Italy is close to my heart, with everything it represents. Buildings, streets, history, food, landscapes, people. If you long to discover breathtaking landscapes, unique tourist attractions, places rich in history, charming terraces, winding streets, and a warm atmosphere, then yes, Italy is exactly what you’re looking for.
And because I’ve traveled through Italy from top to bottom, I’ve put together a list of the most special places I’ve visited over the years. It feels like I can never get enough of this wonderful country, and no matter how much I want to change destinations, every year I eagerly wish to return, to see something new, to discover places that look as beautiful as in the photos online. From grand cities to small fishing villages, from imposing buildings to small houses carved into the rock, from towering mountains to idyllic coastal landscapes, Italy offers its visitors unique experiences that can’t be compared to anything else.
- Rome
There are so many tourist attractions in Rome, so many enchanting places with hidden treasures at every corner… Rome is a story, an open-air museum, a one-of-a-kind place in the world. Yes, I wholeheartedly recommend visiting it because no matter how many places you visit, nothing compares to it. The multitude of art masterpieces concentrated in one city will delight you to the fullest. Whether you’re a lover of history, old buildings, architecture, shopping, or good food, whether you enjoy narrow streets or more cosmopolitan areas, whether you’re looking for romantic spots or lively, animated places… Rome is what you’re searching for, because yes, all roads lead to Rome.
- Vatican
The Vatican, the smallest independent state in the world, both in terms of size and population, is located in Rome. It has an area of half a square kilometer and a population of 1,000 inhabitants. The state is governed by the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, who holds executive, legislative, and judicial authority.
Here, you’ll find St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums, home to some of the most famous paintings and sculptures in the world.
I’ve visited the Vatican twice, and the feelings of joy and desire for discovery have been just as intense every time. I was impressed by the vast wealth of art here, by works created by famous artists throughout history, by the amazing collections in the Vatican Museums, the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica, Michelangelo’s famous “Pietà,” and his renowned ceiling fresco in the Sistine Chapel.
- Catania
Catania is dirty… yes, it is, but above all that, in Catania, you’ll find streets like nowhere else, impressive buildings in rococo style, charming terraces, squares where you can lose yourself for hours, good food, beaches, and beach bars where you can spend unforgettable moments. Catania is gray… most of the buildings are made from volcanic rock… Catania is crowded, and the people are loud… but Etna is a mountain of tranquility.
- Taormina
Taormina is exactly how I imagined it to be… neither more nor less. I don’t think I’ve read about any other place as thoroughly. Small cobblestone streets, boutiques with ceramics that create such a beautiful image and without which Taormina wouldn’t be the same, plenty of people on the streets, great food, countless shops, and of course, breathtaking views over the sea.
Taormina is in total contrast with the rest of Sicily. It is an extremely clean tourist resort, with luxurious villas, exclusive shops, and charming terraces. It is the pearl of Sicily, the destination you must visit if you come to the area, and I believe that if I hadn’t visited Taormina and Etna, my trip here wouldn’t have had the same flavor.
- Mount Etna
Mount Etna dominates the city of Catania in Sicily. It seems calm, it seems far away. However, it’s much closer than you think, very close to the villages and towns inhabited by people. It looks peaceful, but when you approach, you can see it puffing nervously through the clouds.
I walked on it, I ran, I took pictures, I looked for active cones, craters… I teased it a little… I hope it didn’t get upset. The feeling I had there is incomparable, it’s unique. I stepped on the largest active volcano in Europe! Etna is 3,340 meters tall, with around 400 craters, and erupts mildly about once every three months and devastatingly once every 150 years.
- Portofino
The small town at the foot of the Ligurian Apennines, once a fishing village, has been, from ancient times and still is, an exclusive destination that attracts international celebrities every year like Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Steven Spielberg, Salma Hayek, Sylvester Stallone, and many more.
The colorful houses, with their distinctive architecture typical of the area, seem perfectly stacked and arranged in a semi-circle, lining the small harbor and the elegant “Piazzetta”. Behind them, on the hill covered with Mediterranean vegetation, stands proudly Castle Brown, and scattered across the landscape are luxurious houses and hotels with lush gardens and dreamy panoramas.
The colorful boats anchored in the harbor floating on the emerald sea, as well as the luxurious yachts, complete the scenery, bringing it almost to perfection.
- Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast ranks in the top 3 of the most beautiful places I’ve visited so far.
Salerno, Positano, Sorrento, Ravello, Minori, Maiori, and Amalfi are the 7 fairytale cities of the Amalfi Coast.
