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🏺 Italy's most important archaeological sites

100 places ordered by editorial score

  1. 1 The Colosseum lit up at dusk viewed from a street with traffic light trails Colosseo Rome · Lazio The largest ancient amphitheater ever built, completed in 80 AD by the Flavian dynasty, is the iconic symbol of Rome. 100
  2. 2 Ancient ruins of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the background Parco Archeologico di Pompei Pompei · Campania Fiorelli's plaster casts, the Forum and the Villa of the Mysteries in the town Vesuvius sealed. 98
  3. 3 People walking along a paved path toward the Temple of Concordia in the Valley of the Temples, Agrigento Valle dei Templi Agrigento · Sicily Doric temples in a row along a ridge: what is left of Akragas, above Agrigento. 95
  4. 4 View from below of the coffered dome and central oculus of the Pantheon in Rome. Pantheon Rome · Lazio The largest concrete dome ever built, with a hole open to the sky for nineteen centuries. 94
  5. 5 Well-preserved Doric Greek temple at Templi di Paestum in Italy with a pine tree. Temples of Paestum Capaccio Paestum · Campania Three Doric temples standing since the sixth century BCE, and the Tomb of the Diver. 92
  6. 6 The Verona Arena displaying its iconic Roman stone arches under a clear blue sky. Arena di Verona Verona · Veneto Four arches still standing after the 1117 earthquake, and opera on Roman steps since 1913. 91
  7. 7 Imposing Doric columns at the Parco Archeologico di Selinunte in Castelvetrano, Sicily Selinunte Archaeological Park Castelvetrano · Sicily At Selinunte the column drums still lie in the quarry: the cutters fled in 409 BC. 91
  8. 8 Human skeletons preserved in volcanic ash at the Herculaneum excavations. Herculaneum Excavations Ercolano · Campania The wood did not burn away here: it charred, and the upper floors are still standing. 90
  9. 9 Ancient Theatre of Taormina at sunset with views of the coastline and sea. Teatro Antico di Taormina Taormina · Sicily Sicily's second-largest ancient theatre, with Etna framed in the gap of the Roman stage wall. 90
  10. 10 Roman mosaic of the Small Hunt showing a wild boar hunt at Villa Romana del Casale. Villa Romana del Casale Piazza Armerina · Sicily A landslide buried and saved them: 3,500 m² of Roman mosaics outside Piazza Armerina. 89
  11. 11 Headless classical statue and ancient Roman columns at the Canopus of Villa Adriana in Tivoli. Hadrian's Villa Tivoli · Lazio Spanning over 120 hectares, this 2nd-century imperial residence is a masterpiece of Roman architecture and UNESCO site. 88
  12. 12 Flowering acanthus stalks at the Neapolis Archaeological Park in Syracuse Parco Archeologico della Neapolis Syracuse · Sicily The theatre where Aeschylus had The Persians staged, the quarries and Caravaggio's cave. 88
  13. 13 Pompei — Pompei Pompei Pompei · Campania Eight centuries of life before the last day, which can be told hour by hour. 88
  14. 14 Siracusa — Syracuse Siracusa Syracuse · Sicily Ancient Greek metropolis and UNESCO site, Syracuse combines classical history, Baroque Ortygia, and coastal nature. 88
  15. 15 Agrigento — Agrigento Agrigento Agrigento · Sicily Founded around 581 BC, Agrigento is home to the ancient Valley of the Temples, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 87
  16. 16 Foro Romano — Rome Foro Romano Rome · Lazio Between the Capitoline and Palatine hills, the political heart of ancient Rome for over a thousand years. 87
  17. 17 Paestum — Capaccio Paestum Paestum Capaccio Paestum · Campania Three names and a single ending: the Greek city that the water slowly ate. 87
  18. 18 The ancient Nuragic archaeological complex of Su Nuraxi in Barumini, Sardinia. Su Nuraxi Barumini · Sardinia A UNESCO site since 1997, Su Nuraxi is Sardinia's grandest Nuragic village, built around a 17th-century BCE basalt tower. 87
