The Most Visited Tourist Attractions In Italy

Italy is one of the world’s most desired tourist destinations. The country is renowned for its historical and cultural attractions. Tourists from across the globe visit this country every year to explore its numerous cities and their attractions. The most visited tourist attractions in Italy are mentioned below:

10. Colosseum, Palatino, and Roman Forum

The Colosseum symbolizes Roman culture and history. It is an oval amphitheater that is located in Rome and is the biggest amphitheater to be ever built in the world. It was built between AD 72 and 80. Although now only a tourist attraction, the Colosseum formerly hosted mock sea battles, animal hunts, public executions, and other events. The Colosseum’s massive size can be estimated from the fact that it has 80 entrances and could seat 50,000 spectators at one time. Located nearby is the Palatine Hill or the Palatino, one of the city’s oldest parts overlooking the Roman Forum that is located about 40 m below. The area has giant pine trees and ancient ruins. It offers majestic views of the surrounding city. The rectangular Roman Forum was formerly a marketplace in ancient Rome. The ruins of ancient government buildings surround this forum. The area hosted many important events of the ancient Romans like the triumphal processions, gladiatorial matches, and the trials of the criminals. The above three historical sites located close to each other constitute the most visited destination in Italy.

9. Pompeii

Pompeii is the second most visited place of interest in Italy. It is located close to Naples. The site has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It hosts the ruins of an ancient Roman city that was destroyed nearly completely due to the eruption of the volcano Mt. Vesuvius in AD 79. A tour through Pompeii gives an insight into the ancient Roman way of life and culture. There are several attractions in the area like the Thermal Baths that represent ancient health clubs, the Forum where gatherings of the top officials and priests of the ancient city would take place, the Theatre where plays were staged out in the ancient times, and so on.

8. Uffizi Gallery and Vasari Corridor

Both of these attractions are located in the Historic Centre of Florence. The Uffizi Gallery is an art museum which hosts famous artwork from the Renaissance period. It is the most visited art gallery in the country. The Vasari Corridor is an elevated passage running between the town hall and the Palazzo Pitti. This enclosed passage is also connected to the Uffizi Gallery. A part of the passage runs over the River Arno. The corridor was built in the year 1565 by the then ruler of the region to move in a secure manner between his residence and the government palace.

7. The Accademia

Located in Florence, this is one of Italy’s most visited destinations. The most famous exhibit here is the sculpture of David by Michelangelo. Others works of this great artist, as well as other artists of Florence, are displayed here. Most of the artwork here date to the period between 1300 and 1600.

6. Castel Sant’Angelo National Museum

The fifth most popular attraction in Italy is the Mausoleum of Hadrian which is located in Rome’s Parco Adriano. The towering cylindrical building was built under the instructions of Hadrian, a Roman Emperor, to serve as a mausoleum for him and his family. The ashes of Hadrian and his family members and those of subsequent emperors till 217 AD were stored in this tomb. Later, in 401, the mausoleum was converted to a fortress and castle and finally, in modern times, it has been declared a museum.

5. Boboli Garden

This tourist destination is located in Florence and houses several sculptures dating between the 16th and 18th centuries. The Boboli Gardens represent some of the earliest Italian gardens built in the formal style. It is adjacent to the Pitti Palace that was the residence of Tuscany’s Medici grand dukes. In the past, the gardens could be accessed only by the members of the Medici family but are now open to the public for visits. The total area occupied by the gardens is 45,000 square meters.

4. La Venaria Reale

The palace is located in Venaria Reale in the Metropolitan City of Turin. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the former royal residences of the Royal House of Savoy. The palace was commissioned by Charles Emmanuel II to serve as a base for his hunting expeditions. It was constructed in the late 17th century.

3. The Egyptian Museum

The Egyptian Museum of Italy is the eighth most visited attraction in the country. It is located in Turin, Piedmont. The museum hosts exhibits of Egyptian anthropology and archeology. The museum has some of the richest collections of Egyptian antiquities in the world. Three different versions of the Book of the Dead are present here.

2. Borghese Gallery

A Roman art gallery, the Galleria Borghese is located in the Villa Borghese Pinciana. It is located adjacent to another tourist attraction, the Villa Borghese gardens. The gallery exhibits a collection of paintings, sculptures, and antiquities collected by the Borghese family, a princely family of Italy.

1. The Royal Palace Of Caserta

Located in Caserta, southern Italy, the Royal Palace served as the residence of the Bourbon kings of Naples in the past. The palace was established in the 18th century. The UNESCO inscribed it as a World Heritage Site in 1997. The palace that spreads out across 235,000 square m, is regarded as the world’s largest royal residence. It is the tenth most visited destination in Italy.