Roavina

Country guide

Italy

A photograph of Italy
Photograph · Timothy A. Gonsalves · CC BY-SA 4.0

Italy holds 62 World Heritage Sites, more than any other country, spread across 301,340 km2 of land that runs from the Alps down into the middle of the Mediterranean. The distances between its cities are short and the differences between them are not: Venice has no roads, Naples sits under a volcano on a bay, Florence fits inside a walkable Renaissance grid, and Milan keeps its art indoors and works for a living. Rome is the capital and the obvious first trip; the argument is always about what comes second. Nearly 800 islands hang off the coast, and Sicily and Sardinia are each large enough to be a trip of their own.

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Cities

Every city catalogued in this country so far, ranked by how much there is to see.

Practical information

Language spoken
Italian
National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
Dialling code
+39
International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
Emergency number
112
Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
Plug type
Type C, F and L · 230 V
Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
Tap water
Not recorded
No verified nationwide visitor statement was recorded

Planning a visit

  1. January: seasonal closure recorded
  2. February: seasonal closure recorded
  3. March: seasonal closure recorded
  4. April: seasonal closure recorded
  5. May: seasonal closure recorded
  6. June: seasonal closure recorded
  7. July: seasonal closure recorded
  8. August: seasonal closure recorded
  9. September: seasonal closure recorded — this month
  10. October: seasonal closure recorded
  11. November: seasonal closure recorded
  12. December: seasonal closure recorded

Top things to see

Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.

  1. Appian Way Appian Way
    201 45 min

    Appian Way

    Via Appia Antica

    The Appian Way, or Via Appia Antica, is one of ancient Rome’s oldest roads. Construction began in 312 BCE, creating a military and commercial route from Rome toward Brindisi in southeastern Italy.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Rome
  2. Campo de' Fiori Campo de' Fiori
    202 45 min

    Campo de' Fiori

    Campo de' Fiori is a rectangular public square in central Rome, south of Piazza Navona. Its name translates to Field of Flowers, reflecting its medieval origins as a meadow before urban development.

    • Notable
    • Market
    • Rome
  3. Forte Marghera Forte Marghera
    203 45 min

    Forte Marghera

    Forte Manin

    Forte Marghera, known locally as Forte Manin, is a historic fortification situated in the lagoon area near Venice. Built as part of the defensive system protecting the Venetian Republic, it represents significant military architecture from the period.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Venice
  4. Isola Tiberina Isola Tiberina
    204 20 min

    Isola Tiberina

    Isola Tiberina is the only island in the Tiber River within Rome's historic centre.

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Rome
  5. Jewish Ghetto Jewish Ghetto
    205 45 min

    Jewish Ghetto

    Ghetto ebraico

    The Roman Jewish Ghetto is a historic district in Rome's Rione Sant'Angelo, established in 1555 by papal decree. It served as a compulsory residential area for the city's Jewish population until 1870.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Rome
  6. Palatine Hill Palatine Hill
    206 45 min

    Palatine Hill

    Palatino

    Palatino is one of Rome's seven hills and the centremost of the famous trio that includes Capitoline and Aventine. Archaeological evidence indicates human settlement here dating to approximately the tenth century BCE.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Rome
  7. Parco di Villa Fabbricotti Parco di Villa Fabbricotti
    207 1 hour

    Parco di Villa Fabbricotti

    Parco di Villa Fabbricotti is a public park in Florence, set within the grounds of a former private villa.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Florence
  8. Parco di Villa Stibbert Parco di Villa Stibbert
    208 1 hour

    Parco di Villa Stibbert

    Parco di Villa Stibbert is the landscaped park surrounding Villa Stibbert in northern Florence. The villa is home to the Stibbert Museum, created around Frederick Stibbert’s collection, while the grounds provide the outdoor counterpart to the museum’s historic interiors.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Florence
  9. Piazza della Signoria Piazza della Signoria
    209 45 min

    Piazza della Signoria

    Piazza della Signoria is Florence's principal civic square and the historic heart of the city's political life.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Florence
  10. Ponte Vecchio Ponte Vecchio
    210 20 min