  19. 19 Ancient Roman ruins of the Grotte di Catullo in Sirmione with Lake Garda in the background. Grottoes of Catullus Sirmione · Lombardy The most imposing Roman villa in northern Italy, a two-hectare archaeological site overlooking Lake Garda. 84
  20. 20 Terme di Caracalla — Rome Terme di Caracalla Rome · Lazio Imperial baths of AD 216 that held 1,600 bathers at a time: mosaics, a giant Mithraeum and summer opera. 83
  21. 21 View through the arches of the Palombaro Lungo hypogeum in Matera. Palombaro Lungo Matera · Basilicata Matera's largest underground cistern, a monumental five-million-litre reservoir rediscovered in 1991 beneath the city. 78
  22. 22 Ancient Roman columns of the Basilica at the Saepinum archaeological site in Sepino. Saepinum Archaeological Area Sepino · Molise Encircled by walls built by Tiberius, ancient Saepinum is an exceptionally preserved Roman city in the Molise plain. 78
  23. 23 Temple of Jupiter Anxur perched atop Mount Sant'Angelo in Terracina. Temple of Jupiter Anxur Terracina · Lazio A monumental Roman sanctuary from the 1st century BC dominating the Tyrrhenian Sea from Mount Sant'Angelo. 78
  24. 24 Pantalica — Ferla Pantalica Ferla · Sicily Thousands of tomb chambers cut into the limestone above the Anapo gorge, in Sicily. 77
  25. 25 Ostia — Rome Ostia Rome · Lazio The city you walk through is not the king's: of that foundation no trace has been found. 75
  26. 26 Metaponto — Bernalda Metaponto Bernalda · Basilicata The Achaean colony where Pythagoras died: the temples of the sacred area, the theatre and the Tavole Palatine. 74
  27. 27 Amiternum — L'Aquila Amiternum L'Aquila · Abruzzo Sallust's Sabine city under the fields: a theatre, an amphitheatre and a whole Amiternum never excavated. 66
  28. 28 Eraclea Minoa — Montallegro Eraclea Minoa Montallegro · Sicily A Greek theatre of soft marl looking straight out to sea from the white cliff of Capo Bianco. 65
  29. 29 Mediolanum — Milan Mediolanum Milan · Lombardy Milan was an imperial capital and it does not show: the pieces of Mediolanum must be hunted down. 64
  30. 30 Luna — Luni Luna Luni · Liguria Rome's marble port: forum, theatre and an amphitheatre for 7,000, at the mouth of the Magra. 62
  31. 31 tempio della Concordia — Agrigento tempio della Concordia Agrigento · Sicily Built around 430 BC in ancient Akragas, this is one of the best-preserved Doric temples in the world. 62
  32. 32 Abacano — Tripi Abacano Tripi · Sicily The Sikel city that never became a Greek colony, with its necropolis on the plateau. 58
  33. 33 Sito archeologico di Forca d'Ancarano — Norcia Sito archeologico di Forca d'Ancarano Norcia · Umbria An ancient Italic mountain sanctuary near Norcia, used from the 6th century BC as a sacred crossroads. 58
  34. 34 Tempio di Apollo — Syracuse Tempio di Apollo Syracuse · Sicily The oldest stone peripteral Doric temple in the Greek West, dating to the early 6th century BC in Syracuse. 57
  35. 35 Terme Stabiane — Pompei Terme Stabiane Pompei · Campania Pompeii's oldest baths, shut for repairs on the day of the eruption. 57
  36. 36 anfiteatro romano di Siracusa — Syracuse anfiteatro romano di Siracusa Syracuse · Sicily Uncovered in 1839, the Roman Amphitheatre of Syracuse is a major early Imperial monument in Sicily. 56
  37. 37 catacombe ebraiche di Venosa — Venosa catacombe ebraiche di Venosa Venosa · Basilicata Venosa's Jewish catacombs, with epitaphs in Latin, Greek and Hebrew. 56
  38. 38 Criptoportico romano — Vicenza Criptoportico romano Vicenza · Veneto The underground corridor of a Roman house beneath Vicenza's cathedral square. 56
  39. 39 Grotta dell'Addaura — Palermo Grotta dell'Addaura Palermo · Sicily Prehistoric cave site on Mount Pellegrino near Palermo, famous for its late Epigravettian rock engravings. 56
  40. 40 Terme Suburbane di Pompei — Pompei Terme Suburbane di Pompei Pompei · Campania Pompeii's most modern baths, outside porta Marina, with cloakroom paintings. 56
