Naples Cool Place To See In Italy With Friends
- Long history with numerous historic buildings
- Historic theatre
- See a different side of Italy
Why its awesome: The birthplace of pizza, the huge city of Naples is one of the oldest continually occupied places across the world. Founded by the Greeks in the 7th century BC, the historic heart is a UNESCO-listed site with more than 400 churches and historical sites. There are also many excellent open-air markets throughout the city where visitors can observe local life and pick up a range of goods. Quieter in terms of tourism than other major Italian cities, its a terrific place to add somewhere different to your Italian itinerary. The city is, however, known for its strong Mafia linksits better to stick in a group and explore with a local guide. Italy is generally safe as is Naples, but there is definitely an edgy and gritty vibe to the city.
What to do there: Discover Napless many handsome landmarks, including the historic monastery of Certosa di San Martino, the magnificent Baroque New Jesuit Church, St. Angelo on the Nile Church , the Royal Palace, Santa Chiara Monastery, and Teatro San Carlo. Descend into the medieval Catacombe di San Gennaro, learn more about Roman times at the expansive Museo Archeologico Nazionale, feast your eyes on Naples Cathedral, and marvel at the ancient aqueduct of Napoli Sotterranea.
Best Places In Italy To Visit On A First Trip
A first time trip to Italy is pretty exciting and totally incredible thats a given. Though, with so many of the best places in Italy to visit on a first trip, it can get pretty overwhelming when youre in that planning stage.
From the gorgeous towns of Southern Italy , cities like Florence and Naples, the Amalfi Coast to Cinque Terre, youre gonna be spoilt with heaps of choice on places in Italy to visit.
Italy is a country steeped in history, culture and mountains of delicious pasta and the best gelato spots on every street . If youre not rolling back to your hotel in a pasta-induced haze, youre not doing Italy right!
Whether youre looking for the more iconic places to visit, or somewhere a little less known, youll be spoilt for choice when planning a trip to Italy.
With that in mind, I wanted to pop over some of the best places in Italy to visit on a first trip. Now, to make things easier, weve popped in some of the spots you cant miss up and down Italy. This way, regardless of what region you fly into, youll be guaranteed to find a few gems close by.
Have the best time exploring Italy!
Valuable Tips For Spending Five Days In Italy
There are many incredible places you should visit in Italy. With our helpful tips and information, you will be able to explore most of them in only five days!
First of all, it is essential to schedule trips according to the proximity of the places. For example, the distance between Rome and Vatican is only 4 kilometers. Because of that, you can visit those two cities in only one day.
Another important thing is to know about Italian regions before visiting them. Italy is so different from south to north. It has 20 regions, and each of them is special with its foods, wines, and traditions. It is surprising that one country can be the same but also very different!
If you want to get from one place to another quickly, we recommend going by train. That way, you will avoid city crowds and arrive at the desired location in a short amount of time.
It is impossible to explore the whole country in only five days. Thats why we selected Italys seven best places to visit! Read our list and find out which places those are. We also hand-picked the best tours and tickets for each destination to help you save your time and money!
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Places To Visit In Italy Summary
From grand Roman architecture to picturesque ports hidden behind the hills, our trip through Italy together Im sure you can agree has been action-packed, beautiful, and utterly breathtaking.
Italy is such a great place for a much-needed getaway from the bustle of everyday life. Whatever youre looking for, you can no doubt find it in Italy, pretty much always accompanied by delicious food, great ambiance, and a glorious view.
We hope these thirty wonderful places, which really are only the tip of the iceberg, give you plenty of inspiration to book a trip of a lifetime to this vast, beautiful, and historic country.
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Planning a trip to Italy soon? Keep this awesome list of places to visit for inspiration by saving this article to one of your travel planning boards.
Roxana Fanaru is a Rome-based journalist and writer, who has lived in Italy for two decades. Passionate about Italian travel and culture, she has a wealth of experience writing in the travel and lifestyle spaces.
Pompeii & Mt Vesuvius
Pompeii was an ancient city that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The infamous city was buried under meters of ash, and it wasnt rediscovered until over 1500 years later.
Today, Pompeii is a popular tourist destination, and its one of the best things to see in Italy. Its an eerie but fascinating place to visit, and it gives you a unique insight into what life was like in Rome in the middle ages.
A visit to Pompeii is not for the faint of heart. The city is extremely well preserved, but its also very eerie. Its easy to imagine the terror that the citizens of Pompeii must have felt as they were buried alive by the volcanic ash. But despite its gruesome history, Pompeii is a must-see for anyone visiting Italy.
If youre interested in learning more about the city of Pompeii and its history, I recommend taking a guided tour. There are plenty of tours to choose from, and a guide will be able to answer any questions that you have.
