Things to Do in Italy

In 1596, Ferdinando I de’ Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, commissioned famous Italian architect architect Bernardo Buontalenti to build a hunting villa, which quickly became the court and estate of the Grand Duke and Duchess. Today, Villa Artimino is one of twelve villas and two gardens collectively granted UNESCO World Heritage status.

This particular villa has the unusual nickname of the villa of 100 chimneys. Since Ferdenando I suffered from gout, numerous fireplaces were incorporated into the villa’s design, and their chimneys are visible from miles away. The interior of the estate still contains many of its original frescoes, furnishings and — perhaps most interesting of all — a roasting spit designed by Leonardo da Vinci.

The Villa San Michele on the island of Capri is a 20th century villa built by Swedish doctor and author Alex Munthe, who lived on Capri for nearly six decades.  Now a museum, it is home to more than 1,600 pieces from as far back as 1250 B.C. A collection from the Etruscan period includes a marble sphinx and a head made of terracotta while Roman antiquities on display include a variety of mosaics, sculptures and columns. Highlights of the collection include an Egyptian sphinx in red and black granite from the time of Ramses II and a mask of Medusa. In the chapel, visitors will see examples of medieval church art, as well as pieces from the Neapolitan Renaissance, and in the dining room and kitchen are collections of 18th century Swedish pewter and 16th century Lombard copper vessels. Munthe’s personal effects are also on display, including a manuscript of his book, “The Story of San Michele.”

The villa gardens include more archaeological finds and offer panoramic views of the town of Capri, the harbor, the Sorretine peninsula and Mount Vesuvius.

Just outside the town of Piazza Armerina in southern Sicily, the ruins of Villa Romana del Casale are home to the world’s largest collection of ancient Roman mosaics. These incredible designs date from the fourth century and were stunningly preserved by a 12th-century landslide before being unearthed in the 19th century.

Villa Romana del Casale, once an ancient hunting lodge and today one of Italy’s many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, includes an extensive array of excavated rooms. Admire the spectacular mosaic floors and decorations covering over 32,000 square feet (3,000 square meters), including the famous Bikini Girls and a mythological scene that shows the labors of Hercules.

The best way to visit is by booking a private tour that includes transportation from Agrigento, Taormina, or Palermo. Because there are so many rooms to see—including private apartments, state rooms, and thermal baths—visiting with a tour guide helps travelers appreciate the site’s historical importance and interpret the mosaics’ compositions and themes. Villa entry is ticketed and there can be long lines at the entrance, so it’s best to consider booking a tour that includes skip-the-line tickets.

Villa Romana del Casale is located in the Sicilian countryside outside Piazza Armerina, an easy day trip from Agrigento, Taormina, or Palermo. Public buses run from the town center to the archaeological site.

The villa is partially covered, so it can be visited even during inclement weather. The site is open daily (except Christmas and New Year’s Day) from 9am and closes at 4pm in winter and 6pm in summer. On weekends in July and August, the villa closes at 11pm, so consider an evening visit to avoid the daytime heat and crowds.

Not far from Villa Romana del Casale, the Valley of the Temples houses seven spectacular Doric temples dating from the fifth century BC, when the area was part of Magna Graecia. Consider visiting both of these archaeological sites on a single tour.

The stately Villa Melzi d’Eril sits at the edge of Lake Como in the picturesque town of Bellagio, while the peaceful Villa Melzi Gardens stretch out around it, hugging the lake. Both the villa and gardens were built in the early 19th century as the summer home for an Italian duke. The gardens were designed in the English style with statues, and the grounds include a traditional orangery (which today houses a museum) and a small chapel. Inside the museum, you'll find a bust of Napoleon and a set of ceremonial keys to the city of Milan. The small chapel is where the Melzi family is entombed.

While the villa itself is not open to the public, there are lots of walking paths through the gardens, ideal for getting away from the crowds in Bellagio. Some of the paths run right along the lake, with blooming plants on the opposite side and benches placed along the path so you can stop and enjoy the view for awhile. Visit the gardens on a full-day walking and boating tour of Lake Como to explore the nearby city of Varenna, taste local olive oil, and enjoy a boat ride across the lake.

Insider's Tip: Look out for the historic Venetian gondola on display in the gardens, which was brought to the property at the request of Napoleon.

