🏛️ Italy's most beautiful squares and old towns

31 places ordered by editorial score

  1. 1 Panoramic view of St Mark's Square and Basilica in Venice Piazza San Marco e Basilica Venice · Veneto The political and religious heart of Venice, dominated by its 98.6-metre campanile and the magnificent basilica. 97
  2. 2 Pisa Cathedral and the Leaning Tower of Pisa on the green lawn of Piazza dei Miracoli Piazza dei Miracoli e Torre Pendente Pisa · Tuscany A 57-meter-tall 12th-century campanile, globally recognized for its 3.97-degree lean caused by ground subsidence. 95
  3. 3 View of the Sassi di Matera perched on the edge of the rocky Gravina canyon Sassi di Matera Matera · Basilicata Carved into limestone and inhabited since the Paleolithic, this ancient settlement is a UNESCO World Heritage site. 94
  4. 4 The grand Trevi Fountain in Rome featuring baroque sculptures and clear water. Fontana di Trevi Rome · Lazio The world's largest Baroque fountain is the monumental 26-metre-high terminus of the ancient Aqua Virgo Roman aqueduct. 93
  5. 5 Historic brick buildings and outdoor cafes surrounding Piazza del Campo in Siena, Italy. Piazza del Campo Siena · Tuscany Shaped like a scallop shell and divided into nine wedges, Siena's civic square is a marvel of medieval urban planning. 92
  6. 6 View of the iconic Ponte Vecchio bridge over the Arno River in Florence Ponte Vecchio Florence · Tuscany Spared from destruction in 1944, this 1345 stone bridge is famous for its goldsmith shops and the Vasari Corridor. 90
  7. 7 Piazza della Cisterna in San Gimignano featuring a stone well and medieval towers. Centro storico e torri di San Gimignano San Gimignano · Tuscany Fourteen of the original 72 medieval towers still stand, defining the unmistakable skyline of this Tuscan UNESCO site. 89
  8. 8 Historical fresco and model showing a panoramic view of Ortigia in Siracusa. Ortigia e il Duomo Syracuse · Sicily The ancient core of Syracuse founded in the 8th century BC, Ortigia preserves archaic temples and Greek mythology. 89
  9. 9 Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal in Venice with boats moored in the foreground. Ponte di Rialto Venice · Veneto Completed in 1591 as a single stone span, it is the oldest of the four historic bridges crossing the Grand Canal. 88
  10. 10 Wooden boat and colorful historic buildings around the Piazzetta di Portofino in Liguria. Portofino Piazzetta Portofino · Liguria Awarded Historic Locale status in 2012, this waterfront square is the architectural and social heart of Portofino. 88
  11. 11 Conical stone roofs of traditional trulli in Rione Monti, Alberobello. Rione Monti Alberobello · Puglia Rome's first rione, Monti encompasses the Imperial Forums, the ancient Suburra, and layers of rich history. 88
  12. 12 High-angle view of Spaccanapoli cutting through the historic center of Naples toward modern skyscrapers. Spaccanapoli e centro storico Naples · Campania At 17 km² with over 200 churches, the ancient Greek street layout of Naples forms the largest historic centre in Italy. 88
  13. 13 Scenic view of Bellagio and central Lake Como with colorful flowers in the foreground. Bellagio and mid-lake Como Bellagio · Lombardy Positioned at the fork of Lake Como, Bellagio combines Celtic and Roman history with a spectacular alpine landscape. 87
  14. 14 Facade and bell tower of the Church of San Donato in the main square of Civita di Bagnoregio. Civita di Bagnoregio Bagnoregio · Lazio Perched on an eroding tuff plateau, this ancient Etruscan settlement is accessible solely via a pedestrian footbridge. 87
  15. 15 View of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Milan Cathedral in Piazza del Duomo Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II Milan · Lombardy Designed in 1861 by Giuseppe Mengoni, Italy's oldest active shopping arcade connects Piazza del Duomo to La Scala. 87
