The Best Places in Italy

Italy possesses a rich culture. Art, music, food and architecture – the country features near the top spot worldwide for nearly all of these. It’s a pleasant coincidence, then, that these are high up in the list of things most wanted on a good holiday. However, Italy’s embarrassment of riches can also be its Achilles heel. Even scratching the surface of all that Italy has to offer would take more than a month, a luxury most of us cannot afford. So in a country so full of great places to visit, where do you start?

The stunning Pantheon

Rome would be good. Rome is a city of centres. Once the centre of civilisation, the city has aged gracefully. The centre of the city itself is the glorious Piazza di Spagna (translation: the Square of Spain). Nearly always busy, this gorgeous square is a great place to get a feel for the city. After you’re done in the square, head to the Villa Borghese, an English-style park that is the best place to relax among the hubbub of the rest of the city. Fully refreshed, it would be a good time to head to Rome’s star attractions. First off is the Colosseum, one of the most famous structures in the world and the heart of ancient Rome, constructed in the first century AD. After this, make your way to St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican, the centre of Catholicism, and view Michelangelo’s masterpiece on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. If that hasn’t exhausted you, as night falls head to the beautiful Trevi Fountain. The later you go the better, as the area is almost always busy. The bottom of the fountain is full of coins, a tribute to the traditional adage that if you throw a coin over your right shoulder, you will return to Rome.

Nothing like a moody picture to sell a destination.

If Rome is not your particular bowl of pasta, you can head to Italy’s other jewel, Venice. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, Venice is one of the most iconic romantic destinations in the world, and should be considered choice number one for any honeymooners (clichés are clichés for a reason). The heart of Venice is Piazza San Marco, with its exquisite church. However, consider visiting some of the quieter parts of the city for a more relaxing and less tourism-heavy view of Italy. Take a boat trip down the Brenta Canal to visit the garden maze at Stra, or visit Island of Burano, where the houses lean like the tower of Pisa.

Completing the triumvirate of popular tourist destinations is Florence in Tuscany, and should be your first port of call if you are a lover of art and culture. A place still well acquainted with the romantic notion of the artist, it is best when visiting Florence to treat it as the natives do. Relax, take your time, frequent a few restaurants and bars, settle in and soak up the culture.

Tuscany is also home to the aforementioned Pisa. You may have heard of its leaning tower, arguably among the most famous buildings in history. Photographs do not do justice to the bizarre angle at which the tower leans, and its beautiful architecture only serves to heighten the illusion of a building that, by rights, shouldn’t exist. However, Pisa is no one trick pony, and would be a great choice for anyone looking for a holiday where a relaxing atmosphere and good restaurants are the order of the day.

It’s all a question of perspective.

Heading to the north-west of Italy, Turin is an excellent all-round destination. It combines a modern shopping experience with many historic arcades, cafés and artisan workshops, good restaurants and some decent museums too.

If you are looking for the opposite of the historic Italy embodied by the aforementioned destinations, look no further than Milan. Synonymous with chic, designer sophistication, it is one of Europe’s places to be, and among the richest. The marble façade of its Duomo is gorgeous, as is the glorious La Scala opera house, one of the world’s most famous. Combine this will an ultra-slick shopping and dining experience, and Milan is the place to go if you want to see how modern and exciting Italy can be.

Journeying down, Naples is the unofficial capital of southern Italy. Lying on the coast south of Rome, it shares that city’s historic and artistic heart, but has recently undergone quite extensive renovation bringing it in line with some of Italy’s more modern cities like Milan. Naples is a city in the middle of change, but that also makes it a melting point ideal for the more adventurous citygoer.

If you are looking for something a bit more active, you can try out the Cinque Terre, a group of five villages, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, and Monterosso, linked by hiking trails along the coast. The villages are part of the Cinque Terre National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and are noted for their scenic views.

Milan Cathedral is, basically, gorgeous.

Alternatively, you could try a biking tour of six locations in Tuscany that have been made UNESCO sites too. Alongside the previously mentioned Florence and Pisa, you can visit Sam Gimignano, the centre of Pienza and the Val d’Orcia.

Finally, there is the island of Sicily. Once the Godfather allusions are out of the way, this diminuitive island has much to offer. Cefalu has beautiful beaches and there is the little medieval town of Erice, perfect for a short weekend break.

It is a well-worn travel agents’ spiel that a place has something to offer for everyone, but with Italy this may well hold true. For a country of its size it is a genuine delight for holiday makers. The above only offers the broadest of overviews of each location, and there are many more than have not been mentioned. In truth, it’s difficult to go wrong. Pick somewhere that takes your fancy, and go, as soon as you can.

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