Italy — Bucket List

Savor Renaissance cities, vineyard hills, sunlit coasts, and trattoria life of Italy

Visit Rome, the Eternal City and capital of Italy. Explore the Colosseum (ancient amphitheater that could hold up to 80,000 spectators), see the Vatican Museums (home to the Sistine Chapel ceiling painted by Michelangelo), toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain (Baroque masterpiece and tradition for a return visit), and walk through the Roman Forum (historic center of ancient Roman public life).

Visit Venice, the floating city of canals in northeastern Italy. Glide along the Grand Canal in a gondola, admire the Byzantine mosaics of St. Mark's Basilica, cross the iconic Rialto Bridge (one of the oldest spanning the canal), and explore the historic Doge's Palace (former seat of Venetian government).

Visit the Colosseum, an ancient Roman amphitheater in Rome

Experience fresh handmade pasta

Visit Vatican City, the world's smallest independent state and spiritual center of the Catholic Church. Explore St. Peter's Basilica (home to Michelangelo's Pietà and the dome offering panoramic views of Rome), marvel at the Sistine Chapel (featuring Michelangelo's iconic ceiling frescoes like The Creation of Adam), and wander through the Vatican Museums (housing ancient Roman sculptures and Renaissance art).

Try traditional Neapolitan style pizza

Visit Naples, a historic city in southern Italy known for its rich culture, vibrant streets, and as the birthplace of pizza.

Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, an iconic freestanding bell tower known for its unintended tilt in Italy

Experience a traditional gondola ride through the canals of Venice

Visit Milan, Italy's fashion and design capital. See Leonardo da Vinci's 'The Last Supper' at Santa Maria delle Grazie (a UNESCO World Heritage site), admire the Gothic spires of the Duomo di Milano (the third-largest cathedral in the world), shop in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II (a 19th-century glass-vaulted arcade), and catch a performance at La Scala (one of the world's most famous opera houses).

Enjoy an authentic Italian pizza, known for its thin crust and fresh ingredients.

Explore the stunning mountain range of the Dolomites, known for their dramatic peaks and breathtaking landscapes

Master Italian language and culture

Visit Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance in Italy. See Michelangelo's David at the Galleria dell'Accademia, climb the Duomo (Brunelleschi's dome with panoramic city views), cross the Ponte Vecchio (medieval bridge with jewelry shops), and explore the Uffizi Gallery (home to Botticelli's Birth of Venus).

Experience Mediterranean's largest island and rich history

Experience Italy's dramatic coastal road and villages

Explore the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Visit Rome, the Eternal City, to explore its ancient ruins and vibrant culture. See the Colosseum (largest ancient amphitheater ever built, where gladiators once fought), toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain (Baroque masterpiece ensuring your return), and wander through the Roman Forum (heart of ancient Roman public life with temples and basilicas). Don't miss the Vatican City's St. Peter's Basilica (largest church in the world with Michelangelo's dome) and the Sistine Chapel (frescoes by Michelangelo).

Visit Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna in Italy. Explore Piazza Maggiore (the main square with the Basilica di San Petronio and Neptune Fountain), climb the Two Towers (Asinelli and Garisenda, medieval symbols offering panoramic city views), and sample local cuisine like tortellini (stuffed pasta) and mortadella (cured meat) at the historic Quadrilatero market district.

Try arancini, the delicious Sicilian fried rice balls stuffed with various fillings like ragù, mozzarella, and peas.

Visit the stunning Lake Como in Italy, known for its beautiful villas, charming towns, and scenic mountain backdrop.

Explore Italy's famous wine region and Renaissance cities

Explore the scenic coastline of the Italian Riviera, known for its charming villages, beaches, and Mediterranean views.

Visit Bergamo, a beautiful city in northern Italy known for its historic Citta Alta (upper town) with medieval architecture and charming streets.

Explore Venice and the Dolomites

Try authentic Roman-style pizza in Rome, known for its thin, crispy crust and simple toppings.

Discover pristine beaches and ancient nuraghe

Experience Milan and the Italian Lakes

Experience dining in a cave restaurant in Italy, enjoying traditional Italian cuisine in a unique underground setting.

Visit Bari, a coastal city in southern Italy known for its historic old town, Basilica di San Nicola, and vibrant waterfront.

Visit Emilia-Romagna, a region in northern Italy known for its rich culinary heritage, historic cities like Bologna and Parma, and cultural attractions.

Visit Turin, the elegant capital of Italy's Piedmont region. Explore the Mole Antonelliana (iconic 19th-century tower housing the National Cinema Museum), see the Shroud of Turin at the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, stroll through Piazza Castello (historic square with royal palaces and museums), and sample bicerin (traditional layered coffee-chocolate drink) at historic cafes like Caffè Al Bicerin.

Discover Rome and the Roman countryside

View Botticelli's Birth of Venus and Renaissance masterpieces

Experience the historic carnival with elaborate masks in Venice

Try the best pizza in the world at L' Antica Pizzeria Da Michele in Naples, Italy

Visit Alberobello, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Puglia, Italy, famous for its unique trulli houses. Explore the Rione Monti district with over 1,000 trulli, including the Trullo Sovrano (a two-story museum showcasing traditional life), and wander through the historic center to see these whitewashed, conical-roofed limestone dwellings that date back to the 14th century.

Watch the classic Italian film Cinema Paradiso, a nostalgic story about cinema and life in a small Sicilian village.

Visit Le Vele di Scampia, a notable architectural complex in Naples, Italy

Watch Italian professional football match

Experience Naples and the Amalfi Coast

Visit Crema, a charming town in Lombardy, Italy. Explore the historic Piazza Duomo with its 13th-century cathedral and Renaissance Palazzo Comunale, stroll along the Naviglio di Cremona canal, and try local specialties like tortelli cremaschi (sweet pasta filled with amaretti and candied fruit) at a traditional trattoria.

Visit Cortina d'Ampezzo, a picturesque town in the Italian Dolomites known for its stunning mountain scenery and winter sports.

Climb Mount Etna, Europe's highest and most active volcano in Sicily, Italy, reaching 3,357 meters.

Visit the world's first pizzeria established in 1738 in Naples, Italy, and try authentic Neapolitan pizza

Experience opera in Milan's Teatro alla Scala

Join world's oldest film festival

Italy's dense, intensely flavoured ice cream.

Coffee-soaked, layered Italian dessert.

Italy's bittersweet orange aperitivo.

Strike the classic 'holding up the tower' pose at the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the iconic 56-meter bell tower in Italy's Piazza dei Miracoli. The tower's famous 3.9-degree lean is the result of an unstable foundation that began sinking during construction in 1173. Besides the tower, explore the adjacent Pisa Cathedral and Baptistery, both masterpieces of Romanesque architecture.

Watch the Italian crime drama TV series Gomorrah, which explores the Camorra crime syndicate in Naples.

Visit Lecce, the 'Florence of the South' in Italy's Apulia region. Admire the Baroque architecture of the Basilica di Santa Croce (intricate facade with mythological figures and rose window) and the Roman amphitheater (2nd-century AD arena partially excavated in the main square). Explore the historic center's limestone buildings and try local specialties like pasticciotto (custard-filled pastry) and caffè leccese (iced coffee with almond milk).

Climb the iconic pyramid-shaped peak (4,478m) on the Swiss-Italian border

Learn and play Tressette, a traditional Italian card game popular in Italy and among Italian communities.

Learn and play Briscola, a traditional Italian trick-taking card game popular across Italy.

Learn and play Scopa, a traditional Italian card game.

Climb Gran Paradiso, the highest peak entirely within Italy at 4,061m