Great food rich history and beautiful landscapes, what more could you ask for? Welcome to wehaveatrip, and today we're counting down our picks for the top ten Italian destinations for 2021. Are you a fan of our videos be sure to subscribe to wehaveatrip to be notified about our latest articles. For this list, we're looking at some of the most beautiful cities and regions across Italy a country which is suffering terribly in 2020 highlighting those that you absolutely must visit next year too time permitting doing all of these destinations justice in a single trip is a tall order so you may need to spread them out across two trips to make sure that you spend enough time in each place of course if you've got a month to spare in 2021 why not just go for it and embark upon the ultimate Italian holiday.
Number 10
Siena for a quiet more slowed paced introduction to life in an Italian city Siena is the perfect place to start as long as you're staying within the city itself the entire place is easily navigated on foot and can be appreciated in just two or three days go home to only about 53,000 people and being relatively modest in size Siena is a highly concentrated dose of everything one hopes to find in Italy including great art, cuisine, architecture and unique regional history the city is divided into Ward's or neighborhoods known as Contrada each with their own symbol and they're known to be fiercely proud and competitive a historic horse race is held twice annually in the Piazza del Campo and is one of Siena's most thrilling events the piazza is an attraction in its own right and alongside the Siena Cathedral is among the city's most popular sights.
Number 9
Verona, we don't know how to break this to you so we're just gonna come out and say it you probably should not go to Venice it is without a doubt one of the most beautiful and unique cities in the world but its popularity paired with increased global mobility has made it one of the most painful examples of over-tourism anywhere on earth so skip Venice this trip give it a bit more time to heal and check out Verona instead located in the same region as Venice Veneto the city of Verona actually served as the setting of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet often overshadowed by its more popular neighbor the city feels wonderfully uncompromised by tourism and maintains a sense of old-world romance here you can immerse yourself in city life by participating in the Italian custom of passata the evening stroll as you navigate its narrow winding streets bridges over the Adige river inviting piazzas and underrated historic sights you're sure to fall in love.
Number 8
Milan this northwestern Italian city is a bit of an anomaly and when the travelers tend to be divided on the second-largest city in the country by population Milan feels notably modern and is very much Italy's modern business hub it has a hustle and bustle too at reminiscent of other such global cities like New York, London or Tokyo just with an Italian twist its modernity is further intensified by the architecture since the city was heavily damaged during World War two the buildings themselves are much newer as such those looking for an old-school Italian experience may be disappointed but for travelers who love shopping cutting-edge fashion and contemporary luxuries it may very well be the highlight of your trip for fear of being overly reductive about what Milan has to offer it is worth noting that the city does have historic sites worth visiting including the Duomo aka the Milan Cathedral and at its home to Leonardo da Vinci's the Last Supper.
Number 7
The Dolomites if you're the sort of traveler who prioritizes breathtaking landscapes above all else this region in northeastern Italy is a must-visit destination because this region is in such stark contrast to what people imagined when they think of Italy it often goes overlooked but when exploring a country it pays to seek out the biggest and most complete picture possible this mountain range spans the provinces of pontine Tino South, Tirol, and Balloono and is actually a part of the Alps a UNESCO World Heritage Site the Dolomites offer breathtaking vistas and world-class hiking because of the area's Austro-bavarian history the local culture also feels utterly distinct as perhaps most evident in the architecture and cuisine you'll encounter the region is also known for its spa culture so after a long day of hiking be sure to take advantage of the thermal baths.
Number 6
Cinque Terre though sandy beaches may be few and far between in Italy its coastline remains one of its biggest draws you can enjoy soft sand between your toes, palm trees and tropical drinks around the globe but Italy's western coast is truly one of a kind towering cliffs and rolling green mountains meet the ocean in spectacular fashion once secluded towns spread out across the steep landscape their very existence seeming to defy gravity the end result is breathtaking and somewhat hard to comprehend to the south along the Salerno Gulf is the world-renowned a Malfi coast it's unparalleled in terms of its beauty but its popularity is such that the area is quite developed and high-priced though Cinque terra does get crowded in the high season this collection of five towns along the northern coast has a more authentic feel to it the way the colorful homes contrast with the rugged green terrain is absolutely stunning a hiking trail connects the villages as does a train and the seafood is to die for.
