Best Holiday Destinations in Italy

With the holidays now fast approaching, looking for that getaway to somewhere both quaint and lively is a must for travelers wanting to make the most out of their vacations. Good thing we have Italy, a country in Europe, that’s known for its history, culture, and cuisine, with its world-renowned holiday destinations. Here are some of the best holiday destinations in the beautiful country of Italy!

Rome

Naturally, starting at the capital of Italy, Rome presents its vibrant and great history and culture through the architectural marvels that adorn it. From the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Appian Way, the Forum, and even the Palatine Hill, Roma is home to various destinations waiting for tourists to take sight of and make new experiences and memories in. 

Beyond this, however, enjoying the actual city, the streets, the establishments, and the company of the people is something to have on your list of things to do in Rome. From eating gelato to tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain to wishing for more visits, more experiences, more everything Italy, Rome promises a traveler experience beyond just travel. 

The Vatican

Although the city-state of the Vatican is a state in and of its own, the center of the Roman Catholic Church is surrounded by the lands of Rome, the capital of Italy. As the home of the supreme Pontiff of the dominant religion of the world, the Vatican also has a lot to show from its iconic architecture to incredible and historical artworks. With Saint Peter’s Basilica at the center of it all, the Vatican is a destination Rome travelers should head to to experience the headquarters of Christianity. 

Venice

The center of Venice, St. Mark’s Square or Piazza San Marco, is a perfect destination given the hub is surrounded by the top tourist attractions of Italy. With the great Basilica of St. Mark standing beside the Doge’s Palace, visitors can find the tall Campanile of Venice. 

As one of Italy’s most romantic activities, riding on a gondola would promise to be the best activity to do with a lover. At the end of the plaza in the Grand Canal, tourists can find these gondolas together. And in a different direction, anyone is sure to find themselves lost on the way to Rialto Bridge due to its winding passageways. But getting lost is another activity, one that’s worth it, in the gorgeous city of Venice. 

Amalfi Coast

The next destination to head to is the blue-green-dominated areas of the Amalfi Peninsula, which promises a picturesque visit to the pretty houses that spill down its steep slopes. Everywhere you look, you’d find flowers blooming, adding color to the already-beautiful town. Not to mention, there are also beaches that, when you come close, would shimmer in the color emerald, providing that atmosphere that you’ve just arrived in paradise. 

Pisa and Lucca

When you’re in Tuscany, visiting these two nearby towns would be worth it. If you’re yet to see pictures of people holding the Leaning Tower of Pisa, then this is the perfect destination to head to in order to see people taking pictures of the tower in person. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, this worldwide famous Italian infrastructure also includes the cathedral, baptistery, and Campo Santo. 

As the highlight of the baptistery, Nicola Pisano’s carved and free-standing pulpit is a masterpiece of the Roman sculpturing arts. To complete the entirety of the museum, the incredibly beautiful gold and silver works of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance are displayed for tourists to see. 

Then nearby there’s Lucca, which is one of Europe’s towns that are a pleasure to explore and simply enjoy due to its charming tree-lined park and other sights. Inside its walls, churches in Romanesque and Tuscan Gothic styles adorn the area with its incredible beauty, allowing tourists to take sight of the unique architecture of Europe. 

Verona

The compact historic center of this former Roman fortress is surrounded by a deep bend of the Adige River. Right at its heart is the remarkably well-preserved 1st-century Roman arena, the site of the world-famous Summer Opera Festival. 

Along with this, several Roman arches are intermingled between Medieval and Renaissance buildings, many of which illustrate Verona's long history as part of the Venetian Empire. Along the river stands his 14th-century castle, the great Castelvecchio, which guards the brick arch bridge Ponte Scaligero.

Despite its rich architectural and artistic treasures, Verona's greatest claim to tourist fame is based on fiction. Not that it’s fake, but that it is famous for being a focal point of literature. As the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Verona has, over the past century, responded by building houses, balconies, and even tombs for fictional characters. 

Florence

Being a showcase of the Italian Renaissance, Florence can sometimes look like a sprawling museum. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del He Fiore, the Duomo is a landmark of world architecture, crowned by a massive gravity-defying dome

Half a dozen museums are brimming with paintings and sculptures, and many more masterpieces in churches and palaces. Stroll through the Boboli Gardens, explore the artisanal ateliers and workshops of Oltrarno, and shop for leather in Santa Croce, before indulging in art at the Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Pitti.

Together with Giotto's marble bell tower and Ghiberti's octagonal baptistery with incomparable bronze doors, this destination is one of the finest Renaissance art ensembles in the world.

Naples

Just as canals are the hallmark of Venice and the Renaissance is the essence of Florence, in Naples, it's the sheer exuberance that captivates you. It's a busy place, with narrow streets full of color, noise, and life, perfect for visitors searching for that thrill, that adventure of a lifetime.

Stroll along the coast with the locals and enjoy views of Mount Vesuvius across the bay, take ferries to Capri and magical Sorrento, and visit the glass-domed Galleria Umberto I Shop in and be sure to try the pizza, which the Neapolitans say they invented.

With treasure-filled churches, opulent palaces lavishing the wealth of European royalty, and top archaeological museums showcasing discoveries from nearby Pompeii, Naples has much to see, do, and experience.