Italy’s incredible cuisine, art, and sites captivate visitors, so how do you select which region or city to visit? Check out the proposal Italy.com to learn more
Escape Tuscany’s crowds by traveling a few hours south into Umbria. Medieval hilltop towns brim with charm, while vine-clad hills cover this region of Italy. Viterbo also boasts its incredible Parco dei Mostri di Bomarzo, which was largely neglected until recently.
Venice
Venice is an idyllic dreamscape of intricately carved palazzos, glittering churches, and world-class museums perched atop waterways crisscrossed with quiet canals. As one of Italy’s most renowned cities, it attracts millions of tourists who come here each year to take in its sights and experience its distinctive atmosphere—yet there are ways to avoid crowds and make the most of your visit!
Begin your trip during the off-peak season—not from June to August, when temperatures can be scorching and humid—which allows for lower prices and fewer crowds in Venice. Instead, plan your visit from September to November, when temperatures are mild but fewer people visit; additionally, you will get to experience “acqua alta,” when the lagoon fills up with water.
If you must visit during peak season, get up early and head straight for St Mark’s Square before most day tourists arrive to beat the crowds and avoid long lines at major landmarks such as the Campanile Bell Tower, Basilica, and Doge’s Palace. Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront promenade provides excellent views of the Bridge of Sighs, which connects old prisons; its name derives from when prisoners would make sighing sounds as they were led off into cells.
Take a Vaporetto tour to experience Venice beyond its main attractions. These tours visit off-the-beaten-path artisan shops, hidden alleyways, and tranquil neighborhoods—not forgetting nearby Murano and Burano islands, too!
If you want to gain more insight into Venice’s rich history, taking a guided tour with priority access to major sights like Doge’s Palace and St. Mark’s Basilica is well worth your while. A guide can teach much more than a travel guidebook alone while saving both time and frustration trying to navigate Venice on your own. You will also benefit from having someone tell stories behind each sight! Start planning your tour now.
Florence
Florence, Italy’s birthplace of Renaissance art and culture, is a popular cultural destination with numerous top attractions. Its historic center has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features beautiful churches, an ornate cathedral, and world-class museums like the Uffizi Gallery. You can explore Florence on foot or use the Autolinee Toscane bus and tram system – although note that much of Florence has been pedestrianized or designated a limited traffic zone, making a car rather inconvenient here!
While exploring Florence, make time for a stop at Cappelle Medicee or Medici Chapel—one of its most stunning and often overlooked attractions. At sunset, it becomes even more picturesque! The view from the top of the hill where this burial chapel stands can be breathtaking; the admission fee is free as well.
Florence’s Accademia Gallery is another must-see. Home to some of Italy’s most celebrated artwork by Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci, among many others – you can experience much of it without needing a tour. However, if you plan on taking one, be sure to book one in advance!
As well as visiting the main sights, make sure to allow time for enjoying a cup of coffee or gelato at one of Rome’s many cafes or coffeehouses. When hunger strikes, look for less touristy locations where you can indulge in authentic Italian food—Rome boasts everything from fine-dining restaurants to casual cafes!
Pompeii may not be at the top of the minds of history enthusiasts, but it remains an indispensable and must-see attraction. Once an ancient Roman city, Pompeii was covered by volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in A.D.79 and remains remarkably well preserved despite being covered with layers of volcanic debris. Visitors to this former Roman city gain an incredible glimpse into what life was like in Ancient Rome through its remains.
Milan
Italy is home to some of the greatest art, architecture, and food experiences available anywhere on Earth, making for an experience like few other places can. Boasting stunning lakes, dramatic coastlines, towering mountains and rolling hills that span across an immense country like this one makes choosing just a few destinations challenging.
Milan offers urban adventure with its bustling offices, fast taxis, and trade fairs, yet its green side must not be forgotten! Milan’s historic center features charming narrow streets that lead to some of Italy’s top museums, like Duomo di Milano and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, while newer areas boast breathtaking skyscrapers.
Just northwest of Milan city center lies Brera, an unexpectedly vibrant district filled with locals and visitors enjoying bars, restaurants, and museums such as Pinacoteca di Brera. From here, it’s also easy to get to other popular destinations nearby, such as Castello Sforzesco and Park Sempione.
One of the must-see experiences in Milan is visiting 10 Corso Como, an exquisite mall where fashion and lifestyle intersect. Established by Carla Sozzani in 1976, this store provides products in areas including clothing, food, design, and music, all within an elegant atmosphere.
October brings cooler temperatures but still warm, sunny days perfect for exploring Northern Italy’s postcard-perfect landscapes. Glide along Tuscan vineyards under blue skies, conquer winding roads hugging coastal cliffs along Cinque Terre, or trek the forested trails surrounding Lake Como as chestnut and oak trees begin their change-of-season transformations.
Fall is a fantastic time to visit Italy if you want an authentic Italian experience or to discover its famous sights. Crowds will be thinner at popular sites like Rome’s Colosseum, Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, and Pompeii, making for more leisurely travel compared to the summer rush.
Lake Como
Lake Como is one of Italy’s top destinations, known for its serene atmosphere that doesn’t reveal itself quickly to outsiders. This lakeside retreat boasts luxurious lakeside villas, lush emerald gardens, historic churches, and picturesque waterfront villages – it even serves as a home for George Clooney’s compound, with guests often taking Instagrammable shots of themselves at Villa Oleandra!
Como offers an abundance of shopping and dining opportunities, as well as its mesmerizing 14th-century Duomo and Piazza San Fedele. Meanwhile, smaller towns such as Bellagio and Menaggio boast charming streets with stunning views, charming historic churches, and unique offerings like local markets and outdoor cafes.
Lake Como’s premier destination, Lenno, is home to Villa Balbianello—one of the world’s greatest homes—which can be visited for guided tours and walks between mid-March and mid-November. Furthermore, Lenno’s terraced gardens come alive during autumn when they are covered with golden hues.
Milan offers easy flights from UK cities, and from there, it is only an hour’s drive or a quick train journey to Como. Once there, Lake Como provides ample opportunities for exploration by boat or water taxi – the perfect way to travel between its picturesque villages.
For those hoping to experience some of Italy’s lesser-known treasures, a four—to five-day journey is ideal. This will allow time for visiting more charming hamlets and villages, participating in full boat days, and enjoying delicious meals at top restaurants.
Lake Como is an ideal place for tourism from spring through fall when its weather is mild and sunny with warm temperatures and clear skies. Springtime is also when Bellagio’s world-famous rose garden blooms its annual show of blooming beauty – providing romantic getaway opportunities with lakeside hotels and villas at their most luxurious. When traveling with children or when looking for romance on Lake Como, bring along a reusable water bottle, as there are free drinking fountains all around to fill up. Alternatively, most restaurants provide complimentary water as part of their service!
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