Every city in Italy is special and unique, but after visiting 9 Italian cities, there were some that completely captured our hearts, and others that didn’t win us over quite as much.
#1 Florence
Florence is everything we loved about Italian cities. It was beautiful without being overwhelming, jam-packed full of world-renowned art and architecture, pedestrian-friendly, and easy to navigate. We loved walking around the centro storico, crossing the Ponte Vecchio, and viewing the Duomo from every angle.
Florence offers up amazing food as well. The atmosphere was very laid back, and every night we wanted to stay out just a few minutes longer.
#2 Venice
This city just had a completely different vibe than any other city we’ve ever been to. Strolling along the small canal streets, hopping on miniature bridges, and watching the gondolas pass by was mesmerizing. We loved getting lost in the quieter little side streets just as much as we did exploring famous sites like St. Mark’s Square. It can get pricey here, and it’s also very crowded, but we would still have to say this was one of our favorite parts of the whole trip.
#3 Rome
Rome is filled with history, and did not disappoint. There was a monument around every corner begging to be photographed. We got to walk through the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, and toss coins into the Trevi Fountain. Rome is chaotic and crowded but in the best way possible. I loved how we would be staring at ancient ruins one second and restaurants on hectic streets the next.
#4 Verona
Verona surprised us more than the other cities. It had everything we loved about Italy’s well-known cities but without the huge crowds. It was incredibly relaxed. We enjoyed wandering around Piazza delle Erbe, checking out Juliet’s House, and people watching at cafés. It felt romantic, calm, and walkable.
#5 Milan
Milan surprised us, in a good way! We expected it to focus mostly on shopping and clothes, but seeing the breathtaking Duomo was worth the trip itself. The city also felt very modern, clean, and organized. Compared to Italy’s historic cities though, it didn’t feel as charming or romantic as we were expecting. We liked it, but our hearts didn’t quite go wild for Milan.
#6 Siena
Siena was charming, with its medieval streets and picturesque Piazza del Campo. We liked how slower-paced and real it felt, and climbing to the top of Torre del Mangia was well worth it for the views. However, we felt that we had seen everything Siena had to offer after a day or two there. It’s great as a brief stop to break up your travels, but there isn’t as much variety as Italy’s larger cities.
#7 Pisa
As impressive as the leaning tower was, we finished exploring and found ourselves at a loss for what to do next. Once you’ve seen the tower, checked out the cathedral, and taken your geeky photos, there isn’t much else to see. Most of the rest of the city was quite mundane and lacked atmosphere compared to the rest of Italy. It’s worth a visit, but you certainly don’t need more than half a day.
#8 Bologna
Bologna is known for its amazing cuisine, which it absolutely lives up to. We ate some of the best meals of our whole trip there. As tourists, there is less to do than in the other cities on our list. The Centro Storico is pretty, but once you’ve seen that, you’ve seen most of the sightseeing. If you are a food lover, you will likely place Bologna much higher on your list. But for us it was just ok.
#9 Naples
Naples was the only city that gave us mixed feelings. We LOVED the authentic Naples pizza, and the city certainly has a buzz and history that’s hard to beat. It also felt like the craziest city we visited, though. The streets were louder, the traffic was crazier, there was more litter on the ground, and we actually didn’t find it that relaxing or pleasant to walk around. From every other city we visited, Naples just wasn’t our thing.
