Italy constantly ranks among the top 3 most visited European countries – surpassed only by France and Spain.

Boasting the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world and chockful of beautiful places to visit, Italy is one of those countries that should be on your bucket list.

Whether you head to the Amalfi Coast, visit Tuscany, or prefer the warmth of Puglia, there are a lot of charming places in Italy that will delight all your senses – including your sight.

Get those cameras ready and start planning your next trip to some of Italy’s gorgeous places. To make sure we include a lot of gems to discover, we’ve asked fellow travel bloggers to share their favorites.

Andiamo!

• Siena, Tuscany
• Portoferraio, Livorno
• Rome, Lazio
• Locorotondo, Metropolitan City of Bari, Puglia
• Milan, Lombardy
• Soriano nel Cimino, Lazio
• Carloforte, South Sardinia
• Ravello, Amalfi Coast
• Burano, Venice
• Padova (Padua), Veneto
• Montesanto di Lussari, Udine (Friuli Venezia Giulia)
• Bologna, Emilia-Romagna
• Venice, Veneto
• Vernazza, Cinque Terre, La Spezia
• Trento, Trentino–Alto Adige
• Island of Capri, Campania
• Matera, Basilicata
• Torcello Island, Veneto
• Genoa, Liguria

Beautiful Places in Italy: Siena, Tuscany

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Siena is a real jewel in Tuscany and, for sure, one of the most beautiful cities in Italy.

Just about 1 hour away from Florence, you can easily reach Siena by car, bus, or train from the region’s capital.

A whole series of magnificent attractions await you on your trip. First and foremost, the impressive Piazza del Campo, one of the most famous and beautiful historical squares in the city in Italy. In the same piazza, you will also find the Palazzo Pubblico, the town hall, and the imposing Torre del Mangia, the 102-meter-high tower that rises high above the roofs of the old town.

Another highlight in Siena is the Siena Cathedral, also called Duomo Santa Maria della Scala, which is one of the most important sacral buildings in the region. A visit to the cathedral complex with its many museums is a must on any trip!

Martina & Jürgen from PlacesofJuma

Beautiful Places in Italy: Portoferraio, Livorno

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The coastal village of Portoferraio is the capital city of the island Elba, lying right in front of the coast of Tuscany. When arriving you’ll be amazed by the beauty of the island and the view over the bay of Portoferraio.

Translated, the name Portoferraio means Iron Harbour, because trading iron used to be the main economic activity decades ago. Right now, the island is mainly famous as the place where Napoleon Bonaparte spent some of his time after he was exiled from France. Therefore, one of the main attractions in Portoferraio is to visit its magnificent villa and peek into the life of the previous emperor.

Portoferraio can easily be reached by ferry from Piombino, which is probably the fastest route. In addition, the island Elba is served by an airport getting flights from all over the island. From the airport, it’s only a 20-minute drive to Portoferraio.

Emma from Emma’s Roadmap

Beautiful Places in Italy: Rome, Lazio

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Rome is, without a doubt, one of the prettiest cities in Italy and the perfect weekend getaway if you crave some culture and great food.

Rome became a legendary city due to its rich history. The entire historic center of the city is one of the most beautiful UNESCO world heritage sites in the world.

While you could check out the main sites during a short weekend getaway, do make sure to visit the city at least for four days, so you can tick off more of the city’s highlights, like the Fontana di Trevi, the Pantheon, Piazzi Di Spagna, Ponte Sant’Angelo, Piazza Navona, The Colosseum, and Palatine Hill… and include the city-state of Vatican, with the famous Vatican Museum, into your itinerary.

Food is an important part of Italian life. You can eat delicious dishes on every corner of the streets. Make sure to eat, in authentic family restaurants, instead of the restaurants where waiters recommend their menu at the door (and where the menu is in English).

Planning on visiting museums? You could book your tickets online in advance, so you can avoid long waiting queues at the door, but this depends on when you want to travel (during winter there’s no need to do so).

Stéphanie from Bey Of Travel

>>Read more: Free things To Do in Rome

Beautiful Places in Italy: Locorotondo, Metropolitan City of Bari, Puglia

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Locorotondo is one of the most scenic small towns of Valle d’Itria, in Puglia.

Close to Alberobello – the world-famous Trulli town, Locorotondo is home to a myriad of trulli itself, including the oldest registered trullo in the region (Trullo Marziolla).

The village is entirely built from white stone, featuring a maze of narrow alleys with the whitest buildings, build on a circular plan.

And that’s exactly where the name, Locorotondo, comes from: the Latin Locus Rotondus (rounded place).
The city is, thus build around the main church, Chiesa Madre di San Giorgio, close to which you’ll find the Romanesque church of the Madonna della Greca and San Rocco Church.