Catania’s largest park is one of the city’s most tranquil spots – a vast expanse of greenery laced with scenic walkways and dotted with pavilions, elaborate flower gardens and hilltop viewpoints that look out over the city center below. Named after illustrious Catanese composer Vincenzo Bellini, Villa Bellini opened its doors in 1883 and is today regarded as one of Italy’s most exquisite public gardens.

The park is best known for its rich botanical variety, with pathways shaded by sprawling fig trees and towering palms, and more than 100 varieties of plants and flowers brightening up the gardens. Additional highlights of the Villa Bellini include the central fountain and floral clock; the Avenue of Illustrious Men, which is lined with busts of historic Italian figures, including a bronze statue of Giuseppe Mazzini; and the hilltop bandstand, which hosts regular concerts throughout the summer months.

While Palermo has a number of bustling outdoor markets worth exploring for the lively atmosphere, the most famous is Vucciria Market. Located in the historic center around Piazza San Domenico, the stalls predominantly sell fish, meat, and produce—but you can find a little of everything here.

The name “La Vucciria” comes from the Sicilian word for “voices,” a reference to the noise level in this busy street market. In addition to the seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, and street foods that have been the staples of the Vucciria Market for hundreds of years, vendors also sell a huge variety of other products to stock your pantry or even your home. You’ll find everything from pasta and herbs to cheap clothing and CDs.

Unique ways to experience the neighborhood feel of Sicily’s vibrant capital city include seeing this colorful street market as part of a market food tour, Palermo walking tour, or Palermo bike tour. Guided walking tours highlighting traditional Palermo street food almost always include a stop here, as well as at the city's Ballarò and Capo markets.

 

The market is located in the historic center along Via Roma, la Cala, il Cassaro, Via Cassari, Piazza del Garraffello, Via Argenteria Nuova, Piazza Caracciolo, and Via Maccheronai—an easy walk from any of the city's main sights.

The market is open Monday to Saturday from dawn until roughly 2 pm. Arrive in the morning when you can see it at its bustling best.

The Italian artist Renato Guttuso painted his famous Vucciria di Palermo, depicting the cheerful market stalls, in 1974. It now hangs in Palermo's Palazzo Chiaramonte-Steri.

A lasting remnant of medieval Milan, the historic alleyway of Vicolo dei Lavandai juts out from the Naviglio Grande canal, close to the Darsena di Porta Ticinese (dockyards). Taking its name, which means ‘Alley of the Launderers’, from its previous incarnation, the alley was used as a wash house from the Middle Ages up until the 1950s, where washerwomen would plunge clothes and linens into the stream and scrub them with soap on the waterfront. 

The focal point of the Vicolo dei Lavandai is a narrow central canal way and along its banks the stone stalls and old ‘brellins’ (wooden launderers’ stools) can still be seen. Overlooking the canal, the former grocer’s store, where soap and bleach was sold to the workers, has now been transformed into the El Brellin restaurant, and a number of other cafés line the banks.

The Vittoriano monument, among the most famous landmarks in Rome, is home to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Vittoriano Museum Complex. This is where some of the city’s most important art exhibitions are held each year, so it’s a particularly interesting for art enthusiasts.

The Vittoriano, also known as the Altare della Patria or Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II, was inaugurated in 1911 to honor the first king of the newly united Italy. Today, in addition to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Museo Centrale del Risorgimento (Museum of Italian Unification), and the Sacrario delle Bandiere gallery of Italian military flags, the enormous building houses a large exhibition space in the eastern wing (Ala Brasini), which is used as a venue for temporary exhibitions. For one of the best views in the city, take the panoramic Roma dal Cielo elevator, which was added to the building in 2007, up to the rooftop Terrazza delle Quadrighe.

The Vittoriano dominates the central Piazza Venezia square near the Colosseum and Roman Forum, and is included in many small-group walking tours of Rome, or guided tours by bike or car. The monument is particularly striking at night, so consider joining an evening tour to see its white-marble staircase and dramatically lit facade.

The Vittoriano has three entrances: Piazza Venezia; Via di San Pietro in Carcere on the left side of the building; and Via del Teatro di Marcello on the right. All are easily accessible from Piazza Venezia, one of the main squares in the center of Rome and a transit hub for buses and trams from the Termini train station.

