Italy is home to some of the world’s most celebrated art and architecture, stunning fountains and piazzas encircled by pizza restaurants and gelato shops, endearingly animated locals who talk with their hands alongside monks and nuns, and zero Starbucks stores – here it’s cappuccino for breakfast and espresso any other time.
With so much to see and do in one boot-shaped country, choosing the right Italy tour packages can be a little difficult – so we’ve compiled a list of the best of the best to help you live ‘la dolce vita’.
The masterworks of Florence
Europe’s open-air museum, where every cobblestoned turn features a monument, is dedicated to the Renaissance minds of the 15th century. Under the Tuscan sun, the likes of Michelangelo and Da Vinci mused over artistic creations that would be talked about for centuries, while enjoying a bottle of Chianti Classico and a blood-drenched Florentine steak.
Michelangelo’s David
The figurehead for art and culture in Europe, Michelangelo’s perfect anatomy of Goliath’s arch nemesis, David, attracts droves of art lovers and curious tourists to stop and gaze. This symbol of the Renaissance represents means rebirth of humanist art after the Dark Ages.
The watery streets of Venice
The maritime powerhouse of the Middle Ages never fails to disappoint. St. Mark’s winged lions roam the palazzos and opera houses in a floating city flooded with glorious art of the Doge’s Republic. With no cars or traffic (except of the human variety), take a gondola ride through the narrow canals humming to the accordion chords of That’s Amore! You’ll never want to leave.
Ancient history meets modern life in Rome
The eternal city is Italy’s capital. Join the locals in a passeggiata stroll in piazzas and alleyways, where ancient Roman ruins stand peacefully next to the chaos of traffic and modern-day politics, over 900 churches are outnumbered by shops and restaurants, and a floodlit fountain gushes next to a crowded gelato store. Rome is hectically magnificent, exasperatingly beautiful, and unforgettable.
Bloody history at the Colosseum
The Colosseum was once used for gladiatorial combat and feeding Christians to the lions, with over 50,000 bloodthirsty spectators housed in the largest Flavian amphitheatre in the world. Earthquake worn and stone pillaged since the fall of the Empire, the stadium is still standing 2,000 years on, redefining the landmark as an engineering wonder of the ancient world.
Caesar’s tomb at the Roman Forum
Serving as the marketplace of the great Roman Emperors and the site of Julius Caesar’s tomb, the Roman Forum cannot be missed. The ruins of ancient temples and triumphant processional routes at the foot of Capitoline Hill form Roman history’s greatest open-air exhibit, showcasing the headquarters of the Eternal Empire that once ruled 20% of the world’s population.
The Pantheon
Rome’s best-preserved ancient church is dominated by an open-top concrete dome and towering Corinthian columns rebuilt under Emperor Hadrian in 125 AD. The view of the rotunda is outstanding day or night, and essential on any visit to the city.
Magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica
Be awe-struck at the world’s largest church, built over the burial site of St. Peter, who holds the keys to heaven. Topped with the magnificent dome by Michelangelo, it is Christendom’s grandest pilgrimage venue, with the Pope residing nearby and enormous altars and naves that must be seen to be believed. St. Peter’s is not the only wonder within the walls of Vatican City – don’t forget the Sistine Chapel!
Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain
The Baroque masterpiece has been drawing visitors for decades. Toss a coin over your shoulder and ensure a return trip to Rome – but don’t jump in or the opposite might happen as you’ll be arrested!
Strut your stuff in Milan
Peer at Italy’s fashion through some Prada sunglasses, and the first city in focus will inevitably be Milano. Home of the original Last Supper painting and the centre for commerce, with Europe’s first shopping arcades tempting those seeking catwalk fame and the Teatro alla Scala echoing with the lungs of an operatic Tenor.
Take a hike in Cinque Terre
A rugged coastal hiking route passes through the five idyllic villages that comprise Cinque Terre, sitting within a national park. Each stop can be a moment to gorge in a ristorante, and between them work off the carbohydrate-filled pasta and pizza with a scenic hiking trail or beachside stroll. Leave room for a few scoops of gelato of course.
The serene Italian Lakes
Maggiore, Como and Garda – these calm freshwater lakes with mountainous backdrops, fringed by upscale resorts and elegant duke’s villas, are a beautiful reminder that Italy really does have everything a holiday can ask for.
Pose for a pic at the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Stopover and pose at the tilted campanile in the Piazza dei Miracoli (Field of Miracles), where the neighbouring cathedral and Baptistery represent equally remarkable feats of marble construction. Alas, ignore the tacky souvenir markets that have besieged the surrounds.
The Ruins of Pompeii
A town frozen in time by the cataclysmic Mt. Vesuvius eruption of 79 AD, Pompeii was an ancient Roman community buried for nearly two millennia until excavations in the 18th century. Walk the streets with a local guide and learn from antiquities brought back to life.
Feel the love in Verona
Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers of fair Verona, Romeo and Juliet, boast a balcony in their name. You’ll also fall in love with the Roman amphitheatre, which is still being used, and the cobbled alleyways into history-laced piazzas.
Seaside fun in Sorrento and Capri
Head south past the lemon trees to the seaside port of Sorrento and take a short cruise to the glitzy island of Capri, with its deep Blue Grotto and spectacular blue sea views from the funicular, sipping a glass of locally-produced limoncello.
The Amalfi Coast and Positano
Drive the rather hairy mountain road past seafront villages to reach Positano, where spectacular Greco-Roman inspired views await, along with beaches and markets that draw many local holidaymakers.
Tuscany and beautiful Siena
Surrounded by the wine grape-covered hills of Tuscany is Italy’s prettiest medieval town, Siena. At its heart lies the Piazza del Campo, declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, and home of the bi-annual Il Palio horse race – quite popular as seen below.
St. Francis’s home, Assisi
The hillside hometown of St. Francis holds religious significance and Italian charm, and the Basilica sports divine Giotto frescoes. Well worth a visit.
Pizza in Naples
Pizza’s spiritual home can be found in Naples, and while you will find this globally celebrated cuisine all over the country, there is nothing like trying it in the gritty streets from whence it came.
Courtney Gahan is a serial expat, traveller and freelance writer who has bartered with Moroccan marketeers, seen the sun rise at Angkor Wat and elbowed her way through crowds on NYE in NYC
