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The Church of Piedigrotta is one of the most unusual religious sites in Pizzo. The church is carved directly into a coastal tuff rock cave near the Tyrrhenian Sea. It combines religious devotion, local legends, marine history, and sculptural art in a single monument. Located close to the beach below the town of Pizzo, the church is famous for its rock-carved statues, underground chambers, and dramatic seaside setting. The site is officially known as Chiesetta di Piedigrotta and attracts visitors from all over Italy. The Church of Piedigrotta is not a traditional church built with masonry and external facades. Instead, most spaces were excavated directly into sandstone rock formations over many decades. The interior contains numerous statues representing biblical figures, saints, angels, and scenes from Christian tradition. Many sculptures appear to emerge naturally from the cave walls. The monument became widely known during the 20th century thanks to photographs and travel publications dedicated to Calabria. Its unusual appearance made it one of the symbolic landmarks of the Tyrrhenian coast. Today, the Church of Piedigrotta represents one of the most important cultural attractions in the province of Vibo Valentia. It is also considered one of the most distinctive cave churches in Read more [...]

The Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino, widely known as Trani Cathedral, is the principal religious monument of Trani. It rises within the historical center, only a few steps from the Adriatic Sea, occupying a commanding position that visually links sacred architecture with the maritime identity of the city. Officially named Basilica Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, the church is universally regarded as one of the finest and most complete expressions of Apulian-Romanesque architecture. Its pale limestone surfaces, monumental forms, and refined decorative elements embody the artistic maturity reached in southern Italy during the Middle Ages. Over time, the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino has been repeatedly described as the Queen of the Cathedrals of Apulia. This title reflects not only its architectural elegance but also its symbolic importance in regional history. Recognized as an Italian national monument, the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino stands as a defining landmark of Trani and one of the most admired sacred buildings along the Adriatic coast.   Short History of the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino The origins of the Cathedral of San Nicola Pellegrino are inseparable from the story of Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim, known in Italian as San Nicola Pellegrino. His life Read more [...]

The Ponte Vecchio, also known as Ponte degli Alpini, is the covered wooden bridge crossing the Brenta River in Bassano del Grappa. It is one of the most recognizable monuments of the city and one of the best-known wooden bridges in Italy. The bridge is linked to Andrea Palladio, who presented the definitive wooden design in 1569, after a major Brenta flood destroyed the previous structure in October 1567. The present form follows Palladio’s covered timber concept, although the bridge has been rebuilt and restored several times. Technically, Ponte Vecchio is a wooden covered bridge with 5 spans, a length of 58 meters, a width of 8 meters, a height of 11 meters, and a clearance of about 4 meters. Its spans cross the Brenta on timber supports and masonry abutments. The bridge has survived repeated destruction by floods, war, fire, and structural decay. Its historical value was officially recognized when the Italian state declared the bridge a National Monument through Law No. 65 of 5 July 2019, published in the Official Gazette in July 2019.   Short History of the Ponte Vecchio (Ponte degli Alpini) Medieval Origins and Strategic Role The earliest documented bridge at this point dates to Read more [...]

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Geminiano is the Cathedral of Modena, located on Corso Duomo, in the historical center of the city. The Cathedral of Modena is a masterpiece of the Romanesque style, built on the site of the tomb of San Geminiano (Saint Geminianus), patron saint of Modena. The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and San Geminiano, along with its bell tower (Torre Ghirlandina) and the adjacent Piazza Grande were included in 1997 in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.   SHORT HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA ASSUNTA AND SAN GEMINIANO After the ancient Mutina was destroyed by invasions, earthquakes and floods, and the inhabitants moved to Cittanova, the bishop continued to reside in the main church of the city, where the remains of the patron saint were kept. Over time, a residential nucleus formed around the church, which became the center of today’s Modena. Around the middle of the 11th century, the ancient church was replaced by a larger one, which, however, due to the lack of skills of the builders, threatened to collapse towards the end of the century. Consequently, the people of Modena, independently from the imperial and ecclesiastical powers Read more [...]

Palazzo Ducale is a large palace in Modena, located in Piazza Roma, in the northern part of the historical center of the city. The Ducal Palace of Modena, one of the most important Baroque structures in Italy, was the seat of the House of Este between the 17th and 19th centuries. Subsequently, since the Italian unification, Palazzo Ducale housed the prestigious Military Academy of Modena (Accademia Militare di Modena).   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO DUCALE Palazzo Ducale was built starting with 1634 on the site of the ancient Este castle, which during the Middle Ages stood on the city limits and was connected to a navigable canal. The works, initially entrusted to the architect Gaspare Vigarani, were later continued by Bartolomeo Avanzini. The project was supervised by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. On June 25, 1805, Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Giuseppina Beauharnais, after their coronation as sovereigns of the Kingdom of Italy, entered Modena in triumph and lodged in the Ducal Palace, renamed during their visit as Palazzo Nazionale. Napoleon stayed only one day in the palace, but appropriated numerous works of art and goods from the Este collections. On September 8, 1943, during the Second World War, the building was Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna is one of the most extraordinary monuments of early Byzantine architecture and art in Europe. Located in Via San Vitale, just a few meters from the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, the Basilica of San Vitale represents the artistic, political, and religious transformation of Ravenna during the 6th century, when the city stood at the crossroads between the Roman world and the Byzantine Empire. Constructed between 532 and 547, the Basilica of San Vitale is celebrated above all for its magnificent mosaic decoration, considered among the finest surviving examples of Byzantine art outside Constantinople. Its interior combines architectural innovation, rich symbolism, and imperial ideology, creating a space that communicates theological meaning through geometry, light, and color. In 1996, the basilica was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Early Christian Monuments of Ravenna, recognizing its outstanding universal value and its exceptional state of preservation. Despite its relatively modest exterior, the Basilica of San Vitale reveals a breathtaking interior where mosaics, marbles, stuccoes, and architectural forms work together to convey a vision of divine authority and cosmic order.   Short History of the Basilica of San Vitale The Basilica of San Read more [...]

