Italy Destination Guide

A visit to Italy is an unforgettable experience; tourists visiting Italy for the first time should visit all the major spots of interest and take home enough souvenirs, pictures and memories to last a lifetime. The monuments, churches, lakes and cathedrals of Italy make the country an ideal place for a holiday. To get a feel of the real Italy make it a point to visit the" Big Three"- Venice, Rome and Florence. These three cities, besides being popular tourist spots, offer something unique to their visitors.

Italy, with its diversified culture, varied landscape and impressive architecture is a favourite with tourists.

Our Italy Destination Guide below, together with our suggested Italy tours, will tell you all you need to know about the best places to visit on your Italy holiday. Our Italy Country Guide has some helpful information to ensure you have all the hints and tips you need for your travels.

Things to See & Do in Italy

Great places to visit and things to see and do in Italy include:

The Mediterranean Sea has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Holiday resorts in these beaches are very popular with tourists and form the perfect backdrop for sun-bathing and frolicking in the sand. Italian beaches are known to be clean and safe. The beaches in the regions of Abruzzo, Calabria, Apulia and Tuscany are among the many beaches that were recently awarded the Blue Flag, an award given to beaches that offer safe bathing areas along with clean surroundings.

The buried city of Pompeii is known as one of the most intriguing and famous archaeological sites on earth. Long ago on August 24, 79 AD, a volcano erupted violently at Mount Vesuvius and blew its top off. This massive explosion sent huge amounts of volcanic ash and pumice into the sky, which sprayed the city of Pompeii and buried it completely.

Italy, located to the south of the Mediterranean Sea, offers numerous cruising options designed specifically to provide tourists with a thrilling and wonderful travelling experience.

Florence, the artistic capital of Italy is home to the Uffizi Gallery that showcases works of famous artists like Filippo Lippi, Giotto, Botticelli, Raphael, Fra Angelico, Leonardo, Titian, Michelangelo, Caravaggio and Raffaello. Ponte Vecchio, which means ‘old bridge’, is the oldest bridge and one of the most charming spots in Florence. Located across the Arno River, this bridge attracts hundreds of tourists every year.

Italy has twnety national parks with numerous mountains, lakes, unique animals and plants, which nature lovers can enjoy exploring. The national parks are located in the regions of Calabria, Apulia, Sicilia, Tuscany, Sardinia, the Marches and Piedmont. Nature lovers will enjoy a tour of the Italian botanical gardens. There are over thirty botanical gardens in Italy.

Lake Garda, Lake Como, Lake Maggorie, Lake Iseo, Lake Idro, Lake Orta, Lake Lugano, Lake Campotosto, Pergusa Lake and Lake Resia are among the beautiful lakes in Italy. These lakes, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, have dense alpine forests on all sides, making them ideal vacation spots.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is definitely worth a visit. Italy's most famous monument, the Leaning Tower of Pisa has one of the most remarkable bell towers in Europe. Its construction was started in August 1173 and continued for over 200 years. To date the original architect remains unknown. The tower’s inclination towards one side is actually a part of the tower’s actual design.

The regions of Calabria, Basilicata, Emilia-Romagna, Campania, Lazio, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Lombardi, Liguria and the Marches, among others, are ideal for mountaineering. Amenities like accommodation facilities and experienced guides are available at all these places.

Places like Museo Egizio, the world's largest Egyptian Museum outside Egypt, Mole Antonelliana and the Piazza San Carlo make Turin an attractive holiday destination. In Naples you can visit the ancient city of Pompeii, which was buried by a volcanic eruption from Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, and also see exquisite architectural masterpieces.

One of the founding cities of Western Civilization, the ancient city of Rome is over two and a half thousand years old. Besides its strong influence on the Roman Empire, Rome has a significant presence in the history of Christianity; even today it is known as the home of the papacy. The modern and cosmopolitan city of Rome is the third most-visited tourist destination in Europe. Rome is a global city with a strong presence in politics, arts, media and culture.

The Pantheon, a must-see place, is a spectacular temple which is also the burial place of the Renaissance artist Raphael and Italy's first two kings. Designed in 1575, the Pantheon Fountain is located at the temple’s entrance. The Pantheon is one of the most intact pieces of Roman architecture besides being the largest masonry dome in the world. It has survived 20 centuries of erosion, invasion, general decay, and wear and tear.

The 2000 year-old Roman Colosseum is among Italy’s famous monuments and is perhaps the most well-known ancient ruin in the world. It was also the venue for chariot races, a favourite sport of those days. The Colosseum has been witness to gladiators fighting other gladiators and wild animals. It is an excellent example of ancient Roman architecture. Shaped like a modern day football stadium, its massive structure has the capacity to seat up to 45,000 spectators. The Colosseum is a four storey structure, which is over 160 feet high, 500 feet wide and 600 feet long.

Pisa and Siena are other major tourist destinations located in the Tuscany region. Siena is a fascinating Italian city famous for its well maintained piazzas and medieval streets, including the renowned Piazza del Campo.

Artefacts produced and created over the ages in Rome have been preserved in its art galleries and museums. Some famous works of art are preserved in the Vatican Museums. The Vatican Museums have over 1300 huge rooms in 12 complexes. It will take you more than one afternoon to see the museums. Ideally you should spend a few days here to understand and appreciate the significance of the exhibits.

Venice, well known as the romantic destination in Italy, is famous for its gondolas and fascinating canals. You can take a delightful cruise down the Grand Canal in Venice.