26 most interesting attractions in Italy
Italy is one of the most beautiful countries of the world. It is the motherland of pizza, as well as wonderful architectural works of art, unique landscapes, picturesque seaside and excellent ski resorts. Those who had a chance to be there, can affirm they have seen a part of paradise.
What are the most interesting places a traveller should visit once entering Apennine Peninsula? We’ve prepared for you the list of 26 best attractions in Italy.
Coliseum (Colosseum), Rome
Colosseum. The biggest amphitheater of antique world (a place for cultural entertainment for more than 50 thousand people) had been creating since the year 72 BC till 80 AD. It got its name after the statue of Nero “Colossus”which towered that time nearby. It’s also known as Flavian Amphitheatre.
Admission info: adult ticket costs 12 euro. The ticket is valid for two days and includes entrance to Palatine Hill and Roman Forum.
Photo by: fabiomax.com, Fotolia.com.
Palatine Hill, Rome
Palatine Hill is the first of seven Roman hills. It is the heart of the Eternal City. The legend says this is the place where she-wolf fed the baby-twins Remus and Romulus with her own milk and cared for them. The hill is full of ancient remains: ruins of palaces, aqueduct, stadium, temples, and a museum.
Photo by: wikipedia.org, by MatthiasKabel.
Roman Forum, Rome
This is another Time Machine, which can take us into the times of Roman Empire. It used to be a market place where crowds of people gathered to discuss the latest news. The Senate also came together on this square to take or decline different decisions. With no doubts, the Roman Forum is the most popular place of interest in Rome.
Admission info: adult ticket costs 12 euro and is valid for two days and includes entrance to Palatine Hill and Coliseum. We advise you to buy this general ticket and to start your tour from Roman Forum, as the queue are much less here than by the Coliseum.
Photo by: i.redigo.ru.
St Peter's Basilica, Vatican City
This huge cathedral with a capability for 60.000 people occupies an area of more than 22 sq.meters. St Peter's Basilica is the biggest Christian Cathedral on Earth. From the Dome of it you can enjoy the best panoramic view of the Italian capital. No doubt it is the must-see place in the whole Italy, but be ready to stay a huge queue, however you can skip it by buying a special ticket.
A lift to the top costs 6 euro.
Photo by: Jebulon.
Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum
Famous for its wonderful frescos by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Pinturicchio this is the place where the whole Catholic world elected the new Pope of Rome. Sistine Chapel is one of the most interesting places in Vatican and is open for admission by the general Vatican Museums ticket.
Adult ticket price: 16 euro.
Photo by: tt-group.net.
The Pantheon, Rome
The "Temple of All the Gods" is a magnificent building dedicated to all the masse of Roman Gods. It also used to be the Christian Church of St Mary and the Martyrs. None of any other buildings can boasts with the relation to such a great number of supreme beings.
The entrance is free.
Photo by: wikipedia.org, by Stefan Bauer.
Grand Canal, Venice
The main “highway” of the city is the biggest tourist’s attraction. Its length is up to 4 km and width up to 70 meters! It is filled with river trams, water taxis and the famous gondoliers caring their passengers with cameras, audio guides and touristic maps. The feelings you get here are special and can never be repeated in any other place on Earth. Grand Canal is truly one of the most popular places in Italy.
Photo by: Iakov Kalinin, Fotolia.com.
Doge's Palace, Venice
This residence of the heads of Venice Republic is made in a gothic style of 8–13 centuries. Being the linking bridge between the palace and the prison Ponte dei Sospiri adjoins Palazzo Ducale keeping thousands of legends and true stories. This is the road hundreds of “victims” of justice took before getting into the prison. Palazzo Ducale or Doge’s Palace is one of the most popular attractions of Venice.
Admission: full price ticket costs 20 euro.
Photo by: il-fede, Fotolia.com.
St Mark's Clocktower, Venice
St Mark's Clocktower is one of the main decorations of San Marco Square and the whole city in general. Its chronometer shows not the time only, but the phases of the moon as well as the Sun's position in the Zodiac. The tower itself is decorated with lots of interesting and sophisticated statues.
Admission: 12 euro.
Photo by: andrey58tom.livejournal.com, by andrey petrov.
Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, Florence
Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral is considered to be the symbol of Toscana capital, which had been creating for more than 6 centuries. More than 6 famous masters took part in its creation. The building is made in the form of Latin cross and the clock of the cathedral works since 1443. You’ll hardly find a magnificent place like this anywhere in Italy and even in the whole world.
Admission to the dome top deck and to the museum costs 11 euro. Admission to the cathedral is free.
Photo by: Mihai-Bogdan Lazar, Fotolia.com.
Golden Bridge, Florence
The oldest bridge in the city – Ponte Vecchio – has remained almost untouched since 1345. Now, as it used to be before, it is a covered crossing over the Arno River filled with shops and workshops, most of them are jewelry ones.
Photo by: etotam.com.
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Florence
The residence of the sadly known dynasty will be interesting for all architecture and history lovers. The first building is created in early Renaissance style. Here Biblioteca Riccardiana is situated now. Palazzo Medici Riccardi is one of the most visited places in Florence.
Admission: 7 euro.
Photo by: wikipedia.org, by Gryffindor.
Galleria dell'Accademia di Firenze, Florence
The Gallery keeps one of the brightest collections of painting including such world famous masterpieces as "David" by Michelangelo. It is one of the most visited galleries in Italy.
