If you are planning a trip to Italy, it makes sense to first familiarize yourself with the different regions of Italy and then build an itinerary that takes you to your favorite places. Here is a list of the most popular regions in Italy, their main cities and what to see and do in each of these Italian regions.
northern Italy
Northern Italy includes the regions of Liguria, Valle d'Aosta, Piedmont, Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto and Fruili. This large area includes the Italian Alps andThe Dolomites, the lovely onelake comoand Lago Maggiore, the Italian Riviera and the mysterious and magical cityVenice. ExceptVenice, Liguria and the lake area, this part of Italy is still undiscovered by tourists. Until the 2006 Winter Olympics,We have(Torino) was a sleeping beauty, but now she has woken up and shown her beauty to the world.
Liguria
Liguria is known as the Italian Riviera; hugs the Mediterranean coast and offers wonderful tourist towns such as Portofino and San Remo, as well as the now famousCinque Terre. Genoa is the largest city in this bustling region.
Valley of Aosta and Piedmont
The Aosta Valley and Piedmont are rural, except Turin (Torino), a cultural treasure. From the Alps in the north to the vineyards near Barolo, this part of Italy is alpine or dedicated to agriculture. Parco Nationale del Gran Paradiso is prized by naturalists for its pristine landscape and wildlife.
Lombardy
The Lombardy region stretches from the Swiss Alps to the plains of the Po River. The Lake District to the north offers ample opportunities for relaxation and outdoor activities.
Agriculture reigns supreme in the Po Valley.MilanoThe center of fashion and commerce is worth exploring. It is in Milan that the famous Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci is located.
Trentino Alto Adige
Trentino Alto Adige is an interesting region because the language in Trentino is Italian and the language spoken in Adige is German. This area is indolomitebjergeneand have some ofbest ski resorts in Italy.
Veneto and Fruili
Veneto's terrain is mountainous to the north and flat to the south. Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake, borders Veneto to the west. Padua, Verona and enchanting Venice are the stars of this region. Both Veneto and Fruili border the Adriatic Sea to the south. Fruili also borders Austria to the north and Slovenia to the east. Trieste is a beautiful port city on the Adriatic Sea, bordering Slovenia.
Northern Italian climate
Northern Italy's climate is best described as cold winters and hot, rainy summers. Average winter temperatures on the plains rarely fall below 40 degrees, and summer averages are around 80 degrees. Precipitation is abundant in spring and autumn, with October being the wettest of the year.
Some of our favorite hotels in Northern Italy
Venice
Hotel Colombina****
We love this hotel, located close to St. Mark's Square and with an incredible view of the Bridge of Sighs. You arrive at their door by water taxi and enter a beautiful lobby with staff ready to serve you. Hotels in Venice are extremely expensive, but this hotel is reasonable for its category.
portofino
beautiful hotel****EU
This hotel is incredible luxury. Located on top of a hill overlooking Portofino and out to sea, the view is fantastic and the service is as expected. Splendido has a sister hotel, Splendido Mare, located in Portofino close to the sea. It's not quite as majestic, but it's half the price and you can use Splendido's services.
We stayed here and really had the best of both worlds. We swam in the Splendido pool and had a wonderful lunch and dinner there with views that will simply amaze you. We also enjoyed the Splendido Mare piano bar in the evening and listened to Italian arias sung by the talented pianist. So for luxury Splendido is the best, but for a luxury "buy" try Splendido Mare.
central Italy
Central Italy includes the regions of Emilia Romagna,Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche.This area includes beautiful cities and enchanting landscapes full of culture and history.
Emilia Romagna
Emilia Romagna is one of the most prosperous regions in Italy. With the Po river valley to the north and the Apennines to the south, this region is Italy's breadbasket.
Agriculture thrives in this rich area, which is why Emilia Romagna is known as a fantastic gastronomic center. This is the home ofsupposed Parmayparmesan ost. The most important cities in Emilia Romagna are Bologna and Ravenna. follow ourItaly itineraryfrom Venice to Bologna to further explore this beautiful region.
Tuscany
There has been a lot of fuss aboutTuscanythe last few years. Several books and movies about Tuscany have made people fall in love with this area, and why shouldn't we?firenze, Lucca, Sienna, San Gimignano and Arezzo are very specialTuscan villagesthey are equipped with many of Italy's artistic treasures. the hills offChiantiand the mountains of the Alpi Apuane provide the landscape we recognize as Tuscany. Tuscany is the artistic heart of Italy.
umbria
Umbria, Tuscany's neighbor to the east, is considered the "green heart of Italy". Rolling hills and rugged mountains provide a wonderful backdrop for medieval Umbrian towns and Roman ruins.assisIt is the largest city in Umbria, but Perugia, Orvietto, Todai, Gubbio and Spoleto are worth a visit. The rich Umbrian soil produces exquisite olive oils, truffles and many different wines.
