Italy
Italy Travel Guide: Things to Know Before You Go
Italy has 53 cultural sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, including:
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- Historic Centre of Rome
- Historic Centre of Florence
- Piazza del Duomo, Pisa
- Venice and its Lagoon
- Historic Centre of Naples
- Historic Centre of Siena
- Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands (Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto)
- Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli
- The Porticoes of Bologna
U.S. citizens may enter Italy for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. All non-residents must complete a declaration of presence (dichiarazione di presenza). The passport stamp received upon arrival is the equivalent of the declaration of presence.
Italy was the focus of our first year of full-time travel. We spent the late Winter and Spring in Cinque Terre, Genoa, Siena, and Venice. In the Fall, we enjoyed an extended stay in Florence before going to Trieste for some rest and relaxation.
During the second year, we spent the Spring in Rome and Bologna. Our third year traveling, we went to Orvieto, Lucca, and Turin in the Spring and Naples in the Fall. We spent the Spring in Lecce and Perugia this year – our fourth year traveling full-time.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy.
The Porticoes of Bologna was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.
Cinque Terre
The Cinque Terre (meaning “Five Lands”) is a coastal area within Liguria, located in northwest Italy. It comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore.
The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.
Florence
Florence (Firenze) is a city in Central Italy and the capital city of the Tuscany region.
UNESCO declared the Historic Centre of Florence a World Heritage Site in 1982.
Genoa
Genoa (Genova) has one of Europe’s largest and most densely populated old towns. Centro Storico di Genova is known for its narrow lanes and streets that the locals call “caruggi.”
Part of Genoa’s old town was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006 as Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli.
Lecce
Lecce is located in southern Italy’s Puglia region. Specifically, it is on the Salentine Peninsula, at the heel of the Italian Peninsula.
The city is known for its baroque buildings. Significantly, the Old Town is centered around the Piazza del Duomo and the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption and Saint Orontius.
Lucca
Lucca is located on the Serchio River in central Italy’s Tuscany region. It’s famous for its well-preserved Renaissance walls, which encircle its historic city center and picturesque cobblestone streets.
The Old Town is centered around the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro, which dates from the second half of the 1st century A.D. The area also includes the Guinigi Tower, which dates from the 1300s, and the Cathedral of San Martino.
Orvieto
Orvieto is a charming small town on top of a rocky cliff in Umbria, Italy. The city’s main attraction is the stunning Duomo di Orvieto, which dates back to 1290 and boasts a beautiful mosaic facade. Another must-see site is the Pozzo di San Patrizio, a 16th-century well shaft with a unique double spiral staircase.
Orvieto has been on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 2006.
Rome
Coming Soon!
Siena
Siena is located in the central part of Tuscany among numerous major hills and valleys. It was one of the most important cities in medieval Europe and retains the character of a medieval city to this day.
The Historic Centre of Siena was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Turin
Turin (Torino) is the capital city of Piedmont in northern Italy. The Alps rise to the northwest of the city.
Turin is famous for its elegant architecture and cuisine. The city’s boulevards and grand squares are adorned with stately baroque buildings and historic cafes. The iconic Mole Antonelliana, housing the National Cinema Museum, stands tall over the city.
Venice
Venice (Venezia), capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges. The islands lie in the Venetian Lagoon, an enclosed bay in the northern Adriatic Sea.
Venice and its Lagoon were inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.
Future Destinations
After spending the winter in Croatia and Montenegro, we will be returning to Italy in the Spring of 2023.
Perugia
Spring 2025
Como
TBD
Italian Food
Italian Food Products
Italy has more protected foods than any other European country. We have broken them down by region:
- Emilia-Romagna Food
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia Food
- Liguria Food
- Puglia Food
- Tuscany Food
- Umbria Food
- Veneto Food
Traditional Dishes
- Cacio e pepe
- Pizza Napoletana
- Ragù al Bolognese
- Risotto Milanese
Check out our Italian Food page for more information.
Italian Wine
Wine Regions
- Abruzzo Wine
- Basilicata Wine
- Calabria Wine
- Campania Wine
- Emilia-Romagna Wine
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia Wine
- Lazio Wine
- Liguria Wine
- Lombardy Wine
- Marche Wine
- Molise Wine
- Piedmont Wine
- Puglia Wine
- Sicily Wine
- Tuscany Wine
- Trentino-Aldo Adige Wine
- Umbria Wine
- Valle D’Aosta Wine
- Veneto Wine
Grape Varieties
Red Grapes
- Aglianico
- Barbera
- Corvina
- Nebbiolo
- Nerello Mascalese
- Nero D’Avola
- Sangiovese
White Grapes
- Carricante
- Cortese
- Friulano
- Garganega
- Pinot Grigio
- Timorasso
- Trebbiano
- Vermentino
Check out our Italian Wine page for more information.
Italian Architecture
Italy has an extensive and diverse architectural style, which cannot be classified by period or region due to Italy’s division into numerous small states before its unification in 1861.
Architectural Styles
- Ancient Roman
- Early Christian and Byzantine
- Romanesque
- Gothic
- Renaissance and Mannerist
- Baroque and Rococo
- Neoclassical
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
14 of Italy’s 20 regions are home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We have researched the cultural sites and provided information on out Italian Architecture page.
- Basilicata
- Campania
- Emilia-Romagna
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia
- Lazio
- Liguria
- Lombardy
- Marche
- Piedmont
- Puglia (Apulia)
- Sardinia
- Sicily
- Tuscany
- Umbria
- Veneto
Check out our Italian Architecture page for more information.
FAQs About Italy
What are the Regions of Italy?
There are 20 regions in Italy. Here’s a list:
- Abruzzo
- Basilicata
- Calabria
- Campania
- Emilia-Romagna
- Friuli-Venezia Giulia
- Lazio (Latium)
- Liguria
- Lombardia (Lombardy)
- Marche (The Marches)
- Molise
- Piemonte (Piedmont)
- Puglia (Apulia)
- Sardegna (Sardinia)
- Sicilia (Sicily)
- Toscana (Tuscany)
- Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol (Trentino-South Tyrol)
- Umbria
- Valle d’Aosta (Aosta Valley)
- Veneto
What language is spoken in Italy?
Italian is the official language of Italy.
Do I Need to Speak Italian to Visit Italy?
No, if you stay in hotels and eat at restaurants, you don’t need to speak Italian to visit Italy. Most people who work in the tourist industry in Italy speak English.
What Currency is Used in Italy?
The currency of Italy is the Euro.
Do I Need a Visa for Italy?
Citizens from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia don’t need a visa to visit Italy if they stay 90 days or less. For more information on visa-free travel in Italy, check out our article on traveling visa-free.
Do I Need an Electrical Adapter for Visiting Italy?
Italy’s electrical outlets are Type C, F, and L. Travelers from the United States will need an adapter. It is the same adapter used for the rest of Europe.
If you have many items to plug in, we recommend a travel power strip with multiple USBs and standard plug-ins. Using a power strip, you will only need one adapter to plug the strip into the wall.
What do I Need on my Italian Packing List?
Your packing list should include breathable clothing for the heat, lots of sunscreen for the sun, and non-slip shoes for the slick cobblestones when they get wet.