The Cathedral of San Ciriaco (Ancona Cathedral) is the principal place of worship in the city of Ancona and one of the most evocative religious monuments on the Adriatic coast. It rises dramatically on the summit of Monte Guasco, overlooking the harbor and the historic center. This privileged location was not chosen by chance. Monte Guasco was once the acropolis of the ancient Greek city, and for more than two millennia it has remained the spiritual and symbolic heart of Ancona. The Cathedral of San Ciriaco dominates the landscape, visible from both land and sea, acting as a landmark for travelers and sailors alike. The Ancona Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Cyriacus, the city’s patron saint, whose remains are preserved inside the building. What makes the Cathedral of San Ciriaco particularly distinctive is its architectural synthesis. Romanesque structure, Byzantine influences, and Gothic elements coexist in a balanced and harmonious way, making the Ancona Cathedral one of the most important examples of medieval architecture in Italy.   Short History of the Cathedral of San Ciriaco The history of the Cathedral of San Ciriaco begins long before the Christian era. In the 4th century BC, Greek settlers from Syracuse established themselves in Read more [...]

Tempio Malatestiano, also known as the Cathedral of Santa Colomba, is the Cathedral of Rimini, located in Via IV Novembre.   SHORT HISTORY OF TEMPIO MALATESTIANO A chapel dedicated to Santa Maria in Trivio is documented on this site in the 9th century. The chapel was demolished in 1257, to allow the construction of a larger church in Gothic style, dedicated to San Francesco and supported by the Franciscan order. Between the 13th and 14th centuries, two chapels were added on the southern side of the church. Despite its modest size, the structure was enriched by altars and works of art, including works by Giotto. In 1312, it was already used as a burial place for the Malatesta family. Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, decided to built a chapel dedicated to San Sigismondo, and entrusted the project to Matteo de’ Pasti from Verona. On October 31, 1447, the first stone of Tempio Malatestiano was laid. In the following years, after a successful series of victories, Sigismondo decided to extend the project to the entire structure. Leon Battista Alberti was entrusted with the project of a new church, which included the addition of a rotunda in the rear part of Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Reggia di Venaria Reale (Palace of Venaria Reale) is one of the palaces of the House of Savoy, located in Venaria Reale. Reggia di Venaria Reale was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1997. In 2018, it recorded over 1 million visitors, making it the seventh most visited Italian museum.   SHORT HISTORY OF REGGIA DI VENARIA REALE Around the middle of the 17th century, Carlo Emanuele II, Duke of Savoy, wanted to make a base for hunting trips in the Turin hills. For this, he chose an area in the Lanzo Valleys (Valli di Lanzo), favored by the proximity of the woods known as the Great Country (Gran Paese), very rich in game. He bought the two small villages of Altessano Superiore and Altessano Inferiore from the Birago family, and comissioned the construction of the complex to the architects Amedeo di Castellamonte and Michelangelo Garove. The works started in 1658 and were completed around 1675. After the French destroyed some buildings on October 1, 1693, Vittorio Amedeo II, son of Carlo Emanuele II, commissioned a further intervention to the palace. During the siege of 1706, when the French of Louis d’Aubusson de la Read more [...]

Piazza Ducale is the main square of Vigevano, located in the historical center of the city. Piazza Ducale is one of the first Renaissance-style squares in Italy and is among the best examples of Lombard architecture of the 15th century.   SHORT HISTORY OF PIAZZA DUCALE The area on which the square currently stands was characterized by a wide road surrounded by buildings with porticos, the result of the 14th-century expansion of the village. The Sforzesco Castle, located in an elevated position in the immediate vicinity, was accessed via a ramp or a stairway placed in correspondence with the current Bramante Tower (Torre del Bramante). Piazza Ducale was built between 1492 and 1494 at the behest of Ludovico Maria Sforza, also known as Ludovico il Moro (the Moor), as an antechamber of the castle. Under the direction of the ducal architect Ambrogio da Corte, some of the buildings located in the area were demolished and some of them had their facades aligned. The southern side of Piazza Ducale was interrupted by a wide ramp, in correspondence with the tower, connecting the square to the castle. The western side of the square was divided into two parts joined by a triumphal Read more [...]

The Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, is the Cathedral of Turin, located in the homonymous square, Piazza San Giovanni. The Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista is famous for housing since 1578 the Holy Shroud of Turin.   SHORT HISTORY OF THE CATHEDRAL OF SAN GIOVANNI BATTISTA In ancient times, the area in which the cathedral was later built housed three early Christian churches, dedicated to San Salvatore, Santa Maria di Dompno and San Giovanni Battista. The one dedicated to San Giovanni Battista was consecrated during the time of the Lombard King Agilulf, at the end of the 6th or the beginning of the 7th century, when Saint John the Baptist was proclaimed patron of the Lombard kingdom. The three churches were demolished between 1490 and 1492, and on July 22, 1941, the regent of Savoy, widow of Charles I, Blanche of Montferrat, laid the first stone of the future cathedral. The construction of the cathedral was entrusted to Amedeo de Francisco da Settignano, who worked there until his death in 1501. The work on the cathedral was completed in 1505, and the consecration took place on September 21 of the same year. The project Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Mole Antonelliana is a monumental building in Turin, located in Via Montebello, in the historical center of the city. Since 2000, the building houses the National Museum of Cinema (Museo Nazionale del Cinema). With a height of 167.5 meters, Mole Antonelliana is the symbol of Turin and one of the symbols of Italy. It was the tallest masonry building in the world between 1889 and 1908, and until recently it was the tallest building in Turin.   TIP: If you want to admire the beautiful city of Turin from above, visit Mole Antonelliana and take the panoramic lift to the top of the tower. The view will leave you breathless!    SHORT HISTORY OF MOLE ANTONELLIANA In 1848, after the freedom of worship was granted to non-Catholic religions, the Jewish community of Turin bought a piece of land in the area, to erect a new temple with an adjoining school. The original project of 1862 foresaw a building only 47 meters high. The architect Alessandro Antonelli proposed a series of modifications to the structure, which involved raising it to 113 meters. In 1869, the changes, the construction time and the higher costs made the Jewish community Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Cathedral of the Nativity of Saint Mary, better known as Duomo di Milano, is the largest church in Italy, and the fourth largest in the world. The Cathedral, which took almost six hundred years to complete, is the most important tourist attraction in Milan and the most famous symbol of the city.   SHORT HISTORY Once, on the site where the Duomo stands today, there was the ancient Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore and the Basilica of Santa Tecla. After the collapse of the bell tower of the cathedral, the Archbishop Antonio de’ Saluzzi, supported by the population, proposed in 1386 the building of a new and larger cathedral. To make room for the new church, both churches were demolished. In January 1387, the foundations of the pylons were laid. The chief architect was Simone d’Orsenigo, who, in 1388, began the perimeter walls. Between 1389 and 1390, the French Nicolas de Bonaventure was commissioned to design the windows. In 1393, the first capital of the pillars was sculpted by Giovannino de’ Grassi, who was the main architect of the work until his death, in 1398. In 1400, Filippino degli Orgi took his place, who focused Read more [...]