The museum complex at the Vittoriano is open daily into the evening hours, so consider visiting after the midday crowds have dispersed. Catch the elevator to the panoramic terrace either first thing in the morning or as the sun is setting for the best photographs. 

Since its completion at the beginning of the 20th century, the Vittoriano has been one of Rome’s most controversial monuments, an object of derision for many Romans due to its massive size and elaborate architecture. Over the decades, it has earned a number of nicknames from locals, including “the typewriter”, “the wedding cake”, “the dentures”, and “the trifle.”

Rome’s Villa Farnesina was originally built in the early 16th century for a wealthy Renaissance banker as his summer retreat. The villa and gardens are in the Trastevere district, which used to be outside the city center, and are now open to the public.

The wealthy banker for whom the villa was built had the good sense to hire some of the era’s best artists to decorate the interior, so it’s a stop well-suited to art lovers. Today, these pieces of art are one of the top reasons to visit. The best-known artist represented is Raphael, who painted lovely frescoes on the ground floor.

All of the Villa Farnesina’s main rooms are open to the public, including the ground floor loggia where you can see the famous Raphael fresco called “The Triumph of Galatea.” Other frescoes by artists such as Baldassarre Peruzzi (who designed the villa) and Sebastiano del Piombo are on upper floors of the villa.

There are guided tours in English at Villa Farnesina given each Saturday at 10am, and English audio guides are available at any time for €2. Some Trastevere tours include the Villa Farnesina, though many only reference it from the outside.

An easy detour from Vicenza and just minutes from Villa Capra, Villa Valmarana ai Nani is a striking example of a Venetian villa, perched on the slopes of San Bastian hill, looking out over the Valletta del Silenzio (Valley of Silence). Still inhabited by its aristocratic namesake, the Valmarana family, Villa Valmarana takes its suffix ‘ai Nani’ or ‘the Dwarves’ from the 17 stone sculptures that adorn its wall – a homage to the dwarf princess who once lived in the villa, if you believe the legend.

The villa is also open to the public and visitors can stroll the idyllic gardens and peek inside the Palazzina (the main residence), the Foresteria (the guest residence) and the Scuderia (the stables). The highlight of a visit is admiring the magnificent frescoes, painted in the 18th century by the Tiepolos and celebrated as some of their finest work.

Perched high above the Amalfi Coast is the town of Ravello, home to the gorgeous Villa Cimbrone surrounded by lovely gardens that are open to the public.

Villa Cimbrone dates from the 11th century, and today is a hotel and restaurant. The gardens around the villa – once a private home – are now open to visitors, even if you're not staying at the hotel itself. The gardens owe their formal English style to the villa's 20th-century owner, an Englishman whose family owned the property until the 1960s.

The gardens feature long walkways lined by trees, flowering plants, and statues. There are statues and other works of art seemingly hidden in different parts of the property, many of which are away from the main paths. The highlight of the property, however, is known as the “Infinity Terrace” at the end of the main path. This incredible viewpoint overlooks the sea and the towns below, jutting out from ground level so that it appears to be floating.

On the Italian coast about 23 miles from Rome is Zoomarine, a theme park that's part Sea World and part water park and fun for all ages.

Zoomarine covers more than 86 acres, and gives visitors a chance to enjoy the adventurous rides of a water park in between watching live shows. There are two giant pools for swimming and playing in the water, one of which has several water slides. The other pool is more laid back, with lounge chairs lining the perimeter. Both pools have life guards on duty.

The animal portion of the park features seals and sea lions, birds of prey, and dolphins – all of which have demonstrations or shows visitors can see just how intelligent these animals are. There is also a show featuring acrobatic high-divers and a 4D cinema. For thrill-seekers, there is also a roller coaster called “Vertigo” and a few other amusement park rides (some of them in water).

