The 36 Most Beautiful Places in Italy
Some of the most beautiful places in Italy are also some of the most beautiful in the world. In fact, few parts of the world can claim such a range of natural beauty as Italy, from craggy peaks and verdant hills to turquoise waters lined by white-sand beaches. The country is also to some of the best art and architecture you’ll ever come across: We’re talking about the astonishing cathedrals of Rome, the rainbows of houses flanking the canals in Venice, and the modern masterpieces of Milan. And while no list of the best could possibly begin to cover them all, we’ve done our best to round up 36 of the most beautiful places in Italy.
The good news? Wherever you choose to visit first, it’s sure to be a hit in this country.
This article has been updated since its original publish date.
Rebe Adelaida/UnsplashThe Grand Canal, Venice
Venice’s Grand Canal is beautiful any time of day, but the early evening is our favorite time to marvel at this architectural wonder—the sun reflecting off of the water casts a glow that, coupled with the echo of the lapping waves, becomes something magical.
Johny Goerend/UnsplashChianti Country
Yes, it’s home to some of Italy’s most famous reds, but Chianti Country is also one of the best spots in the country for an afternoon drive along winding, cypress-lined roads, and past rolling green hills and golden fields dotted with sunflowers. It’s the side of Tuscany we love most—and definitely one of the most beautiful places in Italy.
Reisetopia/UnsplashAlberobello, Puglia
The main draw of Alberobello, a small town near Bari in Puglia, is its characteristic trulli: cone-shaped, white-tipped houses that look as if they’ve been perpetually dusted by snow. Thanks to this distinctive feature, the town was deemed so unique that it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
Patrick SchneiderSt. Peter’s Basilica, Rome
There's a good reason almost every first-time visitor to Rome dedicates a day to the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica (and its statue-lined square, for that matter), one of the most famous Catholic churches in the world. With its gilded roof and world-renowned artwork, it’s easy to see why it draws 25,000 visitors every day. Get a glimpse of it at night for a sight that is truly awe-inspiring.
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Travel Wild/GettyLa Maddalena, Sardinia
Powdery sands and few English speakers within earshot are part of the appeal of this archipelago off the Costa Smeralda. Best of all, the local goat cheeses, Vermentino whites, and legs of prosciutto make it feel like a microcosm of old Italy.
Marialaura Gionfriddo/UnsplashTrastevere, Rome
This historically working-class Roman neighborhood has become a major food destination in recent years, with open-air markets and tiny trattorias serving up some of the best meals in town. And it’s not too tough on the eyes, either, especially as the sun sets.
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Ueuaphoto/GettyGran Paradiso National Park
As its name suggests, this national park in the Graian Alps is a true paradise. Visitors are treated to an array of scenic hiking trails, pristine glacial lakes, and the occasional wild ibex sighting.
Courtesy Villa Igiea, a Rocco Forte HotelVilla Igiea, a Rocco Forte Hotel, Palermo
A list of Italy’s most beautiful hotels would be nearly endless (though here are our readers' 20 favorites), but we’d be sure to put Villa Igiea at the very top. The Sicilian hideaway’s Art Nouveau touches and sophisticated pool scene are truly second to none.
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Letizia Agosta/UnsplashCapri
By reputation, Capri is by far Italy’s most glamorous island—and most dramatic. From the iconic Faraglioni rocks settled in the azure Mediterranean to the scent of the island’s many flowers, it’s almost sensory overload.
Sergio Formoso/GettyPiazza San Carlo, Turin
Turin is often considered to be Italy’s most elegant city, as evidenced by the baroque buildings and grand old coffee shops lining the central Piazza San Carlo. Be sure to stop by Caffè Torino to enjoy a negroni alongside painted murals and gilded mirrors. The “Paris of Italy” also landed a spot on our list of the best places to visit in Italy, as voted by our readers.
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Carlo107/GettyLipari
The largest of the Aeolian Islands, Lipari has dramatic cliffs, pristine beaches, and incredible pumice caves. The best views of the island and its six Aeolian neighbors are from Quattrocchi, just west of the main town. The Gattopardo Park Hotel, once an 18th-century villa, has rooms overlooking the ancient acropolis and medieval Castello.
