top holiday destinations in italy
Italy will take your breath away. A country for every kind of holiday, Italy's charms will leave you with too many options to choose from. Whether you are looking for a glorious beach to relax on, a fascinating gallery or museum to explore, miles and miles of lush green countryside to roam, or a vibrant city to discover, Italy is the place to go.
Even though it was once the centre of an incredible and powerful empire, the nation's capital, for instance, is known for its eye-catching architecture, incredible artistic history and cosmopolitan atmosphere, all of which have contributed to the city's success in luring top designers and major brands. It is little wonder that millions of people choose to take holidays in Italy every year and spend time looking for the best holidays in Italy. If you are planning on being one of them, check out our guide to the best Italian holiday destinations.
Tuscany
Tuscany is the most romantic area in Italy, and it is well suited for art lovers, being the area with the greatest concentration of famous art in the world, according to Unesco. Florence is home to the Duomo, which was designed by Brunelleschi, and the Cappella Brancacci, which features murals by Masaccio. A rippling landscape of languid cypress trees, olive groves, and prestigious regional treasures can be found beyond the world-famous museums, elegant churches, and impeccable Renaissance streetscapes of Tuscany, including the cosmopolitan skyline of mediaeval San Gimignano to the vineyards of Italy's most famous wine district, Chianti. Why not pick up a bottle and head back to a superb Vintage Travel villa to relax?
Umbria
Umbria, sometimes known as "the green heart of Italy," is the only area in Italy that does not border either the sea or another nation. This makes it a territory unto itself. Because of Italy's relative lack of contact with the outside world, the country has managed to preserve a significant number of its centuries-old customs. When you visit this place, you can still see elderly women wearing aprons and preparing traditional Italian foods.
The area is most famous for its mediaeval hilltop villages, many of which are stunningly maintained and set against breathtaking backdrops. From Orvieto's towering Gothic cathedral to Assisi's basilica, the Romans, warring mediaeval families, and artists have all made their mark on the architecture of the region. However, mother nature has also contributed, as seen by the stark contrast between the rugged presence of the Monti Sibillini and the smooth verdant slopes and meadows dotted with wildflowers.
Lazio
Lazio is one of Italy's most underrated regions, yet it holds some of the country's most amazing secrets, including hidden monasteries, mediaeval villages, and volcanic lakes.
We don't need to provide an introduction to its legendary capital, Rome. Travellers have been captivated by Rome for millennia, and the city continues to have the ability to enchant visitors to this day. It is home to some of the most renowned works of art in the world, and the picturesque view of its cityscape, which is dotted with eerie ruins and well-known landmarks, is just breathtaking.
However, Lazio more than holds its own once you leave the city behind. The Etruscan tombs in Cerveteri and Tarquinia, Hadrian's expansive estate at Tivoli, the monasteries in Subiaco, and the amazing remains in Ostia Antica are all incredible sites that can compete with anything else in the country.
The area also has areas of outstanding natural beauty, such as lakes encircled by hills of emerald green, distant peaks of the Apennines, and an unending supply of sandy beaches. When you factor in the region's world-renowned cuisine and wine, you have the makings of a vacation that will live long in the memory.
sicily
On the list of UNESCO World Heritage Monuments, the island of Sicily occupies a total of seven spots; three of these spots are reserved for ancient sites, two are for natural marvels, and two are for architectural masterpieces. Sicily is home to some of the world's most impressive examples of ancient architecture, including one of the three most perfect Greek temples anywhere, located in Agrigento's Valley of Temples; the 3,500 square metres of mosaics at Villa Romana del Casale in Enna, which decorates one of the best-kept villas in the entire Roman Empire; and one of the largest Greek temples in the world, located at Selinunte.
The breathtaking landscapes of Sicily, which are dominated by Mount Etna, and its beaches of golden sand, are on par with the island's otherworldly attractions.
Palermo, the city that serves as the capital of Sicily, is a dynamic metropolis that is full of colour and great structures. The nearby Cathedral of Monreale is a marvel of Norman construction. Its interior walls encompass 6,340 square metres and are adorned with beautiful mosaics created by craftsmen from Constantinople and Sicily. The structure of Monreale has remained virtually unchanged since it was first constructed in the 1100s.
Le marche
Le Marche is one of Italy's beauties that receives the least amount of attention, despite its abundance of white-pebble beaches, cliff-backed Adriatic coves, mediaeval hill villages, and snow-capped summits.
This mountainous region, which is located between the Apennine Mountains and the shore of the Adriatic Sea, is home to a number of beautiful provincial towns. The most important are Urbino and Ascoli Piceno. Urbino boasts a magnificently well-preserved historic centre, which harkens back to the city's glory as a Renaissance cultural centre and the birthplace of the artist Raphael. Ascoli Piceno is known for its sophisticated atmosphere and superb cuisine. Music lovers should make a beeline for Macerata, for during the summer months, the town's hilltop centre is filled with the music of opera.