Italy Destination Guide | The best places to go & what to do there

Where to go in Italy: an A-Z guide from Italy Heaven

A-Z Italy destination guide

Destinations featured on Italy Heaven include Italy’s most popular holiday resorts and cities, as well as hidden and off-the-beaten-track places to discover. New destinations are being added all the time. As an alternative to using the search bar at the top of the page, or browsing via theme or region, here’s an alphabetical list of the places in Italy featured on this website.

Ideas for thematic browsing:
> Regions of Italy
> UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy
> Seaside resorts

Abano Terme, Veneto
Renowned spa town in the Veneto

Aeolian islands, Sicily

Volcanic islands for an adventurous, special escape

Agrigento, Sicily
Sicily’s Valley of the Temples

Alberobello, Puglia

Famous southern town of white pixie-like trullo houses

Alicudi, Sicily

Remotest and most extreme of the Aeolian islands

Amalfi, Campania

Most popular destination on the Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast

Iconic stretch of beautiful coastline; one of Italy’s most famous destinations

Amantea, Calabria

Small southern seaside town with hillside centro storico

Ancona, Le Marche
Budget Ryanair destination; gateway for Le Marche and Umbria

Anzio, Lazio

Scene of World War II landings

Aquileia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Archaeological UNESCO World Heritage Site

Arezzo, Tuscany

Prosperous Tuscan town

Asolo, Veneto

Dreamy hilltown with a rich female history

Assisi, Umbria

Pilgrimage destination

Bagnaia, Lazio

Home to the gardens of Villa Lante

Barga, Tuscany

Small town in the Garfagnana area of Tuscany famous for its Scottish connections

Bari, Puglia

Lively port city on the Adriatic

Barletta, Puglia

Southern coastal town with big bronze Roman statue

Bassano del Grappa, Veneto

Picturesque town close to mountains

Bellagio, Lombardy

Lovely resort on Lake como

Bergamo, Lombardy

Attractive destination with a budget airport

Bologna, Emilia-Romagna

Historic university and foodie city

Bracciano, Lazio

Castle above a lake, scene of celebrity weddings

Brescia, Lombardy

Historic town near lakes

Roman column at the end of the Appian Way, Brindisi

Brindisi, Puglia

Ancient town with hidden charms at the end of the Appian Way

Brisighella, Emilia-Romagna

Enchanting tiny town with hilltop pinnacles

Calcata, Lazio

Picturesque and bohemian village on a rock

Camogli, Liguria

Unpretentious Liguria fishing port

Caorle, Veneto

Family seaside resort with a colourful historic centre

Capraia, Tuscany

Unspoilt island ideal for walkers

Capri, Campania

Italy’s legendary island with everything: history, glitz and scenery

Castelfranco Veneto, Veneto

Fortified town with a Giorgione altarpiece

Castel Gandolfo, Lazio

The Pope’s summer retreat

View of Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily

Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily

Attractive little seaside town

Castelmola, Sicily

Hill town on a crag above Taormina

Castelsardo, Sardinia

Picturesque coastal citadel

Catania, Sicily

Baroque city in the shadow of Etna

Cefalรน, Sicily

Perfect combination of history and beach

Cerveteri, Lazio

Etruscan necropolis in the countryside

Cesenatico's historic canal

Cesenatico, Emilia-Romagna

Beach resort and historic canal port

Chioggia, Veneto

Fishing town in the Venetian lagoon

Cinque Terre, Liguria

Breathtaking coastline famed for its coastal trail and its tourist boom

Cittadella, Veneto

Circular walled town with a rampart walk

Cividale del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Picturesque northern town with Lombard history

