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Italy
Destination · Italy

Italy

Travel guides, landmarks and museums in Italy: what to see and do.

Guides in Italy

the portico of san luca in bologna with the sequence of arches climbing towards the colle della guardia
Monuments & landmarks

The portico of San Luca: the arches everyone calls 666, and the view Bologna has left

10 min read
the lamentation over the dead christ by niccolo dell arca in santa maria della vita in bologna, with the seven terracotta figures around the body
Monuments & landmarks

The Lamentation by Niccolò dell’Arca: how you carve a scream in clay

9 min read
the santo stefano complex in bologna seen from the sloping triangular square, with the brick facades of the different churches
Monuments & landmarks

Santo Stefano in Bologna: seven churches around a courtyard, and a basin that is not Pilate’s

9 min read
raphael’s ecstasy of saint cecilia in the pinacoteca nazionale of bologna, with the saint letting the portative organ slip from her hands
Museums & masterpieces

Pinacoteca Nazionale of Bologna: the works to look for, room by room

11 min read
the unfinished facade of the basilica of san petronio in bologna, with the marble cladding breaking off and bare brick above
Monuments & landmarks

Basilica of San Petronio: the facade nobody finished and the meridian that measured the year

10 min read
the grand canal seen from the accademia bridge with the salute the dogana and a gondola
Travel guides

What to see in Venice in 2 days: the itinerary that works around the bookings

12 min read
a wall of the scrovegni chapel with the three bands of panels frescoed by giotto against the blue ground
Monuments & landmarks

Scrovegni Chapel: how to visit it and how to read Giotto’s cycle

10 min read
piazza maggiore in bologna with the palazzo del podesta and the torre dell arengo lit by low sun and the porticoes in shadow
Travel guides

What to see in Bologna in 2 days: the itinerary of a city you walk under cover

12 min read
titian s assunta on the high altar of the frari basilica between the gothic windows of the apse
Monuments & landmarks

The Frari basilica in Venice: Titian’s Assunta and the choir nobody expects

10 min read
the royal chapel of the treasure of san gennaro in naples cathedral with the frescoed dome and the baroque altars in polychrome marble
Monuments & landmarks

Naples cathedral: three churches one inside the other, and the richest treasure in Europe

10 min read
the central part of paolo veronese s feast in the house of levi with christ at table and the dogs in the foreground
Museums & masterpieces

Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice: 7 works to see (and one that is not there)

11 min read
the pink and grey facade of the palace of capodimonte in naples seen from the avenue of the royal park
Museums & masterpieces

Capodimonte museum: the works to look for, room by room

11 min read
the seaward front of the doge s palace in venice with its two stacked loggias and moored gondolas
Monuments & landmarks

The Doge’s Palace in Venice: the building that stands up the wrong way round

10 min read
the veiled christ by giuseppe sammartino in the sansevero chapel in naples with the marble veil clinging to the body
Monuments & landmarks

Sammartino’s Veiled Christ: how you carve a veil in marble

9 min read
the west front of st mark s basilica in venice with its golden mosaics and the quadriga on the loggia
Monuments & landmarks

St Mark’s Basilica: the church Venice built out of plunder

9 min read
naples seen from castel sant elmo with the bell gable of the certosa di san martino in the foreground, the port, the gulf and vesuvius behind
Travel guides

What to see in Naples in 2 days: the itinerary that holds the old centre and the hill together

12 min read
piazza navona with borrominis facade of sant agnese in agone and the fountain of the four rivers
Travel guides

Borromini’s works in Rome: what they are, which ones you can visit, and in what order

11 min read
borrominis concave and convex facade on via di propaganda in rome seen from below
Travel guides

The Borromini you cannot visit: four works you look at from the street

9 min read
the concave facade of sant agnese in agone with its twin bell towers in piazza navona in rome
Monuments & landmarks

Borromini in Rome’s churches: four free stops, from the facade to his tomb

10 min read
the courtyard of the sapienza with the concave facade and the spiral lantern of sant ivo in rome
Monuments & landmarks

Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza: Borromini’s spiral, and why you cannot go in today