  41. 41 Panoramic view of fields and the town of Capannori with a brick bell tower and distant hills Acquedotto Nottolini Capannori · Tuscany Lorenzo Nottolini's 460 neoclassical arches that carried water from the Guamo hills to Lucca. 55
  42. 42 Anfiteatro Flavio — Pozzuoli Anfiteatro Flavio Pozzuoli · Campania Roman amphitheatre of Pozzuoli, third-largest in Italy, with intact underground rooms and San Gennaro's cell. 55
  43. 43 Anfiteatro Laterizio — Nola Anfiteatro Laterizio Nola · Campania Nola's Roman amphitheatre, first century BC: a quarter is excavated, with the parapet faced in white marble. 55
  44. 44 Ferrovie del Gargano train at the railway station in Lucera, Foggia. Anfiteatro romano di Lucera Lucera · Puglia Lucera's amphitheatre, older than the Colosseum: a local magistrate paid for it in honour of Augustus. 55
  45. 45 Panoramic night view of the city of Teramo under a cloudy sky. Anfiteatro romano di Teramo Teramo · Abruzzo Remains of Teramo's Roman amphitheatre beside the cathedral: elliptical brick wall, tunnels, stones in the duomo. 55
  46. 46 Sunset over the sea along the rocky coast of Bisceglie in Puglia Dolmen della Chianca Bisceglie · Puglia Imposing Bronze Age dolmen at Bisceglie, found in 1909, with six skeletons and its own poetry festival. 55
  47. 47 Sunset over the sea along the rocky coast of Bisceglie in Puglia Dolmen Frisari Bisceglie · Puglia Bronze Age gallery dolmen at Bisceglie, found in 1909 and judged the most imposing in Apulia. 55
  48. 48 Grotta delle Trabacche — Ragusa Grotta delle Trabacche Ragusa · Sicily A 4th-century AD subterranean necropolis near Ragusa, featured in the Inspector Montalbano television series. 55
  49. 49 Historic multi-story building with a tall palm tree in Sassari Necropoli di Montalè Sassari · Sardinia Pre-Nuragic hypogeic necropolis of Montalè in Sassari, six domus de janas and the tomb of the bull protomes. 55
  50. 50 Blue Panorama airliner taxiing at Fiumicino airport Necropoli di Porto Isola Sacra Fiumicino · Lazio Roman necropolis of Isola Sacra, found in 1925: tombs of the 1st-4th centuries along the via Flavia. 55
  51. 51 Antique black and white photograph of the port of Anzio with sailing boats Teatro romano di Anzio Anzio · Lazio The remains of the theatre of Nero's colony at Anzio, later used as a kiln for firing pottery. 55
  52. 52 Historical aerial view of Pavia showing the Ticino River and the Cathedral dome in the background. Torre civica di Pavia Pavia · Lombardy Eleventh-century tower of Pavia, which collapsed on 17 March 1989: ruins and a 2014 memorial remain. 55
  53. 53 Panoramic view from above of Somma Vesuviana and the surrounding plain Villa Augustea di Somma Vesuviana Somma Vesuviana · Campania The Roman dig at Somma Vesuviana tied to the name of Augustus, buried by eruptions: the University of Tokyo works here. 55
  54. 54 Panoramic view of Pomezia and Torvaianica with the sea in the background Villa romana di Torvaianica Pomezia · Lazio Villa of a senatorial family found in 2006 at Torvaianica, with baths, portico and a necropolis. 55
  55. 55 Night view of moonlight sparkling on the sea with distant city lights of Torre del Greco Villa Sora Torre del Greco · Campania Roman villa of the 1st century AD in Torre del Greco, of which the middle floor can be visited. 55
  56. 56 Villa Venusio — Mugnano di Napoli Villa Venusio Mugnano di Napoli · Campania The eighteenth-century villa of the Venusio marquises in Mugnano di Napoli, now abandoned and bought by the town. 55
  57. 57 Tempio E — Castelvetrano Tempio E Castelvetrano · Sicily The best preserved temple at Selinunte, re-erected in 1959: six columns at the front, fifteen down each side. 54
  58. 58 Skyline view of Pisa showing the Baptistery and Leaning Tower with mountains behind Bagni di Nerone Pisa · Tuscany Roman baths near Porta a Lucca in Pisa, the only monument of Roman Pisa still standing and open to visit. 53
