The Via dei Fori Imperiali in Rome
From our editorial team
Italy is a place of longing for travellers from all over the world. From the snow-covered Dolomites in the north to the spectacular Amalfi Coast and the cactus landscape in Calabria, Bella Italia offers the full programme in terms of scenery - and there are dozens of historic towns worth seeing spread across the country.
From the Renaissance pearl of Florence to lively Naples and the culinary paradise of Bologna: there are ten Italian cities that you should definitely visit for a good overview - whether you are travelling to Italy for the first time or are a regular visitor.
10 Turin - Historical elegance in the north
Turin, the capital of Piedmont, is a city full of elegance and history. Famous as the home of the Holy Shroud, which is kept in Turin Cathedral, the city combines baroque splendour with modern vibrancy. The Palazzo Reale, once the seat of the Savoy family, and the magnificent Piazza Castello and Piazza San Carlo are symbols of the city's royal past. The Egyptian Museum in Turin is one of the most important of its kind in the world and fascinates visitors with its ancient treasures. For fans of the automobile, there is the Museo Nazionale dell'Automobile.
Turin is a culinary paradise: The city is considered the birthplace of gianduja, a precursor to Nutella, and is known for its fine chocolate and truffle specialities. Typical dishes such as bagna cauda (a warm anchovy and garlic sauce) and vitello tonnato tantalise the palate. A classic bicerin, a drink made from coffee, cocoa and cream, rounds off the experience perfectly. Turin is less hectic than other big cities and impresses with its charm, culture and refined lifestyle.
9 Verona - The city of love
Verona, known as the setting for Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", combines romance, history and culture. The city is famous for its Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheatre that is still used today for operas and concerts. A stroll through the charming streets takes you to the Juliet's balcony, one of the most popular attractionseven if the legend has little to do with reality.
Piazza delle Erbe, a lively market square with centuries-old buildings and cafés, is the heart of the city. Not far away is the Ponte Pietra, an old stone bridge over the Adige, which offers a beautiful view of the surrounding area.
In culinary terms, Verona shines with regional specialities such as risotto all'Amarone, prepared with the famous local red wine, and pandoro, a sweet yeast cake that is particularly popular at Christmas time.
8th Pisa - The Leaning Tower and more
Pisa is world-famous for the Leaning Tower, but the city has much more to offer than this iconic structure. Piazza dei Miracoli, the Square of Miracles, combines the tower with the magnificent Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Baptistery and the monumental Camposanto cemetery - an ensemble that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Away from this famous square, the old town with its narrow alleyways, historic palaces and cosy cafés invites you to explore. The Ponte di Mezzo over the Arno offers a magnificent view of the colourful facades of the houses lining the riverbank.
Pisa's culinary delights include typical Tuscan dishes such as Zuppa di Pane, a savoury bread soup, and Torta coi Bischeri, a sweet cake with pine nuts and chocolate. Pisa is a perfect mix of world-famous sights and authentic Italian flair, offering something for every traveller.
7 Bologna - The capital of good taste
Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna, is a paradise for connoisseurs and culture lovers. The city is often called "La Rossa" because of its red brick buildings and impresses with its kilometre-long arcades. From the Torre degli Asinelli, one of the two leaning towers, you can enjoy a fantastic view over the rooftops of the city.
The centre is Piazza Maggiore with the Basilica of San Petronio and the Fountain of Neptune. Bologna is also home to the oldest university in Europe, which makes the city very young and lively.
In culinary terms, some of Italy's most famous dishes can be found here. Tagliatelle al Ragù (often known as "Bolognese") is a must, as are tortellini in brodo (stuffed pasta in broth) and mortadella, the delicate sausage speciality. For dessert, try zuppa inglese, an Italian version of trifle, or a creamy gelato.
6 Palermo - The pearl of Sicily
Palermo, the capital Sicilyis a fascinating mix of cultures. Arabic, Norman and Baroque influences characterise the city and make it unique. The Norman palace with the magnificent Cappella Palatina, whose mosaics sparkle in gold, is an absolute highlight. Palermo Cathedral impresses with its mixture of Arabic and Gothic architecture.
You can feel the soul of the city at the lively street markets such as the Ballarò market or the Vucciria market. Here you can find freshly caught fish, fragrant spices and street food classics such as arancini, deep-fried rice balls, or the hearty pane con la milza, bread with spleen. To finish, there are the legendary cannoli, crispy dough rolls filled with ricotta.
