Italy, this country full of beauty and glory for tourists is like a paradise on earth, in all its cities a combination of beauty, art, history, architecture, delicious food, luxurious cities, amazing gardens, high mountains, and wonderful natural landscapes. are witnessing According to the latest UNESCO statistics
More than half of the world’s cultural heritage is located in Italy. Rome, Florence, Venice, and many other cities of this wonderful country are attractive destinations for any visitor to Italy. Along with these big and famous cities, there are areas less known to tourists from other continents of the world, such as the Tuscany region and the villages of Chincotre with a thousand-year history, which, of course, are not on the main route of visits, but they are just as attractive as the famous Italian cities.
An average of sixty million foreign tourists visit Italy every year, making it the fifth most visited country in the world. Stay with us in this article to learn about some of the most important tourist attractions in Italy and some of the places of interest in cities such as Venice, Rome, Florence, Milan, and the Tuscany region of Italy.
Italian tourist attractions
Tourist attractions in Rome, Italy
1. Colosseum
Rome is famous for the wars and battles that took place in its amphitheaters two thousand years ago. The Colosseum was the famous gladiatorial arena of Rome and dates back to 80 AD. This place is also known as the “Flavian Amphitheater” and contains about 50,000 seats arranged in a circle around the square. In the old days, gladiators and wild animals or gladiator fights were held in this place. To inaugurate this place, Emperor Titus organized competitions that lasted 100 days and 100 nights, and about 5,000 animals were killed during this competition. Trajan, who was another Roman emperor, broke this record and in 117 days, 9,000 gladiators and 10,000 animals were killed in these competitions. About 2000 years have passed since that date and the Colosseum is still one of the most famous tourist attractions in Rome.
2. Vatican
The Vatican is the smallest independent state in the world, with an area of less than half a square kilometer, and most of it is enclosed by the Vatican walls. Within it are the Vatican Palace and Gardens, the Basilica, and St. Peter’s Square, and the area is governed by the Pope, the supreme head of the Roman Catholic Church. Between the museums and the great church of this compact space, you will see many tourists. Pieta, Michelangelo’s masterpiece, along with sculptures and altars designed by Bernini and… are placed inside the Basilica of St. Peter. The Sistine Chapel is an undeniably prominent and famous work of the Vatican Museums, and the motifs on its ceiling are considered to be Michelangelo’s most famous work. Inside the Vatican Palace, there are Raphael’s rooms, Borgia’s apartments, the Vatican Library, and a number of museums including the Photo Gallery, the Secular Art Museum, the Etruscan Museum, etc.
3. Pantheon
The Pantheon of Rome is one of the most impressive buildings in the Western world and among the well-preserved monuments of Rome. This magnificent 2,000-year-old church was once a temple and is said to have been built by Emperor Hadrian around 125 AD on top of a 27th-century BC temple by Marcus Agrippa.
The dome of the Pantheon is considered the greatest achievement of Roman architecture, but the 16 Corinthian columns outside it, each of which reaches 11.8 meters in height, are also noteworthy. The gray and holed exterior may reveal the church’s true age, but it still leaves visitors in awe to pass through the large bronze doors and gaze up at its unreinforced concrete dome.
4. Trevi Fountain
The Troy Fountain houses a collection of mythological sculptures and has the Palazzo Poli in its background. This building was built in the baroque style and after its renovation in 2015, it shines more than before. It is customary to throw a coin into the water to ensure that they will return to Rome. On average, something like 3,000 euros is thrown into the basin of this fountain every day!
The architecture of this building was done by Nicola Salvi in 1732, and his design shows the god of the oceans riding a shell-shaped chariot pulled by tritons with their sea horses. One of these seahorses is wild and the other is tame, which represents the moods of the sea. The Trevi Fountain gets very busy during the day and it might be better to visit it in the afternoon when it is beautifully lit up.