The Amalfi Coast is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is among the 500 destinations you must visit in a lifetime, recommended by National Geographic. Located in the south-west of Italy, it stretches for approximately 50 km along the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Everything here feels like it came straight out of a fairytale, and I believe that no imagination, no matter how rich, could create and reproduce the idyllic scene I had the honor of discovering. I’ve never seen a road more spectacular than the one that connects the 7 cities of the Amalfi Coast, known by Italians as “Nastro Azzuro” – the “Blue Ribbon”. The road winds, and the precipice is threatening… on one side there’s the mountain, and right next to it, the sea, with a dizzying landscape. From the sea below, you get a panoramic view of the cities, their luxurious houses and hotels adorned with colorful flowers visible from afar, and the bustling ports.
- Cinque Terre
Located in the Liguria region of Italy, the Cinque Terre National Park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is undoubtedly a unique destination, with some of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen.
The 12 km coast that stretches along the sea, caves, beaches, and trails you’d want to get lost on at least once in your life, breathtaking landscapes, where the mountain and the sea blend together, with the amazing houses suspended above, bursting with vibrant colors. The five fairytale villages are so similar yet so distinct, each with its own peculiarities that give them a unique charm.
This is Cinque Terre – five fairytale lands connected by “Sentiero Azzuro” or the “Blue Path,” a 12 km trail along the coast linking the five villages, perfect for hiking enthusiasts but also for those with more time to explore these areas.
- Capri Island
For me, the island of “de’l solo far niente” reached somehow the pinnacle of beauty on Earth. Created by the hand of the divine and shaped by the hand of man, Capri Island, stunning from all angles, ignited my desire to travel and made me wish even more to succeed in life and visit the whole world. Here, I proved to myself once again that what truly matters in life are the experiences you live and the places you visit, because they can change your life. And yes, Capri Island beautified at least one day of my life and will remain in my mind for a long time to come. Capri is the place I would meet again at least once in my life.
Up in the Augustus Garden, with its breathtaking view of the sea, with the famous Faraglioni amidst the vast blue, I stopped in front of absolute beauty and thanked God for giving me the chance to experience this land, to walk on these shores, for my soul having the honor to take part in the natural spectacle on the stage of the Tyrrhenian Sea, for my eyes having the opportunity to gaze in awe and love at the actors in their magnificent artistic act.
- Venice
Mysterious Venice does not easily let herself be seduced; it takes time to truly get to know her in all her glory.
Some say it is the most beautiful city in the world, and I do not dare to contradict them, precisely because it is a place like no other. Divided into six districts called “sestieri,” it encompasses 118 islands, 175 canals, and 354 bridges. The most important Venetian monuments—such as Basilica di San Marco, Palazzo Ducale (the Doge’s Palace), Rialto Bridge, Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, and Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari—are breathtakingly beautiful. The Grand Canal, the main canal of Venice, starts from Piazzale Roma (near the train station) and reaches St. Mark’s Square, curving into an “S” shape over its 4 km, a true splendor…
- Lake Como
Lake Como is located in Lombardy, in the north of Italy, at an altitude of 199 m, in a depression surrounded by mountains. The train ride from Milan to Como takes about an hour. From Como, we took the funicular up to Brunate. Once in Brunate, the impressive landscape left us speechless. We admired the view from a terrace perched on the edge of the cliff, overlooking Lake Como and, in the distance, the majestic Alps. Luckily, the clear sky allowed us to see them… we were dreaming at that moment! They were sublime! They appeared in the distance, grandiose, surrounding the marvelous lake.
The relatively difficult 1.43 km walk to the Voltiano Lighthouse was more than worth it. The view from above was like nothing I had seen before in my travels in Milan. We were among the clouds… and it was absolutely beautiful!
- Bari
Bari is somewhat similar to other cities visited in Italy, but at the same time unique in the way the people are, the absolutely delicious food, and the complex landscapes and places you can discover. Here, it feels like time has stood still for a few years. The few tourists who visit the area at this time blend in with the local residents, on narrow streets that shelter families during the day, with chairs and tables brought out from homes and placed on the streets. It’s a way of life, that’s clear.
- Polignano a Mare
The streets are truly spectacular—narrow and winding, lined with buildings in shades of brick and white, with old churches, houses beautifully adorned with flowers or other decorative plants in typical Italian style, and terraces… some of the most attractive in the region. The small Fiat 500 cars, old or new, blend perfectly with the color palette provided by the stone that surrounds you from all sides. The enchanting moments spent on these streets are eventually crowned with views of the Adriatic Sea, which crashes powerfully against the cliffs on which the houses with balconies facing this natural spectacle stand.
