The Aragonese Castle clinging to the clifftop is one of Ischia's impressive sights. You can also find Roman thermal baths here, good diving and it counts limoncello, the delicious lemon liqueur, among its homegrown consumable items.
Ischia, Campania —
The Aragonese Castle clinging to the clifftop is one of Ischia's impressive sights. You can also find Roman thermal baths here, good diving and it counts limoncello, the delicious lemon liqueur, among its homegrown consumable items.
courtesy Fototeca ENIT
Attractions include the 142-step staircase of the Santa Maria del Monte, built in the 17th century, featuring hand-decorated majolica from different periods.
Caltagirone, Catania —
Attractions include the 142-step staircase of the Santa Maria del Monte, built in the 17th century, featuring hand-decorated majolica from different periods.
Silvia Marchetti/cnn
Dubbed the Florence of South Italy, Lecce is in one of the country's poorest regions, where sheep graze among old olive trees and stone walls line the roads. The best way to discover the city is to walk the narrow alleys, which makes the town feel like an open-air museum.
Lecce, Apulla —
Dubbed the Florence of South Italy, Lecce is in one of the country's poorest regions, where sheep graze among old olive trees and stone walls line the roads. The best way to discover the city is to walk the narrow alleys, which makes the town feel like an open-air museum.
courtesy Fototeca ENIT
Mantova (also called Mantua) was the hometown of Rome's most celebrated poet, Virgil. It's been inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The foggy Mincio river and lakes create an ideal habitat for many bird species.
Mantova (or Mantua), Lombardy —
Mantova (also called Mantua) was the hometown of Rome's most celebrated poet, Virgil. It's been inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The foggy Mincio river and lakes create an ideal habitat for many bird species.
courtesy Comune di Mantova
Matera provided part of the set of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" and comprises a town and 155 churches cut from the local rock. For centuries up to the 1950s, farmers lived and worked in these caves while bandits took refuge there from the authorities. Cars are banned.
Matera, Basilicata —
Matera provided part of the set of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" and comprises a town and 155 churches cut from the local rock. For centuries up to the 1950s, farmers lived and worked in these caves while bandits took refuge there from the authorities. Cars are banned.
courtesy Fototeca ENIT
Narni, located in Italy's exact geographical center, features Holy Inquisition underground tunnels with spectacular prison cells covered in graffiti, Masonic symbols and alchemic formulas. The town also reportedly inspired C.S. Lewis as he wrote "The Chronicles of Narnia."
Narni, Umbria —
Narni, located in Italy's exact geographical center, features Holy Inquisition underground tunnels with spectacular prison cells covered in graffiti, Masonic symbols and alchemic formulas. The town also reportedly inspired C.S. Lewis as he wrote "The Chronicles of Narnia."
courtesy Aroti Meloni
Pienza is the perfect Renaissance city designed by native Pope Pio II. It's immaculate, and the streets have romantic names -- "Love Street," "Kiss Street" -- echoing the concept of an ideal city. One of the best ways to see the area is on bicycle.
Pienza, Tuscany —
Pienza is the perfect Renaissance city designed by native Pope Pio II. It's immaculate, and the streets have romantic names -- "Love Street," "Kiss Street" -- echoing the concept of an ideal city. One of the best ways to see the area is on bicycle.
courtesy L'informaturista
San Felice Circeo is a picturesque, centuries-old village built on top of Mount Circe, marked by steep walls, vertiginous ridges and peaks and pebble-stone coves. The sorceress Circe is said to have bewitched Odysseus here, keeping him prisoner for years in a grotto -- and yes, you can visit that grotto.
San Felice Circeo, Lazio —
San Felice Circeo is a picturesque, centuries-old village built on top of Mount Circe, marked by steep walls, vertiginous ridges and peaks and pebble-stone coves. The sorceress Circe is said to have bewitched Odysseus here, keeping him prisoner for years in a grotto -- and yes, you can visit that grotto.
Silvia Marchetti/cnn
The Ear of Dionysius is a 30-meter high rock cavern in Syracuse's botanic garden and reportedly where the tyrant Dionysius jailed his enemies to hear what they were conspiring through a side room. The town is also home to Apollo's temple and the magnificent Piazza del Duomo.
Syracuse, Sicily —
The Ear of Dionysius is a 30-meter high rock cavern in Syracuse's botanic garden and reportedly where the tyrant Dionysius jailed his enemies to hear what they were conspiring through a side room. The town is also home to Apollo's temple and the magnificent Piazza del Duomo.
Silvia Marchetti/cnn
The Mole Antonelliana that juts out of the city is one of the symbols of Turin. It holds the National Cinema Museum and offers great views across the city. While here, visitors can also try the "bicerin," a typical hot drink made of coffee, chocolate and cream served in a glass goblet.
Turin, Piedmont —
The Mole Antonelliana that juts out of the city is one of the symbols of Turin. It holds the National Cinema Museum and offers great views across the city. While here, visitors can also try the "bicerin," a typical hot drink made of coffee, chocolate and cream served in a glass goblet.
courtesy Comune di Torino
North of Rome, close to the border with Tuscany, is Tuscania -- a "necropolis city" where sarcophagi line the streets and tours are available to ancient tombs. The local cuisine is a high point, especially the fettuccine with wild boar.
Tuscania, Lazio —
North of Rome, close to the border with Tuscany, is Tuscania -- a "necropolis city" where sarcophagi line the streets and tours are available to ancient tombs. The local cuisine is a high point, especially the fettuccine with wild boar.
courtesy turismotuscania.it
These colorful summer houses used to hold prisoners and the island was also home to Nero's ex-wife Claudia Octavia, when he exiled her here in the first century. The sea bed is full of ancient relics, Roman vases and other treasures, making it a popular dive spot.
Ventotene, Lazio —
These colorful summer houses used to hold prisoners and the island was also home to Nero's ex-wife Claudia Octavia, when he exiled her here in the first century. The sea bed is full of ancient relics, Roman vases and other treasures, making it a popular dive spot.
courtesy Tonino Santomauro