This Pompeii tour takes you through the city of Pompeii as well as the nearby town of Herculaneum, which was also destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Youll get to enjoy a nice lunch and wine tasting before heading back to Pompeii for more exploring of the prehistoric sites!
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The Dolomites Where To Stay In Italy For Adventure
Taking up a large portion of the Italian Alps, the Dolomites are filled with excellent ski resorts that attract visitors from across Europe every year! There is a good variety of slopes on offer here, catering to all skill levels. This is also where you will find world-class ski and snowboard instructors.
During the summer , the Dolomites become a major hiking destination! The UNESCO World Heritage Site comes with mesmerising views that have to be seen to be believed. Whilst landscape photographers love the region, it is hard to truly capture the indescribable beauty of the region.
Ready To Pack And Explore The Best Cities To Visit In Italy
This was my personal list of the 20 best cities to visit in Italy, but Italy is the country of wonders and you could spend all day talking about all the things you can see and do in this small but so complete country.
So don’t waste another minute and start planning your trip, and let Worldpackers help you save tons of money with all the volunteering opportunities in Italy!
Keep exploring Europe:
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Dont Forget Travel Insurance For Italy
Its good to get lost sometimes, but its also good not to get too lost. There are people that want you home in one piece.
Theres one travel insurance provider The Broke Backpacker trusts for all his wildest shenanigans World Nomads!
And then let the shenanigans begin.
Visit Siena The Small Florence
Not so far from Florence, there is another city which deserves to be on the list of the best cities in Italy to visit, and I am talking about Siena.
They often refer to Siena as a small Florence, because it is smaller but equally beautiful.
The truth is that Siena is so amazing that sometimes it is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the entire country.
Famous for the medieval fair of Il Palio, Siena can steal your heart in a minute.
You can start your visit from Piazza del Campo, a stunning square famous worldwide. Youll wish to take a lot of pictures, trust me. And its only one of the beautiful things you can see in the city.
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Verona: The Shakespearean City
Verona is the city of love and of the tragic destiny of Romeo and Juliet. Everyone has already heard about it, but do you know what are the best things to do in town?
Here are the best places to visit in Verona:
- the opportunity to admire the famous balcony and take a picture with your lover
- The piazza Bra, where Verona arena is located
- Piazza delle Erbe with its market, bars and restaurant terraces
- The basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, the oldest church in Verona
- The Castelvecchio, a 14th century castle turned into a museum
Pantelleria An Unknown Place To See In Italy
- Little-known Italian island
- Rugged natural beauty
- Wine-growing areas
What to do there: Pantelleria is a small island in the Strait of Sicily. Closer to North Africas Tunisia than to the Italian mainland, the little-visited island belies the fact that visitors are actually still in Europe. Rugged terrain and dramatic landscapes help to add to the unspoiled feeling, and there are plenty of ways for people to immerse themselves in wild nature at its finest. The volcanic island covers some 83 square kilometres , and its possible to see volcanic action still in progress at the hot springs and steamy fissures. While raw natural beauty is one of the main reasons to visit Italys island of Pantelleria, visitors can also explore interesting archaeological sites and see noteworthy buildings.
My missus travels with all her clothes in ziplock bags: dont be like my missus. UP YOUR PACKING GAME!
Packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the real adventurers these babies are a travellers best kept secret. They organise yo packing and minimise its volume too so you can pack MORE.
Or, yknow you can stick to ziplock bags.
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What Will Your Plan For The Trip Look Like
Although planning can help reduce any stress while traveling, the true Italian way to travel would be to adopt the la dolce vita attitude. Take things slow and go with the flow because thats the true way to enjoy Italy and its atmosphere. If you want to take it a step further, ask the locals for advice, either by using language apps or learning some basic Italian. In no time, youll be enjoying the beauty of the country and Italys amazing culture to its fullest.
Please reach out to content@housinganywhere.com if you have any suggestions or inquiries about the content on this page.
Santa Maria Delle Grazie
Santa Maria Delle Grazie is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Dominican church located in the Italian city of Milan which also happens to house the famous painting Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci.
The church was built in 1463 by Donato Bramante and Guiniforte Solari and went through renovations up until the latter part of the 15th century. The structure was commissioned by the Duke of Milan Sforza to replace the small chapel that once occupied the very space.
If you enjoy visiting churches, Santa Maria Delle Grazie is surely a charming place to visit in Italy.
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TRAVEL PLANNING RESOURCES
Flights: Aviasales & CheapOair are the best websites to book cheap flights.
Accommodation: Booking.com, Agoda, and Hotellook are the top platforms to search for fantastic hotels and accommodation options at the best price.
Travel Insurance: Dont forget travel insurance! We recommend SafetyWing.
