Top 5 Italian cities to visit

If you’ve decided on Italy as your next holiday destination you will no doubt be deliberating over which of its many fascinating and historic cities to visit. The great thing about Italian cities is there is so much on offer for every type of holiday-goer, whether its shopping, history, art, culture or food. To make things easier for you, we have compiled out top five favourite Italian cities no matter what your interest is:

Rome; Best for history Buffs

The fascinating city of Rome is rich in historical artefacts, sites and architecture so you will need to plan your itinerary well if you want to fit everything in. As well as the traditional sites so popular with tourists such as Vatican city, the Colossseum, Pantheon and Circus Maximus, make sure you include the more unusual, yet no less fascinating sites, such as the Catacombs of St. Callixtus – a burial site for countless Christian martyrs, as well as the Cemetery of the Capuchin Monks, housing the bones of a staggering 4000 friars.

Venice; Best for Culture vultures

Venice is a firm favourite with holiday-goers year in year out hoping to soak up its charming architecture and thriving culture, not to mention the water-filled streets and traditional Venetian gondolas. One of the highlights in Venice’s calendar is the Venice Carnival in February, which brings to life the buzzing St Mark’s Square with costume-clad revellers, dancing, music and food. Watch out for tourist-crowded restaurants in Venice though – many are notorious for being over-priced and disappointing – head to the local ‘trattorias’ off the beaten path instead.

Milan; Best for shopaholics

As one of the world’s fashion capitals, it is no surprise that Milan is a shopaholic’s paradise. If its designer goods you’re after, head to Via Montenapoleone, one of the cities most famous streets for top brand fashion houses. If your budget is slightly tighter though, don’t despair – more affordable goods can be located in the streets of Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Corso Buenos Aires and Corso di Porta Ticinese. Alternatively head to the colourful Fiera di Senigallia market which sells a little bit of everything at bargain prices.

Florence; Best for art lovers

Thanks to its fascinating renaissance history, Florence attracts endless visitors every year hoping to catch a glimpse of its historic beauty. As an art and cultural hub, many exhibitions and art festivals are held here every year, so check up on the calendar before you book. Don’t leave without visiting the city’s most famous museum - the Uffizi, which boasts the iconic works of Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Beaufiful churches are also aplenty here – check out the magnificent Duomo of Florence, and San Lorenzo.

Bologna: Best for great cuisine

This old university city is renowned for its beauty and historic architecture, but perhaps most of all for its delicious cuisine. Its name speaks for itself, with the famous ‘spaghetti alla bolognese’ originating from the area. Further specialties that mustn’t be missed include tortellini, a handmade egg stuffed pasta, as well as their regional salami and ham.