10 Things to Do in Italy

8/10/2019 10 Things to Do in Italy

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10

Positano SA

San GimignanoManarolaLeaning Tower of Pisa PompeiiSanta Maria del Fiore Colosseum

flickr / lessi2306

Nicknamed the medieval Manhatten, San Gimignano is a village in Tuscany famous for its 14 stone

towers. At the height of San Gimignanos wealth and power, more than 70 towers were built to
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defend the town against enemy attacks. After the plague devastated the city in 1348, San

Gimignanos power faded, which kept enemies away and preserved many of the citys medieval

towers.

9 Manarola (Cinque Terre)

flickr / Robert Crum

Mestled in the Italian Riviera, Manarola is one of the oldest towns in Cinque Terre . The Five Lands

comprises of five villages noted for their beauty. Part of Cinque Terre charm is the lack of visible

modern development. Paths, trains and boats connect the villages, and cars cannot reach it from the

outside. The towns sprout out of the mountainside to provide a breathtaking view of the

Mediterranean sea.8 Leaning Tower of Pisa
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flickr / echiner1

The world famous Pisa Tower was built over a period of about 177 years. Soon after the

construction started in 1173 the tower began to sink due to a poorly laid foundation and was left

alone for almost a century. When the construction resumed the engineers built higher floors with one

side taller than the other to compensate for the tilt and the tower was finally finished in the 2nd half

of the 14th century. Since 2001, the famous tower in Pisa is again open to those wishing to climb its

296 steps.
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7 Lake Como (Italian Lake District)

flickr / scarriedo

Lake Como is part of the Italian Lake District an area popular with visitors for well over 100 years for

its combination of fresh air, water, mountains and good weather. The lake is shaped much like an

inverted Y, with two branches starting at Como in th e south-west and Lecco in the south-east,

which join together half way up and the lake continues up to Colico in the north. The lake is famous
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for the attractive villas which have been built here since Roman times. Many have admirable

gardens which benefit from the mild climate and are able to include tropical as well as temperate

plants.

6 Positano (Amalfi Coast)

flickr / Abdulsalam Haykal
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Positano is a small town located on the Amalfi Coast , a stretch of coastline renowned for its rugged

terrain, scenic beauty, picturesque towns and diversity. The city seems to be scattered from top to

bottom down a hillside leading to the coast. Though Positano grew and prospered in medieval times,

by the mid 19th more than half of the population was gone. In the 20th century it went from being a

poor fishing village to a very popular tourist attraction with the help of author John Steinbeck whowrote about its beauty.

5 Pompeii

flickr / Carlo Mirante

On August 24, 79 AD, the volcano Vesuvius erupted, covering the nearby town Pompeii with ash

and soil, and subsequently preserving the city in its state from that fateful day. Everything from jars

and tables to paintings and people were frozen in time. Its excavation has provided an

extraordinarily detailed insight into the life of people living two thousand years ago. Today Pompeii isone of the most popular tourist attractions of Italy, with approximately 2,500,000 visitors every year.

4 Piazza del Campo
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flickr / PhillipC

One of Europes greatest medieval squares, the Piazza del Campo is the principal public space of

the historic center of Siena , Tuscany. It is renowned worldwide for its beauty and architectural

integrity. The Palazzo Pubblico and its famous tower, as well as various palazzi signorili belonging to

the wealthiest of Siena families surround the shell-shaped piazza. The twice-per-year horse-race,

Palio di Siena, involves circling the Piazza del Campo, on which a thick layer of dirt has been laid,

three times and usually lasts no more than 90 seconds.
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3 Santa Maria del Fiore

flickr / Sbaush
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Begun in 1296 in the Gothic style and completed in 1436, The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

is Florence s beautiful cathedra l and symbol of the city. The exterior of the basilica is faced with

polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white. The basilica is

one of Italys largest churches, and until the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It

remains the largest brick dome ever constructed.2 Colosseum
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flickr / Brunswickian

The Colosseum in Rome is the largest and most famous amphitheater in the Roman world. Its

construction was started by emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty in 72 AD and was finished by
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his son Titus in 80 AD. The Colosseum was capable of holding some 50,000 spectators who could

enter the building through no less than 80 entrances. Spectators were protected from the rain and

heat of the sun by sails called the velarium, that was attached around the top of the attic.

1 Canals of Venice

flickr / Tambako The Jaguar

Referred to as The City of Water, Venice is the crown jewel of water cities. Romantic gondolas, and

Italian architecture along the Grand Canal helped earn this status. Stitched together with over 150
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canals that have become central to its character, Venice has decayed since its heyday and has

more tourists than residents, but with its romantic charm it remains one of the top tourist attractions

in Italy.

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10 Things to Do in Italy