What's the best city to visit in Italy?

Question

I'd really like to go to Italy this summer but I don't know where in Italy to go. I'd love to hear what people who have been there think, especially those who live or have lived there. I'd probably go for one or two weeks and would love to see as much as possible during that time.

Any and all advice is appreciated! Thank you! :]

I forgot to include what I like to do! haha, wow. Anyways...I love shopping and beaches, but I also love history and art so someplace where I could do all that would be awesome.

Answer 1

Well,answer could be really long; there are too many places in the italian cities that are worthy with a visit.
Since you have 2 weeks that are a rather nlongtime but not enough to visit everything I would suggest you these main musts going from north to south.
VENEZIA -VENICE -Piazza San Marco and Basilica di San Marco- Ponte di Rialto - a trip in gondola - visit to Murano island (artistic glasses) and to Torcello island (pillow laces).
http://www.travelplan.it/venice_guide.htm

VERONA - Romeo and Juliet town with the balcon of their legend.
The Arena and Castelvecchio.
http://www.verona.com/en/

LE CINQUE TERRE - an awesome amazing resort. 5 small fishers villages on the seaside (cars are banned from there)
http://www.cinqueterre.it/en/index.asp

Region of TUSCANY http://www.initaly.com/regions/tuscany/tuscany.htm
with in particular the following highlights :
PISA-PISE - Piazza dei Miracoli with the famous leaning tower,the Baptistery and the Cathedral, Santa Maria della Spina Church, Lungarni (alongside the river Arno),Piazza dei Cavalieri.
http://www.pisaonline.it/e-default.htm

FIRENZE-FLORENCE - Santa Maria del Fiore, Campanile di Giotto, the Baptistery with the famous golden doors of Ghiberti,Galleria degli Uffizi, Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge),Giardino dei Boboli, Galleria dell'Accademia (with the famous David of Michelangelo),Basilica di Santa Croce and Piazzale Michelangelo (on the hill above Florence with an unforgettable general panorama of the town).

SIENA-SIENNE -The Cathedral (Duomo) - the medieval town -
Piazza del Campo.- If you have the opportunity to be over there by July 2nd 2007 you can live the famous Palio-
I'm living here and in Tuscany we have really a lot of cities and sites that no any other Italian region can say to have in their own surrounds. Just to be concise we have the seasides and the islands, the rivers and the lakes, the mountains and the hills, the woods, and the green is wherever, even in the towns. We have a lot of wonderful medieval cities ( Florence, Pise, Siena, Lucca, Arezzo, etc.) and small towns (San Gimignano, Pienza, Chiusi, Volterra ,etc.) Our history is full with artists as Dante, Giotto, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci,etc.,
Last but not least everywhere in Tuscany you can taste good food (the renowned bistecca alla fiorentina,la ribollita,la trippa,la fettunta,i crostini toscani,i salumi di cinta senese,il cinghiale ecc.)and good wines (our Brunello and our Chianti Classico are famous all over the world but we have a lot of our wines same as good but less wellknown and less expensive -just to recall one of them take note of Morellino di Scansano).Wherever you go (but I highly recommend to avoid the top class restaurants and chose instead among a lot of small sites called "trattoria toscana") or shortly just "trattoria") you can eat and drink as you were staying on heaven....!!!
Other people will speak widely about Rome, Pompei, Capri, etc.
Join their answers to complete mine and you'll get a fantastic trip.
Unfortunately I don't know enough that side of Italy but I'm sure in the whole you'll enjoy my Country

Answer 2

This is a tough one. Italy is chock-full of amazing places. Here's a guide though, if u HAVE to choose.

For history- Rome

For art and renaissance sightseeing- Florence

For wine tasting- San Gimignano or Ravenna


My advice if uve never been to Italy is to see Rome. Its really over the top amazing in all aspects- food, ancient history sights, its really the quintessential "Italy" that most tourists think of- and will take u a good week to see in all. From Rome, take a few days on a bus tour thru Tuscany and Umbria, which is pretty close on the north.