Palermo also offers places of tranquillity, such as the botanical gardens or Monte Pellegrino, from where you can enjoy an incredible view over the city and the coast. Also a must: the Capuchin catacombs, a morbid journey into history.
5 Milan - fashion, design and culture
Milan is Italy's modern soul, economic and financial centre and conurbation. The city combines modernity with historical splendour. Milan Cathedral, one of the largest Gothic buildings in the world, is the heart of the city. From the roof terrace you can see as far as the Alps. Right next to it is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the most magnificent historic shopping centre in the world.
In the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, you can admire Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan's art academy, exhibits masterpieces from Caravaggio to Raphael. Football fans will get their hearts racing at the San Siro stadium, home to AC and Inter Milan.
In culinary terms, Milan is famous for risotto alla Milanese with saffron, ossobuco alle Milanese, a braised dish of veal shank and the fluffy Christmas cake panettone. In the bars, you can enjoy a classic Negroni Sbagliato, Campari with Martini rosso and Prosecco, served with a slice of orange.
4 Florence - the cradle of the Renaissance
Florence is a work of art. The city, which was once ruled by the Medici, is a paradise for culture and history lovers. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore impresses from afar with its imposing dome. Right next to it is the Campanile, the bell tower, from which you have a great view over the city.
The Uffizi Gallery is home to works by Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci - not just a must for art fans. The Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in the city, is home to gold and jewellery dealers. For a spectacular view of the city at sunset, head to Piazzale Michelangelo.
Culinary delights in the city include rustic dishes such as bistecca alla fiorentina, a T-bone steak, or pappa al pomodoro, a thick tomato and bread soup. For dessert, there are sweet cantuccini.
3 Venice - The floating city
When it is not flooded with tourists, it has Venice a unique magical atmosphere. The canals, the boats and gondolas, the pink glass of the typical Venetian lanterns. St Mark's Square is the historic centre of the lagoon city: next to St Mark's Basilica is the world-famous Doge's Palace and the famous "Caffè Florian". From the Campanile, the bell tower, you have a good view of the lagoon.
The famous Rialto Bridge stands on 12,000 oak piles driven into the lagoon. It is almost 50 metres long and 22 metres wide. After the earlier wooden bridges often rotted or burned, the stone bridge was inaugurated in 1591. The bridge became the city's central trading centre, ships docked here and important trading houses and banks were established around the bridge.
Venice offers culinary specialities such as sarde in saor, sweet and sour pickled sardines, and risotto al nero di seppia, with octopus. It goes well with a sprizz, which was invented here. And who could resist a zabaglione for dessert?
2. Naples - culture and joie de vivre
Naples is wild, lively and full of contrasts. The historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a labyrinth of narrow streets, baroque churches and small cafés, ristorantes and pizzerias where the world's most famous food was once born. Be sure to try it! Also take a break in a pasticcheria, a patisserie, and make sfogliatelle, sweet crispy little croissants with a strong espresso.
Still relatively new in the compulsory programme in Naples is the Metro dell'Arte, the largest underground museum of the world. Italian and international star architects and artists have already transformed 15 underground stations into total works of art, with more to follow. The Maradona Murales on Via Emanuele De Deo, the oversized murals of the deceased former SSC Napoli star, are well worth seeing. The entire street is a tribute to the man who brought Napoli the Italian championship for the first time. The National Archaeological Museum is one of the most important in the world, and in Via San Gregorio Armeno the world-famous nativity scenes are made all year round.
1 Rome - The Eternal City
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Rome - every street here breathes history. The entire historic centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Colosseum about the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon, the Roman Forum and the Vatican City. But Rome is much more than imposing world history. There are piazzas full of life, such as Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori or Piazza di Spagna, strolling through the lively streets, the rattling Vespas, the lively chats in the ristoranti.
With more than 150 museums, Rome has plenty of choice: The Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna houses the largest collection of modern and contemporary art in Italy with more than 5,000 works, while the Galleria Borghese displays masterpieces by Bernini, Caravaggio and Raphael. In the Museo di Roma, more than 100,000 paintings, drawings, sculptures, furniture, clothing, ceramics, carriages, architectural elements and paintings tell the story of the city of Rome from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century
Probably the most famous spaghetti dish in the world, spaghetti carbonara was probably invented in Rome, just as the fiery penne all'arrabiata comes from Lazio. Cacio e pepe, thick spaghetti with pecorino romano and black pepper, is also a classic in Rome.