5. The Spanish Steps
These stairs are built in baroque style and are a great place to sit and enjoy the atmosphere and mood of the eternal city of Rome. These stairs are a total of 135 wide stairs that are made in a curved shape and in some places they are straight and in some places they have a terrace shape. The Spanish Steps also connect the lower part of Piazza di Spagna to the upper part of Piazza di Spagna. Its design was drawn by a relatively unknown Italian architect named “Francesco de Sanctis” and the cost of building the staircase was financed by the inheritance of the French diplomat named “Etienne Gouffier”. In fact, the Spanish Steps were built to connect the Spanish Embassy and the Trinita de Monte Church, which was under the patronage of the French King at that time.
6. Borghese Gallery
Basically, the sights of Rome are more connected with art than anywhere else. Art lovers are usually found in these places more than anywhere else. Scipione Borghese had agreed with the architect Flaminio Ponzio to build a villa and place some of his works of art in it. Valuable works of art have been kept in this place for many centuries. Of course, there are also works by Bernini, Caravaggio, Canova, and Lorenzo Lotto here. Design and fashion exhibitions are also found in this gallery.
Tourist attractions in Venice, Italy
7. The Grand Canal of Venice
The most beautiful part of the city of Venice is the Grand Canal. This canal is one of the best sights in Venice, which divides the city into two parts. Crossing this channel will be a memorable experience. The Grand Canal of Venice starts from the Santa Lucia railway station and ends on the opposite side in the St. Marks area. You can see more than 179 old buildings on the edge of the canal, some of which date back to the 13th century. Also, this famous canal has been the most important waterway of the city for about 400 years. But only four bridges pass over this canal because people and tourists travel more along the canal itself than over its bridges.
8. Saint Mark’s Cathedral (ST. MARK’S BASILICA)
St. Mark’s Cathedral is arguably the most famous church in Venice and one of the simplest churches in the world, located in St. Mark’s Square. The church dates back to the 9th century, although it has been renovated and decorated many times over the centuries.
What makes this church unique is its impressive architecture. The design of this building is in the style of Byzantine and Gothic architecture, and most of the walls and arches of the church are covered with medieval mosaics. If you take a look at the exterior of this Roman Catholic cathedral, you will see horse statues that were once stolen by Napoleon and later returned in 1815.
9. Piazza San Marco
San Marco Square is the most famous piazza (town square) in Venice and is a beautiful place with lots of pigeons. But sometimes flooding occurs in this field. Despite the crowd, the said square is considered a lovely and magnificent place.
10. Palazzo Ducale
The Doge’s Palace of Venice is probably the most important place in this city from an architectural point of view. The Doge’s Palace was the residence of the “Doges”, the rulers of Venice. The palace was built in the 14th and 15th centuries; Of course, in the following years, other elements were added to it. There are three structurally important areas in this palace. The oldest part is near the San Marco basin and opposite this square.
From around the 7th century AD, the Dukes ruled Venice. Although they operated under the Byzantine Empire, they were relatively independent. From the 10th to the 11th century AD, public offices, courts, residential apartments, prisons, and everything related to the rulers were moved to this palace. The old castle, which was considered a safe place, was surrounded by a number of buildings and a strong wall. It was in the 17th century that the prison was separated from the palace section.
11. Bridge of Sighs
The Bridge of Ephesus is a relatively small bridge that is located between the city prison and the Doge’s Palace (Dukes of Venice). This bridge was built over the Rio di Palazzo river and was designed by Antonio Contino. When the prisoners were taken from the side of the palace to the prison, they looked at the city for the last time on this bridge; Because the death sentence was considered for many of them. Therefore, it is called the bridge of regret. This 11-meter bridge is made of limestone and there are two small windows on both sides of it. Statues adorn this bridge, mostly with sad or angry faces.