Castello Estense (Este Castle), also known as Castello di San Michele (Saint Michael’s Castle), is a moated medieval castle in Ferrara, located in the historical center of the city.   SHORT HISTORY OF CASTELLO ESTENSE In May 1385, the people of Ferrara, hearing of another tax increase, revolted against it. The Marquis Niccolò II d’Este tried to calm them down, but when he realized the people were getting more and more angry, he handed over to them the high official held responsible for the taxes, Tommaso da Tortona, and the crowd tore him to pieces. After this incident, Niccolò II considered it essential to equip himself with a fortified structure for the defense of his court. The work was commissioned to the architect Bartolino da Novara, former architect of Castello Visconteo of Pavia and Castello di San Giorgio of Mantua. The first stone of the Este Castle was laid on September 29, 1385, the day of Saint Michael. Bartolino da Novara used a pre-existing tower (Torre dei Leoni), added three more towers – the Marchesana Tower to the southeast, the Tower of San Paolo to the southwest, and the Tower of Santa Caterina to the northwest, and then joined them Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Palazzo Vecchio is the monumental town hall of Florence, located in Piazza della Signoria, one of the most important civic spaces in the historic center. The palace stands beside the Uffizi Gallery, about 50 meters from its northern side, and about 300 meters from Ponte Vecchio. Known in English as the “Old Palace”, Palazzo Vecchio has been connected with Florentine government for more than seven centuries. It was built as a fortified seat for the city’s magistrates, later became a Medici residence, and still houses the Municipality of Florence, the Mayor’s offices, and the city council. The building is one of the clearest symbols of Florence’s political history. Its massive stone facade, high battlements, and 95-meter Torre di Arnolfo dominate Piazza della Signoria. Inside, the museum preserves medieval rooms, Renaissance halls, Medici apartments, archaeological remains, monumental frescoes, sculptures, maps, and civic artworks. Palazzo Vecchio is also one of the best places to understand Florence as a city-state. The building connects the Roman city of Florentia, the medieval republic, the Medici duchy, the short period when Florence was capital of Italy, and the modern civic administration of the city.     Short History of Palazzo Vecchio Roman Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:VivaTicket Palazzo Pubblico, also known as Palazzo Comunale, is a medieval palace in Siena, located in the beautiful Piazza del Campo. Currently, the palace houses the Civic Museum of Siena on the first floor, and the city’s Town Hall on the second floor.   SHORT HISTORY After the Council of Nine (Governo dei Nove) came to power in 1287, some ancient buildings in Piazza del Campo were purchased and subsequently demolished, to make room for a new public palace. The construction of Palazzo Pubblico began in 1297, and by 1310 the building was already completed. The tower of the palace, known as Torre del Mangia, was built between 1325 and 1348. By 1350, the second and the third floors of the central body, and the Loggia on the second floor facing Piazza del Mercato were also completed. The marble Cappella di Piazza (Chapel of the Square) was built in 1352 to thank the Virgin Mary for the end of the black plague that struck the city in 1348. The last floor of the palace was added only in 1680 by the architect Carlo Fontana.   ARCHITECTURE The central body of the palace has four floors, while the Read more [...]

Grand Canal, known in Italian as Canal Grande, is the main waterway of Venice and the most important navigable route through the city’s historical center. Instead of a monumental avenue, Venice has a water boulevard, lined with palaces, churches, warehouses, hotels, museums, and public buildings. The canal crosses Venice in a wide inverted S shape, linking the area near Piazzale Roma and Santa Lucia railway station with the Saint Mark’s Basin. Along the way, it passes through the urban heart of the lagoon city, touching districts, markets, landing stages, and historic façades. The Grand Canal is about 3,800 meters long, with a width that generally varies between 30 and 70 meters. Its average depth is about 5 meters, allowing public transport boats, delivery vessels, gondolas, taxis, and service boats to circulate along one of Venice’s busiest routes. Canal Grande divides the historic center of Venice into two large parts, but it also connects them. Its banks are crossed by only four bridges, while most movement across the water historically depended on boats, ferries, private landings, and public vaporetto stops. For centuries, the Grand Canal was not just a scenic waterway. It was the economic, political, and social axis of Venice. Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Palazzo Ducale (Ducal Palace), also known as the Gonzaga Palace, is a large complex of historical buildings in Mantua, located in the beautiful Piazza Sordello.   SHORT HISTORY Starting with 1308, Palazzo Ducale was the official residence of the lords of Mantua, belonging at first to the Bonacolsi family, until 1328, when it became the residence of the Gonzaga family, who ruled the city until 1707. Distinct buildings were built in different eras, starting with the 13th century, initially by the Bonacolsi family, and subsequently by the Gonzagas. It was Duke Guglielmo Gonzaga who commissioned the architect Giovan Battista Bertani to connect the various buildings into an organic form, to create starting from 1556 a single grandiose monumental and architectural complex, one of the largest in Europe, which stretched between the shore of Lake Inferiore and Piazza Sordello. Bertani died in 1576, and the work was continued by the architect Bernardino Facciotto, who completed the gardens, squares, arcades, galleries, exedras and courtyards, definitively fixing the appearance of the ducal palace. During the Gonzaga domination, the palace gradually expanded, both with the addition of new buildings and by modifying the existing ones. The complex includes Corte Vecchia Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Palazzo Te is a Renaissance palace located in the suburban area of Mantua. The complex is now the seat of the Civic Museum and since 1990 of the International Center of Art and Culture of Palazzo Te.   SHORT HISTORY OF PALAZZO TE When Francesco II Gonzaga died in 1519, his son, Federico II, became Marquis of Mantua, and decided to transform a swampy area south of the city into a place for leisure and festive receptions. The architect Giulio Romano, a pupil of Raphael, was commissioned to design the palace. By alternating the architectural elements with the natural ones that the area offered, sublimely decorating rooms and facades, the architect put all his imagination and skill in the construction of Palazzo Te. The palace was completed in 1534, 10 years after the beginning of the works. In July 1630, during the War of the Mantuan Succession, the palace was sacked over three days by an Imperial army of 36,000 mercenaries. Palazzo Te was looted and remained empty for a long time.   ARCHITECTURE OF PALAZZO TE Palazzo Te has a square plan, with a large courtyard in the center, which once hosted a labyrinth. The Read more [...]