Answer 3

Florence was gorgeous, and so very good for shopping, art, history ... etc. But I loved the smaller places: Chiusi, Lucca, San Gimigniano (sp?). Siena has a magnificent resort on the outskirts of town that boasts the most beautiful sunsets in the world. There's also Tarquinia, where you can see underground Etruscan tombs over 1000 years old and visit the archeological museum. Hope this helps!! Enjoy Italy - I'm still missing it, and I went in 2000!

Answer 4

at first, stable determination. Italy is the superb u . s .. in spite of the incontrovertible fact that i'm slightly bias. Sorry for my English too! i'm in basic terms studying. For the Renaissance you're extra appropriate staying in Northern Italy. As traditionally it has continually been wealthier than the south. for this reason that they had extra to spend on a lot of portray and so on. A course i might reccomend! Fly into Pisa. it relatively is the closest you may fly into Florece (in Italian: Firenze) and additionally the homestead of the Leaning Tower. which you will discover to be in the midst of a commercial assets. Haha! in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it continues to be very well worth the bypass to. Florence is the Renaissance capital and you may certainly spend each week right here as there's a lot to do. bypass into and climb to the best of the Duomo. bypass and notice Michelangelos David and the superb option next to that's the Palazzo Vecchio. bypass into the Palazzi Vecchio and do to secret passage techniques excursion. it relatively is Florence's superb saved secret and it relatively is the superb excursion I even have ever completed too. After Florence i might head north to Milano. lower back it relatively is yet another large city. And lower back the Duomo is a might desire to be sure. do no longer spend long in Milano nonetheless. it could finally end up being very costly. From Milano head east to Verona. you delivers up at Bergamo, Brescia or Lago di Garda on the way. All beautiful places. And a lot much less touristy than all the different places i visit reccomend. i might provide up there in case you prefer to be sure some real Italy. In Verona. make certain you bypass to the Ampitheatre. And if there's a teach on that night- bypass to it. Verona is likewise superb for its churches! San Zeno is the modt specatular. From Verona it relatively is a 2hour force (swifter on practice) to Venice (in Italian Venizia) needless to say there is Saint Marc's sq. and so on and the costly! Gondola rides. yet make certain you bypass into the lower back streets as those are the superb components. and have the superb places to consume.

Answer 5

You should see ALL the cities that you can
If you go to Rome, you have so many sites and antiquity. (standing in one spot you can turn your head and see 2000 ruins, Medieval steps, Renaissance steps, and 20th century steps)
From there it's an easy trip to Florance, with fabulous museums and beautiful cathedrals.
You could also get to Torino easily from Rome.

Naples is a dirty tough city, but it has a great museum. Don't stay there- instead go to Sorrento. From there you can go to Iscia or Capri for beautiful beaches. Driving along the amalfi coast you can go to Positano- a spectacular seaside village. Of course, you can climb Vesuvius, and wander through Pompee and Herculaneum.

So many places in Italy... and so little time.

Answer 6

Florence was the best city in Italy, IMO. Just so amazingly beautiful and historic and great shopping too! And the countryside just outside of Florence is gorgeous. Obviously, you should also see Rome and Venice, but if I had to pick just one, I'd make it Florence.

Answer 7

Lucky fellow, whole two weeks and that in Italy. You can not see whole Italy in two weeks but can feel it.

To start your feelings with

(i) Rome - Three days ( with host your arrival with Grand historical buildings)

(ii) Saridinia ( Cagliari) -Two days For some of the crytal clear emerald colour water Beaches.

(ii) Florence and Pisa - One/two day/s each ( again historical places and beautiful aroma with youthful crowd...Moreover , Tuscan region is famous for natural beauty and wines. Don't forget to get the cap wore by three muskeeters)

(iv) Verona -One day ( Romeo and Juliet and enjoy some local regional dishes)

(v) Lake garda -one evening ( near mantova ) ...for peace ful break and wine of coz

(vi) Ravenna One day:- again beaches

(vi) Venice - One day ( If you have fantansies about Venice, Tourist place full of people but must go for once)

(vii) Two days - Milan( metro city with historical touches and can satisfy your shopping too)

Tips:- Enjoy Loacl food whereever you go, Lots of Italain cusine and wines and do lots of shopping.

