Things to Do in Italy

The name “San Luigi dei Francesi” means Saint Louis of the French, and this church is France's national church in Rome.

It was built in the 1500s at the instruction of a Cardinal in the Medici family who would later become Pope Clement VII. Catherine de Medici had married the French king, contributed to the church's construction, and donated the land on which the church was built – further cementing the French connection. The Church of San Luigi dei Francesi occupies the site of a former church, Santa Maria, which was owned by the Medici family. It was begun in 1518 and consecrated in 1589. The interior is 

all Baroque ornamentation, so there's no shortage of stuff to see, but the biggest attraction inside is the series of three St. Matthew paintings by Caravaggio. These paintings were commissioned for the church, so it's a great chance to see artwork in its original home rather than an art museum.

The most impressive vestige of medieval Catania is the formidable Castle Ursino (Castello Ursino), built by Emperor Frederick II in the early 13th century and now home to the Museo Civico (Civic Museum). Originally built high on the sea cliffs to guard the Sicilian coast, the castle was encircled by lava after the 17th century eruptions of the Mt Etna volcano and now stands 500 meters inland on the cusp of the modern city center.

Today, the landlocked castle houses an impressive array of artwork and artifacts, many taken from the personal collections of Prince of Biscari and including a series of Sicilian school paintings, a Hellenistic statue of Polyphemus, a Roman ‘Gladiators’ relief and sizable exhibitions of weaponry, sculptures and porcelain.

The Church of Immaculate Conception is a unique church in Rome, Italy. The church's full name is Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini, and it was commissioned in the early 1600s by Pope Urban VIII whose brother was a Capuchin friar. When the church was completed, the monks who moved here took with them the exhumed bodies from their old church. The monks then began transforming bones of these deceased monks, as well as the bones of poor Romans and other deceased, into works of art. The church attracts visitors because of this interesting crypt underneath the church where you can see entire walls covered in bones. 

In some places you will also see entire skeletons of monks that were left intact and dressed in Franciscan robes. In other sections of the crypt, you'll see picture frames made of bones, walls covered in skulls, and other elaborate designs. Inside the chapel you will see several works of art including St. Michael the Archangel, Christ Mocked, Transfiguration, Nativity, St. Francis in Meditation, and several paintings of saints. The church also has a small museum.

Like most of the many churches throughout Rome, Chiesa di Santa Maria in Comedian has an ancient past and a fascinating story. Built on an ancient worship site that was once a great temple of Hercules, it became under care of the Byzantine Papacy. Its name “Cosmedin” is the Greek word for “beautiful decoration.”

The beautiful decorations remain — with its unique characteristics including a pre-Roman crypt, a massive bell tower, marble inlaid floors, architecture and designed by the Cosmati brothers, a beautiful altar with a rare 8th century mosaic, and frescoed walls.

The famous ‘Mouth of Truth’ or Bocca della Verità can be found in the portico of the church. The face of an unknown man or god is believed to be part of an ancient Roman temple, and is said to have once functioned as a lie detector — as it would bite off the hand of a man who did not speak the truth.

One of the most historically important churches in Siena, the Basilica of San Domenico is famous for another saint: the city’s own Saint Catherine. It was here that Catherine took her vows in 1363 at the age of 15, and the church holds a number of her relics, including her head, thumb, and whip used for self-flagellation.

 

Join a guided tour that takes in the Basilica of San Domenico and other city highlights, including Piazza del Campo, Palazzo Pubblico, and Torre del Mangia. Many Siena walking and Segway tours also include skip-the-line entrance tickets to Siena’s cathedral (Duomo), along with the adjacent Piccolomini Library—frescoed by Pinturicchio—and the Museo dell'Opera. Siena is a popular day trip from Florence, and tours often include stops in Pisa and San Gimignano, as well. 

 

 

The Basilica di San Domenico is on Piazza Domenico on the very edge of Siena’s pedestrian historic center, an easy walk from most other top attractions and the train station. 

