streets and even jump into the clear blue sea and watch the incredible feat of engineering and human ingenuity while swimming on your back in the warm Ligurian waters.
8. Best Cities to Visit in Italy: Milan
Once a capital of imperial Rome, the Milan of today is a modern metropolis in northern Italy; it is a European economic powerhouse and a fashion and design capital that is elegant, sophisticated, and incredibly beautiful. Walking through downtown Milan means peeling back the layers of history, architecture, and art. With the Gothic majesty of Duomo cathedral, Leonardo da Vinci’s mural “The Last Supper” at the Santa Maria delle Grazie convent, Sforza castle, La Scala opera house, upscale shops at La Galleria, magnificent fountains, parks, passages, and squares, there is so much to see and enjoy in Milan.
And when you get tired, sit in one of the outdoor restaurants and enjoy superb Lombardian cuisine and good Italian wines and watch fashionable Milan residents go about their business.
9. Monterosso
The only Cinque Terre village with a large beach and a waterfront promenade, Monterosso is the most popular with tourists and gets more crowded than its sister villages high up on the cliff. The city traces its roots to 62 ancient hilltop residents of Monterosso who moved down to the coast in order to escape barbarian invaders.
There is a ruin of an old fortress up on the hill that houses the town cemetery, the spectacular Aurora tower, the San Francesco church with a magnificent Van Dyck painting, and narrow cobblestoned streets lined with old stone houses so Italian and so ancient you can almost imagine people passing through the area centuries ago. Monterosso has a large modern hotel and a new contemporary part of the village on the other side of the Aurora tower.
10. Riomaggiore
If you watch Riomaggiore from the sea, it looks like colorful kids’ blocks piled up on top of each other. Snuggled in a small valley, the houses are built vertically into the steep cliff that drops down to the sea, where one can find a tiny wharf and even smaller beach. Riomaggiore is the first of five Cinque Terre villages as you travel from La Spezia and is their unofficial headquarters.
Its main and only street Via Colombo is where everything touristy goes on with a number of restaurants, shops, and cafes. Everywhere else you have to climb endless number of stairs, or take the scenic path of Via dell’Amore, which goes to the neighboring Manarola. The village is ancient and very charming, and it is a pure delight just being surrounded with so much history.
11. San Gimignano
San Gimignano is a small medieval town perched on the hill in Tuscany in north-central Italy. As you approach it by road, you will know right away why it is called the Town of Fine Towers. There are fourteen towers now, though originally the rich citizens built seventy-two beautiful lean towers in the 12th century, mostly to show off their wealth, an ancient version of keeping up with Joneses.
The city’s medieval architecture is stunning and very well preserved, both churches and secular buildings, with some wonderful examples of Gothic and Romanesque architecture. The Palazzo Comunale, the Church of Sant' Agostino and Collegiate Church are some of the most notable examples and contain beautiful frescos from the 14th and 15th centuries. There is more than art and culture in San Gimignano – the city is famous for its saffron, the white wine made from local grapes and golden ham.
12. Best Cities to Visit in Italy: Sardinia
About halfway between Italian mainland and Africa, Sardinia is a large island that is as much Italian as it is its own, ancient, rugged, magnificent place best described as “different.” From vast mountain ranges to the dazzlingly white beaches, from mysterious 16th Century B.C. Nuragic constructions to posh villas of Porto Rotondo, from the lavish excesses of Costa Esmeralda to the rugged mountain villages with more sheep than people, Sardinia is full of contrasts that make it what it is.
It is loved by divers who spend hours underwater exploring shipwrecks off Cagliari’s coast, rock climbers who scale vertical cliffs of Cala Luna Bay, hikers who can spend a lifetime rambling through its dense oak forests and narrow coastal paths. You can also find wine and food that is just little bit different from what you might have already tasted in Italy, but it’s a perfect part your unique Sardinia experience.
13. Siena
Siena, the heart of Tuscany, represents Italy before the Renaissance. With its soaring brick buildings, enormous fan-shaped Piazza del Campo with the Gothic town hall Palazzo Pubblico, and the 14th-century tower Torre del Mangia, Siena is an open museum of medieval architecture, art, and history. Its Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, is a wonderful example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture in Italy with white and green marble creating striped patterns so characteristic of Siena.