Tourist attractions in Florence, Italy
12. CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA DEL FIORE
The famous church of Piazza del Duomo is located in the center of Florence and has a unique collection of historical works of classical art. This church is very famous in the world due to its unique round design. Piazza del Duomo church is considered the focal point of Florence and tourists can go to the roof by climbing its 463 steps and from there they can watch an extraordinary view of the city of Florence. This church is considered to be the main church of the city of Florence, which was built in 1296 with the architecture of Arnulfo DiCambio and in the Gothic style. Of course, it should be mentioned that its round dome was designed by Filippo Bernolski in 1436. It is interesting to know that the bell tower of this church was designed in 1234 by a painter named Juno DiBondone, which was completed after his death with a slight change. For the design of this tower, Bundone was inspired by the architecture of the Soltanieh dome in Iran. The interior of this church is very beautiful and amazing. The interior walls of the building are made using various marble stones that mix the colors in a captivating way.
13. Baptistery of San Giovanni
San Giovanni Baptistery is considered one of the oldest buildings in Florence, which is a meeting place for lovers of architecture and religious history. This baptistery, which is one of the most important religious places in Florence, is dedicated to a priest named John the Baptist.
San Giovanni Baptistery was built in the Middle Ages and its architectural style is based on the architecture of that era. Of course, the interior of the baptistery has a different architecture. The gilded decoration of the interior of this building, which also reflects the light, enchants every tourist.
14. Santa Croce Church
Church of Santa Croce (in Italian: Basilica di Santa Croce) which means the Church of the Holy Cross, is one of the spectacular buildings of the city of Florence, Italy. In this church, there are graves of greats such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Giacchino Rossini, and Guglielmo Marconi.
15. BARGELLO PALACE NATIONAL MUSEUM
The Bargello National Museum was built in 1255 and is one of the oldest buildings in Florence. In the early years of its construction, this museum was the command headquarters of the popular captain, and later in the 18th century, it became the residence of the police commander of that time, Barglu, and the name of this building is derived from this. This building was also used as a prison during the following years. In the Bargello Museum, there are many beautiful works created by different artists such as Michelangelo, Bandlinelli, Donatello, Antonio Rossellino, etc.
16. Palace of Vecchio (PALAZZO VECCHIO)
The “Old Palace” or “Palazzo Vecchio” was built in the 13th century and was the seat of the government. This building, along with the statue of David and the church of Santa Maria del Fiore, is the symbol of Florence. The Vecchio palace is built on the ruins of another palace that belonged to the Ghibelline Uberti family; The same family that was expelled from the city in 1266 due to their political stance and Dante also mentioned them in his book “Divine Comedy”. In fact, the historical conflict between the Guelphs (massists) and the Ghibellines (aristocrats) is one of the most important events in the history of Florence, and their war can be seen in the architecture of some parts of this palace.
17. Boboli Gardens
The Boboli Gardens, known as the “green lung of Florence”, is one of the largest open-air parks in Florence, which includes a beautiful cultural site in Florence called the Pitti Palace. This park hosts centuries-old oak trees, statues, fountains, and beautiful nature and benefits from the warm Florentine sun in the summer, the beautiful colors of the changing leaves in the fall, and the smell of blooming flowers in the spring. The sanctuary offers a relaxing retreat for locals and tourists alike. The Boboli Gardens are an interesting example of “green architecture” decorated with sculptures and a prototype that inspired many European royal gardens, especially the Palace of Versailles
The period of creation and development of this beautiful garden was four hundred years, from the 15th to the 19th century! The main fields and gardens behind Santa Felicita in Olterno were built by the Borgola family and bought by Luca Pitti in 1418. In 1549, the property was purchased by Cosimo I’s wife, Eleonora di Toledo, and greatly expanded to become an aristocratic residence.
Tourist attractions in Pisa, Italy
18. Tower of Pisa
The Tower of Pisa is the bell tower of the Pisa Church, which is located behind the Pisa Cathedral in the Tuscany region, and after the church building and the baptistery, it is considered the third oldest structure in the Pisa Cathedral Square and is one of the top tourist attractions of Pisa. Shortly after its construction was completed in 1173, the Leaning Tower of Pisa began to tilt to the southeast due to its weak foundation. The height of this tower is 55.86 meters and it has 296 steps. It is said that Galileo released two cannonballs of different weights from the top of this tower to show the people the different speed of their fall.
