Italy Tourist Attractions

"A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what it is expected a man should see." - Samuel Johnson

Italy, or the Italian Republic, has long been one of the major hubs of progressive civilization and cultural growth of the human race. There is something about the place that just seemingly brings out the innovative best in people, and gets the creative juices flowing. Italy tourist attractions have regularly pulled people from all corners of the world, and more often than not, have taken their breath away. This is the country that gave the world the Romans, the Renaissance, and more importantly, pizza.

With Rome as its capital, Italy tourist attractions are deeply entrenched with a lot of references and remnants of art, culture, music and fine living. Italians are a suave bunch of people who know how to live life to the fullest, and this fact is highlighted by the impressive architecture of the country, the remarkable demonstrations of very talented artists and poets, the emergence of great thinkers and philosophers and the superior evolution of the culinary tastes of the people who reside in this marvelous country.

The major cities that offer the best Italy tourist attractions are Rome, Milan, Florence, Turin, Venice, Naples and Tuscany. In these cities you'll find a large number of attractive museums, buildings, art galleries, restaurants and great places of scenic beauty. Perhaps the most important and pertinent of all Italy tourist attractions is Vatican City, an independent sovereign state in the middle of Rome, the home of the Pope. So if you're looking for a country with a long and illustrious heritage of art, music, literature, architecture, cuisine and everything else that is fine, look no further than Italy.

Italy Tourist Attractions
As mentioned before, the major tourist attractions in Italy are primarily located in the best cities of the country. But since there are a fairly large number of major cities in the country, our list of Italy tourist attractions may appear fairly limited. In truth, no amount of words could be sufficient enough for listing out all the best things to see here.

Italy Tourist Attractions - Rome
The Eternal City, as it is aptly called, is the capital of the country and the prime example of everything that is good about this magical place. If you happen to find yourself here while on your Italy Vacations, the very first place you must visit is The Colosseum. You can tour this massive structure where the Roman Gladiators used to wage their battles with each other to please the crowd and the Emperor in ancient Italy.

It is also worthwhile to visit Trevi Square, the home of the famous Fontana di Trevi, or the Trevi Fountain. Legends say that anyone who throws a coin over their shoulder into the fountain will certainly return to the city again. Right next to that you have the Spanish Steps, or the Piazza di Spagna, leading up to the Trinita dei Monti Church. This is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy and you will see hordes of tourists here throughout the year.

You cannot visit Rome and not see Vatican City, and in reality you get drawn to it almost instantly. The aura of the entire place is so strong and intense, you will really feel that you are in the Home of God. Once there, you must have a look at the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Gardens, the Vatican Museums, St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica. Learn more about the history of Vatican City.

Italy Tourist Attractions - Tuscany
Tuscany is a region in Italy that contains the famous cities of Pisa, Florence, Siena and Lucca, and is easily one of the top tourist attractions in Italy. Here you will find the vast collection of all major cultural works by the Italian masters of the past. Extremely famous Renaissance painters, sculptors, and architects found their spiritual home in the region of Tuscany. The vast array of museums and art galleries that you will find here are truly stunning.

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence, also being one of the most famous tourist attractions in Italy, contains paintings and other astounding works by great artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Raffaello, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Giotto, Botticelli, Tiziano and many many others as well.

Italy Tourist Attractions - Milan
Milan is a global center for the fashion industry, and it is engulfed in a sea of beautiful people, fine living and a multitude of attractions for art lovers and opera lovers. It is also a shopping paradise, and it is easily one of the most well-known cities all around the world. And, if you wish to get away from the hustle bustle for a while, you can make a short trip to Lake Como, located in the Italian Alps, which is just a few minutes away. You should also not miss a visit to the Galleria, one of the best shopping malls in the world, which has become a prototype of sorts for all other cities.

You must also pay a visit to the Milan Duomo cathedral, the La Scala Opera and the brilliant Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (the home of the famous painting 'The Last Supper').

Italy Tourist Attractions - Venice
One of the most romantic places in the entire world, Venice is a city that is built along the edges of a long canal that functions as the streets. There are no cars and nobody walking on foot, instead everyone moves around in a boat, or a Gondola as it is more popularly known. Now, this does not mean that there are no streets at all, and if you do decide to set out on foot there are a plethora of sights to see. You must pay a visit to the Piazza San Marco, a fabulous city square where you will find loads and loads of pigeons. Some other places to visit are the famous Cafe Florian, The Doges Palace (Palazzo Ducale), The Bridge of Sighs and The Rialto Bridge (Ponte Rialto). But the best way to see the city is on a Gondola, floating through the Grand Canal.

Italy Tourist Attractions - Leaning Tower of Pisa
Located in Pisa, this tower has gained popularity due to its leaning nature (owing to the soft ground upon which it was built) that makes it inclined at an angle to the ground, and also for being the location where Galileo Galilei conducted his physic's free fall experiments. The Leaning Tower of Pisa has become synonymous with Italy tourist attractions, and it also happens to be one of the seven wonders of the world. A simple view of this enchanting tower and the magical buildings and cathedrals around it are capable of taking your breath away.

Also see the following:

• Places to Visit in Italy
• Famous Places in Italy
• Interesting Facts about Italy

So, it must be clearly evident by now, that the best tourist attractions in Italy for kids and adults are places and structures that are built so magnificently, and evoke such intense feelings of Romanticism, that it would be impossible to ever forget about the place. This is truly an enchanting place that really sticks in one's memory for a lifetime. Italy tourist attractions are simply markers of the greatness and the progressiveness of this beautiful country, and the history and heritage of the place will ensure that it will forever be a great destination for anyone.

Giuseppe Verdi rightly said "You may have the universe if I may have Italy."