 

The Basilica di San Domenico is usually less crowded than Siena’s cathedral, and can be a quiet and cool respite during the peak hours of midday.

 

The Gothic church was built in 1226 on the Camporegio hill and contains a number of important works of art by the Sienese school in addition to St. Catherine’s relics. Of note are a magnificent Majesty (Maestà) by Guido da Siena, frescoes by Francesco Vanni and Pietro Lorenzetti, and the sumptuously decorated chapel dedicated to St. Catherine, where her head and thumb are displayed. The Chapel of the Vaults (Cappella delle Volte) holds a pretty portrait of the saint.

A showstopper of a church, Santa Maria del Giglio (known locally as Santa Maria Zobenigo after the Venetian family who founded the original chapel) has one of the most ornate baroque facades in Venice. The church also houses works by Peter Paul Rubens and Tintoretto and boasts an ornate, cherub-covered baptistery.

Founded in the 9th century, Santa Maria del Giglio (Saint Mary of the Lily) was rebuilt in the 17th century by Italian architect Giuseppe Sardi for Antonio Barbaro, a renowned military leader and scion of a wealthy Venetian dynasty. The sumptuous marble facade is unusual in that it includes largely secular imagery. The interior contains Tintoretto’s The Evangelists and, in the Molin chapel, Rubens’ Virgin and Child with the Young St. John, the only painting by the Flemish master in Venice. 

Santa Maria del Giglio is a stop on some private walking tours of the San Marco neighborhood, which may also include nearby highlights such as St. Mark's Basilica (Basilica San Marco), the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), and the Rialto Bridge (Ponte di Rialto). You can easily pair a visit to the church, set just off the Grand Canal, with a gondola ride and serenade.

 

The Chiesa di Santa Maria del Giglio is located at Campo Santa Maria del Giglio in the San Marco neighborhood, just a short walk from Piazza San Marco. It’s also possible to reach via vaporetto (water bus); take line 1 to the Santa Maria del Giglio stop along the Grand Canal.

Venice is one of the most crowded tourist destinations in Italy, especially in summer. Visit in late fall or early spring to enjoy the city with fewer crowds. As the church isn’t one of the city’s blockbuster sights, it’s a good choice during the busiest part of the day.

The unusually secular facade of this church features prominent statues of the Barbaro family, who financed the church’s 17th-century rebuilding. Also depicted are maps of the regions where Antonio Barbaro served on his military campaigns, battle scenes, and the family coat of arms. Flemish sculptor Josse Le Court, who also worked on Venice’s Santa Maria della Salute church, contributed figures of the Four Virtues. 

Despite its modest white façade, flanked by four simple Doric pilasters, the Chiesa Nuova, or New Church, is one of Assisi’s most historically important churches, founded on the site of the house of Saint Francis’ home and birthplace. A church has stood on this spot since the 14th century, but the modern-day structure dates back to the early 17th century, when it was built under patronage of King Philip III of Spain, and has since become a significant landmark for pilgrims.

The most notable features of the Renaissance-style Chiesa Nuova are the colorful frescoes by Cesare Sermei and Giacomo Giorgetti that adorn the interiors and the adjoining museum and library that offer greater insight into the site’s unique history.

The 17th-century San Carlo ai Catinari Church (Chiesa di San Carlo ai Catinari) is dedicated to Saint Carlo Borromeo and known for its sumptuous baroque interiors. The church features stucco decorations, three-dimensional depictions of the cardinal virtues, and Antonio Gherardi's Chapel of St. Cecilia, which features a dome illuminated by hidden windows.

Guided tours of the Jewish Ghetto and Trastevere often include a stop at San Carlo ai Catinari (Santi Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari), along with the nearby Turtle Fountain (Fontana delle Tartarughe) and the Chiesa di Santa Maria in Trastevere. You can easily pair a visit to this neighborhood with a tour of Rome's most famous sights, including Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Campo de' Fiori.

