Italy Holidays

Standing inside the Colosseum, it’s easy to appreciate the scale of a structure built nearly 1950 years ago. As you explore the arena, you can look down into the exposed underground chambers and see how the Romans designed the amphitheatre to accommodate tens of thousands of spectators.

Walking through the Roman Forum feels a little like stepping into the centre of Ancient Rome. As you follow the pathways between temple ruins, arches and former government buildings, you’ll be exploring the place where political decisions, religious ceremonies and public life once shaped the empire.

Even if you have seen photographs before, the scale of St. Peter’s Basilica is difficult to appreciate until you’re standing inside it. As you explore the vast interior, you’ll find Renaissance masterpieces, elaborate chapels and Michelangelo’s Pieta, all beneath one of the world’s most recognisable domes.

Walking through Pompeii, you’ll pass houses, shops, bathhouses and streets that were buried beneath volcanic ash and pumice when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79. Unlike many archaeological sites, Pompeii allows you to explore an entire Roman town and see how everyday life once unfolded.

Long before you reach Florence Cathedral, its vast terracotta dome is likely to catch your attention above the city skyline. As you explore the cathedral and surrounding Piazza del Duomo, you’ll come across intricate marble facades and one of the most influential engineering achievements of the Renaissance.

Step inside the Doge’s Palace and you’ll move through grand chambers where the Venetian Republic lasted over 1,000 years (697–1797). Along the way, you’ll find richly decorated halls, historic courtrooms and the Bridge of Sighs, which connected the palace to the city’s former prisons.

Each winter, Venice’s canals and squares become the backdrop for one of Europe’s most recognisable celebrations. As you wander through the city, you’ll encounter masks, period costumes, street performances and grand processions, keeping traditions alive that have been part of Venetian life for centuries.

Twice a year, Siena’s Piazza del Campo is transformed into a racecourse for the Palio, one of Italy’s oldest and most fiercely contested traditions. If you visit during the event, you’ll witness colourful parades, medieval pageantry and a thrilling bareback horse race between the city’s historic neighbourhoods.

Twice a year, Milan becomes the centre of the fashion world as designers, buyers and industry professionals gather for Milan Fashion Week. Even if you don’t attend a runway show, you’ll notice exclusive events, striking window displays and an unmistakable buzz through the city’s shopping districts.

Every September, thousands of motorsport fans head to Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, one of Formula 1’s most historic races. As the cars speed through the famous circuit, you’ll experience passionate crowds, team celebrations and an atmosphere that has made Monza a favourite on the Formula 1 calendar.

Between spring and early summer, towns across Italy decorate their streets with intricate carpets made entirely from flower petals for the Infiorata festivals. As you stroll through places such as Spello or Genzano di Roma, you’ll discover colourful designs that are created by local communities before disappearing just days later.

Each July, the hilltop city of Perugia welcomes musicians and audiences from around the world for the Umbria Jazz Festival. As you explore the city, you’ll come across open-air concerts, intimate performances and lively piazzas where music becomes part of everyday atmosphere.

Spend a day exploring Cinque Terre on foot, following centuries-old paths that connect its five colourful villages clinging to steep cliffs in Cinque Terre National Park, connected to one another by the trails. As the trail climbs above the coastline, you’ll pass vineyard terraces, stone walls and viewpoints overlooking one of Italy’s most distinctive stretches of shoreline.

Few ski destinations in Europe offer the same sense of scale as the Dolomites. Connected lift links multiple resorts across the mountains, allowing skiers to explore different valleys when surrounded by the distinctive limestone peaks that define the region.

Gliding across Lake Como reveals a side of the region that is difficult to appreciate from the shoreline alone. Boats pass elegant villas, lakeside gardens and historic towns such as Bellagio and Varenna, while steep mountains rise directly from the water’s edge, shaping one of Italy’s most recognisable landscapes.

Walking on Mount Etna feels very different from a typical mountain hike. Trails cross hardened lava flows, volcanic ash and craters formed by past eruptions, while guided excursions reach elevations where views stretch across eastern Sicily and, on clear days, towards the Ionian Sea.

Steel cables, ladders and narrow ledges open up routes through parts of the dolomites that would otherwise be inaccessible to most hikers. Many of today’s via ferrata paths follow routes first established during the First World War, when soldiers crossed these mountains under vastly different conditions.

Many of the Amalfi Coast’s hidden coves and small beaches are easiest to reach from the water. Kayaking allows visitors to paddle beneath towering cliffs, explore sea caves and pass colourful fishing villages that cling to the coastline between larger towns such as Amalfi and Positano.