The church not only fascinates with its architecture but also with the art of Michelangelo, Donatello, Pisano, and Pinturicchio. Most of the world learned about Siena through movies showing the famous Palio di Siena horse races that turn Piazza del Campo into a circus twice a year. Another of Siena’s claim to fame is its fantastic cuisine – every third door leads to a restaurant, wine store, or deli.
14. Venice
A major maritime and financial power during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Venice is a northern Italian city on more than 100 islands in a large beautiful lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. The city’s traffic consists of boats instead of cars, some fast and modern and others slow and romantic – the famous gondolas. As you slowly float down one of many canals, you can admire magnificent gothic and Renaissance palaces and romantic bridges.
The heart of the city is its Piazza San Marco with St. Mark’s Basilica tiled with Byzantine mosaics. The cathedral’s bell tower the Campanile offers fabulous views of the city. Venice is a major art center of Europe from the Middle Ages, as many rich Venetians became art patrons, bringing many great artists to its shores. The beauty, mystery, and romance of Venice inspired many great artists, from Canaletto to Sargent.
15. Vernazza
Compared to other Cinque Terre villages that hang from almost vertical cliffs, Vernazza looks positively normal – it even has two beaches and a secure harbor in a deep protected bay. Belforte, its medieval castle, was built to protect the village from pirates in the mid-1500s.
The village main street, Via Roma, narrow and cobblestoned like the rest, is lined with small cafes, and it links Piazza Marconi on the coast with the train station. Follow any of the narrow lanes that mostly go uphill and you will pass by Vernazza’s most important sites – Santa Margherita Church and Doria Castle. Around the village are steeply cut terraces with olive groves. Verazza is known to produce some of the best olive oil in the country.
16. Naples
Naples is unquestionably worthy of a place on any Italian itinerary. The bustling sea port is home to an exceptional historic center (which was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1995) which in a delight to explore on foot. Here you will find ancient cobbled passages which meander between impressive palaces, world-class museums and the Maschio Angioino Castle. Highlights of you visit to the city should include the Naples Cathedral, the Piazza del Plebiscito, and the amazing National Archaeological Museum. Famous Mount Vesuvius and the Pompeii Ruins are located just 10 km outside the city and are definitely worth a visit.
17. Verona
Located in northern Italy, Verona is famously the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This UNESCO world heritage city has much to offer lovers of history, culture, and architecture. Verona is world famous for its Music and Opera Season which is staged in the awe-inspiring Arena - a Roman Amphitheatre which dates back to 30 AD; if you cannot attend a show you can join a guided tour of the Arena. Other tourist highlights include exploring the Historic Center, visiting Juliet’s house, sipping a cocktail or coffee on Piazza Bra and admiring the beautiful Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore and the Duomo di Santa Maria Matricolare.
18. Capri
The beautiful island of Capri is located in the Bay of Naples, where it is easily accessible by ferry from Naples or Sorrento. The top attraction on the island is the famous Blue Grotto, a natural sparkling sea cave which is only accessible by small rowing boats. Popular activities on the island include taking the venicular from Marina Grande port to the Piazza Umberto, where you can spend some time enjoying wonderful views as you watch the rich and famous go by. Other attractions include the Roman ruins of Villa Jovis (summer home of Emperor Tiberius), the Gardens of Augustus and the Church of Santa Sofia.
19. Perugia
Perugia has an extremely rich history and is filled to the brim with unique historic, art and cultural attractions. There are monumental structures around every corner for history and architecture enthusiasts to uncover. One of the oldest structures is the Etruscan Arch (aka Arch of Augustus) which was an enormous gate in the original walls of the Etruscan city. Other must-see attractions include the Palazzo Dei Priori (home to the National Gallery of Umbria and filled with priceless art works), the elegant Teatro Morlacchi, Basilica San Pietro, Basilica San Domenico and the National Archaeological Museum of Umbria. If you have more time you can visit the Botanical Garden and the Medieval Garden at the Abbey of San Pietro
20. Bologna
Famous as the birthplace of everyone’s favorite pasta dish, the city of Bologna has a lot more than pasta on offer. You can start your visit by taking a stroll along the famous porticoes (there are no less than 40km of these in the historic center), which have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status. Other highlights of a visit to Bologna could include MAMbo (Museum of Modern Art), the Historical Museum of Bologna, the Asinelli Tower, the Clock Tower and the ancient Jewish Ghetto and Synagogue. If you would like to find out why the city is still synonymous with good food you can join a guided food tour.
