Italy’s Incredible Places –That Must Be Seen In Person
14 February 2025
Italy’s Incredible Places
(That You Need to See For Yourself!)
There’s Some Sights in Italy That Pictures Alone Can’t Do Justice…
When I lived in New York City–and actually had cable instead of just Netflix or whatever–I could drive my roommates a little nuts with my channel flipping. I had a core genre of favorites that was always a trusted go-to, sure. But before streaming introduced us to targeted/custom menus & selections there was a whole lot of pushing buttons up and down past some of the most random stuff.
And that, naturally, is how I somehow landed on the Smithsonian Channel…I know, not the first thing you’d probably think of if guessing my TV habits. But I gotta say, I really loved their “Aerial America” shows, which are like an aerial (go figure) view of cities and states. With straightforward narration, the show basically is like one long drone shot, interspersed with interesting tidbits of history & trivia. The unobstructed overhead point of view made even the most mundane images seem unique and striking, from corn fields to abandoned roads to silhouettes of mountain terrain on the horizon.
So fast forward, here I am in Italy. I come across some YouTube clips of the show, I get intrigued. And I see that they have expanded, and now have an “Aerial Italy” season, among others. I wasted little time before watching.
After watching a couple episodes, I really was left with two main takeaways. 1) My goodness they really do a great job in producing these shows, never too wordy narration and just spectacular camera work. 2) That despite some stunning visuals, even the unobstructed aerial views still couldn’t completely convey the full awe & wonder of some locations.
So, of course, that got me to thinking. What are some of the places in Italy that a video or photo couldn’t fully capture? The places that maybe the sheer size, or the grandiose construction, would get subdued when restricted to the size of a TV screen. Those places where the atmosphere, the smells, the aura, the people, all of it must be taken in together for full appreciation.
In NYC, I went to Pace University, which is located down near the Financial District of Manhattan, near the South Street Seaport and Wall Street…and of course very close to the World Trade Center and Ground Zero site. Teachers and native New Yorkers alike would always tell me that the sheer scope & size of the Twin Towers could never be conveyed properly or rightfully to people who never got to see them. Having lived literally in the shadow of 1 World Trade, aka Freedom Tower, as it was being constructed, I absolutely understood what they were saying.
The Grand Canyon, the Golden Gate Bridge, yes the US has their fair share, no doubt. But it would also stand to reason that there must be more than a few in Italy as well.
Here are some of the most noteworthy, in fact 6. They are some of my favorite places to visit, but each offer one-of-a-kind experiences, visuals and history. From the impact of the Roman Empire to the effects of Roman Catholicism, to tectonic volcanic power, to cities built seemingly atop the sea and even entire civilizations trapped and captured, frozen in time.
As a bonus, I also have included a Tour recommendation for each, which links to a specific tour or tour guide, all with “A-Plus” reputations, selected with help from Get Your Guide.
Please Note: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you on any purchases made after clicking/following a link. As always, I only promote products, services, and tours that I use & love myself. Thanks for supporting my blog 🙂
1. The Roman Amphitheater of Lecce
Built in the 2nd Century A.D., the Roman Amphitheater of Lecce, Italy is a lesser known historical cousin of sorts to the Coliseum in Rome.
While the stonework and construction is as epic in scale & decadence as you’d expect, the Lecce amphitheater sets itself apart from similar sites because its literally still being discovered–in fact, only about a 1/3rd of it has been excavated!
Seating as many as 15,000 people, the amphitheater is actually built below ground, originally built during Hadrian’s reign as Roman emperor. It wouldn’t be discovered until 1901, and excavation wouldn’t begin in earnest until 1930. But it wouldn’t be easy.
That’s because as time went by even more historical landmarks would be constructed, even right smack on top of this gigantic space, without people even realizing it. The “Lecce stone“, a pale yellow shade of the limestone the region is famous for, gives the Lecce Amphitheater an iridescent glow as the sun sets–a perfect way to finish up a couple hours marveling at the nearby Baroque churches and the ancient artwork and carvings etched into countless buildings and walls. It’s living history in more ways than one.
Kacie’s Tour Pick: Lecce Unveiled — 2-Hour Guided Baroque Adventure
2. The Buried City of Pompeii
In roughly 79 AD the enormous Mount Vesuvius erupted, and because of a freak, rare change in wind directions that day would go on to completely bury the entire city of Pompeii, first with a wave of posionous gas and then with feet of ash. Pompeii vanished–and it wouldn’t be discovered until several hundred years later.
Yeah, chances are you know the story of Pompeii, or have seen one of the many historical epics made about it. Equal parts fascinating and tragic, it serves as a legitimately eye opening reminder of where human beings stand on the evolutionary depth chart. Excavations still continue at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii even today. We’ve learned some pretty crazy things too!
A sample, just to whet that appetite for knowledge:
–Entire buildings like homes, bath houses, shops, etc. have been uncovered. They offer clues to what was life was like in the lively & prosperous city. But its what “isn’t” there that gives you the chills. Due to the pumice and ash compacting several feet atop the unsuspecting people, natural decomposition of their remains then left voids & imprints that researchers were able to cast in place–leaving haunting, lasting images of inhabitants final moments, from those running away to those locked in an eternal embrace with children.
