Italy is a beautiful and welcoming country that we’ve visited several times. We’re often asked ‘where are the best places to see‘ on a visit. We haven’t seen all of Italy yet, but let’s cover some of our favorites.
Rome
If you’re traveling to Italy, Rome must be at the top of your list of must-visit locations. The city is the cultural capital and also home to the Vatican. While most of Italy has historical and cultural sites, in Rome you feel immersed in the centuries of history.
Our favorite tour company in Italy is The Rome Connection. We’ve used them for more than 10 years to explore Rome and recently, the Amalfi Coast. You want a company that can efficiently get you to the most important locations and help you maximize your time. They have our highest recommendations.
For hotels, our favorite in Rome is the Star Hotel Michelangelo. Located a leisurely walk from St. Peter’s Square, the hotel offers plenty of nearby restaurants and easy access to the Vatican and other local sites. They also have a great breakfast!
Vatican City
Located west of the center of Rome, and just across the Tiber River, it’s easy to spend an entire day at this site. Nestled within the bustling city of Rome, this tiny independent state is a treasure trove of history, art, and spirituality. Here you’ll find interesting things to explore ranging from St. Peter’s Basilica to the Vatican Museums and beyond.
When touring the Vatican, a local guide is highly recommended. The lines can be daunting, and there is so much you’ll miss without a talented local to assist you. If you’re traveling with The Rome Connection, they get the tickets in advance, allowing you to skip waiting in line. If this is your first visit to Rome, the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica should be on your ‘must see’ list.
Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum
The Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel are seen together on one tour. In the Sistine Chapel, you’ll be fascinated by the incredible frescoes, including Michelangelo’s famous “The Creation of Adam.” ‘Respectful silence’ is expected, as one of the Vatican guides politely reminded us. We spent limited time in the Sistine Chapel. Seating is limited to along the walls, and we found you can only spend so much time staring at the high ceilings.
Home to one of the world’s most extensive art collections, the Vatican Museums’ vastness can be overwhelming. Highlights included the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, and the Egyptian Museum.
Once you decide that you’ve finally finished in the museum, head to the Basilica.
Entering from the piazza side, you pass through the immense doors of St. Peter’s Basilica, one of the largest churches in the world. Beyond its size, it is home to Michelangelo’s Pietà and many other beautiful works of art.
Be sure to examine the paintings closely because many are intricate mosaics rather than paintings.
Early Rome
The city of Rome is like a gigantic outdoor museum of history. While there are many places to visit, our picks for visitors are the Colosseum, Roman Forman, Circus Maximus, and Pantheon. The Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Piazza Navona are also great spots.
The Colosseum is the largest ancient amphitheater ever built and is still the largest standing amphitheater in the world. The architecture and engineering capture my attention, while Julie is struck by the history and events that make it so significant. Regardless of how you view it, the Colosseum is an amazing place.
The Piazza del Campidoglio, designed by Michelangelo in 1536, is perched at the top of the Capitoline Hill. The Roman Forum lies on a line between it and the Colosseum.
The Forum is a vast collection of temples and buildings. In Roman times, it was the commercial, government, and cultural center for the City of Rome. You will get your best photos from behind the Piazza del Campidoglio, looking down into the Forum and towards the Colosseum. However, walking through the Forum gives you up close and personal views that you will certainly remember.
Pantheon
The Pantheon and Piazza Navona are two of my favorite sites in Rome. They’re located East of Vatican City, across the Tiber River. A Catholic Church since the 7th Century, the Pantheon was built as a Roman temple in the 2nd Century AD. It was built on the site of an earlier temple (27 BC) that had burnt down.
We arrived at the Pantheon before it opened yet there was already a long line. It’s an amazing building with beautiful marble and architecture. The ceiling has a round opening at the top of the dome that provides natural light. This is a photo-rich environment.
Piazza Navona
Not very far away is Piazza Navona, a beautiful piazza with several fountains and statues. The piazza has been featured in many films including Catch-22, Coins in the Fountain, American Assassin, and The Talented Mr. Ripley. If you’re fortunate to visit when there is a market, you’ll have the full experience of this beautiful piazza. Julie and I bought two paintings here in 2013 that decorated our walls for many years.
Pisa and Cinque Terre
Lucca and Pisa are located south of Cinque Terre. Lucca is a quiet town with classic shops, restaurants, and churches. However, Pisa and the famous Leaning Tower are why visitors flock here.
The iconic tower sits on the parklike grounds of the Cathedral of Pisa. There are plenty of views for photography, so again, have your phone or camera ready.
South of the tower is the pleasant town piazza where you can get something to eat, or simply rest and enjoy a glass of wine while you watch the world go by. That’s what we did.
When thinking of the Cinque Terre region, dark Mediterranean waters, and brightly colored villages come to mind. Take a ferry from La Spezia to Monterosso al Mare, enjoying a bright sunny morning on the water. Along the coast, we passed the villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, and Vernazza.
From La Spezia, the ferry only stops at a few towns, most of the others don’t have a port that can accommodate the ferry. We took a 9 AM ferry in late June, so the morning sun lit up the bright colors of the villages we passed.
The water in the Mediterranean is a dark blue. It provides a brilliant contrast with the colorful towns. You’ll want that camera ready to capture that great vacation photo.
Monterosso
Disembark the ferry in Monterosso, the northernmost town in Cinque Terre. Monterosso is split into two sections. The southern section, where you arrive is full of shops and restaurants. Take your time to wander up the winding streets and through the various shops. Choose one of the restaurants with a view of the harbor and Mediterranean for lunch.
The trip back to Lucca is by train. To get to the train, there’s a tunnel with sidewalks running north to the other half of the town. As you exit the tunnel there’s a colorful view of a long curving beach with a thin strip of buildings. Steep, rocky hills rise rapidly to the east, leaving just enough room for the train tracks that are the town’s connection to the outside world.
The trip back to Lucca takes about 20 minutes and passes through multiple tunnels along the coast.
Venice
Venice is a city surrounded by water. Over 100 islands make up the city dominated by canals and over 400 connecting bridges. The most popular attractions in Venice include St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, the Grand Canal, and the Piazza San Marco. We stayed at the Hotel Indigo Venice which is about a 30-minute walk to Piazza St Marco, or St Marks Square.
Be prepared for some waiting in lines. You want to see St Mark’s Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, so get tickets early, or better still, sign up for a tour that offers ‘skip the line’ tickets. We spent several hours meandering the streets of Venice and exploring shops and art galleries. The city is clean and while it was full of tourists, we never really felt the crush of the crowd.
More to see
These are some of our favorite spots to visit in Italy, but these are only the central and northeast parts of the country. We have plans to visit Sicily, and the Italian Alps someday as well. Soon I’ll post about our trip to Naples, The Amalfi Coast, and Capri. What a country!