Castelvecchio is a medieval fortress in the historic center of Verona, on the right bank of the Adige River. Today, the complex houses the Civic Museum of the same name, one of the city’s most important cultural institutions and a major landmark of Scaliger military architecture. Castelvecchio was built during the rule of the Della Scala, the dynasty that governed Verona from 1262 to 1387. It was not conceived only as a noble residence, but as a fortified political and military structure connected to the city walls, the river, and a private escape route. Its original name was Castello di San Martino in Aquaro, taken from the Church of San Martino that once stood in the area of the present Court of Arms. The church is documented as very ancient, and its remains are still visible inside the castle area. The name Castel Vecchio, meaning “Old Castle”, became common only after the Visconti built Castel San Pietro on the hill above Verona. From that moment, the older Scaliger fortress on the Adige needed a new name to distinguish it from the newer defensive stronghold. The complex is important because it combines several layers of Verona’s history: Scaliger rule, Visconti control, Read more [...]

Torre degli Asinelli (Asinelli Tower), the tallest medieval leaning tower in the world, is located in Bologna, in Piazza di Porta Ravegnana, about 350 meters away from Piazza Maggiore. Together with the nearby Garisenda Tower (Torre della Garisenda), forms the architectural complex named Two Towers (Due Torri), symbol of the city of Bologna.   SHORT HISTORY We do not know exactly who built the Asinelli Tower, but it seems that the tower owes its name to Gherardo Asinelli, a noble knight of the Ghibelline faction in Bologna, who began its constuction on October 11, 1109, and finished ten years later, in 1119. At the end of the 14th century, with the decline of the Asinelli family, the tower was purchased by the Municipality of Bologna to be used as a prison and fortress. During the same period, a wooden frame was built around the tower, placed thirty meters above the ground, joined with the Garisenda Tower through a walkway. The walkway was destroyed by a fire in 1398. Over the centuries, the Asinelli Tower was struck by lightning many times, until a lightning rod was installed in 1824. In 1888, the engineer Alessandro Ferretti proposed to mount an elevator inside Read more [...]

Piazza Unità d’Italia (Unity of Italy Square) is the main square of Trieste. The rectangular piazza, located at the foot of the San Giusto Hill, opens on one side onto the Gulf of Trieste. With an area of 12,280 square meters, it is considered the largest seafront square in Europe.   SHORT HISTORY In ancient times, the square was called Piazza San Pietro, after the name of a church located there. Starting with 1863, the square was called Piazza Grande. During the Austrian period, the name of the square was changed to Piazza Francesco Giuseppe, after the name of the Emperor Franz Joseph. Only in 1918, the square took the name of Piazza Unità, when Trieste was annexed to Italy. In 1955, when the city returned to Italy after the dissolution of the Free Territory of Trieste, it took its current name, Piazza Unità d’Italia. Over the centuries, the square was remodeled several times. Its current appearance comes from the complete renovation made between 2001 and 2005, when all the surrounding buildings were restored. On this occasion, the pavement was replaced with sandstone blocks, the Fountain of the Four Continents (Fontana dei Quattro Continenti) was positioned in front of the Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide St Mark’s Basilica (Basilica di San Marco) is the cathedral of Venice and one of the most famous religious monuments in Italy. It stands in Piazza San Marco, in the sestiere of San Marco, beside the Doge’s Palace and close to the lagoon-facing Piazzetta. The Basilica is dedicated to Saint Mark the Evangelist, whose relics are traditionally believed to have been brought to Venice from Alexandria in the 9th century. Its position, decoration and ceremonial role made it one of the main symbols of the Venetian Republic. For centuries, St Mark’s Basilica was not the official cathedral of Venice, but the palatine chapel of the Doge. It served the political and religious life of the Venetian state, hosting major ceremonies, processions and solemn events connected to the government of the Republic. Today, Basilica di San Marco is admired for its Byzantine architecture, five domes, golden mosaics, marble decoration, bronze horses, precious treasury and the famous Pala d’Oro. It is one of the essential landmarks for understanding the history, art and identity of Venice.     Mark the Evangelist Mark the Evangelist is one of the four Evangelists of Christian tradition and is traditionally associated with the Read more [...]

The Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua is the most important religious monument in Padua and one of the best-known Catholic shrines in Italy. Located in Piazza del Santo, it is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua, the Portuguese Franciscan friar who died near the city in 1231. The Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua is known locally as Il Santo, meaning “The Saint”. This simple name shows the special relationship between Padua and Saint Anthony. For locals, pilgrims, and visitors, the church is not only a monument, but the spiritual center of the saint’s memory in the city. Although it is the most famous church in Padua, the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua is not the cathedral of the city. That role belongs to Padua Cathedral, near Piazza Duomo. The Basilica of Saint Anthony is instead a pontifical basilica and a major international pilgrimage destination. The basilica is visited every year by millions of pilgrims and travelers. Many come to pray at the tomb of Saint Anthony, ask for intercession, or give thanks. Others visit the church for its architecture, artworks, relics, chapels, cloisters, and long Franciscan history. The heart of the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua Read more [...]

Cimitero Monumentale di Milano (Monumental Cemetery of Milan) is a large cemetery in Milan. Famous for the abundance of artistic tombs and monuments, the cemetery is an open-air museum, which definitely deserves to be on the list of the most important tourist attractions of the city.   SHORT HISTORY In 1837, the Austrian administration of the Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom requested the construction of a new cemetery to replace the six pre-existing Milanese cemeteries. The winner of the final competition organized by the Municipality was the project of the architect Carlo Maciachini, designed in 1864 in an Eclectic style, with Byzantine, Gothic and Romanesque references. The inaugural blessing was given by Monsignor Giuseppe Calvi on November 2, 1866, in the presence of the mayor of Milan, Antonio Beretta. On the same day, the first burial took place, that of the body of the composer Gustavo Noseda. The official opening of the cemetery took place on January 1, 1867. Since then, the cemetery was gradually enriched with funerary works of classical and contemporary genre.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE For the high artistic value of sculptures, tombs, funeral shrines and other works inside, the Milan Monumental Cemetery is among the most artistically and historically Read more [...]

