Must-Visit Destinations in Italy

For a first-time visitor to Italy, Florence’s Renaissance masterpieces, Rome’s ancient wonders, and Venice’s sun-dappled canals are all classic destinations—for good reason. But look beyond the “big three” cities, and you’ll find there’s so much more to this magical country. In these regions, watch Olympic dreams become reality, dine on fresh local seafood, and walk cobblestone streets to see medieval architecture.

Milan and the Italian Lakes

When visitors arrive in Milan, one of the world’s great fashion and design centers, they’re usually surrounded by the whirl of industrious, style-conscious Italians. But this winter, the city, alongside Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, will be filled with patriotic puffer jackets when it hosts the Winter Olympics in February and the Paralympic Winter Games in March. Lucky visitors will be able to watch the opening ceremony as well as ice hockey and figure skating competitions at venues across the city.

Even if you can’t make the games, you would be remiss to skip Milan. The white-marble Milan Cathedral, one of the world’s largest, is a beautifully preserved landmark. Nearby, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II offers elegant shopping that few malls have managed to replicate. Visit the world-famous La Scala opera house, and stop by the church and convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie to admire Leonardo da Vinci’s 15th-century mural, The Last Supper.

Beyond Milan, the Alps preside over the dreamy countryside that unspools at their feet. Boats ferry you along the shores of three sparkling lakes—Como, Garda, and Maggiore—where medieval fortresses and pastel-colored villas stand watch. By night, locals and visitors alike descend on chic resort towns such as Como’s Bellagio for the traditional passeggiata, the evening walk.

Umbria: Assisi, Trevi, and Spoleto

Less visited than neighboring Tuscany, Umbria is best known for Assisi, the home of Saint Francis, which has been a pilgrimage site for centuries. The Basilica of Saint Clare, admired for its pink-and-white-striped stone facade, is an architectural marvel. And dazzling medieval frescoes trace the revered saint’s life at the Basilica of Saint Francis.

Another Umbrian town, Trevi, is encircled by two bands of medieval walls. Spoleto boasts medieval and Renaissance architecture and serves as the setting for the Festival of the Two Worlds, a counterpart of the annual Spoleto Festival in Charleston, S.C.

Wild porcini and black truffles are favorite ingredients of Umbrian cuisine. Sample fresh pasta mixed with mushrooms and drizzled with luscious, truffle-infused olive oil. Local game like boar and hare often flavors ragù.

Naples, Capri, Sorrento, and Pompeii

Naples exhilarates visitors with its vibrant street life, seaside panoramas, and its most famous export: pizza. Dozens of castles, museums, and churches vie for attention along with narrow streets where laundry drapes from clotheslines and singsong voices echo against the cobblestones.

You’ll feel like a movie star landing on the spectacular island of Capri. Visit the lovely hilltop town of Anacapri and the Villa San Michele, built atop the ruins of a Roman palace. After the day-trippers have left, enjoy a leisurely seafood dinner in the balmy night and end your meal with a cold limoncello, a lemon liqueur. Every family in Naples and along the Amalfi coast has its own recipe.

Across the Bay of Naples, find Sorrento’s pastel-colored villas, nestled in steep, dramatic cliffs facing the Tyrrhenian Sea. The ancient city of Pompeii makes for an easy—and fascinating—day trip. Buried beneath ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in A.D. 79, excavated streets and houses are almost perfectly preserved, as if the city were frozen in time.

Sicily and Calabria

The spectacular ruins of Sicily—left behind by the island’s many foreign occupiers—have withstood the erosion of time. The port city of Siracusa’s Teatro Greco, a 15,000-seat theater carved out of rock, is a stunning example. Taormina, another exquisite town facing the sea, boasts a Greek-Roman amphitheater and prime views of Mount Etna. The volcano, one of the world’s most active, frequently spews ash clouds into the Mediterranean sky.

In the island’s center, the town of Enna spills over a high plateau. Panoramic views and ancient monuments make it a memorable stop en route to Agrigento and its Valley of the Temples, the most impressive collection of Greek ruins in Italy. The vibrant capital, Palermo, with its Byzantine mosaics, is another reminder of the island’s history. Walk its street markets overflowing with fruits and vegetables.

At the toe of Italy’s boot lies Calabria, lined with gorgeous beaches. Capo Vaticano is often cited as one of the most beautiful in the world. The main city, Reggio Calabria, proudly displays the Riace bronzes, Greek statues from around 400 B.C.