The church was designed by Rosato Rosati and has an elegant marble facade by Giovanni Battista Soria. Inside, the elaborate stucco ceiling decorations and paintings of the cardinal virtues around the base of the dome pop out of their frames, making them appear three-dimensional. These are attributed to Domenichino, while other important works by Pietro da Cortona, Giovanni Lanfranco, and Guido Reni decorate the altar and chapels.

Set about halfway between the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle and the Tiber river near the former Jewish Ghetto, Chiesa di San Carlo ai Catinari is located at Piazza Benedetto Cairoli 117. Take bus 40 or 64 from the Termini train station.

Rome's churches offer a cool respite during the heat of the day, so if visiting in summer, time your visit for midday when the temperatures outside soar.

The phrase “ai Catinari” refers to the workshops on a nearby street that once specialized in making clay basins, or “catini.” A small street across from the facade of the church is still called the Vicolo de’ Catinari, or Basin-makers’ Lane.

Not far from the town of Santadi in southern Sardinia is a network of caves that stretches more than a mile underground. It’s called the Caves of Is Zuddas, and they are a popular tourist attraction in the region.

While the caves themselves go on for more than a mile, the portion that can be visited by tourists is a little less than one third of a mile long. In that distance, visitors go through multiple large chambers and see the incredible stalactite and stalagmite formations for which the caves are famous. There are also remains of a rodent species that was only found on Sardinia and nearby Corsica, and is now extinct.

Visits into the Caves of Is Zuddas are only possible with a guide. Some guided tours of the Is Zuddas caves also include other geological points of interest in the area, too, such as the Cave of Campanaccio and Cave of Capra.

A short walk from the banks of the Grand Canal, the elegant Church of San Vidal is one of Venice’s lesser-visited churches, now best known as a concert venue. The church dates back as early as the 11th-century, but its remarkable classical façade is the result of a 17th-century reconstruction by architect Antonio Gaspari. 

For most visitors, the main reason to visit is to attend one of the regular Baroque music concerts performed by the acclaimed Interpreti Veneziani ensemble, but additional highlights include impressive artworks by Piazzetta, Carpaccio and Pallegrini.

Pisa’s exquisite Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina is covered in intricate and fanciful stonework, a hallmark of the 14th-century Pisan Gothic style. With its fairytale exterior and magnificent Madonna of the Rose by Andrea and Nino Pisano inside, this church is a tiny gem and the perfect foil to the grandeur of the city’s Duomo.

 

Built in 1230 to house a thorn from the Crown of Thorns (now displayed in the city’s Church of Santa Chiara), this small, striped marble church is considered one of the most important Gothic churches in Europe and is a highlight of Pisa. The original church was enlarged in the mid-1300s; in 1871, just as waters of the Arno River began to rise, it was moved from a location along the riverbanks to its present site, on the riverside walkway. The richly decorated exterior features a number of statues by Giovanni and Nino Pisano and other important 14th-century artists from Pisa.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina is one of the top sights in Pisa, along with the Piazza dei Miracoli, where the Duomo and Leaning Tower is located. Walking and Segway tours often include a visit to Santa Maria della Spina along with skip-the-line tickets to the Duomo, tower, and baptistery. If you have time for a full-day tour, you can easily combine a Pisa visit with nearby Lucca, Siena, or San Gimignano.

The Chiesa di Santa Maria della Spina is built into the promenade wall lining the Arno across the river from the Piazza dei Miracoli. It’s an easy walk from the main train station.

Pisa’s Duomo complex is most crowded from late morning through the afternoon, so try to schedule your tour in the early morning and then move on to Santa Maria della Spina when the throngs of daily visitors arrive. 

The Piazza dei Miracoli, home to Pisa’s Gothic Duomo and baptistery and iconic Leaning Tower, is one of the most popular sights in Tuscany. In addition, you can tour the Monumental Cemetery and Sinopie Museum, which has a collection of preparatory sketches for the cathedral’s frescoes. Finally, the Duomo Opera Museum houses art that’s been removed from the Duomo and baptistery over the centuries.

