Italy is one of the most beautiful places in the world. From its rolling Tuscan Vistas to the picturesque seaside villages, Italy is a place anywhere from a quaint family vacation to a romantic honeymoon excursion. No matter why you've chosen to explore this exquisite country, there is something for everyone. Here are five places I believe encompass what Italy is as a whole, including the amazing cultures dispersed throughout the country. It truly is a magical getaway.
1. Cinque Terre
It is no surprise that when you search for "Cinque Terre" on Google, this viewpoint of Manarola pops up several times. Not only is this one of the most picturesque places offered in Europe, it is also thriving with Italian culture everywhere you step.
Five seaside villages along the northwest coast of Italy make up the region of Cinque Terre: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Though there is a train that runs through each town, many visitors choose to hike the trails in between. The trail runs roughly 7 miles long from the first town to the last and has spectacular views of the towns and the water.
If hiking isn't your thing, but you don't want to gain a lot of weight from all the pizza and pasta you'll be eating, Cinque Terre won't disappoint. All of the towns are built on hillsides, which means there are tons of stairs. Unless you stay in the most northern town, Monterosso, which has hotels and Airbnbs lining the beach, you can almost guarantee you'll be climbing a few flights to get to wherever you're staying. But don't fret - the views are so colorful and incredible once you make it to the top of your destination!
PRO TIP - Try the focaccia pizza! I personally recommend Batti Batti' Focacceria in Vernazza -- their pesto focaccia pizza is exquisite!
2. Venice
There's no shock that Venice is second on this list. Being one of the most popular cities of travel in the world, Venice offers a culture and environment unlike any other. When you first step off the train into this beautiful city, it's amazing to look around and see that the only modes of transportation within the city are by walking or by boat.
Explore the city. A lot of tourists tend to stick to the main "touristy" areas and don't try to venture farther because the walkways can get a bit confusing. Download a map on your phone or go the old fashioned way and get a paper one, then walk aimlessly around. When I was in Venice, the true gems I found were the ones I least expected when we tried to get away from the tourists.
PRO TIP - Be careful if you do go to the main tourist areas for scammers (especially train stations, bus stations, or Piazza San Marco). A common scam is someone will try to hand you a flower, basically forcing it in your hand, then immediately request money for it. They'll continue to yell at you until you're too embarrassed and give them money. If this happens to you, don't take the flower and ignore them completely. If you've taken a flower, just tell them to take it back, and if they refuse, put it on the floor in front of them and walk away.
3. Tuscany
Now, Tuscany includes a vast majority of the middle of Northern Italy - but when I say Tuscany, I mean the Tuscan villages nestled on hills in the countryside. Some of the more common ones include Montepulciano, Montalcino, Volterra, San Gimignano, and Pienza.
Each town is a little different than the last, and each town has something special about them that no other does. Montalcino is small and sweet but has some of the best wine in the world. If you go into a wine shop and ask for samples, you could spend all day trying their famous Brunello wine. Volterra is a fun town with a historic atmosphere and activities to explore around their prison or you can even eat inside the prison! San Gimignano is one of my favorites because it's a little larger than the rest, so the shops are pretty much endless.
PRO TIP - Basically any Tuscan village you choose to explore has at least ten shops that sell Italian pottery, leather, or wine! Take advantage of it!
4. Florence
Some might say that Florence is the heart and soul of Italy. From walking across Ponte Vecchio (a famous bridge with exciting shops and a lovely view) to exploring the famous museums, Florence is one of those places I think everyone should visit at least once in their life. The vast city is home to the one of the most famous sculptures of all time, David by Michelangelo. The food is some of the best food you'll have in the world with the hundreds of gelato shops, pizza restaurants, and more.
PRO TIP - There are hundreds of street vendors who try to sell you leather here. If you can try to barter with them, sometimes you can get a lot better deals than you would in a store! Give your bartering skills a try!
5. Pisa
Pisa is a cute city to visit if you have some extra time in Italy. Though it is a pretty large city, the vast majority of the action happens where you'd most expect it to -- right by the Leaning Tower of Pisa. As it so happens, the Leaning Tower isn't the only ancient building that draws people into the Piazza del Duomo, there are actually other buildings that draw in the crowds as well! The Duomo, a magnificent church for the history buffs, and the Baptistery of San Giovanni, an architectural masterpiece. Even though you have to pay to enter the three buildings, people choose to sit on the lawn and eat their lunch from one of the many restaurants nestled on the other side of the street.
PRO TIP - Pisa is a lot more lively at night - the streets and the people. Don't be shocked if you leave your hotel in the early afternoon with not a lot of people out and about, then see hoards of people in the streets at night. Enjoy the nightlife if you can!
At the end of the day, Italy is an amazing country with such an incredibly different culture to our own. A vacation to any of these places would be a vacation well spent. Also, remember there are trains to and from all of these cities and towns, so if you wanted to combine them all in the same trip, it is completely possible!