  59. 59 Noto antica — Noto Noto antica Noto · Sicily The ruins of Netum on Mount Alveria, destroyed by the catastrophic earthquake of January 11, 1693. 53
  60. 60 Arco di Riccardo — Trieste Arco di Riccardo Trieste · Friuli Venezia Giulia Arco di Riccardo, ancient Roman gate of Trieste, the only surviving stretch of the Roman city walls. 52
  61. 61 Capitolium — Brescia Capitolium Brescia · Lombardy An ancient Roman temple dedicated to Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva, marking Brescia's status as a Roman colony. 52
  62. 62 Messina — Messina Messina Messina · Sicily Founded in 757 BC on the Strait, Messina is a historic Sicilian city shaped by three millennia of maritime history. 52
  63. 63 necropoli di Tuvixeddu — Cagliari necropoli di Tuvixeddu Cagliari · Sardinia The largest surviving Punic necropolis in the Mediterranean, located on a hill in Cagliari, Sardinia. 52
  64. 64 Historic mill house perched on the rocks above the Greek Theatre of Siracusa. ara di Ierone Syracuse · Sicily Ierone II's great altar in Siracusa's Neapolis: the largest altar known from antiquity. 51
  65. 65 Area archeologica di Capo Colonna — Crotone Area archeologica di Capo Colonna Crotone · Calabria Sanctuary of Hera Lacinia with the last column of the Doric temple and remains of the Roman colony on the promontory. 51
  66. 66 Panoramic view of Terni set in a valley surrounded by hills Carsulae Terni · Umbria Roman town on the via Flaminia: forum, basilica, baths, Arch of San Damiano and tombs, excavated since 1951. 51
  67. 67 Mozia — Marsala Mozia Marsala · Sicily Phoenician city on a Stagnone island, home to the famous Motya Charioteer in the Whitaker museum. 51
  68. 68 Ruins of the ancient Roman theatre in Aosta, Italy ponte di pietra di Aosta Aosta · Aosta Valley Aosta's Roman bridge near the Arch of Augustus: a single span over the old, now dry, bed of the Buthier. 51
  69. 69 Ponte Leproso — Benevento Ponte Leproso Benevento · Campania Roman bridge over the Sabato where the Via Appia entered Benevento, rebuilt in 1712; UNESCO site. 51
  70. 70 teatro romano di Benevento — Benevento teatro romano di Benevento Benevento · Campania Roman theatre inaugurated under Hadrian between 125 and 128, with a 98-metre cavea; still used for shows. 51
  71. 71 Panoramic view of rolling hills with the town of Asti in the background Way Assauto Asti · Piedmont Historic Way-Assauto plant in Asti, by Piero Fenoglio, opened in 1908, now an industrial-archaeology site. 51
  72. 72 Bouleuterion di Reggio Calabria — Reggio di Calabria Bouleuterion di Reggio Calabria Reggio di Calabria · Calabria Bouleuterion of Reggio Calabria, remains of a 4th-century BC Greek building unearthed in 1921. 50
  73. 73 Costa Balenae — Riva Ligure Costa Balenae Riva Ligure · Liguria An octagonal sixth-century baptistery and a Roman road station on the via Julia Augusta. 50
  74. 74 necropoli di Bellamagna — Modica necropoli di Bellamagna Modica · Sicily 87 rock-cut chambers of the Castelluccio culture, in open country between Modica and Pozzallo 50
  75. 75 Historic mill house perched on the rocks above the Greek Theatre of Siracusa. Stentinello Syracuse · Sicily Neolithic village that names the Stentinello culture, on the Targia plain: oval ditch and incised pottery. 49
  76. 76 Taranto — Taranto Taranto Taranto · Puglia Ancient Taranto, founded by the Spartans as Taras, the last great polis of Magna Graecia. 49
  77. 77 Alba Docilia — Albisola Superiore Alba Docilia Albisola Superiore · Liguria The Roman core of Albisola, on the Tabula Peutingeriana: baths, farm courtyard, wine rooms under the tracks. 48
  78. 78 Drepanon — Trapani Drepanon Trapani · Sicily On the sickle-shaped headland where Trapani now stands, ancient Drepanon crushed the Roman fleet in 249 BC. 48
  79. 79 Grotta d'Oriente — Favignana Grotta d'Oriente Favignana · Sicily Favignana's prehistoric cave yielded Oriente C, a hunter who lived over 14,000 years ago. 48