Peter Adams/GettyThe Dolomites
The Dolomites are the cozy cousin to the Alps’ glitzy ski towns. The area’s powdery slopes can be accessed via the 86-mile Great Dolomites Road, one of the world’s loveliest alpine drives—and a perfect day trip from Venice.
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Moises Norena/UnsplashBurano, Venice
A stroll through the cobblestone streets of this diminutive island off of Venice—known for making some of the loveliest lace in the world—is like stepping into a candy-colored fairy tale (with really great espresso).
Simone Simone/GettyDuomo di Milano, Milan
The magnificent white Gothic cathedral is home to more statues than any other in the world—around 3,500 in total, about two-thirds of which are located on its gargoyle-lined roof, alongside 135 spires. Take the audio guide tour of the interior to get the most out of your visit or climb the 150 steps to the roof to enjoy spectacular views over the city.
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Elena McGuinness/UnsplashLake Como
This 56-square-mile Lombardy jewel has been attracting summer vacationers since ancient Roman times; today, it’s as popular for its natural beauty as it is for its luxury hotels (and George Clooney sightings, of course).
Sterlinglanier LanierLucca, Tuscany
Filled with antique shops, almost 100 churches, and trattorias serving hearty Tuscan fare, the walled city of Lucca is missing one thing: the crush of tourists that can overwhelm some of its neighbors, which makes it not just a lovely place to visit but a welcome respite as well.
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Simone Angelo Ferri/GettyChiaia di Luna, Ponza
Italy is full of gently rolling hills, but the tiny island of Ponza off the coast of Rome takes things in a slightly different, more dramatic direction. Case in point: Chiaia di Luna, a magnificent bay surrounded by towering cliffs that resemble a lunar landscape (hence the name).
Jason Steele/UnsplashPantheon, Rome
One of the world’s greatest feats of pre-Christian architecture is the Pantheon, a domed, ancient church in the middle of Rome. Though the crowds can be distracting, this is a truly magnificent site, both inside and out.
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EyeEm/AlamyLake Orta
Lake Orta isn’t nearly as grand as its massive, famous neighbors (Lake Como and Lake Maggiore), and therein lies its appeal. The body of water is refreshingly free of glitzy resorts and boat tours, making the lake—surrounded by green hills and the occasional stone house—feel like a real natural treasure.
Federico Di Dio/UnsplashGalleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan
Great fashion, great architecture, great food, and some of the very best people-watching on the planet—it's pretty much impossible to argue with the all-around beauty of Milan. Even its shopping malls, like Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, epitomize elegance.
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Sara GroblechnerManarola, Liguria
Manarola is one of the oldest towns in the Cinque Terre and arguably one of the most beautiful. It’s known primarily for its fishing, wine-making, and excellent hiking in the hills and vineyards above the town. Don’t miss the famous walking trail called Via dell’Amore, or Love’s Trail.
Giuseppe Greco/GettyVilla Cimbrone, Ravello
Manicured gardens, rows of marble statues, and dramatic views of the Amalfi Coast (especially from the aptly named Terrace of Infinity) make the 5-star hotel Villa Cimbrone in Ravello one of the most beautiful places in Italy. Even if you don’t book a room, you can still check out the gardens, which are open to the public.
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Matteo Lezzi/UnsplashUffizi Gallery, Florence
Botticelli's The Birth of Venus may symbolize true beauty inside the Uffizi, but the museum is exquisite on the outside as well, with its symmetrical columns and stately windows. We like to stroll the perimeter after the museum closes, when Florentine couples and families come out to do the same.
Tucko019/GettyCastello di Miramare, Trieste
Just a 30-minute drive north of Trieste—the photogenic heart of Friuli Venezia-Giulia—Castello di Miramare owed much of its appeal to its scenic surroundings. Formerly home to Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, the 10th-century structure sits above the blue Adriatic on a lush, 54-acre park. It’s certainly not your average road trip pit stop.