    Ponte Vecchio

    Ponte Vecchio is the oldest surviving bridge over the Arno and the only one in Florence still built up with shops. A crossing has stood on this spot since Roman Florentia.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Florence
  11. San Francesco del deserto San Francesco del deserto
    211 1 hour

    San Francesco del deserto

    San Francesco del Deserto is a small island monastery in the Venetian Lagoon, located between Venice proper and Burano.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Venice
  12. Santa Maria presso San Celso Church Santa Maria presso San Celso Church
    212 45 min

    Santa Maria presso San Celso Church

    Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli presso San Celso

    Santa Maria presso San Celso is a Renaissance church in Milan, formally known as Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Miracoli presso San Celso. It stands adjacent to the older San Celso church, creating a distinctive architectural pairing.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Milan
  13. St Mark's Campanile St Mark's Campanile
    213 45 min

    St Mark's Campanile

    Campanile di San Marco

    The Campanile di San Marco is the free-standing bell tower of St Mark's Basilica, 98.6 metres tall, and the thing a visitor rides to the top of is a square brick shaft twelve metres on each side and 53.75 metres…

    • Notable
    • Viewpoint
    • Venice
  14. The Last Supper The Last Supper
    214 45 min

    The Last Supper

    Ultima Cena

    Il Cenacolo Vinciano is a one-room state museum built around a single wall.

    • Notable
    • Art and culture venue
    • Milan
  15. Tomb of Caecilia Metella Tomb of Caecilia Metella
    215 45 min

    Tomb of Caecilia Metella

    Mausoleo di Cecilia Metella

    The Tomb of Cecilia Metella is a monumental cylindrical mausoleum beside the Via Appia Antica. Built in the first century BCE, it commemorates a woman from the powerful Caecilii Metelli family.

    • Notable
    • Historic monument
    • Rome
  16. Venice Lido Venice Lido
    216 1 hour

    Venice Lido

    Lido di Venezia

    Lido di Venezia is an 11-kilometre-long barrier island in the Venetian Lagoon, separating the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. It forms part of the municipality of Venice and serves as the city's primary beach resort area.

    • Notable
    • Nature site
    • Venice
  17. Palazzo Serbelloni Palazzo Serbelloni
    218 45 min

    Palazzo Serbelloni

    Palazzo Serbelloni is a privately owned Neoclassical palace at Corso Venezia 16 in Milan.

    • Must see
    • Historic monument
    • Milan
  18. Moses
    219 1 hour

    Moses

    Mosè

    • High
    • Art and culture venue
    • Rome
  19. San Carlo ai Catinari
    221 30 min

    San Carlo ai Catinari

    Santi Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari

    • High
    • Place of worship
    • Rome
  20. Ascensione
    224 30 min

    Ascensione

    Chiesa dell'Ascensione di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo

    • Notable
    • Place of worship
    • Florence
  21. Gilli
    225 1 hour

    Gilli

    Caffè Gilli

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
    • Florence

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·

Common questions

How long should a first trip to Italy be?

Ten to fourteen days can combine Milan, Venice, Florence, and Rome by high-speed train. Give Venice more than a transfer night and Rome several separate sightseeing days; rural Tuscany needs different transport planning from the rail-linked cities.

What entry documents are needed for Italy?

Italy is in the Schengen Area, but visa and passport requirements vary by nationality and route. Use Italy's official visa portal to confirm the applicable rule before travel rather than relying on another Schengen trip.

What is the best way to travel around Italy?

High-speed trains connect Milan, Venice, Florence, and Rome, with regional rail and coaches serving smaller places. Drivers must check ZTL restrictions before entering historic centres because access controls are local and can generate fines.

When is a practical time to visit Italy?

April to June and September to October broadly suit the north-to-Rome rail route. Lagoon conditions in Venice, summer heat in Rome, and seasonal rural services in Tuscany should be checked independently.

What money and payment basics apply in Italy?

Italy uses the euro (EUR). Carry a modest cash reserve for small purchases while using cards where accepted, and verify the euro amount at the terminal instead of accepting an unexamined conversion.

What practical safety details should I save for Italy?

Italy routes emergency calls through 112. Travellers encounter a 230 V supply and Type C, F, or L receptacles. No tap-water assessment is recorded for Italy; obtain current local advice at the destination.