  80. 80 parco archeologico Novi Ark — Modena parco archeologico Novi Ark Modena · Emilia-Romagna Novi Ark archaeological park in Modena, excavated in 2009-2011 with a Roman road and necropolis, opened in 2012. 48
  81. 81 Adranon — Adrano Adranon Adrano · Sicily Greek polis founded by Dionysius I of Syracuse around 400 BC on the slopes of Mount Etna. 47
  82. 82 Historic mill house perched on the rocks above the Greek Theatre of Siracusa. Catacombe di Siracusa Syracuse · Sicily Siracusa's underground Christian cemeteries: San Giovanni, Vigna Cassia and Santa Lucia, rivalled only by Rome's. 47
  83. 83 View of the train station platform in Ercolano with residential buildings in the background. Collegio degli Augustali Ercolano · Campania Seat of the imperial cult in ancient Herculaneum: a shrine frescoed with Hercules and the custodian's bed. 47
  84. 84 Complesso archeologico di Torre degli Embrici — Atella Complesso archeologico di Torre degli Embrici Atella · Basilicata Roman baths, a basilica built on top and a water mill, one inside the other. 47
  85. 85 Finziade — Licata Finziade Licata · Sicily The last Greek colony of Sicily, founded in 282 BC by the tyrant Phintias near Licata. 47
  86. 86 Historic mill house perched on the rocks above the Greek Theatre of Siracusa. latomia dei Cappuccini Syracuse · Sicily Siracusa's largest quarry, an ancient stone pit turned into a garden below the Capuchin convent. 47
  87. 87 Mendolito — Adrano Mendolito Adrano · Sicily The only known monumental inscription in the Sicel language surfaced here, on the south gate's jamb. 47
  88. 88 Milazzo — Milazzo Milazzo Milazzo · Sicily Off Milazzo in 260 BC Rome won its first naval victory over Carthage. 47
  89. 89 Monte San Mauro — Caltagirone Monte San Mauro Caltagirone · Sicily Greek-Sicel site excavated by Paolo Orsi, with an anaktoron and a necropolis above the Maroglio valley 47
  90. 90 necropoli di Cafaggio — Ameglia necropoli di Cafaggio Ameglia · Liguria Apuan Ligurian tombs with weapons from the Po plain and Etruscan pottery, below Costa Celle hill. 47
  91. 91 Roccazzo — Mazara del Vallo Roccazzo Mazara del Vallo · Sicily An Eneolithic site near Mazara del Vallo, where Upper Palaeolithic flint tools came to light. 47
  92. 92 Marble street sign for Via Atenea on a wall in Agrigento. Tempio di Esculapio Agrigento · Sicily Small Doric temple of the fifth century BC on the San Gregorio plain, with a false opisthodomos. 47
  93. 93 Tergeste — Trieste Tergeste Trieste · Friuli Venezia Giulia Tergeste, ancient Roman Trieste, with its theatre, paleo-Christian basilica and the Arco di Riccardo. 47
  94. 94 Panoramic view of the Gulf of Vasto and beach from a hillside path Terme di Vasto Vasto · Abruzzo The Roman baths of Histonium in Vasto, with the large Neptune mosaic and the black-and-white marine mosaic. 47
  95. 95 Larinum — Larino Larinum Larino · Molise A Roman town at a road junction above the Biferno, free to walk into. 46
  96. 96 sito paleolitico di Atella — Atella sito paleolitico di Atella Atella · Basilicata On the shore of a vanished lake, hunted elephants and stone flakes far too light. 46
  97. 97 Historic mill house perched on the rocks above the Greek Theatre of Siracusa. necropoli di Cassibile Syracuse · Sicily Second-largest Sicel necropolis after Pantalica: about two thousand rock-cut tombs in Cava Sant'Anna. 45
  98. 98 Bagni greci di Gela — Gela Bagni greci di Gela Gela · Sicily Greek Hellenistic baths of the fourth century BC at Caposoprano, with tubs and an ancient hypocaust. 44
  99. 99 Kamarina — Vittoria Kamarina Vittoria · Sicily Ancient Syracusan colony at the Ippari mouth, with acropolis remains, necropolis and museum. 44
  100. 100 Mura Timoleontee — Gela Mura Timoleontee Gela · Sicily Fourth-century BC Hellenistic fortifications at Capo Soprano, among the best preserved in the world. 44