8 min read
borrominis perspective gallery at palazzo spada seen on axis with the statue at the far end
Museums & masterpieces

Borromini’s perspective gallery at Palazzo Spada: nine metres that look like thirty-five

8 min read
the rippling facade of san carlo alle quattro fontane at the crossroads of via delle quattro fontane in rome
Monuments & landmarks

San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane: the church that fits inside a pier of St Peter’s

9 min read
The Minerva elephant designed by Bernini, carrying the Egyptian obelisk on its back
Monuments & landmarks

Bernini in Rome: palaces, angels and the last sculpture

11 min read
The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa of Ávila by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the Cornaro Chapel
Monuments & landmarks

Bernini’s works in Rome’s churches: five stops, all of them free

11 min read
The Cathedra Petri by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the apse of St Peter’s Basilica
Monuments & landmarks

Bernini’s works in St Peter’s: seven masterpieces in one building

11 min read
The Goat Amalthea with the Infant Jupiter and a Faun attributed to Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Museums & masterpieces

Bernini at the Borghese Gallery: the works nobody looks at

10 min read
The first bust of Cardinal Scipione Borghese by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Museums & masterpieces

The two busts of Scipione Borghese: the crack that made Bernini start again

8 min read
Truth Unveiled by Time by Gian Lorenzo Bernini at the Galleria Borghese
Museums & masterpieces

Truth Unveiled by Time: the statue Bernini carved for himself

9 min read
Boy with a Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio at the Galleria Borghese
Museums & masterpieces

Sick Bacchus and Boy with a Basket of Fruit: the two Caravaggios Scipione got through a seizure

9 min read
David with the Head of Goliath by Caravaggio at the Galleria Borghese
Museums & masterpieces

David with the Head of Goliath: the painting Caravaggio used to beg for pardon

9 min read
the facade of santa maria novella in florence, with the white and green marble inlay designed by leon battista alberti
Monuments & landmarks

Santa Maria Novella in Florence: Masaccio’s Trinity and what to see in the complex

12 min read
the neo-gothic facade of santa croce in florence, in white green and pink marble
Monuments & landmarks

Santa Croce Basilica in Florence: the tombs, the Giottos and what to see

13 min read
the interior of the chapel of the princes at the medici chapels in florence, faced with marble and semiprecious stone
Monuments & landmarks

Medici Chapels in Florence: Michelangelo’s New Sacristy and what to see

12 min read
the courtyard of the bargello palace in florence, with its open staircase and the coats of arms on the walls
Museums & masterpieces

Bargello Museum in Florence: 8 masterpieces to see and how to plan the visit

13 min read
botticelli’s birth of venus, with the goddess standing on the shell and pushed ashore by the winds
Museums & masterpieces

Botticelli’s Birth of Venus: meaning, details and why the title is wrong

11 min read
the ponte vecchio in florence seen from the arno with the shops jutting over the river
Monuments & landmarks

Ponte Vecchio and the Vasari Corridor: the history and how to visit them today

12 min read
the rusticated facade of pitti palace seen from the sloping square
Monuments & landmarks

Pitti Palace and the Boboli Garden: what to see and how to plan your visit

13 min read
the face of michelangelo’s david in profile, with the hand holding the sling over the shoulder
Museums & masterpieces

Accademia Gallery: Michelangelo’s David and what to see beyond the statue

12 min read
botticelli’s primavera, with venus at the centre of the flowered meadow and the three graces dancing
Museums & masterpieces

Botticelli’s Primavera: meaning, figures and the details to look for

11 min read
brunelleschi’s dome seen from above with its eight webs and the lantern
Monuments & landmarks

Florence Duomo: how to visit it, Brunelleschi’s dome and which pass to choose

14 min read
detail of bernini’s fountain of the four rivers in piazza navona in rome
Travel guides

Bernini’s fountains in Rome: which ones are really his and how to see them in a day

15 min read
bernini’s bee fountain on the corner between piazza barberini and via veneto
Monuments & landmarks

Bee Fountain: Bernini’s smallest fountain and the mistake that cost dear

9 min read
the barcaccia fountain in piazza di spagna with the spanish steps behind it
Monuments & landmarks

