10 ESSENTIAL PLACES TO SEE IN ITALY

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This list of best places to see in Italy It will help you prepare one or several trips to one of the most impressive countries in the world that we believe, it is perfect to know it along a long trip or different getaways.

This country that dominated the world during the time of the Roman Empire has an endless list of tourist attractions such as archaeological sites that will leave you speechless, great works in painting and sculpture of the best masters in history, villages frozen in time, cities for Losing yourself in their old town also has endless unique experiences, which we are sure, will make this country steal your heart.
Another of the great reasons to make a trip to Italy is to try the wide variety of dishes made with high quality products that have made Italian cuisine one of the best in the world.

Based on the more than 15 times we have visited this country, one of our favorites, which has allowed us to write this guide to travel to Italy, we have made this selection of those we believe, are the 10 essential places to visit in Italy.We start!

1. Tuscany

Tuscany, located in the center of the country, is for us the most beautiful area and one of the most essential places to see in Italy. Starting with Siena, the capital of this region, you can visit medieval villages that retain all their charm, landscapes of gentle hills full of vineyards and sunflowers, cypress roads that lead to fantastic rural houses and above all, unsurpassed gastronomy.
We recommend that you rent a car and dedicate yourself to tour this region for a week, completing this list of the most beautiful places to see in Tuscany.
If you do not want to rent a car or have a few days, a good option to know the history of this area is to do some of these excursions from Florence with a guide in Spanish.
You can find more information in this post of tips to travel to Tuscany essential.

San Gimignano

2. Rome

Visiting Rome is a must for anyone who is passionate about traveling and one of the best things to do in Italy. In this Eternal City You can see some of the great architectural wonders of history such as the Colosseum or the Pantheon, which will take you to the best time of the Roman Empire.
In addition to the archaeological sites, Rome is a city to wander aimlessly through the narrow streets of the most charming neighborhoods such as Trastevere, be surprised to find places like the Trevi Fountain or Navona and reach the Vatican to stay speechless at Enter the Sistine Chapel.
One of the best tips for traveling to Rome is to complete this list of essential places to visit in Rome and this one of the best things to do in Rome.

A good way to prepare the routes around the city and not miss anything important is to follow these guides optimized for days:

Rome

3. Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre, formed by five picturesque villages (Vernazza, Corniglia, Monterosso al Mare, Riomaggiore and Manarola) nestled between cliffs and surrounded by olive trees, is another of the essential places to see in Italy.
To reach these villages of beautiful colored houses you will have to take a train from La Spezia or a boat, from where you will get the best views of all the villages except Corniglia, which has no exit to the sea, although you can see it hanging on the cliff .
Whenever you can, we recommend staying in one of the villages for about 3 or 4 days and making small day trips by boat, train or hiking, to know the rest.
You can complete the trip to Cinque Terre by visiting Portovenere and Lerici, a beautiful fishing village located in the Gulf of Poets.
A good way to not miss anything is to follow this list of places to see in Cinque Terre and this advice to travel to Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre, one of the places to visit in Italy

4. Venice

The situation of Venice in a group of islands in a lagoon of the same name, make it a unique city in the world and another of the essential places to visit in Italy.
In addition to the daily struggle to keep the city safe from rising water, Venice offers everyone who visits a dream walk through canals, narrow streets, stone bridges, palaces and Renaissance churches.
The only obligation when visiting this city, is to leave the saved map or GPS and get lost in its historic center, a World Heritage Site, and take a gondola or Vaporetto ride on the Grand Canal.
If you have time, we recommend you visit the nearby island of Burano, a small Venice, which will make you fall in love at first sight.

One of the best tips for traveling to Venice is to complete this list of places to visit in Venice and this one of the best things to do in Venice.

To prepare your itineraries you can use these optimized guides as you have one, two or three days.

Venice

5. Sicily, another place to see in Italy

The populated island of Sicily, located in the south of the country at a crossroads between Europe and North Africa, is another of the most beautiful regions to visit in Italy.
The great archeological wealth in the form of spectacular sites, towns that maintain the customs of past times and arid landscapes of volcanoes and mountains, make this great island an irresistible temptation for any travel lover.
The best way to travel Sicily is by rental car, starting with the capital Palermo and making a circular route of about 10 days.
During the tour do not miss cities like Taormina and Siracussa, visit ancient medieval villages such as Erice, climb the famous active volcano of Mount Etna, move several centuries ago in the archaeological complexes of the Valley of the Temples and Selinunte and end with the amazing landscapes of Scala dei Turchi.

