The Top 10 'must See' Tourist Sites In Italy By Rodney Ritchie At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

When considering Italy’s most exciting and interesting locations, it is really difficult to name a top 10. However, you can’t ignore the icons, so here are 10 superb places that will stay in your memory as evocations of all that is unique and remarkable about Italy today.

Amalfi Coast
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There are many stunning coastal areas, but the Amalfi Coast, stretching along the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula, in the province of Salermo, has many charming towns with a rich maritime history. The Cathedral of Amalfi, actually two churches with an ancient crypt, is stunning. Be sure to take a boat to the Grotta dello Smeraldo.

Assisi
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Set in the province of Perugia, in the Umbrian region, Assisi became a Christian settlement in 238 AD and became famous in the 11th century, when St. Francis founded his monastery there. Today, the city is a World Heritage Site where you can experience cultural, historical, as well as spiritual rebirth.

The Colosseum
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Rome’s 2000-year-old Colosseum, one of Italy's most iconic edifices, was once the arena for chariot races, gladiatorial battles, and gruesome displays held in the name of ‘entertainment’. Although the massive structure is today a ruin, it once could seat up to 45,000 spectators, on its four levels, while the rooms for performers and animals were underneath the main arena.

Florence
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Florence, once the center of medieval European trade and finance, is not only a treasure-trove of art and architecture, but also a vibrant city with its own charm that attracts students, keen shoppers and art lovers. Renaissance art thrived here, and the city nurtured the talents of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Don’t miss Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s oldest bridge, with its many specialty shops. In summer, the bridge is crowded with street stalls, performers, portrait painters, and those who come to soak up the atmosphere.

Leaning Tower of Pisa
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Pisa’s remarkable leaning bell tower dates from 1173. Although construction stretched over 200 years, the famous lean developed not long after the tower was completed. For obvious reasons, perhaps, the architect still remains unknown. Attempts to straighten the tower, or at least arrest its propensity for inclination, have stopped short of making it vertical, so it will likely to retain its distinctive lean for years to come.

The Pantheon
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The massive dome of the Pantheon, in Rome, is a distinctive landmark, along with the fountain that adorns the front entrance. The building houses the tombs of Italy's first two kings, and the Renaissance artist, Raphael. It is one of the world’s greatest surviving examples of Roman architecture.

Pompeii
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This partially buried Roman city, near Naples, in the region of Campania, was buried in ash, when Mt Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, and is now one of the world’s great archaeological treasures. Many of Pompeii's streets and buildings have been uncovered and the lives of its people, whose possessions and living quarters were preserved by the ash, appear frozen in time.

The Spanish Steps
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Rome's famous Spanish steps or ‘Scalinata di Spagna’, are at their best in May when the bright pink azaleas are flowering. Leading from the Piazza di Spagna, to the beautiful Trinita dei Monti church, the steps have long been a meeting point, dating from the 18th century when attractive women gathered there in the hope of being chosen as artist's models.

Vatican Museums
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The Vatican Museums, 12 complexes with over 1,400 rooms and galleries, showcase the many masterpieces in the Vatican collection, including the famed Michaelangelo ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Don’t miss the Etruscan Museum, the Raphael Rooms and Loggias, and the Egyptian Museum.

Venice
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As you stroll beside the many canals and waterways of Venice, you have to wonder how such a city could exist as it does, built over water. Venice's main thoroughfare, the Grand Canal, is lined with buildings, and all kinds of boats ply the waterways. The Ponte di Rialto, right in the centre of the city, crosses the Grand Canal. Amazing architecture is everywhere, and the Piazza San Marco, the city’s main square, is bordered by the attractive Basilica di San Marco, which gives the Square its name, and the Palazzo Ducale, the Doge's Palace, once the hub of government. Sit outside one of the city’s many cafes and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere.

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