Basilica of Sant’Ambrogio is a beautiful church in Milan, located in Piazza Sant’Ambrogio. One of the oldest churches in the city, it is traditionally considered the second most important church in Milan, after the Duomo.   SHORT HISTORY A first church was built on this place between 379 and 386, at the behest of the bishop of Milan, Ambrogio, in an area where Christians martyrs of the Roman persecutions were buried. For this, it was dedicated to the martyrs and called Basilica Martyrum. Ambrogio wanted to place here all the relics of the holy martyrs Vittore, Nabore, Felice, Vitale, Valeria, Gervasio and Protasio. In 397, he was also buried here, and the church was later renamed in his honor. In the 9th century, the bishop Angilbert II added a large apse to the church, preceded by a room with a barrel vault, under which the liturgical functions took place. In the same period, the apse was decorated with a large mosaic, the Redeemer enthroned between the martyrs Protasio and Gervasio, with the archangels Michael and Gabriel above. The basilica received its current shape between 1088 and 1099, when, at the behest of Bishop Anselmo III da Rho, it was radically Read more [...]

Basilica Palladiana is the monumental public building that dominates Piazza dei Signori in Vicenza. Although its name can suggest a church, the building is a civic palace, created when Andrea Palladio redesigned the medieval Palazzo della Ragione with classical loggias in white stone. The Basilica Palladiana stands at the political and architectural center of Vicenza. Its core belonged to the city’s medieval public palaces, while its famous exterior belongs to the Renaissance language of Palladio. This combination explains why the monument is both a preserved civic building and a decisive work in Palladio’s career. Today, the Basilica Palladiana is used for exhibitions, cultural events and public access to its panoramic terrace. The building has several independent exhibition spaces, including the great upper hall. Its location beside the Torre Bissara makes it one of the most recognizable urban views in Vicenza. The Basilica Palladiana is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site City of Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto, first inscribed in 1994. In 2014, the building was also declared an Italian National Monument, confirming its legal and symbolic importance for Italian cultural heritage. Its fame depends especially on the repeated serliana, also known as the Palladian window. Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheater located in the historical center of Verona, in Piazza Bra, the city’s largest and most representative square. The monument stands near Palazzo Barbieri, Via Roma, the Liston promenade, and the main pedestrian route that connects Piazza Bra with Verona’s medieval center. Arena di Verona is one of the best-preserved ancient amphitheaters in the world. Its preservation depends on Roman construction techniques, the monument’s continuous use, and systematic restorations carried out from the 16th century onward, when Verona began to protect the amphitheater as a civic symbol. The amphitheater was originally built for public spectacles, including gladiatorial games and animal hunts. Today, it is used for opera, concerts, and major cultural events. This continuity makes the Verona Arena one of the rare Roman monuments that still functions as a large performance venue. The Arena di Verona is also one of Verona’s strongest identity markers. Together with Juliet’s House, Piazza delle Erbe, Castelvecchio, and the Adige bridges, it defines the city’s image for visitors, but its archaeological importance is older, larger, and more historically measurable than any romantic legend.     Short History of the Verona Arena (Arena di Verona) Roman Construction Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore is one of the most important churches in Verona, dedicated to Saint Zeno, the city’s patron saint and an early Christian bishop. The basilica stands in Piazza San Zeno, west of the historic center, and is among the clearest examples of Romanesque architecture in northern Italy. The church develops on three main levels: the crypt, the plebeian nave, and the raised presbytery. The present structure preserves several medieval phases, especially from the 10th, 11th, 12th, and 14th centuries. Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore is also connected with the former Benedictine abbey that once stood beside it. Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore is known for its tuff and brick exterior, sculpted porch, bronze doors, large rose window, crypt, medieval frescoes, and the celebrated altarpiece by Andrea Mantegna. The church combines religious importance, local identity, architectural clarity, and major works of medieval and Renaissance art. In 1973, the church was elevated to the dignity of a minor basilica by Pope Paul VI. Today, Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore remains a parish church, a major monument, and one of the most meaningful religious sites in Verona, because it preserves the memory and cult of Read more [...]

Palazzo della Loggia is a beautiful palace built in Renaissance style in Brescia, located in the square of the same name, today the seat of the city’s Municipal Council.   SHORT HISTORY In 1484, the municipal authorities of Brescia decided to build a grandiose palace as an expression of good governance, replacing the original loggia and increasing the monumentality of Piazza della Loggia, which was rising at the time. The first project was presented by Tomaso Formentone, an architect from Vicenza. The project of Formentone involved the construction of a building entirely of wood, an option that was immediately abandoned. The first stone was laid in 1492 and the construction site was directed, between about 1495 and 1510, by Filippo Grassi. The works were interrupted in 1512 by the sack of Brescia, to resume only in 1549. The Loggia was completed in 1574 after numerous interventions by the most famous architects of the time, such as Jacopo Sansovino and Andrea Palladio, as well as Lodovico Beretta from Brescia. The latter was responsible for the large windows on the second floor.   ARCHITECTURE The white Botticino marble facade of the palace is vertically composed of two distinct architectural sections. In the Read more [...]

The Capitolium, or the Capitoline Temple (Tempio Capitolino), is a Roman temple located in Brescia, in Piazza del Foro, along Via dei Musei. The Capitolium represents the nucleus of the ancient Roman city of Brixia, and together with the theater and the ruins of the forum, is the most important Roman archaeological complex in northern Italy.   SHORT HISTORY The Capitolium was built in 73 AD on the site of a former temple dating back to the period of the Roman Republic. The structure was erected by Emperor Vespasian after his battle with the General Vitellio, held on a plain between Goito and Cremona. The origin of the temple is confirmed by the writing on the pediment. The temple was destroyed by fire during the barbarian invasions that afflicted Italy in the 4th century AD and never rebuilt. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was buried by a landslide of the Cidneo Hill. The Capitoline Temple was unearthed only in 1823, thanks to the support of the Municipality of Brescia and the University, which demolished public housing and a small park to bring the complex to light. The complex was partially reconstructed between 1935 and 1938. The Corinthian columns were Read more [...]

