10 Most popular Icons and Landmarks to visit in Italy

By Sailko – Wikimedia

10 Most popular Icons and Landmarks to visit in Italy

Italy is known for its great influence on culture and a rich gastronomic experience. Its capital, Rome, has several landmarks, icons, art and ancient ruins.

Another city in Italy with fascinating history and culture in Florence. It is the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region. This city is home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture.

One of its most iconic sights in Florence is the Duomo, it is a cathedral with a terracotta-tiled dome engineered by Brunelleschi and a bell tower by Giotto.

Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, explore the city of Venice on a canal, check out the Colosseum in Rome or stroll through the ancient streets.

There is a lot to see in Italy, I have therefore put together the top 10 icons and landmarks that are popular in Italy. Enjoy the read.  

1. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa

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The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a freestanding belfry of the cathedral of the Italian city of Pisa. This tower is a popular landmark that is known for characteristically leaning on a four-degree angle.

You will find this tower behind the Pisa cathedral. It is the third-oldest structure in Cathedral Square. The cause of the lean is believed to have been caused by an unstable foundation.

This tower began to lean during its construction in the 12^th century. The ground was too soft and could not hold the structure’s weight. It got worse two centuries later when construction was completed.

A closer look at the tower will show it is slightly curved due to attempts by various architects to keep it from leaning further.

2. The Colosseum, Rome

By FeaturedPics – Wikimedia

The Colosseum is the most popular landmark in Rome. This imposing structure has been standing for the last 2,000 years, a testament to the way of life of the Roman Empire.

It served the Roman Empire as an amphitheatre that was used to host gladiator games. The Flavian emperors built the Colosseum as a gift to the Roman people.

Construction of the amphitheatre began in 70 A.D and was completed a decade later. Several renovations were done by preceding empires.

About 6 million tourists visit the Colosseum every year. It was named as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World in 2007.

3. Florence Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence

By Petar Milošević -Wikimedia

This is one of the finest cathedrals in the world.  The Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore is one landmark that one can easily point out in the Florence skyline.

Construction work of the cathedral was done between the 13^th and 15^th centuries. Its most outstanding feature is the dome which was finished by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1434.

The cathedral’s bell tower was constructed using patterned marble, a Tuscan Romanesque architecture. This tower was designed by Giotto, it has 414 steps leading to a viewing platform.

When outside, check out the decorative mix of pink, white and green marble of the cathedral’s exterior.  Its interior is less decorated and is usually cool during the summer.

4. The Grand Canal, Venice

This Canal forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city. It is an S-shaped canal that snakes through the central district of Venice.

Cruise through the canal in a gondola, this is the traditional way of travelling in Venice. It has been practised for centuries.

The canal connects the islands of Venice acting as the main street with narrow passageways. As you cruise through the canal, check out the grand palace that was once owned by the wealthy and powerful families of the Venetian Republic.

One way to way get an exciting sightseeing experience of the grand palaces, is to take a gondola from a Vaporetto ride along the Grand Canal.

5. Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius

By Morn the Gorn – Wikimedia

Mt. Vesuvius, which still blows volcanic smoke, sits above what is the remains of a once-upon-a-time city of Pompeii that was destroyed in AD 79.  

The blessings in disguise of the ashes are that it has preserved some of the ancient city’s treasures. Some of the treasures are murals, mosaics, and sculptures.

There have been several excavation activities that have revealed remains of houses, ancient markets, baths, temples, streets and human remains.

The Romans lived in this city more than 2,000 years ago. A visit to this site will give you a glimpse of the Roman life frozen in time with volcanic ashes.

6. The Amalfi coastline, Salerno

The Amalfi Coast in Salerno province is a popular tourist destination. Millions of tourists enjoy the sun and sand as well as walk through the pastel-coloured fishing villages.  

It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. One popular delight that comes from this region is the limoncello liqueur.

This drink is made from lemons that are grown in terraced gardens along the coast. Its peak season is between February and October.

Stroll through the pastel-coloured chic boutiques, sit under the umbrellas by the beach as you soak in the sun.

The Arabic-Norman cathedral in Amalfi is a must-see as well as the cultural villas at Ravello.

7. Roman Arena, Verona

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Verona is popularly known in Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet. That is not all that this Italian city is known for.

One of the most impressive Roman architecture found in Verona is the Roman Empire. This massive structure has been well preserved for more than 2,000 years. It is older than the Colosseum.

During Roman times, the Arena would sit about 30,000 people. The spectators came here to be entertained by gladiators, watch the circus and other equestrian events.

The seating capacity was reduced by half after the Arena suffered damage during an earthquake.

The Roman Arena is today used to host concerts and opera festivals during the summer. This venue will be used to host the closing ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics.   

8. Castel del Monte, Puglia

By Sailko – Wikimedia

This Castle in Puglia was completed in 1240 and was used as a hunting lodge by Emperor Frederick II. The Emperor loved this Castle because of its octagonal towers and other advanced facilities, something his other castles do not have.

The Castle was used as a military stronghold for several centuries. However, most of the interior decorations and marbles in the castle were looted.

This castle is now a national monument at UNESCO Heritage Site since 1996.

9. Valley of the Temples, Sicily

This is an ancient Greek archaeological site, one of the world’s largest, that sits on more than 1,300 hectares. Seven temples on this site are of the Doric style from the 5^th century.

The site was first restored in the early 19^th century, since its restoration, the site has been an Italian National Monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

These temples are great examples of Greek art and architecture.

10. The Trevi Fountain, Rome

By Bengt Nyman – Wikimedia

Trevi Fountain is the most beautiful fountain and the largest in Rome. The fountain was built in 19 B.C at the end of the Aqua Virgo aqueduct.

No trip to Rome is complete without a visit to the Fontana di Trevi. Throw in a penny and you will be sure to return to Rome. Check out our previous blog on the Trevi Fountain.