The 21 Most Breathtaking Destinations in Northern Italy
![](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/20x11/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/samuele-errico-piccarini-jebqfu2aooa-unsplash-min-e1709818147859.webp)
Northern Italy is as topographically diverse as it is beautiful: spectacular mountain vistas in the Dolomites and the Alps, vast crystalline lakes, undulating, vineyard-covered hills, dramatic coastlines, enchanting historical cities and architecture. Get inspired with this introductory list of some of the most stunning locations in the region.
Keen to visit Italy but not sure where to go? Check out our selection of specially curated small-group Italian adventures.
Langhe, Piedmont
Winery
![Vineyards and medieval buildings in Serralunga dAlba, Province of Cuneo, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/luis-van-den-bos-uk053mvsb-y-unsplash-min.webp)
In the wine-producing region of Langhe, rolling, vineyard-covered hills give way to views of the snow-covered Alps. Picturesque Piedmont villages form in clusters on small winding roads throughout the region, with striking contemporary architecture and sculptures found on many vineyard estates. A trip here is incomplete with a tour (and tasting, of course) at one of the region’s finest wineries.
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna
Architectural Landmark
![trips-bologna-petr-slovacek-SXk8BWKvoXE-unsplash](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/trips-bologna-petr-slovacek-sxk8bwkvoxe-unsplash.webp)
The Cinque Terre, Liguria
Architectural Landmark
![Colourful houses and crystalline waters in Riomaggiore, part of Italys Cinque Terre](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mike-l-gqe23-3-lf8-unsplash-min.webp)
This coastal region in Liguria comprises five fishing and wine-producing villages – Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore – perched dramatically on rocky cliff fronts. Steep terraces of brightly coloured houses teeter over inlets and lively harbours, while olive groves and vineyards traverse inland. Largely inaccessible by car, Cinque Terre is a walker’s haven, especially if you love spectacular clifftop vistas. Even if you’re not staying on the coast, you can book a tour of the region from Florence or a number of other Italian cities.
Turin, Piedmont
Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark
![An aerial view of Turins skyline with mountains lining the horizon.](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/fabio-fistarol-vja_psssohi-unsplash-e1610766865935.webp)
Baroque buildings and art nouveau cafes line the grand boulevards and squares of this refined and cosmopolitan city. Geometric stained glass windows, plasterwork with floral motifs and curvaceous ironwork decorate the elegant townhouses and dreamy villas on the Po River. The cityscape, set against the dramatic outline of the Alps, is often shrouded in mist. Be sure to book a tour of the Royal Palace, and get to know the city properly on a gourmet food tour.
Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso, Aosta Valley
Park
![Winding roads in Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/fabio-fistarol-jpgzd0enmpo-unsplash-min.webp)
With 724km (450mi) of marked trails and mule tracks, this national park in the Aosta Valley is a walker’s paradise in all seasons. During winter, hike the pristine snowy peaks and in the spring and summer months watch the biodiversity of the landscape blossom. You are also likely to see horned goats grazing peacefully on the alpine pastures, or spot rare birds overhead.
Basilica di San Vitale, Emilia-Romagna
Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark
![Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/sandra-dempsey-amceappbw0w-unsplash-min.webp)
The plain facade of this Byzantine-inspired church belies the splendour within – one of the most sublime examples of early-Christian mosaic art in Europe. The Basilica di San Vitale was built in Ravenna in the sixth century and across every surface, tales and allegories expressing the ideology and religious beliefs of Christianity in the Justinian period are relayed in exquisite coloured and gilded tiles. The conflation of eastern and western aesthetics is also distinct in the church’s unique architecture.
La Venaria Reale, Piedmont
Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark
![Palace gardens at Venaria Reale, Turin, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/daniela-holzer-rhrrfb9gtla-unsplash-min.webp)
This magnificent royal estate built in the 17th-century for Duke Carlo Emanuele II of Savoy is considered Turin’s Versaille. The famous Hall of Diana designed by Amedeo di Castellamonte is a fairytale Baroque masterpiece.
Camogli, Liguria
Architectural Landmark, Historical Landmark
![Summer in Camogli, Liguria, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/francesca-petringa-jnjxrn2suse-unsplash.webp)
Savour fresh seafood on the azure pebble beaches of this picturesque fishing village. The main beach is lined with buildings painted in sherbert hues, others are nestled in secluded coves surrounded by lush greenery. The ancient Abbazia San Fruttuoso creates a special backdrop for a small bay beneath a steep wooded hill; its cloisters lead directly onto the beach that is only accessible by foot.
Bagni di Bormio, Lombardy
Natural Feature
![Forest in Bormio, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/giorgia-finazzi-xv1b84q02f4-unsplash-min.webp)
Livigno, Lombardy
Architectural Landmark
![A mountain biker on the trail over the Livigno Lake in Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/graziano-de-maio-okegaycdswk-unsplash.webp)
It may be renowned as a ski resort, but Livigno is also within the prized Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio. Stunning panoramas of the Alps are peppered with traditional baita (chalets) whilst in February, the town comes alive with a famous snow polo tournament. Fear not if your shaky on the slopes, there are plenty of good ski lessons you can book here.