Como, Lombardy

Bustling town and the gateway to Lake Como

Concordia Sagittaria

Roman ruins and a charming baptistery in this tiny town

Conegliano, Veneto

Fine hillside town with a castle, art and Prosecco

Conversano, Puglia

Atmospheric and picturesque Netflix location

Corciano, Umbria

Quaint medieval hilltop town

Cortina d’Ampezzo, Veneto

Mountain ski resort in the Dolomites

Cortona, Tuscany

Charms under the Tuscan sun

Desenzano del Garda, Lombardy

Lively town on Lake Garda

Egadi islands, Sicily

Simple and charming archipelago close to Trapani

Enna, Sicily

Historic town at Sicily’s heart

Erice, Sicily

Dramatically-situated hill town above Trapani

Faenza, Emilia-Romagna

Fair city famous for ceramics

Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna

Renaissance seat of the Este dukes

Florence (Firenze), Tuscany

Renaissance Italy at its greatest

Frascati, Lazio

Castelli Romani town famed for wine and villas

Furore, Campania

Small Amalfi Coast hillside destination above the sea

Gardone Riviera, Lombardy

Pretty Lake Garda resort

Genoa (Genova), Liguria

Fascinating port city with heaps of history and art

Beach, Giardini Naxos

Giardini Naxos, Sicily

Ancient past and modern beach resort close to Taormina

Giglio, Tuscany

Giglio island (Isola del Giglio): attractive island that’s a delight to explore on foot or by boat

Grado, Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Beach, lagoon and history

Ischia, Campania

Colourful island of resorts, thermal spas and history

Iseo, Lombardy

Attractive little town on Lake Iseo

Lake Como

One of Italy’s famous lake destinations

Lake Garda

Fantastic lake destination surrounded by a variety of resorts

Lake Iseo

Lesser-known of Italy’s northern lakes and a charming destination

La Maddalena, Sardinia

Island archipelago with beautiful unspoilt beaches

La Spezia, Liguria

Naval port and tourist destination

Lecce, Puglia

Famed southern southern city of the Baroque

Lido di Jesolo, Veneto

Popular modern beach resort

Limone, Lombardy

Scenic Lake Garda resort

Lipari, Sicily

Largest and liveliest of the Aeolian islands

Livorno, Tuscany

Tuscan port town

Locorotondo, Puglia

Pretty white hilltop town

Lucca, Tuscany

Handsome Tuscan town with grassy ramparts

Malcesine, Veneto

Picturesque Lake Garda resort

Maratea, Basilicata

Classy village resort between the mountains and the sea

Marostica, Veneto

Hilltop castle and a living chess game

Marsala, Sicily

Ancient history, wine, salt pans and sea

Martina Franca, Puglia

Lovely white Baroque town in the south

View of Matera, Basilicata

Matera, Basilicata

Atmospheric cave-town, UNESCO site

Menaggio, Lombardy

Resort on the shore of Lake Como

Mestre, Veneto

Venice’s mainland sister town: culture and convenience

Milan, Lombardy

Italy’s capital of fashion and style

View over Modica

Modica, Sicily

Chocolate-producing Baroque town

Mondello, Sicily

Lovely beach just outside Palermo

Monreale, Sicily

Norman cathedral hill town above Palermo

Monselice, Veneto

Small historic town with two castles

Montegrotto Terme, Veneto

Spa town on the edge of the Euganean hills

Mozia, Sicily

Fascinating island archaeological site

Naples (Napoli), Campania

Chaotic, colourful and cultural destination

View of Noto cathedral

Noto, Sicily

Baroque town like a stage set

Olbia, Sardinia

Port and gateway to Sardinia

Orvieto, Umbria

Picturesque town with striped cathedral and underground exploration

Otranto, Puglia

Pretty and historic seaside town

Padua (Padova), Veneto

Historic university and art town

Paestum, Campania

Greek temples in the countryside

Palermo, Sicily

Colourful, chaotic, ancient and arty: Sicily’s capital

Palestrina, Lazio

Hill town built over a giant temple

Palinuro, Campania

Small seaside town with attractive coastline

Panarea, Sicily

Idyllic Aeolian island

Parma, Emilia-Romagna

Art, opera and food destination

Perugia, Umbria

Historic capital of the Umbria region

Pesaro, Le Marche

Beach resort with annual Rossini festival

Piazza Armerina, Sicily

Famous for Roman mosaics

Pisa, Tuscany

The Leaning Tower and more

Pistoia, Tuscany

Medieval Tuscan town

Pizzo, Calabria

Seaside town renowned for its ice cream

Polignano a Mare, Puglia

Iconic scenery: southern tourist honeypot

Portofino, Liguria

Celebrity-favourite seaside resort

Portogruaro, Veneto

Lovely little Veneto town waiting to be discovered

Porto Venere, Liguria

Pretty fishing village turned tourist destination, on a headland

Positano, Campania

Famously spectacular Amalfi Coast destination

Praiano, Campania

Quieter Amalfi Coast destination

Procida, Campania

Small and picturesque island in the Bay of Naples

Ragusa, Sicily

Lovely Baroque hill town and Inspector Montalbano setting

Rapallo, Liguria

Attractive seaside town

Ravello, Campania

Sea, sky and music on the Amalfi Coast

Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna

Famous mosaics in city where the lights stayed on in the ‘Dark Ages’

