Overview
About Italy
Italy holds more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country, spread over 1,300 km from alpine Dolomites to Sicilian volcanoes. Each region eats, builds and speaks differently — Roman ruins in the centre, Renaissance Tuscany, Norman-Arab Sicily, Venetian lagoon. The coast is nearly 7,500 km long, and mountains cover a third of the land.
Quick facts
At a glance
- Capital
- Rome
- Population
- 59M
- Area
- 301,340 km²
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Italian
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1) / CEST (UTC+2)
Interactive map
Italy on the map
Regions
Where to go in Italy
01Abruzzo
Rugged mountains meeting the Adriatic coast, with national parks and medieval villages.
Explore 28 places →
02Aosta Valley
Alpine wonderland, home to towering peaks, ancient Roman ruins, and a distinct French influence.
Explore 26 places →
03Apulia (Puglia)
Sun-drenched heel of Italy, known for whitewashed towns, trulli houses, and stunning coastline.
Explore 32 places →
04Basilicata
Ancient and rugged, featuring a unique cave-dwelling city and dramatic landscapes.
Explore 12 places →
05Calabria
Wild southern tip, with stunning coastlines, ancient Greek ruins, and rugged mountains.
Explore 26 places →
06Campania
A vibrant blend of ancient history, dramatic coastlines, and bustling cities, dominated by Naples and Pompeii.
Explore 31 places →
07Emilia-Romagna
Foodie paradise and automotive hub, blending medieval cities with culinary delights.
Explore 30 places →
08Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Diverse border region, blending Italian, Austro-Hungarian, and Slavic influences, from mountains to coast.
Explore 25 places →
09Lazio
The heart of ancient Rome and the Catholic Church, blending monumental history with charming countryside.
Explore 30 places →
10Liguria
The Italian Riviera, a crescent of dramatic coastline, pastel villages, and charming seaside towns.
Explore 30 places →
11Lombardy
Economic powerhouse of Italy, boasting fashion, finance, and stunning lakes and historic cities.
Explore 29 places →
12Marche
Undiscovered gem, combining rolling hills, Renaissance cities, and an Adriatic coastline.
Explore 30 places →
13Molise
Italy's second-smallest and least-known region, offering untouched nature, ancient history, and quiet charm.
Explore 10 places →
14Piedmont
Nestled at the foot of the Alps, known for its royal heritage, fine wines, and culinary excellence.
Explore 31 places →
15Sardinia
Rugged island paradise with pristine beaches, ancient Nuragic ruins, and a distinct culture.
Explore 31 places →
16Sicily
Largest Mediterranean island, a melting pot of cultures, ancient ruins, active volcanoes, and stunning coastlines.
Explore 31 places →
17Tuscany
Birthplace of the Renaissance, famous for its rolling hills, vineyards, art cities, and cypress-lined landscapes.
Explore 29 places →
.jpg?width=1600)
18Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol
Alpine paradise blending Italian and Austrian cultures, featuring the majestic Dolomites and pristine lakes.
Explore 30 places →
19Umbria
The 'Green Heart of Italy,' a landlocked region of rolling hills, medieval towns, and spiritual sanctuaries.
Explore 30 places →
20Veneto
Home to the iconic city of Venice, diverse landscapes from the Dolomites to the Adriatic, and rich cultural heritage.
Explore 32 places →
Top landmarks
Must-see places
Monastery
Abbey of Santa Maria in Montesanto
The Abbey of Montesanto or Abbazia di Santa Maria in Montesanto is Romanesque-style Benedictine monastery located in the rural hills outside the town of Civitella del Tronto, in the province of Teramo, Abruzzo, Italy.
Monastery
Abbey of the Holy Spirit at Monte Morrone, Sulmona
The Abbey of the Holy Spirit at Morrone, locally Badia Morronese is a former Celestine monastery founded in the late 13th-century by the hermit Pietro da Morrone. The complex stands at the foot of Monte Morrone, about 5 km (3 mi) north-east of Sulmona, in the Province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy.
National Park
Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park
Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park is an Italian national park established in 1923. The majority of the park is located in the Abruzzo region, with smaller parts in Lazio and Molise.
Historic Site
Amiternum
Amiternum was an ancient Sabine city, then Roman city and later bishopric and Latin Catholic titular see in the central Abruzzo region of modern Italy, located 9 km (5.6 mi) from L'Aquila. Amiternum was the birthplace of the historian Sallust (86 BC).
River
Aterno-Pescara
The Aterno-Pescara (ancient Aternus from the Greek Aternos, Άτερνος) is a river system in Abruzzo, eastern central Italy. The river is known as the Aterno near its source in the mountains, but takes the name Pescara, actually a tributary, nearer the city of Pescara and the Adriatic Sea.