Fontana della Barcaccia: the sinking boat at the Spanish Steps

11 min read
bernini’s fountain of the four rivers in the middle of piazza navona in rome
Monuments & landmarks

Fountain of the Four Rivers: the story, the symbols and the legend that does not hold

13 min read
the view over florence from piazzale michelangelo, with brunelleschi’s dome and giotto’s bell tower
Travel guides

What to see in Florence in 2 days: a full itinerary with tickets and opening times

15 min read
sandro botticelli’s birth of venus, the goddess standing on a shell
Museums & masterpieces

Uffizi Gallery: 10 works to see and how to plan your visit

14 min read
Civita di Bagnoregio seen from the bridge, the village on its tufa spur surrounded by badlands
Travel guides

Villages in Lazio: 9 to visit, and how you actually get there without a car

16 min read
the Boxer at Rest in the National Roman Museum, one of the eight unmissable museums in Rome
Museums & masterpieces

Museums in Rome: the 8 not to miss, with the closing day and what to look for inside

15 min read
the arcades of the Colosseum lit at dusk, the first stop of a three-day itinerary in Rome
Travel guides

What to see in Rome in 3 days: an itinerary built around bookings and closing days

16 min read
the Boxer at Rest, a seated Greek bronze with bound hands and copper inlays on the wounds, at the National Roman Museum
Museums & masterpieces

National Roman Museum: 6 works to see and how the combined ticket works

14 min read
the inner courtyard of Palazzo Doria Pamphilj in Rome with its orange trees and two levels of arched portico
Museums & masterpieces

Doria Pamphilj Gallery: 6 works to see in the finest private collection in Rome

13 min read
the façade of Palazzo Barberini in Rome seen from the gate, with the Barberini bees on the coat of arms and the lit portico
Museums & masterpieces

Palazzo Barberini: 7 artworks to see, from the two Caravaggios to La Fornarina

14 min read
Carlo Maderno’s façade of St Peter’s Basilica at blue hour, with Michelangelo’s dome behind it and the inscription of Paul V
Monuments & landmarks

St Peter’s Basilica: what to see, what you pay for and what you do not

14 min read
the Trevi Fountain seen from the front, with the façade of Palazzo Poli, the papal inscriptions and Oceanus in the central niche
Monuments & landmarks

The Trevi Fountain: the history, what you are looking at and the new access rules

12 min read
the portico of the Pantheon in Rome with its monolithic columns and the Agrippa inscription, seen from Piazza della Rotonda with the obelisk
Monuments & landmarks

The Pantheon in Rome: what to see, what the ticket costs and why the dome stands up

13 min read
the Roman Forum seen from the Palatine, with the Basilica of Maxentius on the left, the Arch of Titus and the Colosseum beyond
Monuments & landmarks

The Roman Forum and the Palatine: what to see and how to read the ruins

13 min read
the arcades of the Colosseum lit at dusk, with the Palatine Hill and cypresses in the background
Monuments & landmarks

The Colosseum: how to visit it, which ticket to choose and what to really look at

13 min read
the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi seen from the lower square with its colonnade
Travel guides

Assisi: what to see in one day, between Giotto and Saint Francis

10 min read
Leonardo’s Last Supper in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan
Museums & masterpieces

Leonardo’s Last Supper in Milan: how to visit the Cenacolo Vinciano

9 min read
The Odescalchi Castle of Bracciano overlooking the lake
Monuments & landmarks

How to visit Bracciano Castle: everything you need to know (updated 2026)

8 min read
The School of Athens, Raphael’s fresco in the Vatican Rooms
Museums & masterpieces

Raphael’s School of Athens: all the secrets of this timeless masterpiece (updated 2026)

9 min read
The terraces of the sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia in Palestrina
Monuments & landmarks

Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia in Palestrina: the most venerated of antiquity (updated 2026)

10 min read
The Romanesque façade of the abbey of Chiaravalle di Fiastra in Le Marche
Travel guides

Abbadia di Fiastra: what to see against the splendid backdrop of Le Marche (updated 2026)

7 min read
The mountains and green landscapes of Trentino-Alto Adige in summer
Travel guides