Lake Orta, Piedmont
Natural Feature
![Boats on the water in Lake Orta, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/fabio-fistarol-ervakqjvk-e-unsplash.webp)
Lake Orta is smaller and less frequented than its more glamorous counterparts; Como, Maggiore and Garda, which creates a distinct atmosphere. The single island at the centre of the lake is enchanting, as is its principal town Orta San Giulio. The calm and reclusive feeling that people find at Orta has been a pull for writers across the centuries – Friedrich Nietzsche, Samuel Butler, Lord Byron, Honoré de Balzac and Robert Browning all visited. From a hillside vantage point, take in the in its entirety and admire the seasonal changes in the surrounding topography.
Lake Como, Lombardy
Natural Feature
![A mansion perched on the shores of Lake Como, with mountains in the distance](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/lewis-j-goetz-zapibe5pbx0-unsplash-e1630684854450.webp)
Lake Como is celebrated for outstanding natural beauty, crystalline bays and Renaissance architecture. The area remains popular thanks to a location just an hour from Milan, yet Como is undeniably stunning. The ‘upside-down Y’ shaped lake is set against the foothills of the Alps and spectacular lakeside vistas surround you in every quaint village and town. Bike to a hillside summit and survey the area’s Mediterranean yet alpine majesty.
Lake Garda, Lombardy
Natural Feature
![Lake Garda in the north of Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/marco-ghirello-04wzzzbvshi-unsplash.webp)
Situated at the edge of the Dolomites, this is Italy’s largest lake and its beauty has been eulogised by many writers, including Catullus, Tennyson, DH Lawrence and Ezra Pound. At the northern part of the lake, the Gruppo del Baldos mountains create a dramatic backdrop and at the centre, you will find small islands home to grand villas. Garda’s many charming lakeside villages and towns drip with lush and fragrant Mediterranean plant life and fishing boats rest in their harbours. Fresh mountain water gently laps at the sand and pebble beaches that dot the lake’s perimeter.
Bergamo, Lombardy
Architectural Landmark
![Landscape shot of medieval buildings in the city of Bergamo, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/mattia-bericchia-cfvfdizntny-unsplash.webp)
Venice, Veneto
Natural Feature, Architectural Landmark
![A view of Venice](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/henrique-ferreira-rkslqosnutc-unsplash.webp)
Cortina d’Ampezzo, Veneto
Architectural Landmark
![Cortina d’Ampezzo, Belluno, Italy](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/daniel-sessler-mtwmucrtopu-unsplash-min.webp)
One of the most quaint ski resorts in the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo has slopes for beginner and advanced skiers and breathtaking mountain views. In winter, chocolate box chalets sit covered in heavy snow whilst in summer they are dressed with bright red geraniums.
Wine country, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Natural Feature
![](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/matthieu-joannon-294645-min.webp)
Friuli-Venezia Giulia has a unique geographical position, bordering Slovenia, Germany and the Adriatic Sea, all of which make it a much-celebrated wine region. The Collio is a series of picturesque hills nestled between two rivers and the Slovenian border. Mostly small-scale, family-run vineyards sprawl across the valley in every direction, so when the seasons change the entire landscape changes colour too – from intense and vivid green to burnt amber, the all-encompassing vineyard views are truly stunning.
Monte Lussari, Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Natural Feature
![On top of the mountain, an unparalleled view of the Julian Alps, nothing is like reaching the mystic Sanctuary of the Madonna of Lussari.](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/daniele-buso-qzuenl35zyw-unsplash.webp)
At the peak of Mount Lussari in the Julian Alps stands a shrine that has been a pilgrimage destination since the 16th-century. The story, which features in both Italian and Slavic folklore, states that in 1360 a shepherd lost his sheep before finding it in a bush of mugo pine alongside a statuette of the Madonna with Child. Climb up through the old world village and admire panoramic views of the Tarvisian basin.
Isarco Valley, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Natural Feature
![Isarco, Brennero, BZ, Italia](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/vincentiu-solomon-6dyabygdy0-unsplash-min.webp)
Italian and Germanic culture conflate is the fairytale landscape of the Isarco Valley. Steepled churches and traditional wood chalets are surrounded by apple orchards and pine forests which lead to stunning vistas of the rugged Dolomites. The valley’s rich cuisine reflects the culinary heritage of the Austro-Hungarian empire and the Veneto region.
Pragser Wildsee, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Natural Feature
![Romantic couple on a boat visiting an Alpine lake, Braies](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/1-trips_dolomites_lake-braies-1846363051-2.webp)
Be enchanted by one of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites. Located in the Pragser valley between Felsberg and Niederdorf branching off from the Puster Valley, the Pragser Wildsee is surrounded by dense pine forest and its perfectly calm water is an almost unreal turquoise.
Messner Mountain, Südtirol
Museum
![Messner Mountain Museum Corones, Plan de Corones, Marebbe, Italia](https://cdn-v2.theculturetrip.com/10x/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/marco-orlandi-9884wd1c3nq-unsplash.webp)
The summit of the plateau of Kronplatz is one of the most magnificent viewing platforms of Südtirol. The breathtaking panorama moves from the Lienz Dolomites in the east to the Ortler in the west, from the Marmolada in the south to the Zillertal Alps in the north. The Messner Mountain Museum designed by Zaha Hadid Architects is located here and the grey, modernist design built into the landscape is equally inspiring.