You have one day left maybe if you don't struck anywhere. Think about your friend as I have the same passion for Italy.I been there twice and never done yet. Wish for me,

Thanks and Enjoy

Answer 8

My vote is Rome hands down. Then Florence and Venice.

Also, PISA can be seen in 45 miniutes there is nothing there but the Tower and the Cathedral.

Answer 9

Rome - Roma
Rome is the capital of modern Italy. Rome is full of history everywhere you look. It has many ancient monuments, interesting medieval churches, beautiful fountains, museums, and Renaissance palaces. Modern Rome is a bustling and lively city and has some excellent restaurants and nightlife. The Vatican and St. Peter's are also found in Rome.
Venice - Venezia
Venice is a unique city built on water in the middle of a lagoon. It is considered to be one of Italy's most beautiful and romantic cities. The heart of Venice is Piazza San Marco with its magnificent church. There are many museums, palaces, and churches to visit and wandering along the canals is interesting. Venice is in the northwest of Italy and historically was a bridge between East and West. Florence - Firenze
Florence is one of the most important Renaissance architectural and art centers. Its Duomo and Baptistry are magnificent but crowded with tourists as is their large piazza. Florence has several interesting museums with many famous paintings and sculptures. There are also Medici palaces and gardens. Florence is in Tuscany. Turin - Torino
Turin hosts the winter Olympics in February, 2006. It is a major cultural hub with excellent museums, elegant shops, and good restaurants. There are also some very nice examples of baroque architecture and historic palaces. It has many historic cafes, artisan workshops, and arcades. Turin is in the northeast of Italy, between the Po River and the foothills of the Alps. Milan - Milano
Milan, one of Europe's richest cities, is known for stylish shops, galleries, and restaurants and has a faster pace of life than most Italian cities. It also has a rich artistic and cultural heritage. Its Duomo, with its beautiful marble facade, is magnificent. La Scala is one of the world's most famous opera houses. Milan is in northern Italy, about 30 miles south of the alps, and near Lakes Como and Maggiore.
Naples - Napoli
Naples is one of Italy's most vibrant cities. It lies on the coast south of Rome and is the most important city in southern Italy. Naples has recently undergone some renovation but still retains much of its old character. It holds many historical and artistic treasures.
Bologna
Bologna is known for its beauty, wealth, cuisine, and left-wing politics. Its streets are lined with beautiful arcades, making it a good place to walk even in the rain. It has one of Europe's oldest universities and a nice medieval center. There are several attractive squares, lined with buildings with nice porticoes. Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy.
Perugia
Perugia is a very cosmopolitan city and home to two universities. It hosts a world-famous jazz festival in the summer and its University for Foreigners is a great place to learn Italian. It's a walled city on a hilltop with great views over the valley and has several important monuments and a good central square. Its history goes back to the ninth century BC. Perugia is in the center of Italy and is the capital of the region of Umbria.
Genoa - Genova
Genoa, on the northwest coast of Italy, is Italy's principal seaport. Genoa was a 2004 European Culture Capital; money flowed into the port city made famous by Columbus and now it's a better place than ever to visit. Genoa has a fascinating aquarium, an interesting port area, and a historic center said to be the largest medieval quarter in Europe, with a wealth of churches, palaces, and museums.
Padua - Padova
Padova is a university city and has some of the best nightlife in the Veneto. It has lively squares and narrow medieval streets and is home to the oldest botanical garden in Europe as well as Giotto's frescoes. Its Basilica of Sant'Antonio is one of Italy's main pilgrim shrines. Not far from Venice, it makes a less expensive base for exploring Venice for a day trip by train.Florence, Italy.http://goitaly.about.com/library/bl_distances-italy.htm
However,I suggest Rome or Venice but thats up to you.

Answer 10

I agree with whom suggested Rome, and Florence and then go to Sardinia for the beach or Sicily as well, Palermo, Taormina, Valle dei Templi..be aware that in summer it can be pretty hot!

Enjoy and be prepared to eat well and drink well! ;-)