Trentino-Alto Adige: 7 things to do in summer amid unforgettable nature and landscapes (updated 2026)

7 min read
Aerial view of Ostuni, the white city of Puglia
Travel guides

5 things to see in Ostuni and a curiosity you surely didn’t know (updated 2026)

9 min read
The Doric temples of the archaeological park of Paestum
Monuments & landmarks

Paestum: 8 things to see and to know about this beautiful archaeological park (updated 2026)

13 min read
The Cathedral of San Feliciano in Foligno
Travel guides

7 things to see in Foligno, one of the most beautiful towns in Umbria (updated 2026)

9 min read
A glimpse of the Amalfi Coast seen from Ravello
Travel guides

What to see on the Amalfi Coast: 5 places not to miss (updated 2026)

12 min read
The unfinished façade of the Malatesta Temple in Rimini, designed by Leon Battista Alberti
Monuments & landmarks

The Malatesta Temple in Rimini: the complete guide to the cathedral (updated 2026)

10 min read
The brick alleys and medieval walls of Santarcangelo di Romagna
Travel guides

Santarcangelo di Romagna: what to see in this beautiful medieval village (updated 2026)

7 min read
The old sailing fishing boats in the canal port of Cesenatico
Travel guides

What to see in Cesenatico: the many colours of Leonardo da Vinci’s canal port (updated 2026)

6 min read
The old fish market and the alleys of Rimini’s historic centre
Travel guides

6 things to see in Rimini in 1 day: a route through its finest art (updated 2026)

9 min read
The Grotto of Tiberius in Sperlonga, the natural cave turned into a nymphaeum by the emperor
Monuments & landmarks

What to see in Sperlonga: the villa of Tiberius in one of Italy’s most beautiful villages (updated 2026)

12 min read
The Romanesque basilica of San Pietro in Tuscania on top of its hill
Travel guides

Tuscania, the ideal town to discover history from the Etruscans to the Middle Ages (updated 2026)

5 min read
The medieval aqueduct and Piazza Garibaldi in Sulmona
Travel guides

Sulmona: what to see in the town of confetti and of Ovid (updated 2026)

8 min read
A panorama of the Monti Sibillini National Park between Umbria and Marche
Monuments & landmarks

Monti Sibillini National Park: 2 things you certainly didn’t know (updated 2026)

6 min read
The Canopus of Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, with the long pool framed by columns
Monuments & landmarks

Visiting Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli: the secrets of the emperor’s palace (updated 2026)

12 min read
The Fountain of the Naiads at the centre of Piazza della Repubblica in Rome
Monuments & landmarks

The Fountain of the Naiads in Piazza della Repubblica: the secrets of a scandalous masterpiece (updated 2026)

6 min read
vatican museums
Museums & masterpieces

Tour of the Vatican Museums in Rome: 9 masterpieces you absolutely must know (updated 2026)

14 min read
The brightly coloured sculptures of Niki de Saint Phalle’s Tarot Garden in Capalbio
Monuments & landmarks

The Tarot Garden by Niki de Saint Phalle: my interpretation of these visionary works (updated 2026)

16 min read
The church of Santa Maria della Spina on the Lungarni of Pisa
Travel guides

What to see in Pisa: 5 lesser-known and underrated places in the city (updated 2026)

8 min read
Altare della Patria (Vittoriano) in Rome
Monuments & landmarks

Altare della Patria: everything you should know about the Vittoriano in Rome (updated 2026)

11 min read
The Byzantine mosaics of a basilica in Ravenna
Travel guides

What to do and see in Ravenna: why is this city so famous for its mosaics? (updated 2026)

9 min read
Castel del Monte, Frederick II’s octagonal castle near Andria, in Puglia
Monuments & landmarks

All the secrets of Castel del Monte: the manor of Federico II and its mysteries (updated 2026)

10 min read
The Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa with the cathedral, the baptistery and the leaning tower
Monuments & landmarks

Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa: everything you always wanted to know (updated 2026)

13 min read
The white town of Otranto overlooking the Salento sea
Travel guides

What to do and see in Otranto during your holiday in Salento (updated 2026)

7 min read
The bell tower of Pistoia cathedral seen through an arch, with the baptistery dome beside it
Travel guides