The Cathedral of Sant’Alessandro is the Cathedral of Bergamo, dedicated to Saint Alexander, the patron saint of the city. The Cathedral is located in the historical center of the city – Città Alta, in the small but beautiful Piazza del Duomo, near Palazzo della Ragione and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.   SHORT HISTORY In the 8th century, a church in Romanesque style was built here, on the site of a paleochristian place of worship dating back to the 5th century. The church was dedicated to San Vincenzo (Saint Vincent of Saragossa). Around the middle of the 15th century, the bishop Giovanni Barozzi decided to build a larger church, entrusting the project to the Florentine architect Filarete. On May 3, 1459, the first stone was laid, and in 1467 the first chapel on the left side was completed and dedicated to Saint Catherine and Saint Jerome. However, after a couple of years, the works suffered an abrupt interruption due to the death of Filarete and to the simultaneous election of bishop Barozzi as Patriarch of Venice. In 1561, the Church of Sant’Alessandro in Colonna was demolished for the construction of the Venetian Walls. The relics of the saint were Read more [...]

Castello Aragonese is a castle built on a small volcanic island located near the eastern shore of Ischia, connected to the main island by a 220 meters long bridge.   SHORT HISTORY The small island on which the castle was built appeared after an eruption occurred over 300,000 years ago. The island reaches a height of 113 meters above sea level and covers an area of approximately 56,000 square meters. The construction of the first fortification on the island dates back to 474 BC, and was entitled Castrum Gironis (Castle of Hieron), after the tyrant of Syracuse, Hieron I, who conquered Ischia. Later, the fortress was occupied by the Parthenopeans, and in 315 BC by the Romans, who founded the colony of Aenaria. During the following centuries, the fortress was radically transformed, and used to defend the island against the Visigoths, Vandals, Ostrogoths, Arabs, Normans, Swabians and Angevins. The current appearance of the fortress dates back to the Aragonese period, more precisely to the year 1441, when Alfonso V of Aragon built a castle very similar with the Castel Nuovo of Naples. A wooden bridge connected the castle with the island of Ischia. The period of maximum splendor of the Read more [...]

The Cathedral of San Nicolò, often referred to simply as Noto Cathedral, stands at the heart of the Sicilian baroque city of Noto, in the province of Syracuse. As a masterpiece of Sicilian Baroque architecture, the Cathedral of San Nicolò dominates the town’s skyline, rising at the top of a grand triple staircase – a vision in honey-colored limestone that glows in the warm southern sunlight. Despite dramatic events – including a disastrous collapse in 1996 – the cathedral has been restored and today continues to welcome visitors and worshippers alike, inviting them to explore the history, art, and spirituality embedded within its walls.   Short History of the Cathedral of San Nicolò The story of Noto Cathedral begins with tragedy and rises into grandeur. In 1693, a catastrophic earthquake struck southeastern Sicily, leveling entire towns, including the original medieval city of Noto (now known as Noto Antica). The devastation was total: many buildings were destroyed or severely damaged. In the period following the earthquake, a decision was made not simply to repair the old city, but to rebuild the city of Noto entirely on a new site. This ambitious reconstruction would shape what we now know as Noto and Read more [...]

Neptune’s Grotto is one of the largest marine caves in Italy, located on the Capo Caccia promontory, inside the Porto Conte Park, about 25 kilometers from Alghero.   SHORT HISTORY Neptune’s Grotto was discovered in the 18th century by a local fisherman, and it became over time a popular tourist attraction. The cave took its name from the Roman divinity of the sea, Neptune. Until 1959, the date of completion of the Escala del Cabirol (Roe Deer Staircase), the stairway which descends to the cave on the rocky wall of Capo Caccia, the Neptune’s Grotto could be visited only from the sea, and therefore accessible only in calm sea conditions.   DESCRIPTION Inside the cave, we can find astounding large rooms with magnificent karst formations, an underground lake and a sandy beach. The Lake Lamarmora is an underground salt lake with a depth of about 9 meters, a maximum width of 25 meters and a length of 100 meters. The lake has a stalagmite column in the center called Acquasantiera (Stoup), due to the receptacles in the upper part which contain fresh water. On the bottom of the lake, there is a formation of stalagmites called Christmas Tree. In the Read more [...]

Marina Grande Beach, known in Italian as Spiaggia Grande (Large Beach), is the main beach of Positano, located in the southern part of the town. The beach measures about 300 meters in lenght and about 50 meters in width, and is one of the liveliest and most cosmopolitan beaches on the Amalfi Coast. Marina Grande has two bathing establishments, which rent sun beds and umbrellas and provide changing rooms and showers, and a free area (spiaggia libera) in the middle. From here, you can rent a boat to Capri or to visit the nearby coves. At the northern edge of the beach, there are restaurants, bars and cafés, and at the eastern limit you can find the famous night club Music On the Rocks.   HOW TO GET THERE The beach is about 700 meters away from the Sita Sud bus stop located at the crossroads of Via Cristoforo Colombo and Via Guglielmo Marconi (Sponda). Although the beach is not hard to find, if you need directions, use the map below.

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Aquarium of Genoa is the largest aquarium in Italy, the first in Europe by the number of animal species, the third in Europe by area and the ninth in the world. The aquarium is located in the ancient port of Genoa.   SHORT HISTORY The aquarium was built for the International Exhibition Genoa 1992, to celebrate 500 years passed since the Genoese Christopher Columbus discovered the new world. The building was designed by the Genoese architect Renzo Piano. The interior was designed by the architect Peter Chermayeff. In 1998, the aquarium was expanded by 100 meters, with a ship connected by walkway to the original building. Subsequently, it was extended several times. From its opening until 2014, the aquarium was visited by over 25 million visitors, with an average of 1.2 million per year.   DESCRIPTION The aquarium includes 70 tanks and 4 open-air pavilions, inaugurated in the summer of 2013. The total area of the structure is 27,000 square meters. The tanks host about 15,000 animals of 400 different species, of which we can mention fish, marine mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, in environments that reproduce the original ones. Four large tanks allow animals Read more [...]

