Top Ten Cities of Italy
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 20 October 2023
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After much chopping and changing, lots of heartache and soul-searching, I've finally come up with my list of Top Ten Cities of Italy.
Of course, this list, like any other of a similar nature, is just from personal opinion and it's not to say that any city that doesn't appear on this list isn't beautiful or isn't worth visiting, quite the contrary. In fact, what has made this such a difficult list to compile is that Italy has an extraordinary number of beautiful, historic cities and you can find all of them throughout the website via pages such as Major Cities of Italy and Beautiful Italian Cities. |
Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome
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Related links
Once this list has been posted I will have to run for cover having upset some people who may favour the cities that haven't been listed but I would love to hear all of your opinions on the list via the social networking channels and you can find links to the Facebook and Twitter pages further down. I aim to compile a new Top Ten of Italy list every Friday, including every category you can think of such as Top Ten Cathedrals, Top Ten Fishing Villages etc. If there's a category you'd like me to work on sooner rather than later, just let me know and I'll be happy to consider your request.
Ok, so without further preamble, here goes with my list of Top Ten Cities of Italy, appearing in reverse order, so no sneaky scrolling down to the bottom of the page first please!
Ok, so without further preamble, here goes with my list of Top Ten Cities of Italy, appearing in reverse order, so no sneaky scrolling down to the bottom of the page first please!
10: Pisa - Tuscany
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Propping up the list in tenth position is the city of Pisa in Tuscany, which is quite ironic as its main sight has needed endless measures to keep itself propped up since it was built in the 12th century.
You could argue that if it wasn't or the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the city's number of tourists would dramatically shrink, but whilst that's probably true, it does underestimate the incredible treasures that can be found in the wonderful Piazza dei Miracoli. The UNESCO World Heritage-listed square is home not only to the tower, but to a number of museums around its edges and two wonderful religious buildings: Pisa Cathedral and Pisa Baptistery. |
Leaning Tower of Pisa, Tuscany
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9. Padua/Padova - Veneto
Prato della Valle, Padova
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The city of Padua (Padova in Italian) in Veneto, first came to my attention when I was idly looking for Italy's most beautiful squares and I came across the incredible Prato della Valle.
In many ways, a city's main square defines the city itself and Padova's enormous, elliptical Piazza lined with statues around a moat makes quite a statement. It is though, just one of many sights that this beautiful city can boast. Giotto's frescoes at the Scrovegni Chapel are magnificent, it has a Baptistery of its own, the stunning Basilica di Sant'Antonio and numerous other squares such as Piazza delle Erbe. |
8. Lecce - Puglia
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You know you're somewhere special when that place has an architectural style named after it. The city of Lecce in the southern region of Puglia was the birthplace of Lecce Baroque and the architectural movement reached its apogee with the city's incredible 14th century Basilica di Santa Croce.
This historic city has strong elements of Greek and Roman heritage and can boast a series of landmarks within its city walls such as the second century Roman Amphitheatre. The crowning glory of Lecce however is its main square, the Piazza del Duomo which is home to Lecce Cathedral, accompanied by its impressive Bell Tower and flanked by the historic Seminario building. |
Basilica di Santa Croce, Lecce
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7. Palermo - Sicily
Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio/La Martorana, Palermo
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Had I compiled this list a year ago then perhaps Palermo wouldn't have quite made it. However, after my third visit to the capital of Sicily, I really fell in love with the place. In a similar way to Naples, it's a city where you need to scratch beneath the surface a bit.
Many of Palermo's attractions are very bold and obvious such as the wonderful Palermo Cathedral with its rooftop terrace and stunning views. However for me, the best thing in the city is the Palatine Chapel in the Royal Palace with its incredible mosaics. In fact there are a series of UNESCO-listed Arab/Norman churches in Palermo with similar interiors, including the Chiesa di Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio, colloquially-known as La Martorana. |
6. Verona - Veneto
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Shakespeare knew what he was doing when he set his epic Romeo and Juliet in the city of Verona. Ever-since the Bard's work was published, the second (and final?) entrant from the Veneto region on this list was dubbed the City of Love. There are reminders of the story all over the city from that balcony at Juliet's House, Juliet's Tomb and Frescoes Museum and even good old Romeo's house.