One of the highlights of a trip to Locorotondo includes a stroll along the Lungomare. The name is a bit misleading – mare in Italian means “sea” but this is no waterfront! Instead, the views you’ll get are of the gorgeous countryside, with scattered trulli, olive groves, and vineyards growing the grapes for the Bianco Locorotondo DOC, a great white slightly sparkling wine.

Claudia from My Adventures Across The World

Beautiful Places in Italy: Milan, Lombardy

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Fly into Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) and you’ll discover Milan, a vibrant metropolis in Northern Italy that is known for its fast-pace, stunning architecture, and exquisite sense of fashion.

Filled with picturesque streets that sit along ethereal canals, the highlight of any day spent in Milan is a visit to the city’s stunning Duomo. It towers quietly over Milan’s central square with its Neo-Gothic style that is enhanced by beautiful pink Candoglia marble – a structure so intricate that it took nearly 600 years to complete.

Afterward, walk right around the corner and see the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II shopping arcade. It is an elegant, four-story structure that is known both for its overwhelming beauty and for its status as Italy’s oldest active shopping area. So, take some to admire the awe-inspiring glass and iron dome here – that houses stores like Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton – before stopping by the Savoy coat of arms mosaic at the heart of the complex. It sits under the central dome and is where, legend has it, visitors will enjoy good luck if they place their right foot on the bull here and then turn around in a circle, with their eyes closed.

Finally, after you’ve received all the good luck possible, enjoy a brief visit (like fifteen minutes brief to keep the mural protected) to Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper. It’s a stunning masterpiece that sits along the walls of the unassuming Basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie and truly embodies the almost otherworldly beauty that is Milan. Just do yourself a favor and book tickets at least two months in advance since this is easily Milan’s most popular attraction.

Kelly from Girlwiththepassport

Beautiful Places in Italy: Soriano nel Cimino, Lazio

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Soriano nel Cimino is one of the prettiest villages of the Rupi (small hilltop settlements) of Lazio, located in the region of Tuscia – literally a crossroad between Tuscany, Lazio, and Umbria. Just 1.5 hours’ drive from Rome, Soriano is perfect to visit on a day trip from Rome.

Not far from Soriano, a chestnut forest – the Faggeta – provides a great respite from the summer heat. A UNESCO site, it’s a lovely place for a walk in the woods and, once you are done exploring, you can stop by the local restaurant to try lombrichetti, a pasta dish typical of the region.

Soriano itself is home to the Orsini Castle, built in the 13th century upon the wishes of Pope Orsini, who used it as his summer residence. Not far from there, you can visit the Palazzo Chigi-Albani, a beautiful renaissance-style building, and the Cathedral of St. Nicholas. Finally, a bit outside the center of Soriano you will find St. George’s Temple, another interesting place to visit.

Claudio from Strictly Rome

Beautiful Places in Italy: Carloforte, South Sardinia

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Carloforte is one of the nicest villages in Sardinia. The only settlement on San Pietro island, Carloforte was founded at the end of the 18th century by a Tabarkine community – merchants of Genoese origins that had been living in the island of Tabarka, off the coast of Tunisia. They brought many traditions with them, including that of keeping the village incredibly colorful; and their language, which is more similar to Genoese than it is to Sardinian!

Carloforte is a lovely place to visit in the spring and summer months, when you can not only enjoy the lovely town – perfect for photos – but also the many gorgeous beaches on the small island – the best is La Caletta -, as well as the various viewpoints perfect for a sunset walk.

Carloforte is easily reached from mainland Sardinia. You will have to drive to Portoscuso, about one hour from Cagliari, and board a ferry from there – the crossing takes around 30 minutes depending on the sea conditions.

Claudia from Strictly Sardinia.

Beautiful Places in Italy: Ravello, Amalfi Coast

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Ravello is the most romantic village along the Amalfi Coast.

Of course, the Amalfi Coastline is known for its romance and incredible viewpoints, but there is something even more beautiful about Ravello that makes it one of the best destinations in Italy.

Compared to the villages of Positano or Amalfi, Ravello sits much higher up and away from the beaches. It is easily accessible by bus from Amalfi or Atrani and it can easily be visited during a day. However, it would be much more magical to stay a night of two.

What really makes the sleepy village so incredible are the splendid gardens that call this place home. The ground of Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone are some of the best in the world and offer nothing but sheer amazement.

They both offer something very different. Villa Rufolo is inspired by Arabic design and full of neatly designed rose beds and stunning architecture. Villa Cimbrone is quite different, influenced by English heritage, complete with a perfect tea garden and the famous terrace of Infinity. The terrace itself is worth a trip to Ravello. It provides the best views of the Amalfi Coastline and is open for sunset.

Katie from YouMeUnderThePalmTree.

Beautiful Places in Italy: Burano, Venice

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Burano is a small island located in the lagoon surrounding Venice, Italy. The bright-colored homes and buildings are what make Burano extremely cute and very well-known.