Lama Monachile Beach, also known as Cala Porto, is a small yet spectacular public beach located just steps away from the historic center of Polignano a Mare, in southern Italy’s Apulia region. Set at the mouth of a narrow rocky ravine and framed by imposing limestone cliffs, the Lama Monachile Beach is famous for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, dramatic scenery, and the historic bridge that towers above it. Recognized internationally as one of the most photogenic beaches in Italy, Lama Monachile has become a visual symbol of Polignano a Mare and of the Apulian coastline as a whole. Its central location, combined with its natural beauty and historical significance, makes it a must-see destination for travelers exploring the Adriatic coast. The beach is free to access, awarded the Blue Flag for water quality, and regularly hosts international sporting events, reinforcing its reputation as both a cultural and natural landmark.   Short History of the Lama Monachile Beach The history of Lama Monachile Beach is closely tied to the strategic importance of Polignano a Mare throughout antiquity and the Middle Ages. The narrow inlet that opens onto the Adriatic Sea was originally carved by seasonal rainwater flows, known locally as lame, Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is a covered pedestrian street located near the Milan Cathedral, which connects Piazza del Duomo to Piazza della Scala, in Milan. The gallery is one of the oldest shopping malls in Italy and one of the most famous landmarks of Milan. Since its inauguration in the 19th century, due to the presence of elegant shops and cafés, the gallery became the meeting place of the Milanese bourgeoisie, being known as the living room of Milan.   SHORT HISTORY The idea of a street that connected Piazza del Duomo with Piazza della Scala was first promoted in 1839 by the writer Carlo Cattaneo, as a solution for the area in front of the Milan Cathedral. In 1863, the Municipality of Milan announced a competition for the new street project. The winner was the project of the architect Giuseppe Mengoni, for a cross-shaped gallery and a porticoed building in Piazza del Duomo. The ceremony for the laying of the first stone by King Vittorio Emanuele II took place on March 7, 1865. The works, excluding the triumphal entry arch, were completed in less than three years. The gallery was finished only ten years later, Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Piazza dei Miracoli, officially known as Piazza del Duomo, is the most important artistic and religious space in Pisa. Located in the north-western part of the historic city, the square brings together the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Leaning Tower, the Camposanto, and two major museums. The popular name “Square of Miracles” comes from the admiration inspired by the complex. Gabriele d’Annunzio famously described the area as the “Prato dei Miracoli” in his 1910 novel Forse che sì forse che no. The expression later spread widely, especially after the Second World War and during mass tourism. Since 1987, Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The recognition is based on the exceptional artistic value of the complex, its influence on medieval architecture, and the way its monuments express the religious, civic, and cultural identity of medieval Pisa. Piazza dei Miracoli is mostly pedestrian and covered by a large lawn, which gives the marble buildings a striking visual unity. Its current open appearance is not entirely medieval. It was shaped especially in the 19th century, when several later constructions were removed and the monuments Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Baptistery of San Giovanni is one of the main religious monuments in Pisa‘s Piazza dei Miracoli, officially known as Piazza del Duomo. It stands in front of the western façade of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, south of the Camposanto Monumentale, and close to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Baptistery of San Giovanni belongs to the monumental complex that defines medieval Pisa: Cathedral, Baptistery, Bell Tower, and Camposanto. Its position is not accidental. The baptistery was placed opposite the Cathedral because baptism marked the beginning of Christian life, before the faithful entered the cathedral community. The Baptistery of San Giovanni is also one of the clearest examples of Pisa’s long medieval building history. Its lower structure is Romanesque, while its upper levels show Gothic additions. The monument therefore records more than two centuries of construction, artistic change, technical ambition, and civic identity. Unlike the Leaning Tower, the Baptistery is often admired quietly rather than theatrically. Yet it is one of the most important monuments in the square. It is the largest baptistery in the world, a major work of medieval architecture, and home to one of the most influential pulpits in Italian sculpture. Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the freestanding bell tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Pisa. It stands in Piazza del Duomo, the monumental religious square also known as Piazza dei Miracoli. The tower is famous worldwide for its unintended tilt, caused by unstable ground beneath its foundation. Although it is usually treated as an independent monument, the Leaning Tower of Pisa was built as part of the cathedral complex. Its function was religious and practical, not defensive. The seven bells at the top marked liturgical moments, public time, and ceremonies connected with the life of the cathedral and the city. Piazza del Duomo has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. The square includes the cathedral, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Camposanto, the Opera del Duomo Museum, the Sinopie Museum, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Together, these monuments form one of the most important medieval architectural ensembles in Italy. Today, the Leaning Tower is not only a symbol of Pisa, but also a major example of medieval engineering, structural risk, and modern conservation. Its survival is the result of long construction pauses, later corrections, and major stabilization works carried Read more [...]

Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence) is a wonderful public beach located right in the historical center of Sestri Levante. Enclosed by old colorful buildings, Baia del Silenzio is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy. The beach is small, about 300 meters long and about 20 meters wide, and there you will not find showers, toilets, or where to rent sun beds and umbrellas. Furthermore, the beach does not offer the possibility of doing water sports, you can not rent pedal boats or kayaks, and it doesn’t have lifeguards. However, with its crystal clear waters and soft golden sand, the Bay of Silence is one of the most evocative beaches of the entire Ligurian Riviera. Early in the morning, at sunrise, but especially in the evening, when the sun sets, the beach acquires magical connotations. After all the people have gone, the lanscape becomes mystical in the orange light of the evening. Ripples form on the water’s surface, the boats swing slowly offshore, and the peace sets over the bay.   HOW TO GET THERE Baia del Silenzio is located about 1.2 kilometers away from the Sestri Levante train station. The closest bus station is in Piazza Read more [...]