Reggio Calabria, Calabria

Pleasant port town with a great archaeological museum where you can see the Riace Bronzes

Rimini, Emilia-Romagna

Roman and cultural delights and a big modern beach resort too

Riva del Garda, Trentino-Alto Adige

Northern Lake Garda resort town

Piazza Navona by night

Rome, Lazio

The Eternal City, Italy’s capital. All roads lead to Rome …

View of Rovigo

Rovigo, Veneto

Overlooked Veneto town with a good museum

Salina, Sicily

Aeolian island with villages, agriculture, hikes and beaches

San Fruttuoso, Liguria

Seashore monastery

San Gimignano, Tuscany

Town of medieval towers

San Marino

Independent republic enclosed within Italian territory

Sanremo, Liguria

Old-style Riviera resort with casino

Santa Margherita Ligure, Liguria

Well-connected historic resort

Santarcangelo di Romagna, Emilia-Romagna

Handsome hill town near Rimini with underground secrets

Santa Teresa Gallura, Sardinia

Nice little seaside resort

Savoca view

Savoca, Sicily

Picturesque hill village with mummies, ruins and a Godfather connection

Sciacca, Sicily

Historic Sicilian fishing port

Scicli, Sicily

Lovely Baroque town with caves and ruins

Scilla, Calabria

Fishing village home to myth

Scopello, Sicily

Seaside hamlet with unforgettable scenery

Segesta temple

Segesta, Sicily

Greek temple in the countryside

View across the site of Selinunte

Selinunte, Sicily

Memorable and extensive archaeological site by the sea

Siena, Tuscany

Art, history and the tradition of the Palio horse race

Siracusa, Sicily

Greek ruins and a charming island town centre, Ortigia

Sirmione, Lombardy

Lake Garda resort with a medieval castle

Sorrento, Campania

Legendary seaside resort: “Torna a Sorrento

Sottomarina, Veneto

Modern seaside extension of historic lagoon town Chioggia

Sperlonga, Lazio

Picturesque whitewashed town above the sea, with Roman ruins

Spoleto, Umbria

Summer festival hill town

Stromboli, Sicily

Volcano island: picturesque destination with thrills

Taormina, Sicily

Spectacular old-style tourist resort high above the sea

Terracina, Lazio

Seaside resort and Roman ruins

Tivoli, Lazio

Renaissance Villa d’Este, ravine, temple and Hadrian’s Villa

Trani, Puglia

Waterside cathedral; picturesque town

Trapani, Sicily

Sunkissed, shabby-picturesque coastal city with island connections

A tranquil canal view in Treviso

Treviso, Veneto

Attractive canal town close to Venice

Trieste

Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia

Stately port city with a complex international history

Tropea, Calabria

Delightful historic town and seaside resort

Turin (Torino), Piemonte

Magnificent royal city near the Alps, known for cars and chocolate

Urbino, Le Marche

Ducal palace and picturesque cultural hill-town destination

Ustica, Sicily

Small and pretty island with a coast path, reached from Palermo

Varenna, Lombardy

Beautiful gardens in a former fishing village on Lake Como

Venice, Veneto

The most beautiful and dramatic city in the world

Verona, Veneto

Beautiful town in wine country near Lake Garda, known for Romeo and Juliet, opera and more

Vicenza, Veneto

Stately town famed for Palladian architecture

Viterbo, Lazio

Quiet provincial capital with medieval atmosphere in the land of the Etruscans

Italy themes

Romantic Italy – The ideal destinations for Italian honeymoons, Valentine’s Day breaks, or romantic getaways.

Winter breaks – Ideas for winter trips to Italy and Christmas breaks.