No matter where you walk in this beautiful town you will find something beautiful – even seeing the locals hang their washing on the lines going from one side of the building to the other is very picturesque.
When you are in Burano be on the lookout for the lace shops and pick up something to bring back home as Burano is famous for lace and their pieces are beautiful.

If you are flying into Venice (Marco Polo Airport – VCE) you can take the bus into the main part of the city and then walk to St Mark’s Square. The boat leaves from the port near St Mark’s Square and takes around 45 minutes, the boat also stops at Murano. The trip to Burano costs 6.50€ per person. Water taxis are another option, but these are much more expensive at 130€ each way.

Fiona from Travelling Thirties

Beautiful Places in Italy: Padova (Padua), Veneto

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Padua is a beautiful city in Northern Italy in the Veneto region. The closest airport is Venice’s Marco Polo Airport (VCE). You can reach the city by train – get off at Padua Railway Station – and buses are frequent too.

It is known for its rich history, beautiful architecture, and lively atmosphere. It is home to the second oldest university in Italy.

Padua is a compact city, and it is very easy to discover the main attraction on foot, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy walking!

One of the prettiest places in Padua is Prato Della Valle, one of the largest squares in Europe, surrounded by two rings of 78 statues. Other pretty attractions are the Scrovegni Chapel, the frescoes in Palazzo Della Ragione, the Piazza Dei Signori’s marvelous astronomical clock tower, and the beautiful Piovego River.

Padua is a charming city, an art lover’s dream, and leaves its guests with an authentic Italian experience.

Rachel from Average Lives

Beautiful Places in Italy: Montesanto di Lussari, Udine (Friuli Venezia Giulia)

The Sanctuary of Mount Lussari (Montesanto di Lussari) is one of the most beautiful Italian villages. It is located in Friuli Venezia Giulia on the border with Slovenia and Austria, more precisely in Tarviso.

It stands on the top of the mountain; the small village is 1790 meters high and consists of a few houses of stone that rise around the sanctuary.

In addition to its position, its fame is due to the 360 degrees panorama of the surrounding mountains, including the Mangart group and the Jof of Montasio.

Moreover, for lovers of outdoor activities, it is a true paradise. In winter you can ski on the mountain’s ski slopes; while in summer several trails of various difficulty are open for trekking lovers.

Mount Lussari can be reached by way of a two-hour walk through the Pilgrim’s path or by the comfortable cable car that reaches the top in 15 minutes. The nearest airports are Trieste (Trieste – Friuli Venezia Giulia Airport – TRS), Ljubljana (Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport – LJU), and Klagenfurt.

Miriam from Miry Giramondo

Beautiful Places in Italy: Bologna, Emilia-Romagna

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Bologna, nicknamed “la dotta, la grassa e la rossa” (“the erudite, the fat, and the red”), is one of the most beautiful and underrated cities in Italy.

Nonetheless, it is home to the oldest university in Europe and the culinary capital of Italy. Nobody should leave Bologna before tasting tagliatelle or lasagna and a sip of Lambrusco.

Furthermore, the old town is full of red-roofed medieval buildings, impressive churches and has two leaning towers, one of which can also be climbed for wonderful views.

The weather is mostly good but in case of rain, do not worry. One of the features of Bologna is that its streets are lined with arcades, protecting passers-by from both sun and rain.

Bologna is located in Emilia-Romagna, in the northern part of Italy, and is served by an airport (Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport – BLQ), making it easy for tourists to visit.
Raluca from Travel With A Spin

Beautiful Places in Italy: Venice, Veneto

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You can’t think of Italy’s beauty and not have Venice immediately come to mind. The city of romance, canals, and gondola rides has it all.

Nestled on the Northeast coastline of the Adriatic Sea, Venice is an archipelago, but the historic city center is where all the magic happens. The car-free floating city features baroque landmarks like Piazzo San Marco, Doge’s Palace, and Saint Mark’s Basilica.

Every Venice itinerary should include getting lost amongst the colorful and intricate winding alleyways and a ride in a gondola along the Grand Canal. Around every corner, Venice offers views to fancy the senses and should be on everyone’s travel bucket list.
You can reach Venice on land via train to Santa Lucia station or via plane to Marco Polo international airport.

Haley from HaleyBlackall

Beautiful Places in Italy: Vernazza, Cinque Terre, La Spezia

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One of the prettiest villages in Italy is, without a doubt, Vernazza!

Vernazza is one of the 5 villages that together form the area of Cinque Terre. What makes the village special is the colorful houses you find here. They are very small and feature a multitude of colors. Together, these make the village look amazing!

Also, there are great viewpoints in Vernazza. From these viewpoints, you can see the houses and the sea next to the village, which looks incredible! They are just gorgeous, making them part of the most Instagrammable places in Cinque Terre!

