After Spain, Italy is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Germans. One of the reasons may be that Italy connects both those who are eager to learn and those who enjoy themselves among us, thanks to a composition of interesting history and a pleasant way of life. Almost every tour can be rounded off with a good Italian espresso before or after in the piazza. Even shopping enthusiasts will not miss out thanks to the many shops around most of the sights.

Still not sure what to see in Italy and not to be missed? Below is a small selection of the most popular sights.

Rome

One of the most important cultural cities in the world – Italy’s capital Rome. For centuries Rome was the spiritual, cultural and economic center of the ancient world. Remaining from this period are famous buildings such as the Coliseum, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain.

In addition to the ancient buildings, there are a lot of sights in Rome that were built in the later centuries. This includes many elaborately decorated fountains. The best known among them and therefore also the most visited attraction in the capital is probably the Fontana de Trevi (Trevi Fountain) at the Palazzo Poli.

The Spanish Steps are a popular and well-known meeting point in the center of Rome. It starts at the Piazza di Spagna and ends at the church of Santa Trinitá die Monti. 138 steps make up a height difference of 23 meters, which has to be overcome to reach the highest point.

The Pope also has his seat in Rome, more precisely in the Vatican City, which is enclosed as an enclave. The entire city center of Rome is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The climate in Rome is Mediterranean. Summers are dry and warm with maximum temperatures around 30 degrees a day. The winters, due to the location of Rome, are mild but also quite humid. The best time to visit Rome are the mild spring and autumn months.

Vatican city

The Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world and is located in the middle of Italy’s capital Rome. The small state consists of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Apostolic Palace and several educational and administrative buildings. Like every state, it also has a head – the Pope. St. Peter’s Basilica is probably the most famous building in the state and one of the largest church buildings in the world. The entire national territory is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Florence

Beautifully located in Tuscany, nature, city and culture can be combined in Florence. Painters and scientists such as Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei and Leonardo da Vinci had their heyday in the Renaissance and still shape the city’s culture with their works today.

Naples

According to Best-medical-schools, Naples is a port city on the Gulf of Naples of the same name. It is the 3rd largest city in Italy and has many medieval castles, churches and palaces from the Renaissance to see. There is also Mount Vesuvius, the only active volcano on mainland Europe.

Etna volcano

Etna is considered to be the most active and mightiest volcano in Europe. It is located on the Mediterranean island of Sicily and has been part of the list of Italian World Heritage Sites by Unesco since 2013.

Despite its activity, it is still possible for the brave to visit it. You can reach the summit with the Funivia del`Etna cable car. This starts at an altitude of 2000 meters and brings you another 500 meters closer to the volcano. From there, you will continue your journey by bus.

With the Ferrovia Circumetnea Railway, you can even go all around the volcano. The route is around 110 kilometers long and is a very special kind of journey.

Amalfi coast

The Amalfi Coast is located in western Italy and is one of the most beautiful coastal areas in Europe. Picturesque villages such as Amalfi, Cetara, Positano, Tramonti and Furore line the Mediterranean coast. White, rosé and red wines and lemons come from this region. The former fishing village of Positano is well worth a visit. It runs like a terrace sloping down to the sea and offers a wonderful view towards the Mediterranean Sea.

Cinque Terre National Park

In total, Italy has 24 national parks, one of which is Cinque Terre. It is 3860 hectares and runs along the Ligurian coast. The coastline consists of a mountain range several hundred meters high, steeply sloping into the sea. Cinque Terre means five countries or five localities in German. These 5 villages run very close together along the mountain range from northwest to southeast, for a total of 12 kilometers. The 5 villages are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. With the exception of Corniglia, which is located on a rocky promontory about 100 meters above sea level, all the villages are located directly on the water.

The 5 villages can all be seen in one day. Due to the direct location on the water, each village offers boat tours where you can admire the cliffs and the panorama from the water. Countless hiking trails lead through the national park along the vineyards. When visiting in autumn, you can watch the winemakers at work in the fields. The day can be wonderfully ended with a glass of wine with a view of the sunset on the beach.

Garda lake

30 minutes from Verona is the largest lake in Italy – Lake Garda. If you can’t decide between city and country / hiking vacation, this is the area for you. There are a multitude of beautiful hiking and excursion destinations around the lake. A fabulous view of the lake included.