19. Campo Santo
The Holy Land or Campo Santo is a large porch that has a rectangular shape. Most people know this area as the old cemetery. In this porch, windows are designed that have savior arches, and its architectural style is Gothic. This area It is one of the sights of Pisa that attracts the attention of many enthusiasts. This tomb is a place to bury the nobles of the city. This place was built in 1278 and its construction lasted for centuries. The walls of this building are decorated with beautiful paintings. This wall was also built in the 14th century. Unfortunately, this building was destroyed by fire in 1994 and was rebuilt.
20. MUSEO DELL’OPERA DEL DUOMO
The Opera del Duomo Museum is one of the best museums in the city of Pisa, which houses a significant collection of works of art and crafts. In this museum, you will see a collection of masterpieces of silversmiths, rich embroideries, tombs, sculptures and paintings. You can also find some artifacts from Pisa’s naval history and a wide range of religious finds in this museum dating back to Roman times. In addition, you can see a great view of the Leaning Tower from the large windows of the second floor.
21. CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA
The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta is one of the best sights of Pisa and its most beautiful structures that we recommend to everyone. This amazing church dates back to the 11th century. As you can see in the pictures below, the front facade of this cathedral is decorated with a set of beautiful stone and marble arches.
The interior of the church is also very magnificent in its own way and is considered a great masterpiece among religious structures. The roof of this church is covered with gold decorations and its dome has a stunning mural depicting the Ascension of the Virgin Mary.
Tourist attractions in Milan, Italy
22. Milan Cathedral
Milan Cathedral is one of the largest Gothic churches in the world and dates back to the time of the Roman Empire and the 14th century. A trip to Milan is not possible without visiting this church. Inside this church, there is a real cross that some residents believe belonged to Jesus. Also known as the Duomo di Milano, this church is the fifth-largest cathedral in the world. This church is one of the most important sights of Milan, the construction of which started in 1386 and ended in 1418. During this time, various architectural styles were used. Finally, in 1965, by making minor changes to the structure of this church, it has become more spectacular and unique than before.
23. Teatro alla Scala
This large hall is considered one of the most prestigious and beautiful opera performance centers in the world. La Scala, the Milan opera house, has hosted great singers and musicians in the last 260 years. The capacity of this hall is 2,800 people, which is very famous throughout Italy. The season of performances in this hall usually starts from the beginning of December and continues until May. It is difficult to find a ticket to see the world-famous musicians perform in this opera hall. But if you manage to do this, don’t lose your chance.
24. Navigli Lombardi channels
The canals of the city of Milan were built in the 12th century to facilitate irrigation. In the 1300s, these canals were expanded and used to transport goods. Today, tourists can take a 55-minute trip to the waters of this canal. There are many boat tours on this channel. Many cafes, restaurants, and art galleries decorate the area around this canal.
25. Church of San Bernadino (San Bernadino alle Ossa)
The church of San Bernadino is a church that has faded under the shadow of the Milan Cathedral. The presence of this church in the center of the city and as one of the places of interest in Milan is a strange event among the daily commotion of the people. If you are a fan of horror stories and movies, the interior of San Bernadino Church will bring thousands of horror stories to life in your mind. At first glance, the walls of the church, which are covered with human skulls, attract your attention. While you’re debating with yourself whether these skulls are real or man-made, you’ll find clues that convince you that what you’re seeing is a horrifying reality.
26. Pinacoteca di Brera
The Pinacoteca di Brera gallery is located in a beautiful and large palace on Brera Street and attracts many tourists from all over the world every year. The building of this magnificent palace, which was built in the 14th and 15th centuries, is impressive and unique in itself. After Napoleon brought most of the world’s famous paintings to this city in the 18th century, Pinacoteca di Brera became one of the most complete collections of paintings in the world. changed. This museum is a valuable treasure of the works of famous painters such as Da Vinci’s Smile, famous works of Italian artists from the 15th to the 18th century, and other Italian artists such as Raphael, Tintoretto, Veronese, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, van Dyck, Goya.