Buy tickets & tours:GetYourGuide Castello Sforzesco, one of the largest castles in Europe, was built in the 15th century by Francesco Sforza. Located outside the historical center of Milan, the castle was one of the main military citadels of Europe between the 16th and 17th centuries. Restored between 1890 and 1905, it is now home to cultural institutions and important museums.   SHORT HISTORY Between 1360 and 1370, a fortification was built on this site by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the first Duke of Milan. The fortification was called Castello di Porta Giovia and had a defensive function. Castello di Porta Giovia was a square-shaped castle with 200 meters long sides and four corner towers, two of which were particularly imposing. The structure became the permanent residence of the Visconti family, but was destroyed in 1447 by the newborn Repubblica Ambrosiana, founded by the Milanese nobility. After the fall of the Ambrosian Republic, the new Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza, began in 1450 the reconstruction of the castle, to make it his residence. In 1452, the architect Filarete was hired by the Duke for the construction and decoration of the median tower, which was later known as Torre del Filarete. Filarete Read more [...]

The Cathedral of the Madonna della Bruna and Sant’Eustachio, commonly known as Matera Cathedral, is the cathedral of Matera and one of the most important religious monuments in southern Italy. The Matera Cathedral is dedicated to the Madonna della Bruna, the Virgin Mary venerated as the patron saint of the city, and to Saint Eustace, an early Christian martyr associated with the medieval Benedictine tradition of the site. The church stands on the highest point of the historic city, in the area known as La Civita, positioned dramatically between the two ancient districts of Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano. From this elevated location, the Cathedral of the Madonna della Bruna dominates the urban landscape of Matera, visually and symbolically representing the spiritual center of the city. Its position reflects the medieval concept of sacred hierarchy, where the cathedral rises above the surrounding dwellings carved into the rock.     Short History of the Cathedral of the Madonna della Bruna The Matera Cathedral was constructed between 1230 and 1270, during a period of intense architectural and urban development in southern Italy. The building was erected on the remains of an 11th-century Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint Eustace, confirming the continuity of Read more [...]

Isola Bella (known as Isula Bedda in the Sicilian dialect and translated as Beautiful Island in English) is a small island located in the Ionian Sea, just off the coast of Taormina, on the eastern side of Sicily. The island lies immediately opposite the beach that bears the same name, forming one of the most iconic coastal landscapes in the region and one of the most photographed natural sites in Sicily. One of the most distinctive features of Isola Bella is its physical connection to the mainland, which varies depending on sea conditions. During periods of low tide, a narrow strip of sand and pebbles emerges, linking the island to the beach and effectively transforming it into a peninsula. When the tide rises, this strip becomes submerged, restoring Isola Bella’s appearance as a true island. This natural phenomenon contributes greatly to the site’s charm and uniqueness, as the landscape continuously changes throughout the day. The island itself is relatively small, but its environmental, historical, and scenic value far exceeds its size. Isola Bella is covered with Mediterranean vegetation, including shrubs and plant species typical of coastal Sicily, which thrive thanks to the island’s mild climate and calcareous rock formations.   Read more [...]

The Cathedral of Sant’Agata is the Cathedral of Catania, dedicated to the martyr Saint Agatha, located in the main square of the city, Piazza del Duomo.   SHORT HISTORY The church had a tumultuous history, being repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt after the earthquakes occurred in the area. A first church was built around 1086 on the ruins of the Achilliane Baths dating back to Roman times. On February 4, 1169, an earthquake completely destroyed the ceiling of the church, killing many people gathered in the Cathedral. In 1194, under the reign of Henry VI, a fire caused considerable damage to the structure. In 1693, the terrible earthquake of Val di Noto destroyed the Cathedral almost completely, leaving only the apse and the facade. The bell tower was also put to the ground. The reconstruction of the church was made during the 18th century. The current building is the work of the architect Girolamo Palazzotto, who is responsible for the interior, while Giovanni Battista Vaccarini designed the facade, which was built between 1734 and 1761. In 1857, the bell tower was completed, and the current layout of the churchyard was built in the 19th century.   ARCHITECTURE The facade of the Read more [...]

Marina di Portofino is one of the most beautiful harbours in the world, located in one of the most famous Italian destinations, Portofino. Marina di Portofino stands in the middle of a natural promontory and extends to the main square of the town, Piazza Martiri dell’Olivetta. Marina di Portofino offers 14 mooring places for boats and superyachts, all with water and electricity, as well as 2 places for megayachts in the Cannone Bay (Baia Cannone). There are many restaurants and terraces around the harbour, where you can relax and admire the beautiful port, but in order to enjoy the view of the entire Marina di Portofino, you must climb the stairs to the Church of San Giorgio or to the Brown Castle, two structures that dominate the surroundings. From there, the view is breathtaking.   HOW TO GET THERE Portofino is very small. To reach the harbour on foot from any point in the town, it’s a matter of minutes. Of course, if you need precise directions, you can use the map below.

With 132 meters in length and 60 meters wide, the Basilica of San Petronio is the sixth largest church in Europe, despite being largely unfinished. Although is not the cathedral of Bologna, a title that belongs to the nearby Cathedral of San Pietro, it can be considered the main church of the city.   SHORT HISTORY In the 14th century, the Bolognese aristocracy revived the cult of San Petronio, bishop of Bologna during the 5th century, and planned to build a church dedicated to him. On June 7, 1390, the first stone was laid in a solemn procession. The project was given to the architect Antonio di Vicenzo, who consulted on the design of the church with the father Andrea Manfredi. At the beginning of the 15th century, di Vicenzo died, and the Papal Legate Baldassarre Cossa, an enemy of the Municipality of Bologna, took advantage of the architect’s death to sell the material gathered for the construction of the church. In 1507, the architect Arduino Arriguzzi was comissioned to continue the work. Arriguzzi was sent to Florence to see and study the dome built by Brunelleschi for the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. On April 30, 1514, the Read more [...]

The Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola is a small historic church standing on the homonymous sandstone rock in Tropea, on the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria. Together with the cliff, the sea, and the beach below, it forms one of the most recognizable views of the town. The Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola rises in front of Tropea’s historic center, on a rock once completely surrounded by the sea. This detail explains the name “dell’Isola”, meaning “of the island”. Today, the rock is connected to the mainland, but its isolated position still defines the identity of the monument. Seen from the beaches of Tropea, the church appears above the coastline like a small fortified religious complex. Its position makes it not only a place of worship, but also one of the most photographed landmarks in Calabria. For many visitors, it is the visual symbol of Tropea and the Costa degli Dei.   The Legend of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola The history of the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola is accompanied by a local legend connected to a statue of the Virgin Mary. According to tradition, during the period of Byzantine iconoclasm, a wooden statue of the Madonna arrived in Read more [...]