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Herculaneum (Via Luigi Palmieri 173, Ercolano, province of Naples) – located just 17 minutes outsider of Naples (an 50 feet below the modern-day town of Ercolano), this Roman era site, along with Pompeii, were both destroyed by the volcanic mud stemming from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. To sightseers, Herculaneum is more […]

  Gallerie degli Uffizi (Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, Florence) — this is one of the most famous museums of paintings and sculpture in the world. It contains a collection of Primitive and Renaissance painting, including works by Giotto, Simone Martini, Piero della Francesca, Fra Angelico, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Mantegna, Correggio, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo […]

Galleria dell’Accademia (Via Ricasoli 66, Florence) – tourists are attracted here mainly to see works of art such as Michelangelo’s David and Prisoners, Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabines, and Botticelli’s Madonna and Child and Madonna of the Sea. Visitors will see this and more Renaissance-period art works. Admission: €6.50 (general), €3.25 (reduced). Hours: Tuesdays through […]

Fontana Pretoria (Piazza Pretoria, Palermo, Sicily) – this is Palermo’s most popular fountain (crafted by Florentine sculptor Francesco Camilliani in 1554 and 1555. A collection of statues can be found throughout this fountain. Interestingly, this became known as the Piazza della Vergogna (Piazza of Shame) because of the many nude statutes that surround this fountain. […]

Duomo (Piazza del Duomo, Florence) – this cathedral, known as the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, was completed in 1436, some decades before Columbus discovered the Americas. Architects marvel at this building since the construction of its cupola was considered a brilliant engineering feat at the time. The biggest artwork within the cathedral is […]

Catacombe di San Gennaro (Via Tondo di Capodimonte 13, Basilica del Buon Consiglio, Naples) – located in the northern part of Naples, this is the largest network of catacombs in southern Italy. These catacombs contain the remains of San Gennaro (the patron saint of Naples), and have been in use from the early days of […]

Castel San’Angelo (Lungotevere Castello 50, Rome) – this fortress, with the Tiber River behind it, was originally built as a mausoleum for the Roman emperor Hadrian (AD130-139). It later became a prison and even served as a papal residence (which was useful for the Pope during times of danger and warfare). The National Museum of […]

Capitoline Museums (Piazza del Campidoglio 1, Rome) – these are art and archeological museums located at the Piazza del Campidoglio (on top of Rome’s Capitoline Hills in this city). They are presently located in two buildings: Palazzo Nuovo (containing fine selections of Greek and Roman sculptures), and Palazzo dei Conservatori (once the seat of the […]

Venice – located in northeast Italy, on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals (often linked by bridges), Venice is another Italian city which rose in prominence during the medieval period, when it was the capital of the Republic of Venice (a major maritime power during those days). Much of the local architecture […]

  Rome — located in Lazio in central Italy and facing the Tyrrhenian Sea, the province (and city) of Rome boasts a Mediterranean climate both on the coast and further inland. The coast stretches from north to south, from the area including Fiumicino (where the international airport is) and the towns overlooking Lake Bracciano, the […]