Must-Visit Attractions in Italy
![Make sure to stop in Florence on your tour across Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/20x11/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/florence-1289364_1920.webp)
Italy is the boot-shaped land of plenty. With some of the finest art and architecture in the world, well-preserved ruins of ancient civilisations, unspoiled natural landscapes and life-changing food culture, the bel paese has it all. Around 50m visitors a year make it the fifth-most visited country in the world – and here are its star attractions.
Keen to visit Italy but not sure where to go? Take your pick from Culture Trip’s specially curated 10-day Northern Italy trip or our action-packed 10-day Sicily adventure.
1. Colosseum
Archaeological site
Inaugurated by the emperor Titus in 80CE with a 100-day spectacle of gladiatorial combat, exotic animal hunting and public executions, the Colosseum is the iconic symbol of ancient Rome. This awe-inspiring monument is the largest amphitheatre ever built and attracts over six million visitors each year. You can visit as part of Culture Trip’s 10-day small-group Northern Italy tour, led by our local insider.
2. Leaning Tower of Pisa
Building, Church
![leaning-tower-pisa](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/leaning-tower-640302_1920.webp)
3. Trevi Fountain
Historical Landmark
![Italy, Rome, View of Fontana di trevi](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/gettyimages-543346431.webp)
Intricately carved from travertine stone, the Trevi Fountain is a masterpiece of Baroque art. It depicts the sea-god Oceanus and is supplied by the Acqua Vergine aqueduct, an evolution of the ancient Aqua Virgo that was constructed by Agrippa in 19BCE. Tradition says that tossing a coin into the fountain will ensure your return to the Eternal City.
4. Florence Cathedral
Cathedral, Church
![Florence Duomo](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/architecture-3068402_1920.webp)
5. Pantheon
Building, Church
6. Uffizi Gallery
Art Gallery
![Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/cn0nfa.webp)
7. Roman Forum
Archaeological site, Ruins, Historical Landmark
Filled with temples, marketplaces and public buildings, the Forum was the epicentre of ancient Rome. From the meeting of the Senate to vendors hawking their wares at the market, all aspects of political, social and commercial life took place here. Today, the site stands in ruins but it hasn’t lost any of its ability to fill visitors with awe.
8. Pompeii Archaeological Park
Archaeological site, Ruins
![A cobbled street in Pompeii](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/pompeii-2375135_1920.webp)
In 79CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted and covered Pompeii in a thick layer of volcanic ash and rubble. The city and its inhabitants were rediscovered in the 16th century in a remarkable state of preservation, giving archaeologists and historians precious details about what life was like in ancient Roman society. Today, visitors to the site can explore the very same streets, houses and even a brothel this city’s ill-fated inhabitants frequented millennia ago.
9. The Sistine Chapel
Church
![Ceiling of the Sistine chapel in the Vatican Museu, Vatican City](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/shutterstock_526891918.webp)
10. Piazza San Marco
Building
![](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/jtafe9.webp)
Known in English as St Mark’s Square, Piazza San Marco is Venice’s social, political and cultural hub. Aside for crowds of tourists, this gorgeous square also contains a number of the city’s top sights – the Basilica di San Marco and its instantly recognisable campanile, the Doge’s Palace, and the Museo Correr, which chronicles Venetian art, history and culture.
11. Lake Como
Natural Feature
![Lombardy, Lake Como. The colorful village of Varenna](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2cg2dpt.webp)
Declared the most beautiful lake in the world by the Huffington Post, Lake Como combines over 100 miles (161 kilometres) of winding shoreline with a spectacular mountain backdrop. Aristocrats have been holidaying here since Roman times and today’s rich and famous, with their elegant waterfront villas, continue the trend. It’s also a popular destination for sailing, kayaking and other outdoor activities. Enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Como as part of Culture Trip’s specially curated 10-day Northern Italy adventure.
12. Valley of the Temples
Archaeological site
![Valley of the Temples](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/italy-736357_1920-1.webp)
13. Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie
Church
14. Museo Archeologico Nazionale
Museum
15. Amalfi Coast
Natural Feature
![Amalfi Coast](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/positano-1615510_1920.webp)
The Amalfi Coast is, according to Unesco, an area of ‘great physical beauty and natural diversity’. This stunning stretch of coastline in the Gulf of Salerno, just south of Naples, features colourful towns nestled precariously into the mountainside, as well as terraced vineyards and citrus groves replete with outstanding local produce.