  16. 16 Town Hall building in Piazza Unità d'Italia, Trieste, with a central clock tower Piazza Unità d'Italia Trieste · Friuli Venezia Giulia Spanning 12,280 square meters, Trieste's main square is the largest in Europe to open directly onto the sea. 86
  17. 17 Piazza Vecchia in Bergamo's Città Alta featuring the historic Palazzo della Ragione. Città Alta and the Venetian Walls Bergamo · Lombardy A 6,200-meter wall built by Venice in the 16th century, this UNESCO World Heritage site encloses Bergamo Alta. 85
  18. 18 Elevated view of Piazza Maggiore in Bologna with the Basilica of San Petronio Piazza Maggiore e San Petronio Bologna · Emilia-Romagna Laid out in 1200, this vast square is the civic and religious core of Bologna, dominated by the Basilica of San Petronio. 85
  19. 19 Coastal view of Chianalea in Scilla with traditional houses built right on the water and rocks. Chianalea Scilla · Calabria Fishermen's houses with their feet in the Strait: the "little Venice" of the myth of Scylla. 84
  20. 20 Low-angle night view looking up at the Two Towers of Bologna, Asinelli and Garisenda. Le Due Torri Bologna · Emilia-Romagna Erected from 1109, this definitive symbol of Bologna includes the Asinelli, Italy's tallest leaning tower at 97.2m. 84
  21. 21 Sunlit square in Bari Vecchia with historic stone buildings and a parked scooter Bari Vecchia e la via delle orecchiette Bari · Puglia Bari's historic center sits on a peninsula, preserving its Byzantine layout and the Basilica of San Nicola. 83
  22. 22 Prato della Valle in Padua with statues along the canal and Santa Giustina Abbey in the background. Prato della Valle Padua · Veneto At 90,000 square meters, this monumental elliptical square is one of Europe's largest, ringed by 78 stone statues. 83
  23. 23 Piazza del Popolo in Ascoli Piceno featuring the Church of San Francesco and travertine arcades. Ascoli's Piazza del Popolo Ascoli Piceno · Marche A Renaissance square defined by local travertine, home to the Gothic church of San Francesco and a 16th-century loggia. 82
  24. 24 Whitewashed historic buildings in Ostuni, the famous White City of Apulia The White City Ostuni · Puglia Located in the Puglia region, the municipality of Ostuni is widely known by its nickname, The White City. 82
  25. 25 High-angle view of Piazza del Duomo and the Elephant Fountain in Catania Piazza del Duomo e Fontana dell'Elefante Catania · Sicily The core of Catania, known for its lava stone elephant and the 4th-century Roman baths hidden 5 meters below. 81
  26. 26 Piazza IV Novembre featuring the Fontana Maggiore and Palazzo dei Priori in Perugia Piazza IV Novembre and Fontana Maggiore Perugia · Umbria The historic core of Perugia, featuring the 1278 Fontana Maggiore, a masterpiece of medieval sculpture and engineering. 81
  27. 27 High-angle view of Piazza delle Erbe in Verona showing the Gardello tower and Palazzo Maffei Piazza delle Erbe Verona · Veneto A square in Verona whose name inspired a painting by Angelo Dall'Oca Bianca and an Italian musical group. 80
  28. 28 Panoramic view of Craco, the ghost town perched on a rocky cliff in Italy. Craco Ghost Town Craco · Basilicata Evacuated in 1963 due to a landslide, this striking ghost town overlooks the badlands and serves as a famous film set. 79
  29. 29 Pebble beach and colorful houses in the seaside village of Boccadasse in Genoa. Boccadasse Genoa · Liguria An old Genoese mariners' village saved from urban expansion, known for its pastel houses and narrow cobblestone paths. 77
  30. 30 View of the old town of Termoli with the Swabian Castle and historic walls overlooking the sea. Old Termoli Termoli · Molise A walled Adriatic promontory featuring an 11th-century castle, a Romanesque cathedral, and historic wooden trabucchi. 75
  31. 31 piazza del Popolo — Sciacca piazza del Popolo Sciacca · Sicily Sciacca's oldest square, now piazza Scandaliato, born by filling in an old ditch. 50