European Vacations

Italy Holidays

Planning Your Holiday in Italy

When you think of romantic holidays, Italy is the first place that comes to mind. With its museums, history, and overall beauty, a holiday in Italy can be a trip to remember. But with so much to see and do, it’s hard to know where to start. Everyone knows to visit the Pantheon and to take a romantic ride in a gondola. But there are other things to be sure to do on your Italian Holiday.

Museums in Italy

Italy is known for having some of the best museums in the world. A holiday in Italy wouldn’t be complete without a visit to a few of these museums. Perhaps the best known collections are at the Vatican, including the Sistine Chapel. Michalangelo’s famous ceiling is one of the best known pieces of art in the world, and should not be missed. The rest of the art at the Vatican is also among the world’s best. You could spend several days exploring the collections; be sure to make a stop on your Italian holiday.

While you are in Rome, you should also stop at the Galleria Borghese, a small museum with one of the best art collections in the world. In Florence, make a trip to the Galleria degli Uffizi, which is full of amazing art from the Renaissance. And if you are in Venice, be sure to see the Gallerie dell’Accademia.

Churches in Italy

You could spend an entire holiday in Italy just visiting churches and cathedrals. But if you can only visit a few, be sure to start with St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It is Italy’s most famous church for a reason; the architecture alone draws visitors, but it is also full of amazing art including Michelangelo’s Pieta. In Venice, be sure to take in the mosaics at Basilica di San Marco. Another favorite is the Duomo in Milan; with 135 towers it looks like a magical castle out of a fairy tale. And the Duomo di Monreale, with its Bzyantine mosaics, is also a must-see.

Historical Places in Italy

Of course, what holiday in Italy would be complete without taking in some of Italy’s historic sites? Perhaps the most famous of these are in Rome. The Colosseum, where gladiators fought to the death, is spectacular and should not be missed. The Roman Forum and Palatine Hill are also beautiful monuments to the ancient Romans. Another must-see on your Italian holiday is Pompeii. The entire city was buried by Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, and is one of the most famous cities in the world. And when you are in Sicily, be sure to see the Valley of the Temples, once of the largest archeological sites in the country.