A motherland of artists and scientists that changed the shape of the world, home to the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites, and a kaleidoscope of bewitching vistas - Bella Italia! From the staggering antiquities of Rome and the alluring romance of Venice to the rolling hills of Tuscany and the cosmopolitan flair of Milan, the country is a bottomless well of attractions. On the basis of user ratings, Open Travel has compiled a list of top 25 things to see or do on your Italy Vacations. It will help you fill your itinerary with all that's symbolic and representative of a country that may well be studied forever, but still not entirely explored.
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Photo by louievsatx
Welcome to Sicily and one of its most awe-inspiring attractions. The Valley of the Temples in Agrigento is an extensive archaeological site containing the well-preserved remains of various Doric temples dating from the 5th century B.C. In accord with a standard criteria for both Greek and Roman t...
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Photo by Rob Inh00d
A National Park and Unesco World Heritage site, allegedly the cleanest area of Italy and a mesmerizing jewel in the Ligurian crown - the Cinque terre (5 lands) escape any description. The five adorable villages precariously nested on the rugged cliffs of the Italian Riviera - Monterosso, Vernazz...
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Photo by cfwee
The reputation for being one of the finest universally acclaimed museums of all time comes courtesy of masters the likes of Giotto, Botticelli, Mantegna, Correggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Dürer, Rembrandt and Rubens. Their timeless works are proudly displayed on th...
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Photo by ∞ Jacopo
The greatest remnant of the antiquity, the archetypal amphitheater, an engineering wonder, the epitome of architectural excellence, a standing proof of both the grandeur and the cruelty of the Roman world - the Colosseum has been dubbed myriad ways, but there's just no way of grasping their mean...
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Photo by Bönisch
Carved out of white tuff rock and baked by the Mediterranean sun, the Sassi form a city complex of prehistoric dwellings, many of which are mere caves located on the rooftops of other houses. A maze of underground labyrinths and caverns hides relics of such distant a time that one finds it hard t...
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Photo by malkav
Back in AD 79, Vesuvius was just a large hill to those who lived around the today's bay of Naples. Little did they realize that the immense cloud that cast over the eastern sky on a sunny August afternoon heralded the end of the prosperous Roman town, and the birth of splendor that its ruins are...
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Photo by One man's perspective
The Amalfi Coast is a holiday paradise, ideally to be stayed in for as long as possible. The range of the Lattari mountains, directly exposed to the sea, forms an indented coastline with multicolored villages growing out of Mediterranean vegetation. Rich in history, culture and folklore, this por...
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Photo by jurvetson
Siena may not equal Florence, its perennial rival and neighbor to the north, in overall artistic achievement, but its exuberance and charm make it a place incapable of being compared to any other. Centered on Piazza del Campo - the venue for the splendid Palio horse race - the historic district i...
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Vatican
Photo by juanRubiano
Although Vatican is an entirely separate state, the access to its magnificent collections is only through Rome. Centered on the splendid St Peter's Basilica and Piazza San Pietro, it is the spiritual hub of the Catholic world and one of Rome's most eagerly visited areas. Subsequent popes called u...
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Photo by TracyElaine
Chosen to be the final resting place of Saint Mark the Evangelist, Basilica di San Marco enshrines the country's history and serves as the dearest symbol of Venice. Located just off the Grand Canal, the gleaming basilica dominates Piazza San Marco and ceaselessly stuns with its immense richness...
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Photo by wili_hybrid
Resting in a valley between the Palatine and the Capitoline hills, Roman Forum is by far one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world. The heart of the empire gives you an incredible feeling as you literally stumble upon it on your hasty walk around Rome. The awe-inspiring panora...
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Photo by dottorpeni
The emblem of Capri and an unbelievable experience even if judged on a world scale, the Grotta Azura hasn't been names so without a good reason. As the sun sneaks in through the small opening, a neon blue reflection illuminates the cavern and a silvery light emanates from any object immersed in i...
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13
Grand Canal
Photo by llamnudds
Taking the vaporetto #1 (water bus) along the Canal Grande is like going back through centuries of history. The famous Venetian waterway meanders more than 3,5 km through all six districts of the historic center, revealing gems of architecture strung along both its banks between Ferrovia and the...
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Photo by M4rvin
It's not an optical illusion, nor have the architects imagined it so crooked. No sooner had the tower reached the the third storey than the construction started sinking into the ground due to a poorly laif foundation and the leaning first became obvious. The works ceased, and it wasn't until aft...
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Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in...RATE IT -
Photo by bongo vongo
Noted for its distinctive dome and expressive colors, Santa Maria del Fiore dominates the skyline of Florence and reflects the collective efforts of several distinguished artists, who endowed the monument with the status of a structural masterpiece, a complete and highly aesthetic creation, as we...
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Photo by ZeroOne
In the maze of narrow, meandering streets, Rome hides a sparkling jewel held to be a triumphant example of Baroque finesse and the natural artistry of water- one of the world's most stunning fountains and a work of art in one. Trevi is not just a cold piece of marble. The play of light, shade and...
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18
Assisi
Location: Provincia di Perugia, Italy
Photo by Roby Ferrari
Around 5 million visitors annually have turned the little town in Umbria into a thriving tourist hotbed that St. Francis himself wouldn't definitely call ascetic. Having lived a life of profound opulence, the later patron saint of Italy gave it all up to found a Franciscan order and beg on the st...
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Photo by sigkyrre
Once planted with vineyards, unsuspected of any evil, and adding to the picturesque backdrop of ancient Pompeii, Vesuvius turned out to be a destructive companion rather than a benign element of the awe-inspiring landscape. Today, although not erupting, the truncated cone looms over the Bay of Na...
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Location: Italy
Photo by Roby Ferrari
The smallest and least populous province of Italy, drained by Alpine rivers and clad with flowery meadows is a mountainous territory that it's hard not to fall in love with. It goes without saying that, with the concentration of Monte Bianco, Monte Rosa and the Matterhorn slopes, Aosta Valley i...
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Photo by zumzum
Covering an area of 146 square kilometers, Lake Como's virtues don't boil down to vastness by any means. The amalgamation of romance, history, scenic beauty and the wealth of tradition make it so alluring that even celebrities die to have their own slice of this delicious Lombardian cake. Crowned...
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Photo by francesco sgroi
The fact that Chianti sits between Florence and Siena makes it good enough a reason to rank the region high on your itinerary. Together they make for a highly aesthetic combination of art, history, and culinary delights. Yet Chianti is a worthwhile destination in its own right down to its world-...
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Photo by Kessiye
Even Italy gets a rainy day from time to time, and if your beach plans do fall through by any chance, plunge into the Frasassi Gorge for a journey to the center of the Earth. A 75-minute route through one of the most spectacular Karst complexes in the world, fitted with comfortable walkways and...
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Location: Alberobello, Italy
Photo by Verity Cridland
Bizarre limestone dwellings with gray, cone-shaped roofs, built entirely without the use mortar and whitewashed each year dot the province of Bari and Taranto, yet are unknown in the rest of the world. Those are trulli, perhaps the finest examples of which are to be found in the commune of Albero...
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Photo by pnoeric
It doesn't really matter where exactly you have your pizza as it's indecently good virtually everywhere in Naples. Whether you follow the crowds at lunchtime or step into a quaint little place in the suburbs, you'll be seduced by the looks, teased by the smells, and pleased by the taste. Just pic...
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Stumble
great list, the photos are amazing and really inspire me to put more away so I can afford to visit these fantastic destinations.
some paragraphs are not true but it was good