What to see in Pistoia in one day: the medieval city almost nobody visits (updated 2026)

14 min read
The swan stained-glass window of the Casina delle Civette at Villa Torlonia, Rome
Monuments & landmarks

Villa Torlonia and its enchanted houses: a beautiful, little-known place in Rome (updated 2026)

8 min read
Giovanni Pisano’s pulpit in the church of Sant’Andrea in Pistoia
Monuments & landmarks

Giovanni Pisano’s pulpit in Pistoia: all the secret meanings of a masterpiece (updated 2026)

6 min read
The village of Pisciotta and the Cilento coast overlooking the sea
Travel guides

What to see in Cilento: 9 places I visited that you absolutely must know (updated 2026)

13 min read
The village of Civita di Bagnoregio isolated on its tufa spur in the valley of the calanchi
Travel guides

Why you should visit Civita di Bagnoregio before it disappears forever (updated 2026)

7 min read
the farnese bull at the naples archaeological museum
Museums & masterpieces

The MANN: 7 works of the Naples Archaeological Museum not to miss! (updated 2026)

15 min read
The village of Castel Santa Maria perched in the Umbrian Apennines between Norcia and Cascia
Travel guides

Castel Santa Maria and the Madonna della Neve: why it’s such a special place for me (updated 2026)

6 min read
the creation of adam in michelangelo’s sistine chapel
Monuments & landmarks

Curiosities about the Sistine Chapel: 5 Anecdotes You Do Not Know (updated 2026)

10 min read
View of Merano from above, among the mountains of South Tyrol
Travel guides

What to see in Merano: walks and relaxation between art and nature (updated 2026)

7 min read
The Romanesque façade of a church in Piazza Silvestri in Bevagna
Travel guides

Bevagna: what to see in one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy (updated 2026)

9 min read
Piazza del Campo and the Torre del Mangia seen from above in Siena
Travel guides

What to see in Siena: 8 wonders that will make you want to leave right now (updated 2026)

8 min read
The Elephant Fountain in Piazza del Duomo in Catania
Travel guides

What to see in Catania in one day, plus some practical tips (updated 2026)

9 min read
Piazza Unità d’Italia in Trieste, with its nineteenth-century palaces and the side that opens onto the sea
Travel guides

What to see in Trieste in 2 days: piazza Unità, Miramare, San Giusto hill and the cafés of Joyce (updated 2026)

17 min read
The Romanesque cathedral of Trani overlooking the sea
Travel guides

3 things to see in Trani you absolutely can’t miss (updated 2026)

7 min read
paolina borghese by Canova
Museums & masterpieces

Galleria Borghese Rome: 10 masterpieces you absolutely must see (updated 2026)

17 min read
The majolica dome of the basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità in the Rione Sanità of Naples
Travel guides

Naples’ Miglio Sacro: 10 things to see in the Rione Sanità (updated 2026)

14 min read
The ruins of the unfinished abbey of the Holy Trinity in Venosa
Monuments & landmarks

The unfinished abbey of Venosa: the story of the Trinity, from the Romans to today (updated 2026)

10 min read
Bernini’s Triton Fountain in Piazza Barberini, Rome
Monuments & landmarks

The Triton Fountain in Rome: 5 things to know and a few anecdotes (updated 2026)

8 min read
The roofless Gothic abbey of San Galgano in Tuscany
Monuments & landmarks

The sad story of San Galgano Abbey and the sword in the stone (updated 2026)

9 min read
One of the colossal sculptures of the Park of the Monsters in Bomarzo among the woods
Monuments & landmarks

The Park of the Monsters in Bomarzo: what to see and the secrets of the Sacred Wood (updated 2026)

8 min read
The entrance arch and buildings of the Coppedè district in Rome
Monuments & landmarks

The Coppedè district in Rome: a unique place suspended between dream and reality (updated 2026)

7 min read
The alpine landscape along the San Candido to Lienz cycle path
Travel guides

The San Candido to Lienz cycle path: a ride into the nature of the Alps (updated 2026)

4 min read
The facade of the Royal Palace of Caserta seen from the garden
Monuments & landmarks