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Creativemarc/GettyStelvio Pass
At more than 9,000 feet high, the Stelvio Pass is the eastern Alps’ highest paved road—a 15-mile-long ribbon of 48 hairpin turns with spectacular mountain views. The road is thrilling no matter your vehicle of choice, but if you can do the drive in a Ferrari? Even better.
Luca Fantini/UnsplashSanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca, Bologna
Bologna is a small but mighty Italian city, with quintessentially lovely churches, covered sidewalks, and wine bars throughout. But our favorite spot lies just outside of town: The Sanctuary of San Luca, a hilltop basilica with a famous arched portico and incredible views of Bologna below.
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Marco Bagnoli/GettyFonte Gaia, Siena
This impressive fountain is one of the Tuscan town's best, and easiest to spot—it’s in the center of Piazza del Campo, the main square and home to Siena’s famous horse race, il Palio. Siena itself is filled with architecture-as-art, earning it a UNESCO designation as the “embodiment of a medieval city.”
Maremagnum/GettySan Fruttuoso, Liguria
Located about halfway between Portofino and the small town of Camogli, San Fruttuoso is as picture-perfect as Italian beaches get. The small cove’s appeal lies in its hidden location (you can only reach it by hiking from Portofino or catching a ferry), gorgeous blue water, and backdrop of a medieval abbey surrounded by mountains.
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Aleh Varanishcha/GettyAtrani, Campania
Tucked between two cliffs overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, the village of Atrani is the Amalfi Coast’s best-kept secret. It’s often bypassed en route to the larger and more famous towns of Amalfi, Positano, and Sorrento, and this is a good thing—you’ll almost always have its beautiful churches, piazzas, and charming trattorias all to yourself.
Pierluigi Palazzi/GettyBosco Verticale, Milan
In 2017, Milan blossomed with a new beauty, complementing the city's centuries-old ones. The “vertical forest,” which envelopes two high-rise apartment blocks. The work of architect Stefano Boeri, the Porta Nuova buildings are covered with more than 20,000 trees and plants, turning the otherwise unremarkable business district into something of a tourist attraction.
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Baspentrubas/GettySantuario Madonna della Corona, Mount Baldo
The Santuario Madonna della Corona (Sanctuary of the Lady of the Crown) is not typically listed among Italy’s most beautiful churches, but that’s probably because most people don’t know where to find it. The 16th-century church is built right into a vertical cliff on Mount Baldo, where visitors must hike up pedestrian paths to reach it.
Mark Pisek/UnsplashTerme di Saturnia
The Cascate del Mulino waterfalls and Terme di Saturnia thermal spa are a popular attraction in southern Tuscany. The spring water—which sits at about 99 degrees Fahrenheit—has formed small pools on the travertine rocks over the centuries and is said to cure everything from acne to tonsillitis.
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Giuseppe MondiThe Duomo, Florence
Brunelleschi’s Duomo is a feat of architecture, sure, but it’s also an ideal observation deck. If you can make your way up the 463 steps (no elevator, and some passages that would make the claustrophobic run screaming), you’ll be rewarded with pristine, 365-degree views of the city and all of Tuscany stretched beyond. For a view of the Duomo, climb Giotto’s Bell Tower next door instead.
Mario La Pergola/UnsplashThe Duomo of Siena
Built in 1263, this cathedral is one of the most beautiful and ambitious Gothic churches in Italy, characterized by its extravagant zebra-striped bands of marble. Inside, you’ll see works by Michelangelo, Pisano, Donatello, and Pinturicchio and stunning floors paved with inlaid mosaics depicting Biblical stories and historical events.
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Julian Elliott Photography/GettySan Gimignano, Tuscany
Its impressive medieval skyline, which is visible for miles as you approach, charms from a distance. But once you’re seated at a café in this tiny Tuscan town, sipping a glass of Vernaccia and snacking on salumi—that’s when the real love affair begins.
Romaoslo/GettyVilla Borghese, Rome
Leafy, genteel Villa Borghese is Rome’s biggest and most beautiful public garden—and with a lake, a petting zoo, and rowboats, it’s also home to a ton of kid-friendly activities.
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