Archaeological
Aternum
Aternum was a Roman town, on the site of Pescara, in Italy. Some historians also refer to Aternum with the name of Ostia Aterni, due to its location at the mouth of the river Aternus.
.jpg?width=1600)
Archaeological
Aveia
Aveia was an ancient town of the Vestini and Roman former bishopric, which remains a Latin Catholic titular see. Its site is on the Via Claudia Nova, c.
Cathedral
Basilica of San Bernardino
The Basilica of San Bernardino is a religious building located in L'Aquila, Italy. The church was built, with the adjacent cloister, between 1454 and 1472 in honor of St Bernardino of Siena.
Museum
Birthplace of Gabriele D'Annunzio Museum
The Gabriele d'Annunzio Birthplace Museum is located at 116 Corso Manthoné in Pescara and was declared a national monument in 1927. Since December 2014, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities has managed it through the Polo Museale dell'Abruzzo, which became the Regional Directorate of Museums in December 201
Your Italy progress
0% explored
0/553 landmarks · 0/20 regions
- Visited
- 0
- Saved
- 0
- Regions
- 0/20
- Badges
- 0/6
- XP earned
- 0
Italy achievements
0/6 earned
- 🧭
Italy Explorer
Visit your first landmark in Italy.
0/1 · +50 XP
- 🗺️
Italy Regional Explorer
Visit landmarks in 5 different regions of Italy.
0/5 · +150 XP
- 👑
Italy Master
Visit 30 landmarks in Italy.
0/30 · +500 XP
Popular cities
Cities to explore
Rome
The Colosseum, the Forum, the Vatican — 3,000 years in one walk.
Explore →
Florence
Renaissance capital of the Duomo and the Uffizi.
Explore →
Venice
A lagoon city of canals, St Mark's and Byzantine gold.
Explore →
Naples
Chaotic, layered and the birthplace of pizza, under Vesuvius.
Explore →
Milan
Gothic cathedral, design studios and Italy's business engine.
Explore →
Bologna
Porticoed medieval city with the country's oldest university.
Explore →
National parks
Wild places
Cinque Terre
Five cliffside villages linked by coastal footpaths.
Gran Paradiso
Italy's first national park, a former royal ibex reserve.
Dolomiti Bellunesi
Pale limestone towers of the UNESCO Dolomites.
Vesuvius
The crater rim above Naples, with Pompeii below.
Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga
Apennine high plains and the Corno Grande.
Stelvio
Glaciers and hairpin passes in the central Alps.
Beaches
Coast & shore
Spiaggia dei Conigli, Lampedusa
Turtle-nesting bay of white sand and clear water.
Cala Goloritzé, Sardinia
Limestone pinnacle over a hike-in pebble cove.
Positano, Amalfi Coast
Pastel cliff village above dark volcanic sand.
San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily
Broad crescent under Monte Monaco.
Tropea, Calabria
Beach beneath a clifftop old town facing Stromboli.
Mountains & nature
Peaks and wilderness
Dolomites
UNESCO limestone spires and via ferrata routes in the northeast.
Mont Blanc / Monte Bianco
Shared alpine giant above Courmayeur.
Etna
Europe's most active volcano, 3,300 m over eastern Sicily.
Gran Sasso
The Apennines' highest massif with Europe's southernmost glacier.
Lake Como mountains
Steep pre-alpine walls over the lake's villas.
Local cuisine
What to eat
Pizza napoletana
Wood-fired, soft-crusted and protected by its own consortium.
Ragù alla bolognese
Slow meat sauce, traditionally with tagliatelle, never spaghetti.
Cacio e pepe
Roman pasta of pecorino and black pepper — nothing else.
Risotto alla milanese
Saffron-yellow risotto finished with marrow and parmesan.
Gelato
Denser and less airy than ice cream; look for muted natural colours.
Aperitivo
Early-evening spritz or negroni with snacks included.
Travel tips
Good to know
- 01
Validate regional train tickets before boarding or risk a fine.
- 02
Historic centres are ZTL zones — driving in without a permit brings automatic fines.
- 03
Book the Uffizi, Accademia, Colosseum and Last Supper well in advance.
- 04
Cover shoulders and knees to enter churches.
- 05
Coffee at the bar costs a fraction of the same cup at a table.
Journeyal reviews
From the community
No community reviews yet for Italy. Visit a landmark to be the first to share.
Your progress
Your Italy
Plan my trip
Build your Italy route
Nearby