Transportation: To book trains,Trainline is the best and cheapest website. To book transport in Europe, USA & Canada, we useOmio & FlixbusUS. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go.For all other countries, we use BookaWay to compare and book Bus, Ferry, or train tickets to get around.
Car Rental: DiscoverCars, & Europcar are reliable platforms to book rental cars.
Group Tours: G Adventures or Expat Explore offers the best group adventures around the world. Use our promo code VERYHUNGRYNOMADS at checkout to receive 5% off your Expat Explore Trip!
Day Tours & Trips: GetYourGuide & Viator are the only platforms you will need. They offer everything at unbeatable prices.
Santa Maria Delle Grazi
Address: Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie, 20123 Milano MI, Italy
La basilica di Santa Maria delle Grazie, commonly known as Santa Maria delle Grazie, is a Catholic church and Dominican convent in Milan, northern Italy. The church and convent are located in the Borgo district of Milan, close to the citys main railway station. This famous church contains the mural of The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, which is in a room that was once part of a refectory of the convent.
The site was once occupied by a church known as Santa Maria Maggiore which was founded in 1466 and rebuilt in 1490. It was then destroyed by French forces in 1568 during the course of the Italian Wars. The church and convent as we know them today were later rebuilt in 1579 by the order of Saint Charles Borromeo.
The new church was consecrated in 1614, and the mural of The Last Supper was completed between 1594 and 1598 by Leonardo da Vinci. Santa Maria delle Grazie has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980 and has been a symbol of Milan for centuries.
In addition to the famous Last Supper painting, the church contains many other works of art, including paintings by Bernardino Luini, Gian Paolo Lomazzo, and Andrea Solari. The church is open to the public for guided art tours, and its definitely worth a visit if youre interested in things to do in Italy that are a bit off the beaten path.
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Venice Is One Of The Best Loved Cities In Italy
Go in summer for sun or try a winter trip and explore the legendary canals without the tourists. But whenever you decide to visit, try to fit in an atmospheric walking tour of the ancient Jewish Ghetto, in the company of local guides it’s an unforgettable experience.
Fun Things To Do At Walt Disney World In September
- Sample foods at Epcots International Food & Wine Festival
- Visit the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom theme parks
- Shop and dine at Disney Springs
- Zip down a waterslide at a Disney waterpark
- Watch the parades, fireworks and nighttime spectaculars inside the parks
- Enjoy a resort day at one of the amazing Walt Disney World on-property hotels
- Walk around Disneys Boardwalk
- Visit nearby Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex at Cape Canaveral
- Enjoy a beach day at Cocoa Beach
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Lake Garda A Beautiful And Scenic Place To Check Out In Italy
- Natural splendour
- Many charming towns and villages to visit
- Outdoor activities
- Excellent lakeside beaches and markets
Why its awesome: Nestled between soaring mountains and rolling hills, the picturesque Lake Garda is the biggest lake in Italy. Among the top Italy vacation ideas for couples seeking lashings of romance, its also a fabulous destination for families and all fans of the great outdoors. The scenic lake is located in the northern part of the country and surrounded by many quaint towns and villages. The lush surroundings are also prime wine- and olive-producing lands, as well as other fresh produce. Fresh fish, caught from the lake, can also be found in abundance. There are weekly markets in lakeside sounds where visitors can fill up on plenty of delicious delights. Because of the lakes large size, it offers completely different experiences in different areas. There are many cool things to do and see around the lake, from pretty lakeside beaches, ruins from the Roman era, grand homes of old, and boating, to adventurous fun, hiking, and immersing yourself in local life.
Bologna Where To Stay In Italy On A Budget
Whilst many travel guides reference towns and cities in the South of Italy as the main budget destinations, Bologna remains somewhat a hidden secret when it comes to foreign visitors. With a large student population, Bologna is a great base for exploring the North of Italy from without breaking the bank.
Bologna is home to a major hub for budget airlines, with some excellent deals to the rest of Italy and further afield in Europe! It has the oldest university in Europe, and this academic history permeates every building in the city.
Well talk more about food in the Emilia-Romagna guide but Bologna is the largest city in the region, and a great pick for foodies that want to avoid the big tourist crowds.
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Pisa: Much More Than Just The Leaning Tower
Everybody in the world knows the tower of Pisa and everybody at least once dreamed of taking a cool and funny picture with it.
Pisa is famous worldwide thanks to its main attraction, the bell tower of the city’s cathedral, and it gets every year so many visitors who want to take pictures of it.
But the tower is not the only thing which is worth a visit and a picture, the whole city is amazing and deserves your attention.
Piazza dei Miracoli and the streets along the river are just two other examples of what Pisa has to offer.
You should definitely include it on your list of top places to visit in Italy.