- Monopoli
Monopoli, the little town with a playful name, shines in pure white complemented by multicolored flowers, cozy terraces, and blue boats, with turquoise sea and red Fiats. Monopoli is a place where serenity reigns on the streets and in the squares, where the paradise corners you discover in the maze of narrow streets invite you to spend hours in daydreaming. The promenade draws you to pause for a few minutes and gaze into the horizon, while the harbor area begs to be photographed whenever you are near the perfectly lined up little boats, with the sea and sky merging into one seamless horizon, both painted in similar hues.
- Alberobello
Little dwarfs with pointy hats are squeezed together, waiting motionless for visitors. These, astonished by the beauty of the place, quietly step along the narrow alleys, marveling at its uniqueness, and are instantly transported into a fairytale atmosphere. This is how the unique Trulli houses in Alberobello appear. I felt like I was in a fairytale with dwarfs, and I, Snow White. Alberobello was the place that impressed me from the photos I discovered online, and it was the main reason I chose to visit the Puglia region. More beautiful than in the pictures, its uniqueness is undeniable. White is the keyword here. Corners and alleys adorned with multicolored flowers paint a perfect picture in front of which you never want to leave.
- Matera
I stepped into Matera and entered another world, a place I had never been able to discover before, a location where words are too poor to express the emotions I felt there. When I descended into “Sassi di Matera,” I was fascinated by how this place looked, and as I explored the streets, barely populated during this period, wonder took over with every step. The place is absolutely fabulous, unique, I could say it is one of the most beautiful lands I have discovered so far. The underground buildings are spectacular, constructed one into another, crowded, and from a distance, they give the impression that they are stacked upon one another. The color that envelops the place, the beige tones resembling the stones in which they were built, gives you the feeling that you’ve arrived in an otherworldly realm.
- Capua
In Capua, I had a special feeling ever since I saw the sign to these places from the highway, on our way to Amalfi. The city of Santa Maria Capua Vetere, small and quiet, hides a treasure. We arrived, and from an abandoned parking lot, I caught a glimpse of the ruins of the place that would send chills down my spine.
The Capua Amphitheater is the second largest after the Colosseum in Rome and was built several years after the latter. It was constructed during the reign of Emperor Augustus I and later restored by Hadrian. The ancient amphitheater, which the current one is built on, is especially famous for being the arena where the renowned gladiator Spartacus fought.
- San Marino
It is one of the smallest independent states in Europe and the world, with a total area of 60 square kilometers and a population of 30,000 inhabitants. It was only when I began writing this article that I realized San Marino is not a city in Italy but an independent state. I visited San Marino while touring Italy (Venice-Rome-Rimini-San Marino-Bologna), which is probably why I rushed to include it here… or perhaps because it is located in the Apennine Mountains, completely surrounded by Italy, and its official language is Italian. San Marino is not in the EU, but its currency is the Euro.
San Marino is the world’s oldest republic, established in 301 AD. In 2008, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The old center is located at the summit of the mountain, with narrow streets leading you to the top, lined with shops selling perfumes, jewelry, accessories, and much more, all with TAX-Free prices. Shopping is a guaranteed experience here; we made quite a stash of perfumes at incredibly good prices. I also saw many outlets with products from well-known brands.
What to visit: Piazza della Liberta (photo below), Palazzo Pubblico, the 2 towers on Monte Titano (La Rocca – the oldest tower), State Museum.
- Milano
Milan is undoubtedly a city that deserves to be visited at least once in a lifetime. Three days are enough to explore the sights, the shopping areas, cafes, and restaurants—and to stroll through the streets. However, next time, I would allocate at least two additional days to the surrounding area near Lake Como.
I visited Milan during New Year’s Eve, spending the night in the streets of the city center. We reached the end of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, passed through a thorough security check by the police, and glimpsed through the sea of people hustling to reach Piazza del Duomo. There were displays of the renowned fashion houses, stunning Christmas decorations, the Swarovski tree, and later, in the square, the Pandora tree and Christmas markets.
- Pompei
The emotionally charged land of Pompeii was brought to light beginning in 1748, when the bodies, objects, streets, and houses were discovered. The impressive Mount Vesuvius erupted in the year 79, covering the entire city with ash, on the very day when the inhabitants were celebrating the god of fire, Vulcanalia.
The contorted bodies frozen in daily activities will remain forever etched in my mind and soul.
Love,
A.C.