Number 5
The Italian Lake District like the Dolomites the Italian Lake District almost feels like its own distinct country located in northern Italy it encompasses five major lakes majority, Lugano, Isaiah, Gaza, and Como the latter being arguably the most famous of the bunch boasting great weather and even better scenery the Lake District has long been a popular escape both domestically and internationally for those in need of a quiet getaway from the Baroque gardens and historic villas to the quaint towns and lakeside hotels it's easy to get lost in the magic of the area thanks to the varying popularity of each Lake you can opt for luxury along Lake Como or find the relative absence of crowds and pretense at beautiful lake Otah now there's a great wine to be had all across Italy but the famous Lombardi wines, red Valtellina and the sparkling Francia kurta are among the most instantly recognizable and owe much to the temperature moderating effects of these five lakes.
Number 4
Tuscany arguably the single most famous region in Italy Tuscany requires very little introduction rolling green and yellow hills scenic vistas in the distance olive groves cypress trees and vineyards this is the landscape that people think of when they imagine the Italian and unlike so many world-renowned destinations Tuscany is every bit as scenic as the photos would have you believe if not more so if you're looking to relax the many hillside towns like San Gimignano are the perfect place to do it especially with a glass of candy for those who are looking for a bit more excitement a trip into the Tuscan city of Florence is a must it's a hub of the Arts both past and present and is among Italy's most beautiful cities all that being said travelers are increasingly taking notice of Tuscany's neighbor to the east a region known as Umbria this region checks almost all the same boxes as Tuscany except a major city but at a fraction of the price and - the crowds the hilltop town of Orvieto in particular is a must-visit.
Number 3
Sicily with the majority of the country's most popular cities and attractions northern Italy tends to get all of the love thankfully the growing demand for authenticity in travel and a desire to beat the crowds seems to be drying increasingly more travelers to Italy's once overlooked southern extremity an autonomous region home to five million people the island of Sicily has its own distinct culture, cuisine, and regional history must-see historic sights include the Valide Templi the valley of temples, the necropolis of Ponte Rica and the area's many baroque towns in terms of cuisine Sicily has given us some of the country's greatest exports including cannoli and a de Chien and is notable for its use of fresh vegetables, seafood, and citrus while exploring the south be sure to check out the heel of the Italian boot and Italy's newest breakout beach destination Budhia.
Number 2
Emilia Romagna if you're the sort of traveler who lets your taste buds lead you may want to spend your entire trip in Italy's northeastern region of an Emilia Romagna home to over 4 million people and covering almost 9,000 square miles of land the region encompasses many cities and towns each posting their own culinary specialties Bologna is the largest city and capital of the region its claims to fame include its beautiful porticoes and the fact that it's home to the oldest university in the world where you can also sample from the region's varied culinary offerings in a single place but really traveling from town to town is half the fun of exploring Emilia Romagna. The Padma is famous for its namesake prosciutto, the beautiful architecture and of course, Fatima Jinnah Reggiano cheese in Modena you'll taste what many claims are the only true balsamic vinegar and sip from the utterly delicious regional wine a fizzy red called Lambrusco last but not least Ferrara which is delightfully off the radar is known for its local specialty Salameh De Sugo, natural wines and Costello extends a.
Number 1
Rome is it an obvious choice for our number one spot, yes but that doesn't make it any less deserving Rome like Venice definitely suffers as a result of the number of tourists that descend upon it during the high season but it's far better equipped to deal with the crowds in terms of space and infrastructure. Rome is home to countless world-renowned attractions including the Forum, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Vatican City, Trevi fountain, the Spanish Steps, the Villa Borghese gardens, and many many more but if crowds bother you a traveler can have an equally enriching experience by simply wandering the city seriously Rome's rich culture and history can be seen and felt in every narrow laneway Piazza and structure avoid the restaurants with English menus and instead step into a small unassuming Trattoria or Astoria you'll likely have one of the best meals of your life Rome and Italy as a whole will change you as a person if you let it. Do you agree with our picks check out these other recent articles for wehaveatrip and be sure to subscribe to be notified about our latest articles?
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