27. Santa Maria Delle Grazie brick church
A brick church was built in 1465 in Corso Magenta in the early Renaissance Gothic style. This church and its huge dome were built by one of the prominent Renaissance architects named Bramante, and in this church, you can see magnificent works such as the painting of the Last Supper and a painting by Leonardo da Vinci. A very beautiful church that attracts every viewer and the important thing about this church is that only 25 visitors should enter the church each time and for this, they must make a reservation in advance. Considering that this famous church is located in the heart of Milan and was built in 1490 and was finally included in the UNESCO world list in 1980.
Tourist attractions in Chincotre, Italy
Chincotre or Cincotre means five lands in the Italian language. This beautiful and dreamy area includes five villages and small towns and is located in the northwest of Italy on the coast of the Ligurian Sea. This area was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. Hundreds of years ago, due to the fact that these five villages were located on one side between the mountains and on the other side by the river, they were hardly connected with the outside world and were only connected to each other, and this is the reason why these five beautiful villages were named.
Monte Rosso al Mare, Vernazza, Cornelia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore are the names of these five villages. Brightly colored building facades, a rocky seashore, winding paths, and Italian eateries serving guests with the freshest seafood are some of Cinco Terre’s attractions. Among the other sights that are located in this area, we can mention the buildings around it with their spectacular views. Buildings that have bright colors and are built with different colors. Rocky beaches can also be considered another pure perspective in this area.
28. Monterosso al Mare
Monte Rosso al Mare is a small village in the northwest with the best beaches to be found in the Cinco Terre villages. Monte Rosso has the best beaches, liquor stores, craft shops, hotels, and restaurants in Cinque Terre villages. This place is divided into two parts, the new city, and the old city, which are connected by a tunnel, and pedestrians actually pass through it.
29. Vernazza
The village of Vernazza, also known as the village of Vernazza and the village of Vernazza, is one of the five villages located in the Cinco Terre region, located in the northwest of Italy, and is known as one of the most beautiful villages in the country. The history of this village dates back to 1000 AD and without any car traffic, it is considered a fishing village in the true sense. Vernazza is Cinco Terre’s only natural harbor and is famous for its well-designed and colorful houses. In this village, many pizzerias, cafes, and restaurants are ready to welcome tourists.
30. Corniglia
Cornelia is smaller and quieter than the other villages of the Chinkotre complex, but it is as beautiful and attractive as them. This village is located on top of a rock as if it could fall into the ocean. There are vineyards around it that make you see a beautiful view of the Mediterranean. To reach the upper part of the village, you have to climb 382 steps and you can take a bus to go up. Narrow streets and cozy buildings are special features of this village. Apart from its colorful houses, the main historical artifacts of this city are some Genoese fortifications built in the 16th century.
31. Manarola
Manarola may be the oldest town in Cinco Terre with the foundation stone of the church of San Lorenzo dating from 1338. The local dialect of Manarola is somewhat different from the dialects of the neighboring regions. Manarola’s main industries are traditionally fishing and winemaking. The local wine is famous as Sayachtra. References to ancient Roman writings mention the high quality of wine produced in the region.
Tourist attractions in the area include the famous walk between Manarola and Riomaggiore (Via del Amore, meaning “path of love”) and hiking trails in the hills and vineyards above the town. In this city, most of the houses are bright and colorful.
32. Riomaggiore
The peace and beauty of this village is indescribable and many of them can only be seen and felt in pictures. The rocks by the sea and watching the fishermen who are sitting on these rocks and fishing in peace also add to the beauty of this city.
Some believe that the waters around this village are the bluest waters. The beauty of this village becomes even more at night. Of course, in addition to all these beauties, sometimes the weather in this area can be extremely turbulent. In 2011, these five villages faced heavy and heavy rain, although some other cities by the sea faced flooding due to this heavy rain. but Riomaggiore suffered less damage and coped better with this storm. However, some damage caused by this storm is still being rebuilt.