15 Things You Must Do When You Visit Italy
The boot-shaped country on the southern coast of Europe intrigues visitors each day with its wondrous scenery. Italy, the famous peninsula, includes islands like Sardinia and Sicily and marvelous cities like Venice and Rome. Within these locations, tourists and locals explore monuments like the Colosseum and St. Peter’s Basilica. Others might toss a few coins into the Trevi fountain, hoping to come back to the country or find true love.
The ancient city of Pompeii also belongs to Italy, with interesting archaeology students and history hounds. Add on the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican, and religious believers find a new favorite vacation spot. Italy provides numerous places for people with versatile backgrounds and interests to witness. We’ve gathered the top 15 to check out on your next trip to the peninsula.
1. Colosseum
Around 1,950 years ago, Ancient Romans constructed the circular dome that went on to become the largest standing amphitheater in the world. The building holds that reputation to this day, despite the earliest uses of the theater fading out centuries after opening. Today, the Colosseum entertains locals as a flashback into the past and a metaphor for discipline. In the early days of the Colosseum’s operations, gladiator battles, executions, and other gnarly battle scenes occurred within the outdoor facility. During the fifth century, the Colosseum faced damage from an earthquake, thus hindering its makeup but not its foundation.
2. Trevi Fountain
Toss one coin in and return to Italy. Toss two coins in and strike up a romance with an Italian. Toss three coins in and marry that person. This myth originated in the American movie Three Coins in the Fountain, though the lore never stops tourists from trying out the action. It is the largest fountain in Rome; its three statues are chiseled out of travertine stone and Carrara white marble.
Set against the blue sky backdrop, the Trevi fountain appears as a looming, symmetrical yellow building rising toward the sky. One God, Oceanus, and two deities, Abundance and Health, invite visitors to bask in the breathtaking views of the fountain. Upon original construction, the fountain acted as a waterway to the baths. Today, the fountain acts as a major tourist attraction, depicting Rome’s strength and resilience.
3. Peter’s Basilica
A dome-shaped structure resides in the religious destination, the holy Vatican City. Back in the 4th century, Emperor Constantine believed the best way to pay homage to the apostle Peter – and the first Pope – would be by building a basilica around his burial site. Throughout the years, the basilica underwent renovations and replacements to remain in visiting shape, and its significance shifted with each new generation. These days, St. Peter’s Basilica is the largestPope’s Basilica, as it serves as the catholic church’s center of operations.
Tours take guests on an excursion through the basilica comprised of travertine – a special limestone rock – on the exterior and extraordinary marble sculptures along the interior of the holy space. Notable pieces of artwork beyond the basilica doors include Michelangelo’s Pieta, a spectacular sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding her son, Jesus Christ, lifeless body, in her hands. Numerous St. Peter dedications pop up indoors, like St. Peter’s chair, his tomb, and the papal altar, which only the current pope has access to. Matched with stunning stained glass windows and yards of gold-plated decorations, St. Peter’s is an awe-inspiring destination to visit.
4. Gondola Tour
In Vegas, they offer knock-off gondola tours down the man-made water stream inside and outside of the Venetian hotel. Yet, nothing compares to an authentic gondola ride down the Grand Canal or other slimmer water channels with a gondolier steering the Venetian transportation method. Like many tourist attractions today, gondolas began as transportation methods. They allowed citizens to travel to otherwise inaccessible places in Italy via waterway. Now, gondola rides evoke a sense of tourism associated with Italy and Venice. Whether you embark on a romantic day trip through the water or try a solo ride, the gondolas are a must-do during a Venetian vacation.
5. Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is the official chapel inside the Vatican or the home grounds of the current Pope. While the building yields an immense religious sense of belonging, many people visit the attraction for its unparalleled art display. Inside the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo designed astounding artwork. He devoted four years of his life to painting the ceiling fresco style, water-based painting fashioned with clay to form plaster paint.
Michelangelo (and assistants) crafted works such as The Creation of Adam, The Deluge, and other depictions stemming from The Bible. The floors inside the holy space also leave guests admiring the craftsmanship it took to create such a religious and artistic mixture. Mosaic floor patterns create geometric patterns honoring the Renaissance style artwork.
6. Saint Mark’s Basilica
Gold mosaic ceilings decorate the domes of Saint Mark’s Basilica. Crane your neck toward the unique display of legends, lore, myths, and religious scenarios. On the opposite side of the dome (the floor), marble and limestone mosaics appear as eye-catching marvels tourists walk across. Outside the architectural marvel, peek toward the top for an alluring mosaic of The Last Judgment.