Visiting Sicily, one of the best things to do in Italy

6. Florence

Florence, a city that looks like an open-air museum, is another of the essential places to see in Italy.
The great masters of the Renaissance like Michelangelo embellished this city with its palaces, bridges and sculptures until it became one of the most beautiful in the world.
Having two or three days in Florence will allow you to stroll through its historic center to discover beautiful squares such as the Duomo, della Signoria and Santa Croce, which all have the main jewels of the city in the form of churches and palaces.
In addition to these places, you can complete the visit to the city with a visit to the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery, where Michelangelo's David, the most famous sculpture in history, is located.
To say goodbye to the city in the best way you can cross the Ponte Vecchio and climb up to Piazzale Michelangelo, to enjoy the best views and the best sunset in the city.

One of the best tips for traveling to Florence is to complete this list of places to visit in Florence and this one of the best things to do in Florence.

Based on our experience of the three times we have visited the city, we have created these routes to make the most of your time:

Florence, one of the cities to see in Italy

7. Amalfi Coast

On the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the Gulf of Salerno, there is a stretch of coastline where some of the most beautiful villages to visit in Italy are located.
A 5-day trip through the winding and narrow roads by car, if it is low season, or by boat if it is summer, will allow you to enjoy hidden villages between cliffs, impossible coves and delicious cuisine.
In addition to spending time in the most charming villages such as Amalfi, Positano and Ravello, we recommend you take a boat to the exclusive island of Capri to put the cherry From the trip.

Positano

8. Milan and Lake Como

Milan, located in the beautiful region of Lombardy and in the shadow of cities like Rome or Florence, is another famous places to see in Italy.
In addition to its luxurious shops and exclusive premises, this city has a great historical-cultural heritage, in which the Duomo and the fresco of The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Another reason to travel to this city is its location close to other wonders of the country such as Lake Como or the Alps area.
Taking a trip to Lake Como to reach the villages on the shore such as Bellagio and Varenna and the luxurious villas of Balbianello and Carlota, is another essential thing to do in Italy.

One of the best tips for traveling to Milan is to complete this list of places to visit in Milan and this one of the best things to do in Milan.

A good way to plan a trip to this city is to follow these optimized guides:

Milan

Recommended travel cards
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.

9. Sardinia

Sardinia, is without a doubt, another of the places to see in Italy, which offers everyone who visits paradisiacal beaches of white sand and turquoise blue waters that have nothing to envy the best Caribbean.
In addition to spending a holiday of sun and beach, this island has towns and cities with medieval charm, archaeological sites of Romans and Phoenicians, magnificent natural landscapes and delicious cuisine, combining pasta with seafood.
The best way to get to know the second largest island in the Mediterranean is to rent a car and make a circular route of about 5 days from Alghero or if you have more time, finish in Cagliari.
During the tour of the island do not miss all these places to see in Sardinia, among which the Gulf of Orosei, the town of Castelsardo, the Emerald Coast and Magdalena Island stand out.
For more information about the island you can consult this post of tips to travel to Sardinia essential.

Cala Luna in the Orosei Gulf

10. Naples and Pompeii

The chaotic and charming Naples, always under the threat of Vesuvius volcano, will take you to traditional Italy while strolling the narrow streets surrounded by old buildings with balconies full of clothes hanging.
To get to know the city well, we recommend you complete this list of places to visit in Naples and do some of the best tours and excursions in Naples, which will allow you to better know the history of the city and the wonders that are within walking distance.
Between the places to see in Italy which are closer to Naples, they highlight the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum that have remained virtually intact, for remaining hidden for centuries under a blanket of Vesuvius ashes.
To go from Naples to Pompeii you can take a train the Stazione Circumvesuviana or a bus from Piazza Garibaldi that will leave you in half an hour at the entrance of the archaeological complex.
Another option if you are staying in the Italian capital is to follow this guide on how to go from Rome to Pompeii.
It is advisable to reserve the entrance to Pompeii in advance to skip the lines, which often exceed the hour.
A good way to not miss anything about this fantastic archaeological site is to complete this list of places to see in Pompeii.