Adult ticket price: 6.50 euro.
Photo by: wikipedia.org, by Silmaril.
Milan Cathedral, Milan
Being the fifth world’s biggest church (and the second in Italy) it was initially dedicated to Christmas Blessed Virgin Mary and had been creating from 14 till 19 centuries. It is made of white marble in the style of Flamboyant Gothic. According to the legend the nail from the cross on which Jesus was crucified is situated in it. Milan Cathedral is one of the most visited places in Italy.
The entrance is free. But to use the camera you have to pay 2 euro.
Photo by: Henry Bonn, Fotolia.com.
Castello Sforzesco, Milan
Castello Sforzesco is the residence of Dukes of Milan of Sforza dynasty. It includes numerous museums and rich collections of musical instruments.
Museums admission: 5 euro full. Enter the territory of the complex for free.
Photo by: wikipedia.org, by Mauriziozanoni.
La Scala, Milan
La Scala is a destination for all the opera-lovers. It got its name after the church of Santa Maria della Scala, which was located on this place before the opera was built in 1776–1778. As soon as the theatre was built, the opera by Antonio Salieri "Europa Recognized" – was the first play, performed on its stage. It was written specially for the opening of the opera house.
Photo by: belcanto.ru.
Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa
Leaning Tower is considered to be one of the most famous towers in the world. It attracts people’s attention not only by its wonderful “lace” architecture, but mainly by its tilt which has reached the point of 5 meters from the vertical axis by now. They say this is the revenge of the building whose architect was not paid for his work. But this is only the legend. The truth is that according to the project the building had a very small foundation and the soft soils were also not taken into consideration.
Admission: 18 euro.
Photo by: gidland.com.
Juliet's House, Verona
The building of 13th century – today Juliet's House – owned by the dynasty of Dal Capello (a prototype of Shakespeare`s family Capulet) serves as a museum now dedicated to the play of the famous master. The “story” began when in 1972 the statue of the main heroine of Shakespeare’s play was erected in the yard of the house. Then a gossip was sped that by rubbing the right breast of the statue one can get luck in love. This “ruining” mess continued until 2014 when the monument, crushing from thousands of people’s touches, was taken to the museum and replaced by a copy.
Museum admission: 6 euro.
Photo by: wikipedia.org, by Lo Scaligero.
Villa d'Este, Tivoli
The Palace and garden complex of 16th century has inspired Peter I by its fantastic fountains for the creation of the similar ones in Peterhof. At the end of 2000 the park was named the most beautiful one in Europe.
Admission: 8 euro.
Photo by: wikipedia.org, Alessio Damato.
Hadrian's Villa, Tivoli
The villa of emperor Publius Elia Trajan Hadrian was built in the 2nd century AD but only ruins of it remained till present days. Actually you can see the rests of all most important parts of ancient Roman estate.
Admission: 8 euro.
Photo by: ru.wikipedia.org.
Waterfall Cascata delle Marmore, Terni
Cascata delle Marmore is an artificial waterfall with a total height up to 165 meters. It is located in a picturesque park and is considered to be one of the most beautiful place in Terni. The waterfall appeared on this place in 271 B.C. when Romans decided to make a channel to dry a marshy area which brought a lot of illnesses. In the 20th century a hydroelectric power station was built here. Since then the water is turned on and off according to the time-table and turns a small stream into an energetic fall. Fascinating view!
Entrance: 8 euro.
Photo by: wikipedia.org, by Fabio Tiberi.
Cinque Terre, La Spezia
Cinque Terre National Park is considered to be the cleanest area in Italy. The name is interpreted as “Five Lands”, as it consists of five small bright towns. The towns are surrounded by unforgettable sceneries: picturesque rocky paths, ancient castles, beautiful beaches and rich vineyards. It will take you tree days or more to explore all the beauties of the district.
Photo by: lifeglobe.net.
Trulli, Alberobello
These cylindrical structures with cone-shaped roofs, made with no cement by a drywall method are popular not only by their unusual look, but also for the fact they can be demolished in a moment only by taking out one single brick. This was done to escape from the real estate tax, provided by the kings of Naples in the second half of the 17th century. One move – and not a single house! Alberobello is the only town where the whole quarter of such buildings has survived.
Photo by: wikipedia.org, by Marcok.
Blue Grotto, Capri Island
You can enter this fairy azure kingdom only by sea. The entrance itself is quite narrow and only small boats for three can pass it. And even those four (including the boatman) have to lay down the boat not to injure their heads. The cave’s length is up to 56 meters, the width is 30 meters. Only imagine the queue in front of it!
Entrance: 12 euro.
Photo by: seventour.net.
Vesuvius, Naples
Vesuvius is probably the most well-known active volcano in the world. More than 80 times it had demolished the nearest settlements crashing down all the buildings on its way. Now the National Park is located here with 9 routes to rise up to the top of the mountain.
Entrance: 8 euro.
Photo by: lifeglobe.net.
Pompeii, Naples
Here comes the victim of the previous sight mentioned above. The city stopped its existence on August, 24 the year 79 A.D. Pompeii is an open-air museum now, where you can see lots of buildings of ancient Roman city, well preserved under the thick layer of the volcanic ash.
Admission: 11 euro.
Photo by: daigest.com.ua.
This is only cream from a holiday cake of best Italian sights. Hope you liked them! But don’t miss a chance to see even more and to make your own “top-list” while visiting this magnificent country.