The White Grotto is one of several scenic caves along the coastline of the island of Capri, which sits just off the coast of Naples, Italy. Less crowded than the popular Blue Grotto, it gets its name from the white stalactites that hang from the roof of the cave and the white layers of calcareous material that coats its sides. One of the stalactites is said to resemble the Virgin Mary in prayer. The grotto consists of an upper and lower cave, although the upper is not easily accessible. The lower cave is about 24 feet at its tallest and is wider above the water (about six feet) than it is at the surface. According to Mario Puzo’s book “The Sicilian,” the famous Sicilian bandit Salvatore Giuliano spent his first nights as an outlaw in the White Grotto.

The Villa Celimontana and the gardens that surround it sit on one of the ancient seven hills of Rome, the Caelian Hill (Celio in Italian), and the area is a peaceful oasis from the busy city.

The villa itself dates from the 16th century, though it has been modified significantly over the centuries. It was originally called the Villa Mattei after the family for whom it was built, and housed the Mattei family’s art collection. Today, the villa belongs to the Italian Geographic Society.

The gardens around the Villa Celimontana contain some ancient Roman ruins that date back to the 1st century AD, and some of the Mattei family’s collection of ancient artifacts are now on display throughout the grounds. There’s also a relatively small obelisk in the garden that has Egyptian hieroglyphics on it.

Inside the Villa Celimontana today visitors can see some of the historic maps and other documents kept by the Italian Geographic Society. There are also rooms in the villa that have beautiful frescoes and mosaics that were added in the 17th century.

With its temple-like colonnaded façade flanked by weeping willows and bordering the glittering Venetian lagoon; the stunning setting of Villa Foscari begs to be photographed. The striking villa, also known as La Malcontenta, was built in 1559 for Nicolò and Alvise Foscari, and makes up one of a number of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Palladian villas.

The work of acclaimed architect, Andrea Palladio, Villa Foscari combines traditional Venetian, Greek and Roman architecture to give a palatial feel, aided by the villa’s elevated location, looking out over the Brenta River. The regal atmosphere continues inside, where visitors can admire magnificent frescoes from the likes of Battista Franco and Gian Battista Zelotti.

One of the most famous (and, for many Romans, infamous) landmarks in Rome, the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument is home to the Complesso del Vittoriano museum complex, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the Roma dal Cielo elevator that connects to the panoramic rooftop terrace overlooking The Eternal City. 

The Vittorio Emanuele II Monument (or Monumento Nazionale a Vittorio Emanuele II) overlooking Piazza Venezia in central Rome—also known as the Altare della Patria, or simply the Vittoriano—was inaugurated in 1911 to honor the first king of the newly united Italy. Today, the enormous and, some might argue, ostentatious building is home to Italy’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Museo Centrale del Risorgimento (Museum of Italian Unification), the Sacrario delle Bandiere gallery of Italian military flags, and an important art exhibition space in the eastern wing (Ala Brasini). The Roma dal Cielo elevator, which transports visitors up to the Terrazza delle Quadrighe scenic rooftop terrace, was added in 2007. 

Located near the Palatine Hill, the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument is included in many hop-on-hop-off bus tours tours of Rome, as well as guided walking, bike, or Segway tours that also include skip-the-line-access to the nearby Colosseum and Roman Forum. The monument’s white-marble staircase and facade are particularly striking at night, so consider joining an evening tour to see the building at its most dramatic. 

The Vittorio Emanuele II Monument’s three entrances—Piazza Venezia, Via di San Pietro in Carcere on the left side of the building, and Via del Teatro di Marcello on the right—are all easily accessible from Piazza Venezia, one of Rome’s main squares and a transit hub for buses and trams.

The museum complex at the Vittorio Emanuele II Monument is open daily into the evening hours, so visit at the end of a day after the midday crowds have thinned. For the best picture, catch the elevator to the rooftop terrace either first thing in the morning or in the late afternoon. 

The Vittoriano has been one of Rome’s most controversial monuments since it was completed at the beginning of the 20th century, both because a historic quarter of the city was destroyed to make room for its construction and because of its pompous architecture. Over the decades, Romans have given the monument a number of unflattering nicknames, including “the typewriter”, “the wedding cake”, “the dentures”, and “the trifle”.

The town of Vicolungo is in the Piedmont region near Novara, not far from the border with Lombardy. It's home to one of the many outlet shopping centers near Milan – Vicolungo The Style Outlets.