Watching a performance at Teatro alla Scala is about more than the opera itself. As you step inside one of the world’s most celebrated theatres, you’ll find lavish interiors, exceptional acoustics and a venue that has premiered works by composers including Verdi and Puccini.

Matchday in Italy begins long before kick-off, with cafes, piazzas and surrounding streets filling with supporters in club colours. Whether you’re watching in Milan, Rome, Naples or Turin, you’ll experience the passion that has made Serie A one of Europe’s most celebrated football leagues.

During the Venice Carnival, elaborate masks and period costumes transform palaces and historic venues into settings for elegant, masked balls. If you attend one, you’ll experience an evening inspired by centuries-old Venetian traditions, with live music, dancing and theatrical performances.

Many of Lake Como’s grand villas and lakeside gardens are best appreciated from the water. As you cruise across the lake, you’ll pass the elegant waterfront towns such as Bellagio and Varenna, with the surrounding Alpine scenery creating one of Italy’s most distinctive landscapes.

Each summer, the ancient Arena di Verona becomes an open-air stage for some of Italy’s most celebrated opera performances. As you take a seat inside the Roman amphitheatre, you’ll watch world-renowned productions in a setting that has hosted audiences for nearly 2,000 years.

As the daytime crowds begin to leave, Capri takes on a different atmosphere. Around the Piazzetta, cafes, bars and nearby streets fill with people lingering over drinks before heading to restaurants or late-night venues, making the island one of Italy’s most stylish evening destinations.

In many Italian cities, the hours before dinner are reserved for aperitivo, when bars begin serving drinks accompanied by small plates of snacks. Whether you’re in Milan, Turin or Bologna, joining the locals for an early evening aperitivo is one of the easiest ways to experience Italy’s relaxed social culture.

As the day begins to cool, town squares and historic streets across Italy fill with people enjoying the passeggiata, a leisurely evening stroll. Whether you’re wandering through Rome, Florence or a small village, you’ll notice families, friends and neighbours gathering to chat before dinner.

Walk into almost any neighbourhood cafe in Italy and you’ll find locals ordering a quick espresso at the counter before continuing with their day. Coffee is woven into everyday routines, with many Italians enjoying short stops at cafes rather than lingering over a single drink.

In many Italian households, Sunday lunch is more than just a meal. Families often gather around the table for several courses, sharing regional recipes and spending hours eating, talking and catching up, making it one of the week’s most enduring traditions.

Step inside markets such as Mercato Centrale in Florence or Rialto Market in Venice and you’ll discover far more than fresh produce. As you wander between the stalls, you’ll find regional cheeses, cured meats, seafood and local specialties that continue to shape everyday Italian cooking.

From morning coffee to late evening conversations, Italy’s piazzas remain at the heart of daily life. As you pause in squares such as Piazza Navona in Rome or Piazza del Campo in Siena, you’ll see locals meeting friends, children playing and cafes spilling onto the surrounding streets.

Even if you have seen photographs countless times, standing beside the Colosseum is an entirely different experience. As you explore the vast amphitheatre, you’ll walk through the same passageways once used by gladiators and spectators, gaining a closer look at one of the greatest surviving monuments of the Roman Empire.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa looks even more remarkable when you see how dramatically it tilts against the skyline. As you wander through Piazza dei Miracoli, you’ll find the tower standing alongside the cathedral and baptistery, creating one of Italy’s most recognizable architectural landmarks.

The Grand Canal offers a different perspective of Venice, where centuries-old palaces, churches and colourful facades line the city’s main waterway. Whether you’re crossing its historic bridges or travelling by vaporetto, you’ll discover why this canal remains the heart of everyday life in Venice.

Colourful villages cling to steep cliffs throughout Cinque Terre National Park, connected by scenic walking trails overlooking the Ligurian Sea. As you explore the coastline, you’ll move between places such as Vernazza, Manarola and Riomaggiore, where dramatic sea views accompany every stretch of the journey.

No matter the time of day, people gather around Trevi Fountain to admire its intricate sculptures and toss a coin into the water, following a tradition said to promise a return to Rome. Standing before its towering Baroque facade, it’s easy to see why this is one of Italy's most visited landmarks.

Mount Etna is one of the few places in Europe where you can explore the slopes of an active volcano. Whether you take a cable car, join a guided excursion or walk across ancient lava fields, you’ll experience landscapes shaped by centuries of volcanic activity, with sweeping views stretching across eastern Sicily.

Driving or sailing along the Amalfi Coast reveals a landscape where colourful villages cling to steep cliffs above the Mediterranean. As you explore towns such as Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, you’ll discover scenic viewpoints, historic streets and coastal panoramas that have drawn travellers here for generations.