Naples’ paleo-Christian Catacombs of San Gennaro (Catacombe di San Gennaro) are the most important in southern Italy. Used as a burial site from the rise of Christianity until the 10th century, they hold the tombs of many bishops—including Sant’Agrippino, the original patron saint of Naples—and well-preserved mosaics.

The Catacombs of San Gennaro, carved out of the soft tufo stone beneath Naples (Napoli), were used for thousands of Christian burials over 14,000 years, beginning in the second century. Now an archaeological site, the catacombs can be visited only with an official guided tour, so it is imperative to book ahead. You can also opt for a Naples walking tour that includes a visit to the Neapolitan catacombs and crypts with a tour guide. Naples’ second most important catacombs, the San Gaudioso Catacombs, are located beneath the nearby Basilica of Santa Maria della Sanità and are included with a Catacombe di San Gennaro ticket.

The San Gennaro Catacombs are located in the Sanità neighborhood near the Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte. Catch bus 168, 178, C63 or R4 to stop n. 1246 (National Museum) and continue on foot to Via Capodimonte. The entrance is next to the large church of Madre del Buon Consiglio.

Naples’ “city of the dead” is open 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 2pm. It’s cool all day long underground, so the catacombs are a welcome respite from the midday summer heat. Consider booking a tour during the warmest times of the day for a refreshing break.

San Gennaro, patron saint of Naples, was buried in these catacombs in the fifth century, and his tomb is one of the tour highlights (although his remains were later moved to the Cathedral of Naples). The catacombs are also home to the earliest known portrait of the saint, as well as the fourth-century underground Basilica di Sant’Agrippino.

Milan’s best-preserved 16th-century church, the Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore features frescoes by Bernardino Luini as well as the oldest pipe organ in the city. It is also home to the Archaeological Museum of Milan (Museo Archeologico di Milano), which displays artifacts from the Etruscans, Greeks, and Romans.

Built in the early 1500s, San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore is one of the oldest surviving structures in Milan. The church is attached to a Benedictine convent—the oldest convent in the city—which today houses the archaeological museum. The church is often featured on Milan history and art tours, which typically include a visit to da Vinci’s famous The Last Supper with skip-the-line admission. For a personalized experience, book a private tour to explore the ancient structures of Milan and the city’s hidden gems. 

San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore is located at Corso Magenta 15. To get there by public transit, take the M1 metro line to Cadorna or Cairoli. Alternatively, take tram 16 to Corso Magenta via Nirone or Via Meravigli.

The church is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30am to 7:30pm. Milan gets very busy during the summer season, so it’s a good idea visit the church during the shoulder seasons due to its small size.

The opulent Chiesa di San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore is one of the most revered churches in the city, along with the famous Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano). It was rebuilt during the Renaissance era, and many artists from the school of Leonardo were commissioned to paint its frescoes. Restored over 30 years into the 2010s, the church’s more than 40,000 square feet (4,000 square meters) of frescoes earned it the nickname the “Sistine Chapel of Milan.”

Old and new come together elegantly at Verona’s Castelvecchio, a historic castle renovated in the 1960s by visionary architect Carlo Scarpa, who paired glass panels, concrete, and metal grills with the surviving medieval stonework to create a striking museum for artworks by Bellini, Tiepolo, and Veronese.

Built in the 14th century by the Scaliger clan, who ruled Verona in the Middle Ages, Castelvecchio was a moated fortress designed to protect the family in case of revolt. Eventually, popular rebellion forced the Scaligers to escape to Germany while the Venetians took over the city, followed by Napoleon in the 18th century. Napoleon was ousted by Veronese rebels who stormed the castle and left it devastated, and bombings in World War II caused further damage. The building was abandoned until the mid-20th century, when it was eventually transformed into a museum. 

Most bike, Segway, and walking tours of Verona follow Corso Castelvecchio across the Castelvecchio Bridge to the Castelvecchio Museum. Hop-on-hop-off tours often include stops at other nearby attractions like Lamberti Tower (Torre dei Lamberti) in Piazza delle Erbe, Juliet’s House (Casa di Giulietta), Piazza Bra, the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, and the Arena di Verona.

