I recently came back from a month-long trip to Italy (shout out to all you study abroad students, whether you’re leaving soon or you just returned home), and there was a lot to see, do, and eat. I lived and attended school in Florence, but by the end of the month I had been to six other cities. The main Italian destinations (Rome, Venice, etc.) were very exciting – I personally enjoyed the romantic gondola ride with my boyfriend – but there were a few other, less popular places that I thought were also worth seeing. In addition to the usual historic spots, here are the five cities to add to your Italian Grand Tour.
1. Pisa
Home to the famous Leaning Tower, Pisa is only an hour-long train ride from Florence. After a big photoshoot with the Tower, where you try your hardest to push the darn thing back up, you can go grab dinner with your friends or family (whoever you’re traveling with). You can visit the museum inside the Piazza dei Miracoli, and there’s also a nice gelato place where you can get pretty big portions for only 2 euro. Pisa can probably be done in a single day trip, but it’ll be fun to check out and add to your list of places visited.
2. Verona
For all of you Shakespeare fans, Verona is an absolute must. Verona is the fated city where "Romeo and Juliet" takes place. You can visit the House of Juliet and (with a fee of seven euro) climb upstairs to stand on Juliet’s balcony. Leading into the House of Juliet are walls filled with photos and letters written to the famous Shakespearean heroine, and you can still write your own (remember the movie "Letters to Juliet?" That was filmed in Verona as well!). You can also walk across the Castelvecchio Bridge, which is very romantic and makes for some great pictures!
3. Cinque Terre
Who likes the beach? Cinque Terre is a fun seaside getaway that consists of “The Five Lands:” Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore, each of which having something to offer. You can jump off of giant rocks in Manarola (just be careful – it’s a 30-foot drop!) or relax on the beach at Monterosso. The buildings are colorful, and the water is so clear and beautiful; you can see your feet underneath. Riomaggiore even has some great Sicilian pizza, which you can burn off on a nice, long hike to Monterosso. Cinque Terre is a place of paradise.
4. Assisi
While it has a strong religious presence, Assisi is a peaceful, scenic village to walk through. Home to Saints Francis and Clare, you can visit their respective churches (among many others) and browse different souvenir shops and kiosks with novelty and commercial items mixed in with religious articles (swords, masks, and, oddly enough, "Frozen" T-shirts). There’s even a sunflower field on your way into the village. Assisi is quite rustic, with both dirt paths and beautiful greenery, and you can find an amazing view of the landscape almost anywhere in the village. Like Pisa, Assisi makes for a great day trip.
5. Tuscany
Ah, Tuscany. Another Italian spot with gorgeous scenery. Tuscany is one of, if not the place to go for wine tastings and to explore the vineyards. You can even tour the wine cellar in Chianti, among other areas within the Tuscan region. "Under the Tuscan Sun," another popular film set in Italy (your mom probably watched it), was filmed here as well. Also nearby is the town of Siena, among other Tuscan hill towns. Tuscany is such a large area that there are many different possibilities when it comes to exploring it. Make sure to order some wine to ship back home!
While the major cities like Rome, Venice, or Florence are must-sees for any traveler, I’ve found these other Italian locations to be real gems and definitely worth visiting. What are some of your favorite places in Italy? Sound off in the comments!