Royal Palace of Caserta: what to see in one of the most beautiful palaces in the world (updated 2026)

12 min read
Eda among the trulli of Alberobello
Monuments & landmarks

The trulli of Alberobello: what to see in the town of trulli, between history and curiosities (updated 2026)

11 min read
The Circus of Maxentius along the Appian Way in Rome
Monuments & landmarks

The Appian Way: 5 things to discover on the queen of roads, a UNESCO site (updated 2026)

12 min read
The woods and green ridges of Valle Imagna, in the province of Bergamo
Travel guides

Valle Imagna: 5 things to see and the finest trails if you love nature holidays (updated 2026)

10 min read
The helical Royal Staircase of Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola
Monuments & landmarks

Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola: all the information and curiosities about this gem of the Viterbo area (updated 2026)

9 min read
The colourful houses of the Corricella harbour in Procida
Travel guides

Visiting Procida: 5 things to know before you leave for this beautiful island (updated 2026)

8 min read
The fountain in the main square of Sutri during the village festival, with the bell gable and clock behind
Travel guides

What to see in Sutri: the amphitheatre carved out of tuff, the Etruscan necropolis and a crypt in the dark (updated 2026)

12 min read
equestrian statue of marcus aurelius at the capitoline museums
Museums & masterpieces

Visiting the Capitoline Museums: 8 must-see works you should know (updated 2026)

13 min read
The Sassi of Matera seen from the viewpoint, with the tufa houses and the cathedral
Monuments & landmarks

What to see in Matera: 7 things to try in the city of the sassi (updated 2026)

11 min read
raphael’s marriage of the virgin at the pinacoteca di brera
Museums & masterpieces

What to see at the Pinacoteca di Brera: 8 masterpieces explained for you (updated 2026)

11 min read
The Brera Altarpiece (Sacred Conversation) by Piero della Francesca
Museums & masterpieces

Piero della Francesca’s Sacred Conversation: a timeless masterpiece (updated 2026)

7 min read
the spires and rooftop terraces of milan cathedral
Monuments & landmarks

Milan Cathedral: 7 essential things to know before you visit (updated 2026)

13 min read
A field of tulips in bloom on the outskirts of Milan
Travel guides

A trip to Milan: springtime, tulips, projects and aperitivi (updated 2026)

7 min read
The decumanus maximus among the ruins of the archaeological park of Ostia Antica
Monuments & landmarks

Visiting Ostia Antica: one of the most beautiful archaeological parks in the world (updated 2026)

11 min read
the interior of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome
Museums & masterpieces

Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome: great masterpieces and a dark past (updated 2026)

9 min read
The Romanesque façade of the cathedral of Ruvo di Puglia
Monuments & landmarks

The cathedral of Ruvo di Puglia: why I loved it so much (updated 2026)

6 min read
The villa of the Priory of Malta on the Aventine Hill in Rome
Monuments & landmarks

The Priory of Malta on the Aventine: the most romantic spot in Rome (updated 2026)

12 min read
The harbour and colourful houses of the fishing village of Marta on Lake Bolsena
Travel guides

What to see in Marta: myths and legends in a fishing village on Lake Bolsena (updated 2026)

4 min read
The skyline of Pitigliano, the tufa town perched on its crag in the Maremma
Travel guides

Pitigliano: what to see and how to get to this medieval town (updated 2026)

6 min read
The Romanesque façade of San Martino Cathedral in Lucca
Monuments & landmarks

Lucca Cathedral: all the mysteries of San Martino, from the labyrinth to the Volto Santo (updated 2026)

11 min read
The Imperial Forums of Rome seen from above
Travel guides

The history of Rome in brief: from its founding to today (updated 2026)

9 min read
The Palazzo della Farnesina in Rome, seat of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Museums & masterpieces

The Farnesina Collection: the contemporary art hidden inside Italy’s Foreign Ministry (updated 2026)

5 min read
The medieval castle of Roseto Capo Spulico overhanging the Ionian Sea
Travel guides

Roseto Capo Spulico is one of the most beautiful beaches in Calabria: a fairy-tale sea (updated 2026)

5 min read