St. Mark’s Basilica, or The Church of Gold, fosters a reputation as an artistic endeavor that combines various art styles. This religious staple leans on Gothic, Renaissance, and Byzantine architecture to represent its importance in Venetian history. The basilica is St. Mark’s burial ground, as he became credited as the patron saint of Venice. Once St. Markpassed away in Alexandria, Egypt, followers moved his body to Venice for a ceremony and a meaningful resting place within the building.
7. Lake Como
Dancing beneath the Alps, many houses pepper the coast of a bright blue water source known as Lake Como. Three towns, Bellagio, Como, and Brunate, border the lake, allowing tourists to explore these diverse communities. Guests of Lake Como recognize the Italian water for its interesting Y shape. Spend an afternoon admiring the intense natural beauty of the lake formation, browse the temples, basilicas, and villas in the surrounding towns, visit a botanical garden around the lake, or venture on a watersports or boating tour.
8. Vatican Museums
The Vatican City, or the most sacred place in Christianity, houses important religious symbols from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter’s Basilica to the House of the Pope. Religious enthusiasts and history aficionados enjoy visiting the Vatican Museums for an in-depth look into religious artifacts and artwork reminiscent of Rome’s influence on the world. These Vatican Museums host 54 locations, each displaying magnificent relics from centuries ago. A particularly recognizable piece of art in the Vatican museums is Laocoön and His Sons, which also doubled as the first piece of displayed art. Laocoön and His Sons is a sculpted picture of the Trojan priest, Laocoön, and his two sons enraptured by serpents. This sculpture showcases the Greek win of the Trojan War that led to Rome’s foundation.
9. Boboli Gardens
The Florentine Boboli Gardens opened its gates in 1776 as a home for the Medici family. Said family, along with other designers and gardeners, expanded the space, inventing one of the world’s best and most celebrated Italian gardens. The design spurred inspiration for courts later on. Renaissance-style statues salt the perimeter of the green grounds, which surround enormous fountains. Symmetrical stone seatings line the amphitheater on either side, looking out at greenery and a concrete pathway split down the amphitheater’s middle. As far as plants, beautiful flowers populate the bushes and trees, producing citrusy fruits.
10. Capri
The Blue Grotto, or a part of Capri’s bucket list destinations, weaves visitors through a dark tunnel covered by rocky ceilings. Fluorescent blue water illuminates a pathway for the boaters, thanks to sunlight streaming through the water, transporting them to this otherworldly destination. Yachts breeze through the cobalt-blue waters, inhaling the fresh scents of the Tyrrhenian Sea winds. Capri gained fame due to its expensive designer shopping options matched with a bustling nightlife.
11. Dolomites
The Dolomite Mountain Range became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, standing out for their extreme range of climate and terrain. Nine various locations throughout the mountain range contain territories of glaciers, valleys, cliffs, limestone rock, snow-capped mountain peaks, and evidence of prehistoric marine life. Eighteen mountain peaks that rise over 10,000 feet make up this surprising World Heritage Site.
12. Cooking Class
When in Rome, right? Italy boasts several of the best foods in the world. From pasta dishes to pizza to gelato and tiramisu desserts, foodies have a blast on Italian vacations. Take one of those nights to try an authentic Italian cooking class. Your friends and family will thank your chef.
13. Pompeii
Flashback to the ruins of the Mount Vesuvius eruption occurring 2,000 years ago. The eruption covered citizens in pounds of volcanic ash, freezing them in time. Pompeii gained its name after explorers unearthed the forgotten city nearly 1800 years after the tragedy. Though the current bodies scattered throughout this ruin are not the real bodies of the victims but plaster casts of the real people, Pompeii continues to stun guests with the display of despair. Mount Vesuvius remains an active volcano, about five miles away from Pompeii.
14. Amalfi Coast
A famous 31-mile coastline hugs the side of the Sorrentine Peninsula in southern Italy. Peach, yellow, orange, and other light-colored houses sit atop cliffs, looking out over the turquoise coast. The beaches on the Amalfi Coast rival movie settings, which is why many movies use the Italian coast as a backdrop. White sand caves under your feet as clear water washes up on the shore. Soak in the beauty through a boat tour, a walking tour, or sunbathing on the beach.
15. Wine Tasting Tour
Popular vineyards in Italy lie throughout Veneto, Tuscany, and Piedmont. Vineyards cover miles of green-rolling grapevine plains where the finest grapes in the world grow. Wine tours come in various options, like private experiences, group experiences, and combos, where tourists try wine, cheese, chocolate, and other foods and drinks during the tours.
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