However, the romantic sights above are a mere sideshow for the really dramatic monuments such as the astonishing Verona Arena and the two landmark bridges: Ponte Pietra and Castelvecchio Bridge which cross the majestic River Adige. Squares such as Piazza Bra and Piazza delle Erbe further seal the claims for Verona. |
Verona Arena
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5. Siena - Tuscany
Piazza del Campo, Siena
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I mentioned further up this list how a city's square can be the very place that defines it and Siena can boast the most beautiful square in Italy: Piazza del Campo. The 14th century square is like no other with its glorious medieval buildings edging the Piazza as it slopes down towards the Palazzo Pubblico. Aside from the museum within the Palazzo, its main feature is the Torre del Mangia.
You can climb the medieval tower to enjoy unparalleled views of the city and from this position you'll spot one of Italy's most beautiful churches: Siena Cathedral. Although much smaller than the other cities on this list, Siena is a corner of Tuscany that simply cannot be missed. Is it though, the final Tuscany city on the list? |
4. Syracuse - Sicily
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Winning the mini-battle to be the best city in Sicily is the wonderful Syracuse, or Siracusa in Italian. To reach number four on this prestigious list means you'd better have something in your locker and Syracuse does not disappoint. This ancient city was founded by the Greeks in the 7th century BC and the likes of Plato and Archimedes once called it home.
Its legacy of sights is quite extraordinary: Syracuse Cathedral has been a temple and a mosque in its 2,600 year history and now it's simply one of the most beautiful Baroque buildings in the world, while the Greek Theatre of Syracuse and the general atmosphere of seaside Ortigia add to the magnetic allure of the city. |
Syracuse Cathedral, Sicily
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3. Florence - Tuscany
Florence Cathedral, Tuscany
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Into the podium positions we go and by this stage it's almost impossible to put them in order. Simply one of the most magnificent cities in the world, the capital of Tuscany and the cradle of the Renaissance, Florence is simply a work of art.
The artistic treasures within this city are unequalled anywhere in the world; a legacy of the Renaissance in particular when its famous patrons included the Medici who funded the world's best artists. Its buildings are masterpieces as well: Florence Cathedral with its pioneering dome shines like a beacon above the cityscape where the Ponte Vecchio straddles the River Arno and museums such as the Uffizi Gallery conceal mind-blowing artistic treasures. |
2. Rome - Lazio
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To put Rome merely in second place on this list is possibly illegal and most likely some form of heresy. This is a city quite unlike any other in the world. We've seen some serious contenders above but none of them can match Rome for its history or its monuments.
This really was the centre of the world's affairs in Ancient times when its empire stretched across the globe. From that period we can still enjoy the Colosseum, the Pantheon and Castel Sant'Angelo but Rome also flourished during the Renaissance, producing edifices such as Saint Peter's Basilica and its accompanying square: Piazza San Pietro. In such a small space it's impossible to list even just the best of Rome. So how can this city only be in second place? |
Castel Sant'Angelo, Rome
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1. Venice - Veneto
Ponte Rialto, Venice
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Well the answer to that last question is: because of Venice. I love all of the cities on this list and hundreds of others in Italy besides, but Venice just has that little something extra. Wandering around its narrow alleys, crossing tiny bridges across endless canals, it's hard to keep the smile off your face. This is a city built on the sea!
Of course, every year it's flooded by tourists and unfortunately, flooded by the water of the Venice Lagoon that it sits in but none of that matters because here you have one of man's greatest achievements. The Rialto Bridge, the Grand Canal and the Basilica di San Marco are all amazing landmarks but none of them can quite match up to the simple pleasure of just being in Venice. |