21. Genoa
As the capital city of the Liguria region, Genoa is an important shipping port with a long maritime history. At the Porto Antico (old port) you can admire several attractions including 3 installations designed by Renzo Piano, the Bigo (a very tall tower offering sweeping views), the Biosphere (which contains a tropical forest) and the Piazza della Feste. Also at the port, you can visit the 76m Lighthouse, one of the tallest in the world. You should not miss the chance to learn about Genoa’s maritime history at the very impressive Galata Museo del Mare. Other Genoa highlights include the San Lorenzo Cathedral, the Old Town and the ancient city walls which date back to 12th century.
22. Ragusa
Located on the island of Sicily, Ragusa is famous for its ancient Baroque-style Ibla area and for its delectable chocolate. The Ibla area (Old Town) was rebuilt in the Baroque style after a disastrous earthquake in 1693. The elevated upper town, Ragusa Superiore, is separated from the old town by a deep ravine and occupies a most attractive hill-top position. The lovely old town is well-worth exploring and is filled with Baroque gems around every corner. Perhaps the most impressive building is the cathedral, Duomo di San Giorgio, which contains many priceless art works. History buffs will enjoy the Museo del Duomo which contains many ancient objects rescued from the ruins of the earthquake.
23. Sorrento
Sorrento is a sparkling jewel on Italy’s magnificent Amalfi coast. The town is filled with beautiful pastel buildings, side-walk cafes and plenty of atmosphere. There are also several historic and artistic attractions to satisfy culture seekers. At the heart of the town you will find the charming Piazza Tasso, surrounded by character-filled little streets full of shops and restaurants. Historic attractions include the Cloister of San Francesco (dating back to the 8th century), the 15th century Sorrento Cathedral and the 9th century Oratory of Sant’ Antonino. You can take a ferry from the port to visit the famous Blue Grotto sea cave or spend a day visiting the ruins of Pompeii.
24. Orvieto
Located in the Umbria region, also known as the “Green Heart of Italy”, Orvieto is an enchanting medieval town. The town boasts an extraordinary ancient “Old Town” center which is a joy to explore on foot, uncovering churches, a palace and even an underground system of tunnels and caves. The best way to unlock the many secrets of Orvieto is to join a guided walking tour. Orvieto highlights include the Teatro Mancinelli, the very-impressive Duomo (cathedral), the basement Church of Sant’ Andrea, the Palazzo del Popolo (14th century) and the Etruscan Necropolis archaeological site. If you have time you can also visit the fortress Albornoz, which is now a lovely public garden.
25. Turin
Located in northern Italy, Turin in the capital city of the Piedmont region and is widely known for its eclectic architecture and superb cuisine. To the northwest of the city you can see the towering Alps, which offer skiing and other winter sports in winter and wonderful hiking in summer. Architectural highlights include the Casa Scaccabarossi (often likened to a slice of polenta) and the Baci Urbani installation. Art lovers should not miss the Borgo Campidoglio, an outdoor Museum of Contemporary Arts. Chocolate lovers can indulge their sweet tooth on a Sweet and Chocolate Tour while foodies have at least 10 food tours to choose from.
What are the 25 Best Cities to Visit in Italy?
The 25 Best Cities to Visit in Italy according to local experts are:
- Rome
- Pisa
- Castellina in Chianti
- Corniglia
- Best Cities to Visit in Italy: Florence
- Lucca
- Manarola
- Best Cities to Visit in Italy: Milan
- Monterosso
- Riomaggiore
- San Gimignano
- Best Cities to Visit in Italy: Sardinia
- Siena
- Venice
- Vernazza
- Naples
- Verona
- Capri
- Perugia
- Bologna
- Genoa
- Ragusa
- Sorrento
- Orvieto
- Turin
