Makenna's Top 3 Places to Visit in Italy

Words and photos by Makenna Kaminski, our Jetsetter Journalist studying abroad in Sorrento, Italy, during Spring semester 2023.

One of the best things about Italy is how diverse it is. Every part of the country is different in its own way, making it so interesting to visit. In each province, there are different people, different cultures, and completely different atmospheres.

In the South of Italy, you have the coastlines with steep cliffs and the craziest coastline views. In the North, you have the busy city of Milan as well as the ski regions of Trento and the small city of Verona and then touristy, water-surrounded Venice. Meanwhile, the middle of Italy is completely different with the quiet Tuscan region and sprawling farmlands.

Each area of Italy has its own completely unique feel. Each has its own foods, architecture, and sceneries and each one differs from the next. Since it’s likely you won't be able to see them all, I’ve made a list of the top 3 places to visit below to make deciding just a bit easier (even though it’s still tough to choose just one!)

#1 Tuscany

Even after all my travels, Tuscany still ranks as my top travel destination by far. There's just something about the area that's so special compared to the other regions. Here, it is so blissfully quiet and peaceful. There are sprawling fields and hills all around you which offer the most stunning views that a picture could never capture as well as a tranquil silence that you can't get anywhere else.

This is the place where I found it best to sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Elsewhere, I found myself wanting to walk and cover as much of the city as possible to see everything, but in Tuscany, I found it best to just relax and take in the atmosphere around me. While a lot of other areas are overwhelmed with tourists and activity, Tuscany seemed calmer and offered a sense of peace that can't be put into words.

Here, everything is local and handmade, grown within a mere few miles of the food's destination. You can see the farmlands before your eyes and take tours of them if you wish. There are vineyards and wineries everywhere, which you can visit to get the true farm-to-table experience. Many restaurants here even have their own gardens where they produce the food they serve. They call this "0 km" because the food travels 0 km to reach its destination at your table.

Everything is so fresh, and I've found the people of this region to be most proud of the food which they produce. Especially when it comes to wine and cheese, they know that people travel from all over the world to come to taste the best products produced right outside their door, and these Italians seem to embrace the fact that they're the ones to offer this.

In Tuscany, there are so many little towns near each other which make great day trips. I recommend staying in Siena as a base and then doing trips from there to towns like Montepulciano, Pienza, San Gimignano, Volterra, or Lucca.

My favorite was definitely Montepulciano. This is one of the smallest of these hilltop towns, and I really appreciated its quaint atmosphere. This town was built in the 1300s, and the medieval architecture truly makes you feel like you landed inside a Shakespeare set. There are stone towers, castle-like buildings, and the grand piazza.

It felt like traveling back in time, and of course, the views here were also beautiful. Just walking through the cobblestone hills and archways here was probably one of my favorite moments in Italy.

Both Twilight and Medici were filmed here as well, so that's just one more reason to make the visit!

#2 Amalfi Coast

Next on the list is the Amalfi Coast! Located just a 45-minute bus ride from my home in Sorrento, this coastline attracts upwards of 5 million visitors each year (travel.usnews.com), and for good reason.

The coastline of Amalfi and Positano are unlike any other. There are seaside cliffs overlooking the city, beaches, and hundreds of homes and buildings hanging off of the mountainsides. These buildings in themselves defy nature and it's a sight to see.

Both Amalfi and Positano are an absolute sea of color. The rainbow hues of all the houses against the bright blue ocean and the clear sky are enough to make you want to stay forever. But of course, there are also amazing restaurants, hikes, beaches, and excursions.

The Path of the Gods is a well-known hike in this area. The hike begins in Agerola (outside Amalfi) and it travels down the coastline to Positano. The path trails along the steep edge of the mountains overlooking the water hundreds of feet below, and it ends at a set of 1,500 steps that lead down to the town of Positano. You can finish the hike here and immediately head down to the town for food or a drink (you'll need it!).

I went during the winter, and the views were still some of the most stunning I've seen. I can only imagine how amazing it would all look in the beauty of the summer sun.

#3 Verona

The minute I stepped foot in Verona, this little city stole my heart. Being a huge book-lover, I just had to come and see the "city of love"—the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet!

The city itself was pristine, with bright, vibrant colors, clean streets, amazing accommodations, and the perfect balance of historic and modern. The city was easy to manage and it felt very safe—perfect for any solo traveler or small group.

Verona is a great option to visit due to its small size. We only spent 10 daytime hours here, but that was enough time to see the main sights we wanted to see. The fact that the city is so small makes it less stressful to navigate and it means you have more time to explore as compared to jetting across far, spread-out cities.

Verona is smaller in size, but it still has so much to offer. There's so much about love and Romeo and Juliet, perfect for anyone who is a fan of the play or simply a romantic at heart. You have to pay a visit to Juliet's balcony, which was suspected to be the balcony belonging to the fictional character from the play which was written in the 1590s. The balcony is located in a courtyard where it is easy to imagine Juliet calling down to her Romeo from above. Her golden statue is also in the courtyard which you are supposed to rub for good luck in love. Then there is also the cutest red post box here to drop off your own letters to Juliet!

The streets outside of this area are surrounded by even more Juliet memorabilia and heart-themed items. There are also plenty of little shops for journals, stationery, and all things of the sort. You can even visit Juliet's tomb a little further away, which is where she was supposedly buried. It's located within a museum and garden courtyard, so it's definitely worth a visit.

The city of Verona also has plenty of bridges, its own colosseum, paths along the river, and a huge center plaza with shopping stalls. If you make the trip, also make sure to visit Giardino Giusti. This is a traditional Italian garden located a little further outside of the city, but it is definitely worth the walk. The gardens have towering cypress trees, hedge-lined walkways, and stone paths leading up the hills to one of the city's best views. Verona really is the city of love and so much more.

There are so many different cities to see in Italy, making it hard to choose just one or two to visit. From my travels so far, I've found these three, in particular, to offer the most authentic Italian experiences while also offering amazing sceneries and plenty to see and do. I hope you get to visit each of these cities someday in order to see for yourself!