Furthermore, there are wonderful hiking trails that start in Vernazza. For example, there is a hiking trail that goes from Vernazza to Monterosso al Mare, another village of Cinque Terre. Along the way, there are beautiful views.
The village has its own train station that connects it to the other villages of Cinque Terre and the rest of Italy. If you prefer to fly, the closest airports to Vernazza are the airports in Genoa (Christopher Columbus Airport- GOA) and Pisa (Galileo Galilei Airport- PSA).

Dymphe from Dymabroad

Beautiful Places in Italy: Trento, Trentino–Alto Adige

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Trento is a beautiful Italian city located in the Northeast of the country, in the Trentino Alto Adige region. The town is compact but extremely beautiful.

The old town is dotted with beautiful palaces that have gorgeous paintings on them. The main square is dominated by the Trento Cathedral and surrounded by historical buildings. Another great place to visit in Trento is the Palacio del Buonconsiglio, where you can see gorgeous frescos.

If you are a foodie, there are plenty of restaurants in Trento where you can try the local cuisine, which is a combination of Italian, Austrian, and German influences. Some of the best dishes include dumplings, spaetzle noodles, and apple strudel.

Some of the best views of the town are from the hill in front, which can be easily reached by cable car. Trento is also the gateway to the Dolomites Mountain range.

Joanna from The World in My Pocket

Beautiful Places in Italy: Island of Capri, Campania

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The secluded island of Capri, off the coast of Naples and Sorrento, is one of Italy’s most luxurious destinations, but don’t let its reputation as an A-lister hangout dissuade you from visiting. It’s one of the country’s most enchanting places.

Getting to the island is part of the fun since it is only accessible by boat or ferry which arrives daily from Naples and the Amalfi Coast several times a day. Most tourists come just for the day, although it’s worth so much more.
The main town on the island sits high up at the top of the rocky cliffs, making for stunning blue views of the Mediterranean from just about anywhere.

There are lots to see and do on Capri from high-end shopping to excellent dining. The more adventurous usually get out on the water to visit the famed Blue Grotto by boat or swim in the sea.

From the water to the charming maze of cobblestone alleys, there’s no doubt Capri is one of Italy’s most beautiful small towns.

Lori from Travlinmad

Beautiful Places in Italy: Matera, Basilicata

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You’ll find one of the prettiest cities in Italy down by the heel. Matera, Europe’s Capital of Culture for 2019, is a unique city caught between two eras. Caves previously inhabited by our Paleolithic ancestors can be seen on the hills around the city. But it’s most renowned for the Sassi di Matera. This site is a network of thousands of years old houses that have been carved and cut into the hillside’s rocks.

Although most Matera residents now live outside of the old town, in newer sections of the city, the Sassi still has residences and some companies occupy retail space. Explore the Sassi’s winding walkways to find locally owned businesses, delicious eateries, and even some of the most stunning cave apartments for rent for your trip.

Lyndsay from The Purposely Lost

Beautiful Places in Italy: Torcello Island, Veneto

Torcello is a beautiful island in the Venice Lagoon. A path leads from the pier following the banks of the main canal, which is bordered on both sides by rural land, making for a pleasant walk.

Ponte del Diavolo is a picturesque spot for taking photos. Vineyards pave the way to Canale di Torcello, the wide channel which flows along the bottom of the isle.

The ancient nucleus of Torcello has a pretty village square with some lovely sites: Basilica di Santa Maria Assunta (VII century Cathedral) and Chiesa Santa Fosca (XI century Roman Catholic Church). Visit Torcello Museum to discover the island’s fascinating past.

Torcello is one of the most idyllic settings in Italy. The pretty canal island is blessed with green meadows, quaint church domes, and towers. It is encircled by tranquil lagoon waters, against a stunning backdrop of the Dolomite Mountains.
The easiest way to get to Torcello Lagoon Island is by public water bus (line 12 arrives from Venice). The closest airport is Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE).

Kali from Kali Travel

Beautiful Places in Italy: Genoa, Liguria

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Genoa (Genova) is located in the North of Italy on the Mediterranean Coast and provides one of the sea’s largest harbors, with a maze of narrow cobbled streets of the old town surrounding the port area.

It is here that Christopher Columbus spent much of his childhood. You can still visit his home in the old town.
Genoa is home to gorgeous UNESCO World Heritage-listed palazzos and the stunning Cathedral of San Lorenzo, which was built to hold the remains of John the Baptist.

Higher up in the old town, you can enjoy the stunning views over the town and the glorious Ferrari Fountains.
The food in Genoa is also worth visiting for – the city is the birthplace of pesto, has hunger-inducing street food in the paper cones of Frito Misto and mouthwatering focaccia bread, too.

Sarah from ASocialNomad

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