The market
Between the Apennines and the Adriatic Sea lies the region of Le Marche (the marshes). This largely undiscovered area is known for its long stretches of sandy beaches and farmland. The main city of Le Marche is the medieval city of Urbino, which is home to one of the most beautiful Renaissance palaces in Italy: the Doge's Palace, which now housesNational Gallery of Trademarks.
Central Italy is what people think of when they dream of an Italian vacation: Italian cypress trees soaring into the sky, red-tiled roofs peeking out from behind the rolling hills, world-class Renaissance architecture and artistic treasures, delicious food and famous Italian wines. Central Italy is the heart and soul of this enchanting country.
Sul from Italy
Rome and Lazio
For most travelers to Italy, Rome is the most southerly place they will travel.. The golden triangle that includesRome, Venice and Florenceit is the main route. But the south has a lot to offer! Southern regions include Lazio and within itRomaand Vatican City, Abruzzo, Molise andPugliaalong the Adriatic Sea,Napoli, and Campania, on the tip of Basilicata and Calabria, and on the island of Sicily.
Lazio is a region of lakes, mountains and vineyards. The area was formed by the eruption of four volcanoes, leaving numerous hot springs and volcanic crater lakes in the region. The best beaches in Lazio are located in the Parco Nazionale del Circeo between Gaeta and Sabaudia.
campania
Napoli, the capital of Campania, is an ancient city founded by the Greeks but conquered by the Normans, French, Spanish and more. It survived through the determination and struggle of the people, which is evident today in this somewhat impoverished town.
Some of the places you can visit while you are there are Castel Capuano and Porta Capuana. The castle was a royal palace until 1540, when it became the Court of Justice. The nearby Capuana Gate is the finest Renaissance gate in Italy. The Duomo was built between 1294 and 1323. The Museo Archeologico Nazionale is one of the most important archaeological museums in the world. Nearby is the petrified city of Pompeii, buried in ash by the 79 AD eruption.mount vesuvius. Read our guide onBest things to do in Naples, Italyher.
Amalfi coast
HeAmalfi coastIt is a real tourist attraction because of the beautiful mountain villages whichSorrento, Praiano, Amalfi and Positano, the enchanting view of the Mediterranean and the island of Capri, just a ferry ride away. Ravello offers the best views along this winding cliff path.
Abruzzo, Molise and Puglia
Abruzzo, Molise and Puglia are the three regions that form a long strip along the Adriatic Sea. Dominated by the Apennine mountain range, this region has the contrasts of the Gran Sasso peak at 9,554 feet and the glorious beaches of the Adriatic Sea.
L'Aquila, the capital of Abruzzo, lies at the foot of the Gran Sasso. Outdoor lovers are fascinated by the Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise. This park is one of the most important nature reserves in Europe. This park is open for hiking, trekking and climbing.
Bari, the capital of Puglia, a port city with ferries to Croatia and Greece is enhanced by proximityhill castle, a UNESCO website. Alberobello stands out for the crowdTrulliwithin its limits. Trulli are small whitewashed circular buildings with conical roofs. The origins of these buildings are unclear, but they are historically interesting.
Lecceit is home to Lecce's Baroque architecture, mastered by Giuseppe and Antonio Zimbalo. Some examples can be found in the Chiesa de Rosario, in the Palazzo Vescovile and in the Duomo and in Santa Croce.
Basilicata and Calabria
One of Italy's poorest regions, Basilicata and Calabria, forms the tip of the "Italian boot". Dotted with Greek ruins and isolated villages, this region is almost virgin territory for tourists. Matera offers a fantastic view from the top of a cliff. The Sassi section below the bustling city was once home to the Matheran cave dwellers. Tropea is one of several picturesque, unspoiled towns along the Mediterranean.
Sicily
SicilyIt was a crossroads between Africa and Europe and preserved the customs of the many cultures that crossed its path.Etnagiven the fertile soil that gives this island agricultural abundance. Tourism is still relatively low, so lovers of history and rich Italian cuisine should put trips to Sicily on their bucket list.
palermoit is an exotic city worth exploring. Some of the main attractions are the Duomo, Palazzo Reale, La Mangione and Villa Guilia. The Duomo of Monreale with its glorious mosaics is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Sicily. the port ofMarsalaevokes memories of the sweet wine that has been produced here since the 18th century.
TaorminaIt is one of the most visited tourist centers in Sicily. The well-preserved Greek theater offers a magnificent view of Etna.SyracuseThis ancient Greek fortress is filled with Greek temples and artifacts. The Museo de Archeologico Regionale Paolo Orsi has important artifacts from the Paleolithic to the Byzantine period.
The most popular regions in Italy wereWritten by Terri Fogarty forEuropeUpClose.com
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