Verona, one of the most important cities in Italy’s northern region of Veneto, is well connected by train to Milan, Florence, and Venice. The Castelvecchio Museum, located in the city’s historic center, just a short walk from the main train station.

Verona, the setting of Shakespeare’s great love story—Romeo and Juliet—is particularly memorable to visit around Valentine’s Day, when the city holds the annual Verona in Love festival, featuring special events and exhibitions. The museum is closed on Monday mornings.

The 14th-century Castelvecchio Bridge, spanning the Adige River, connects the city on one side of the river to the Castelvecchio Castle on the other. When it was completed in 1356, the bridge had the largest supporting arch span in the world. The original bridge was destroyed during World War II, but a replica was rebuilt soon after.

The exact borders of Rome’s Centro Storico, or historic center, is the subject of much debate among Romans and visitors. Officially, however, it’s the area inside the ancient Aurelian Walls plus Vatican City, and it encompasses some of the city’s most famous sights. 

UNESCO designated the “Historic Center of Rome” a World Heritage Site in 1980, declaring the area inside the Aurelian Walls (plus Vatican City, just outside the walls) as the city's Centro Storico. Many consider the smaller area covering what was once the ancient Campus Martius (now the location of the Campo Marzio rione, or quarter) as the true Centro Storico, however. Regardless of how you measure it, the Centro Storico, home to the Pantheon, Temple of Hadrian, the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Piazza Navona, and Campo de' Fiori, is one of the most important neighborhoods in the Eternal City. The Trevi Fountain, Roman Forum and Colosseum, and Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish Steps are just outside the narrowest interpretation of the Centro Storico, as is Vatican City across the Tiber River.

Because of its narrow streets and pedestrian-only areas, the best way to visit the Centro Storico is on a walking or electric-bike tour that includes Rome’s most important sights. Many Ancient Rome tours also cover some or part of the Centro Storico, as do night tours.

The Centro Storico can loosely be defined as the area of Rome's city center that’s sandwiched between Piazza Venezia/Via del Corso and the Tiber River. Take the 64 bus from the Termini station to the Piazza Navona stop.

Rome is one of the most popular destinations in Italy, and the Centro Storico is where most visitors head. To escape the wall-to-wall crowds, visit the capital city during winter, or low season (excluding the December holidays). 

The Centro Storico is situated close to a number of other interesting neighborhoods, including trendy Trastevere just across the river, bohemian Monti to the east, and elegant Prati to the north.

Chiesa Nuova, considered one of the great baroque churches of Rome, houses important paintings like Pietro da Cortona's Trinity in Glory and Assumption of the Virgin, along with altarpieces by Peter Paul Rubens and Barocci.

Dubbed the “New Church” after being rebuilt in 1575 by St. Philip Neri, Chiesa Nuova—also known as the Church of Santa Maria in Vallicella—has a counter-reformation design with a single nave decorated by Pietro da Cortona's Miracle of the Madonna della Vallicella. Adjacent to the church is the Casa dei Filippini, home to an oratory designed by the Baroque architect Francesco Borromini. 

Chiesa Nuova is a highlight of any walking tour of Rome's baroque churches, which also include the Church of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini and the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, in addition to Bernini's statues along Ponte Sant'Angelo.

The church is located on the Piazza Chiesa Nuova along Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, a short walk down Via del Governo Vecchio from Piazza Navona and midway between St. Peter's Basilica and Piazza Venezia. A number of city busses stop just outside Chiesa Nuova.

Saint Filippo Neri is one of the patron saints of Italy's capital city. On and May 26, his feast day, Chiesa Nuova holds several masses and celebrations in his honor.

An altarpiece Caravaggio originally created for Chiesa Nuova only remained in the church for a short time before a Pope took a liking to it and brought it to the Vatican, where it continues to live today at the Vatican’s art museum. 

