Travel
10 Best Things to do in Italy
1. Redentore festival in Venice
Redentore Festival 2011 – Canal Grande Venice
Every July on the third Saturday and Sunday the Venetians celebrate the Redentore festival (Festa del Redentore). On Saturday late afternoon boats of all kinds and sizes come down the Venetian canals. You can see ferry boats transporting people but also gondolas, motor boats, speed boats, even row boats. It is a real party with decorated boats and music on board. Venetians dance, sing and eat on the boats. At sunset they all gather in front of the St Mark’s Bay near the Redentore Church to watch the well expected fireworks which last about forty minutes. On Sunday people can enjoy among other things the boat regattas.
This year the festival will be on July 20th 21st with the fireworks on July 20th.
Read more here.
2. Fountain of Trevi in Rome
Fountain Trevi, Rome
If you make it to Rome it is the site not to miss. The Baroque fountain is just amazing. Be ready for the many tourists tossing coins for good luck!
Where: Piazza di Trevi between Via Poli and Via della Stamperia
3. View from Michelangelo Square in Florence
View of the cathedral of Florence from the Michelangelo square
The Piazzale Michelangelo is just spectacular all day long! You get great views of the Duomo, the Palace Vecchio, the Arno River and the Ponte Vecchio. It is definitely worth the walk up!
4. Colosseum in Rome
Colosseum in Rome (Italy)
It is where the combats of gladiators with wild beasts happened. The construction ended in 80 A.D. and the colosseum could seat from 50,000 to 80,000 people at a time.
Where: Piazza del Colosseo
5. Cathedral of Siena in Tuscany
Cathedral of Siena
If you love religious sites, it is worth the detour during your time in Tuscany. The outside is as nice as the inside. One celebrates the 750th anniversary this year. The façade, nave, mosaic floor and library ceiling will take your breath away.
Where: Piazza del Duomo
6. San Gimignano in Tuscany
San Gimignano towers, Tuscany (Italy)
This beautiful medieval village is one of the destinations for tourists in Tuscany. It is often called the Manhattan of Tuscany because of all its towers. It has many ice cream shops!
7. Cathedral of Milan in Lombardy
Milan cathedral by night
That is the site of the city everyone comes to see. It took six centuries to build from 1386 to 1965. 40,000 people can enter it at a time!
Don’t miss visiting the roof top to admire the flying buttresses, the pinnacles, the spires, the crockets, the giant statues, the bronze statue and “the Madonnia”. On a clear day you can see the Po valley and even see the Alps.
See our previous article about the cathedral.
8. Bellagio on Como Lake
Arriving by boat to Bellagio on Como Lake
Bellagio is a lovely touristy village on the lake of Como. It is a great stop for the day.
9. Castle of Sirmione on Garda lake
Castle of Sirmione, Italy (on the lake of Garda)
The fortified castle of Sirmione is located on the peninsula of the Garda Lake and you can visit it.
10. Dolce Vita Hotel Lindenhof in Naturns, South Tirol
View from the Dolce Vita Hotel Lindenhof in Naturns, South Tyrol
Naturns is a village in South Tyrol near Merano with medieval castles and many fruit trees. If you go there the design hotel called Hotel Lindenhof is perfect with lovely views from the pool, many saunas and an amazing breakfast buffet, cakes in the afternoon and a 5 course meal in the evening!
