Italy is ancient, historic, and so rich in culture; it is special because of its age–it’s thousands of years old! Italy is spectacular because up and down its coast and throughout its cities, countrysides, and towns, there are monuments, ancient ruins, art, landscape, and scenery that claim fame, prestige, and appreciation. Once you see such wonderful attractions, it’s easy to see why. Here are some sights you’d be silly to miss while vacationing in Italy.

1) The Sistine Chapel, Vatican City: You may or may have not know that Vatican City is considered its own state in Italy, or that it is considered its own entity on an Italian map. Home to the Pope and known as the religious center of the country, the Vatican is also known for its impressive art collection, which is too vast and large to see in one day let alone one month or week. The art featured encompasses the private collections of past Popes, but the most breathtaking piece of art to see is Michelangelo’s “Sistine Chapel.” Michelangelo is one of the most celebrated figures in Italy because of such works of art. When you look up to see the large ceiling painted with famous stories of the Bible, noticing the detail and the color, you will appreciate its beauty whether you are religious or not. The “Last Judgement,” which covers an entire wall, is equally amazing. Perhaps my favorite scene of the “Sistine Chapel” is the portrayal of Adam touching God’s hand, signifying his gift of spirit and intellect. 

2) The Coliseum: This may seem a little cliche or generic when it comes to the sights in Italy, but there is a reason as to why it is one of the most popular attractions in Rome. The Coliseum is an amazing example of Roman architecture–just think how they created such a building with the least amount of technology possible, and there haven’t been buildings as beautiful since. The Coliseum was used for gladiator battles, animal hunts, and entertainment for the King, and it was a focal point of the Roman lifestyle. It’s a pleasure to see such architecture still standing amongst the products of a modern world–cars, roads, highways, and industrial buildings. You appreciate the contrast of an ancient construction amongst contemporary life, and standing in the middle of such a great structure will blow your mind.

3) Piazzele de Michelangelo: This square is dedicated to the beloved Michelangelo, and is a hidden treasure within the amazing city of Florence. By climbing uphill on a set of gorgeous steps surrounded by stone, trees, and greenery, you reach the top to see a full view of the city in its entirety–you can see the Ponte Vecchio (“Old Bridge”), the famous Duomo, and the terracotta-colored roofs of every store, apartment, restaurant, house, and building. Flowers, beautiful hills, and greenery surround the large sitting area and steps made for your viewing of the scene, and it is also a popular place for lovers. After walking to this sight, it became the cherry on top of my perfect visit to the small, but very special, city. 

4) Leaning Tower of Pisa: I think this sight for me was special because of the particular day my travel group went to go see it. We happened to travel on a day when all of the high school students of Pisa gather to walk laps around the tower for good luck. It is a tradition for the girls to wear red lipstick and give 100 kisses to the boys, whereas the boys must “tap” 100 female rear ends for an equal amount of good fortune. To walk through the scene of a tradition for the youth in Italy was fascinating, and seeing their enthusiasm, their zest, and their gathering in the fields to play soccer and hang around was pretty awesome. As for the tower of itself, it is an interesting piece of architecture to walk through. And, it is also a lot of fun to take pictures pretending to keep the tower from falling!

5) Trevi Fountain: This is a quick and very popular attraction to see in Rome, but the fountain is gorgeous. Erected from the Baroque period in Roman art, it is supposedly good luck to toss coins from behind your left shoulder into the fountain. Also, all of the money found in the fountain is dedicated to charity within Italy, so your money is sure to go to good luck and a good cause!

Where would you lovelies want to go if you had the opportunity to travel in Italy? If you’ve already been, what’s your favorite attraction?