Italy

Temples & religious sites

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter's Basilica is a Catholic church in Vatican City, built between 1506 and 1626 under Popes Nicholas V and Julius II to replace the original 4th-century basilica founded by Constantine. Visitors come to see its Renaissance and Baroque architecture and interiors, shaped by Michelangelo, Bernini, and others, and it remains a central site of the Catholic faith.

Temples & religious sites

Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is a chapel within the Apostolic Palace, the pope's official residence in Vatican City. Commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV between 1473 and 1481, who gave it his name, it has served as a venue for religious ceremonies and official Vatican functions, and remains the site where the conclave elects each new pope.

Heritage & monuments

The Last Supper

The Last Supper is a mural painted by Leonardo da Vinci around 1495–1498, still in its original location on the wall of the refectory at Santa Maria delle Grazie. It captures the moment just after Jesus tells his twelve apostles at their final meal, "One of you will betray me," and is renowned for its use of perspective and its vivid depiction of each figure's expression and gesture.

Museums & galleries

Pantheon

The Pantheon is an ancient Roman temple built in the 2nd century, and since 609 it has served as a Catholic church (Santa Maria ad Martyres). It is considered one of the best-preserved buildings from ancient Rome, and its highlight is the domed interior, lit by sunlight streaming through the oculus at the center of the roof.

Temples & religious sites

Milan Cathedral

Milan Cathedral (the Duomo) is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary and the seat of the Archdiocese of Milan. Many visitors come to see its facade, covered in ornate spires and statues, and its stained-glass-filled interior firsthand. Climbing to the rooftop terrace offers a close-up view of the spires, and on clear days, panoramic views of the city as well.

Nature

Phlegraean Fields

The Phlegraean Fields are a vast volcanic caldera west of Naples, so close to the city that part of Naples itself sits atop it. The terrain, shaped by volcanic activity, is dotted with fumaroles and other signs of geothermal activity, and the area is often described in the media as a "supervolcano."

Culture & venues

La Scala

La Scala is a historic opera house in Milan that opened on August 3, 1778, originally under the name "Nuovo Regio Ducale Teatro alla Scala." Its opening performance was Antonio Salieri's "Europa riconosciuta." Still an active venue for opera, ballet, and classical concerts today, it's worth a visit simply to see its opulent auditorium and stage in person.

Museums & galleries

Uffizi Gallery

The Uffizi Gallery, located near Piazza della Signoria in Florence, is renowned for its collection of Italian Renaissance paintings. With works by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael all under one roof, it's an ideal stop for travelers wanting to trace the development of Renaissance art firsthand.