Once a monastery and now a remarkable museum, the Certosa di San Martino looks over the city of Naples from high above the hill on which it is perched. The impressive structure dates back to the 14th century, when it was first built as a Carthusian monastery. It was expanded in the 16th century, abandoned in the 19th century, and evolved into the museum it is today. The Certosa di San Martino has one of the most celebrated Nativity scenes in the world on display, as well as Bourbon era and Spanish artifacts.

The interior is adorned with frescoes and some of the best Neapolitan art in the world. You’ll find works of Massimo Stanzione, Giuseppe de Ribera, and Battista Caracciolo, among others. Have a look at the intricate mosaic floors, marble inlays, and wood carvings as well.

Tours typically will include viewings of the monastery, monk’s cemetery, cloisters, and church alongside the art. The  Be sure to look around at the panoramic views you’ll have of the city and the bay from the top of the hill.

The Church of San Sisto is one of the oldest churches in Pisa, Italy and was built in the Middle Ages around the late 1000s in a Romanesque style. Despite several renovations throughout the centuries, the church you see today still looks very much like it did when it was first built. The facade is divided into three parts, each separated by pilaster strips. Arches and windows with metal bars can be seen on the upper part of the facade throughout the entire exterior of the church. Visitors will also see replica ceramic basins from the 10th to 11th centuries; the originals can be found in the St. Matthews Museum. 

The interior of the Church of San Sisto is divided into three aisles by two rows of granite and marble pillars. The pillars are crowned by capitals from ancient buildings which were reused in the construction of this church. As Pisa was once a big naval power, you will also see a rudder and a mast from the 14th to 15th centuries in the church. 

Experience some of the best of Sicilian Baroque architecture by heading to Ragusa’s old town, called Ragusa Ibla, where you’ll find Chiesa San Giuseppe, or San Giuseppe Church. Dating back to the 1700s, it was constructed atop an earlier church, which was destroyed by the earthquake of 1693.

Its impressive façade, featuring an elaborate Baroque bell town, is very much the star of Piazza Pola. The oval-shaped interior dazzles too, complete with a frescoed cupola, and — take note — high-up wooden grate-covered lookouts from which the nuns can participate in services. If you like what you see here, head to nearby Chiesa San Giorgio, which features a similarly extravagant façade — so similar in fact, that it is believed that the church’s designer, Gagliardi, also designed Chiesa San Giuseppe.

A symbol of Verona, the 14th-century Castelvecchio Bridge spanning the Adige River had the largest supporting arch span in the world when it was completed in 1356. The original was destroyed during World War II, but a new bridge was rebuilt with the same red-brick crenellations as its predecessor.

Castelvecchio Bridge (Ponte di Castelvecchio) connects on one side of the river to the city’s historic castle, from which the bridge gets its name. The bridge is also known as the Scaliger Bridge (Ponte Scaligero in Italian), after the powerful family that ruled Verona in the 1300s. French troops destroyed the tower on one end of the bridge in the late 1700s, and retreating German troops bombed the entire structure during World War II; what stands today in its place is an almost exact replica of the original bridge.

Most walking tours of Verona follow Corso Castelvecchio across the Castelvecchio Bridge to the river’s left bank and the old castle, now home to the Museo di Castelvecchio with a collection of art and weaponry. Private tours include other nearby attractions like Lamberti Tower (Torre dei Lamberti) in Piazza delle Erbe, Juliet’s House (Casa di Giulietta), Piazza Bra, the Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, and the Arena di Verona.

Verona, one of the most important cities in Italy’s northern region of Veneto, is well connected by train to Milan, Florence, and Venice. The Ponte Scaligero is in the city’s historic center, a short walk from the main train station.

As the setting of one of the greatest love stories of all time—Romeo and Juliet—Verona is particularly lovely to visit on Valentine’s Day, when the city fills with romantics for the Verona in Love festival, and a number of events and exhibitions are held.

Verona’s other famous bridge spanning the Adige is Ponte Pietra, a Roman arch bridge and the oldest bridge in Verona, completed in 100 BC.