–There is a LOT of graffiti. And I don’t mean, like, The Warriors going out to play around Brooklyn with spray paint cans type of graffiti. Buildings have been found with public announcements and even election notices on the walls!
–They had perfect teeth. No, seriously. Like 12 year-old me in braces would have probably been shunned lol. CT Scans of bodies show teeth in generally pristine shape, due in part to an extraordinary diet and their natural water sources being high in fluoride & other minerals thanks to the volcano & ash (that would eventually do them in.
Kacie’s Tour Pick: Entry to the Site & Guided Tour with an Archaeologist
3. Piazza del Duomo, Pisa
Yeah, I knooooow, the Leaning Tower of Pisa…watching people of all sizes and shapes trying to “push” the building straight on camera is tiresome. I get it.
What gets missed in translation when seemingly millions of tourists post these “one of a kind” photos, though, is that Piazza del Duomo in Pisa is more than just a crooked building–its actually four masterpieces of medieval architecture – the cathedral, the baptistery, the bell tower (the ‘Leaning Tower’) and the cemetery – all erected between the 11th and 14th centuries.
One striking place to visit is the Baptistery of San Giovanni (or Battistero di San Giovanni), the largest baptistery in the world. Its located in the Piazza dei Miracoli, next to the Leaning Tower.
Kacie’s Tour Pick: Pisa “5 Attractions” Ticket with Skip-the-Line & Audio Guide
4. Mount Etna, the Volcanic Monster of Catania, Sicily
There isn’t a whole lot of places that offer such contrasting backdrops like Italy does. The vineyards of Tuscany to the waterways of Venice, to the archaeological finds of Rome, to the seaside of Capri to the water-side villages of Lake Como, it’s impressive. But for a truly unique visual nothing can top seeing the wrath of Mother Nature & Planet Earth in action. While Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius offer a striking note of tragic history, Mount Etna on Sicily’s eastern coast is a living embodiment of history in the making….because it is the largest active volcano in Europe and the most active stratovolcano in the entire world.
At least 2.5 million years old, the earliest Greek civilizations created legends around Etna, with recordings as far back as 1500 BCE of eruptions. This constant activity has created three ecological zones unlike anywhere else in the world, with a landscape still changing. A great stop for history buffs and nature lovers alike.
Kacie’s Tour Pick: Volcanologist-Guided Volcano Summit Hiking with Cable Car
5. Vatican City
I have to admit that before moving here my entire image of the Vatican and Vatican City was built around movies I’ve seen. Unfortunately I think an Italian nonna might smack me with a broom stick and curse me to hell if I posted examples, although Tom Hanks running from the Illuminati doesn’t seem so bad (or looking for the Illuminati? I can’t rememeber the plot.)
I think Edward the hot vampire stripping down by a fountain might not go over as well though. And definitely not the scene from Euro Trip–you know, dressing up like the pope and lighting the Apostolic Palace on fire and all of that.
In all seriousness, Vatican City, an entire sovereign nation tucked inside of Rome, is an obvious bucket list item for Christians of all denominations, not just for Catholics wishing to visit the home of the Hole See.
And if I’m being honest…I think Vatican City can be appreciated by even the most ardent atheists. The history and architecture alone are worth the trip–not to mention 20,000 pieces of art from some of history’s most famous sculptors & painters. Guys like the “Prince of Painters” Raphael, with his own museum wing, or Michelangelo, who’s work is predominantly displayed (including a little place called the Sistine Chapel).
Kacie’s Tour Pick: Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket
6. The Incredible Sinking City of Venice
Ahh, Venice. Quite possibly the most romantic locale in Italy, a country synonymous with such sentiments ever since the Romans introduced us future generations to Cupid & his arrow (thanks Greece & Eros!).
And I was only being slightly hyperbolic in the title, as well. The city, which is actually 118 interconnected islands, is sinking about 2 millimeters a year–which is actually the same rate that New York City is sinking, by the way–due to naturally occurring subsidence & human factors like global warming. As sea levels rise the threat on Venice grows, obviously. But as the ocean temps rise, storms are growing stronger, effecting tides at seemingly the worst of times for the city. In 2019 75% of the city was covered with water.
And yet in 2023 the canals ran almost dry. Seriously…
Fun Fact about the Bridge of Sighs…it got the name from being the last opportunity for prisoners leaving interrogation rooms in Doge’s Palace, heading to the prison, to see freedom. They would let out sighs of depression.
More movies than can be counted have dazzled us with spectacular imagery from this marvel, singing gondoliers serenading couples newly in love recreated everywhere from candy commercials to Las Vegas casino entrances, all homage to the Venetian ways.
Yes, I recommend Venice for newlyweds looking for a honeymoon stop, maybe in combination with a sea side rental in Rimini, an hour or two down south on the Eastern coast on the Adriatic Sea. But I also recommend Venice because it is an experience that cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world.
Yeah, it’ll be around for a while despite my sensationalized headline. But with every extreme flood or canal draining tide the city gets just that little bit more eroded, little bit more effected. Plans are in motion to save the city…but why wait? If the first 5 locations on this list didn’t entice you, Venice absolutely should. You won’t regret it!
Kacie’s Tour Pick: Grand Canal by Gondola with Live Commentary
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