The Style Outlets is a chain of outlet shopping centers in Europe (there are two in Italy). The Vicolungo location has 150 boutique stores, each offering discounts of 30-70% off regular retail prices. Some of the brands represented in the shopping center are Armani, Missoni, Trussardi, Swarovski, Sisley, and Kappa.

In addition to the shopping, The Style Outlets at Vicolungo also have an exhibition space that regularly features art shows and events.

Villa del Balbianello is one of a number of elegant historic villas that sit directly on the water’s edge at Lake Como. On the tip of a small promontory on the lake’s western shore, Balbianello is particularly lovely, with luxurious interiors, scenic loggia, beautiful gardens, and romantic lake views.

The villa was built in 1787 on the site of a Franciscan monastery, but by the early 20th century the buildings and grounds had fallen into a state of neglect. American businessman Butler Ames bought and refurbished the villa in 1919, creating the elaborate terraced gardens that you can see today. In 1974 Italian explorer Count Guido Monzino purchased the villa and decorated it with collections of Chinese and African art, French furniture, and other artifacts from his expeditions before leaving the estate to the FAI (Italy’s National Trust) upon his death in 1988.

By far the best way to appreciate the estate is by taking a guided tour that offers insights into the history of the villa and explores both the impressive interiors and the extensive gardens. Consider opting for a private tour that combines Villa del Balbianello with visits to Villa Melzi and Villa Carlotta, also on the shores of Lake Como.  

 

The most scenic way to approach Villa del Balbianello is on foot from Lenno, a 25-minute walk with excellent views of the lake as well as over the towns of Tremezzo and Lenno. You can also take a small-group boat tour or water taxi from Lenno, Varenna, Sala Comacina, Ossuccio, or one of the other towns along the lake shore.

Villa del Balbianello is open on Tuesday and Thursday through Sunday. Spring and fall are the best seasons to visit, as the gardens are verdant and can be enjoyed without the summer crowds.

This dramatic villa has been used as a location for a number of movies, including Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and the James Bond film Casino Royale.

Villa Barbaro, masterpiece of 16th-century Italian architect Andrea Palladio, is one of the most striking of Veneto’s UNESCO-listed Palladian villas. This group of elegant patrician residences are scattered in the hills between Vicenza and Treviso, and make for a fascinating day trip from Venice.

 

The countryside surrounding Vicenza is dotted by dozens of stately villas with classical architecture and sweeping manicured gardens. Known as the Palladian Villas after their architect Andrea Palladio, these rural residences were constructed in the first half of the 16th century for a handful of wealthy families from the Venetian Republic. Villa Barbaro (also known as Villa di Maser), completed around 1558, is characterized by its Roman-inspired façade with four ionic columns, interior frescoes by Paolo Veronese, tempietto (chapel), and nymphaeum with elaborate stuccoes by Alessandro Vittoria.

 

Today, the villa estate includes a working farm and winery, and visitors can explore the sumptuous residence, view the carriage collection, and enjoy a wine tasting. Day trips from Venice to Villa Barbaro can also include stops in the picturesque medieval hill towns of Bassano del Grappa and Asolo, along with a prosecco tasting at an area winery.

 

 

The villa is located on Via Barbaro near the village of Maser, just over an hour from Venice by car. Arriving by public transportation involves multiple bus connections, so the most convenient way to visit is by joining a small-group or private tour that includes transportation.

 

One of the main draws of Villa Barbaro are the lovely grounds, which are in full bloom in spring and fall.

 

The Veneto region is home to numerous Palladian Villas. Among the most famous are Villa La Rotonda, officially known as Villa Almerico Capra, which is an example of Palladio’s skill in blending architecture with the surrounding landscape; and Villa Emo, home to a fresco cycle by Giambattista Zelotti.

Once the largest and grandest of Rome’s private residences, the ancient ruins of the Villa of the Quintilii (Villa dei Quintili) are still an impressive sight today. Located along the legendary Appian Way (Via Appia), the lavish villa includes two impressive entrances, intact mosaic tiles and marble floors, and the remains of its private luxury baths, dating back to 151 AD.

Tour the ruins on a half-day trip from Rome to admire the rooms and artifacts on display, or cycle along the ancient Appian Way to visit the ruins and other ancient landmarks, like the Caracalla Baths and the Mausoleum of Caecilia Metella.