If you’ve ever dreamed of a vacation in Europe, chances are Italy has occupied and fuelled those dreams. This cultured and romantic nation has a style often imitated, but never bettered. Here you’ll be charmed by the art and architecture of the country that gave birth to the Renaissance.
Each region has its own treasures, unique way of life and speciality cuisine. This means Italy is a place that rewards you the more time you spend exploring. Vibrant old cities with ancient universities, dramatic coastlines and golden beaches, rugged hills and enigmatic canals – Italy has it all. We’ve created this guide to the very best places to visit in Italy.
Culture and couture in Milan
The beating heart of Italy’s Lombardy region, Milan is perhaps the most forward-looking of all the country’s cities. Yes, there’s history be unearthed – the sensational Duomo, a Gothic cathedral that took half a millennia to build and da Vinci’s timeless The Last Supper. But this is a place that also embraces the future.
It’s the fashion capital of Europe, strewn with high-end designer boutiques and annual shows, while modern architecture blends in with the old. Food here is rich, with the saffron risotto - risotto alla Milanese - a trademark of the region. Boasting castles and galleries, contemporary art and couture – alongside opera at La Scala – Milan truly is a masterpiece of a city.
Italy’s famous lakes can also be easily reached from Milan in a rental car. Fly into Milan and you can drive out to Lake Como, Iseo or Garda, for a pieces of genuine Italian tranquility.
Romantic waterways in Venice
The famed floating city, Venice sits on Italy’s east coast, hemmed in by the other magnificent locations of the Veneto region. While Padua, Verona, Vicenza and Treviso have plenty to lure you in, Venice is the most radiant and magnetic of them all.
Sitting on its own lagoon, Venice’s layout is a criss-cross of canals, squares and narrow bridges leading to classic piazzas - where dreamy palaces built from different shades of marble loom overhead. Sit in St. Mark’s Square and drink in both the amazing coffee and the sheer beauty that surrounds you.
To fully appreciate the gorgeous surroundings and understand what makes this city special, take a ride on the canals. Then head into the world-class art galleries. At Gallerie del’Accademia, your senses will be spoiled by Renaissance masterpieces. If it gets overwhelming, take time out with a spritz and some cicheti – the local take on tapas.
Gourmet’s delight in Bologna
They call Bologna La Grassa – the fat one. On arrival, you’ll soon see why, with classic trattoria on every corner. After all, this is not just the home of the Bolognese people, but also the sauce of the same name. Bear in mind, however, that if it’s served with spaghetti, you’re dining in a tourist trap - the locals would only ever eat ragu alla Bolognese with tagliatelle.
The city is much more than just incredible food. There’s the oldest university in the world, impressive religious landmarks, such as the Basilica di Santo Stefano, and endless arcades that lend the city an air of sophistication.
Climb the nearly 500 steps of the Torre degli Asinelli for the best views, while car lovers should make time for a short road trip to the Lamborghini Museum, 35km outside of Bologna.
Take in art history in Florence
Florence is where the Renaissance was born, putting this city at the heart of western civilisation.
Though smaller in scale than other Italian cities, this Tuscan location is packed with legendary art and bold buildings that will stay with you forever. Immerse yourself in the priceless pieces from the era in the Uffizi Gallery – one of the world’s finest art destinations. Put plenty of time aside to explore the history of art, with masterpieces galore on display.
The rest of the city is a smorgasbord of piazza and palazzi, with handsome bridges linking both sides of the Arno. Cameras at the ready for the Duomo and Cupola, for the way the light plays on the buildings and the river.
Taste the countryside in Tuscany
The other main attraction in Tuscany – other than Florence – is the region itself. It has become a byword for stellar scenery and a hazy gold light that descends onto the gentle slopes and vineyards.
The quality of light here immediately induces a feeling of well being, in a place that rewards a slow pace of life.
The grapes and the food produced in this region both take their time, and there’s a rich joy to be found in passing from Siena to Lucca, Pisa to Livorno, from winery to coastline. It almost seems as if Tuscany was designed to soothe the soul of the traveller.
Walk through history in Rome
The ‘Eternal City’ is one where life in Europe and beyond was shaped for over a thousand years by the Roman Empire. The dynasty left its mark on Rome with a series of bold and brave architectural projects that can still be admired today.
Immerse yourself in history, joining revellers at the Trevi Fountain, climbing the Spanish Steps and touring the splendour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
It’s an almost overwhelming experience – you’ll move between a fountain designed by Bernini and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City in a day. Snap a picture of a Michelangelo sculpture and then join the well dressed as they head out for pizza, pasta and gelato.
An explosive experience at Pompeii
As one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites, Pompeii doesn’t disappoint. The ruined city does, however, always surprise due to its sheer scale. Then there’s the small details – wall murals, bathrooms, kitchens, people – all preserved in the aftermath of the famous eruption in 79 AD.
It sits in one the most beautiful parts of Italy, just over 25km away from edgy Naples - while pastel-hued picturesque towns line the nearby Amalfi Coast.
Stop off in Sorrento for coastal cool before touring Pompeii’s heritage. Vesuvius, the volcano that wrought so much destruction, looms over the nearby site of Herculaneum too. It’s just as interesting and well-preserved as Pompeii, but with significantly smaller crowds of visitors.
Sun, sea, sand and Sardinia
Sardinia’s contrasts are electric. Step out in Costa Smeralda and chances are you’ll be rubbing shoulders with celebrities as you walk on some of the world’s softest, most golden sand into a sea that seems so blue it’s scarcely believable.
Venture further inland, however, and you’ll find verdant hiking trails punctuated by ruins, in places where you can truly get away from it all.
It feels very different to the rest of the country, with unique cuisine, Bronze Age remnants, sheep and albino donkeys, carnivals and the constant draw of those turquoise waters.
Car rental in Italy affords you the freedom to explore the mainland and islands, the cities and the landscape of a country that truly deserves its reputation as one of the most beautiful in the world.