Things to Do in Italy

Built over 2000 years ago, this massive amphitheater - the largest of its kind - remains the abiding symbol of the Roman Empire. While the classic image of the Colosseum tends to show it from the outside, its interior is just as impressive and is open for visitors to explore.

When Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, it spewed out deadly molten lava, ash and fumes over the surrounding towns. So Pompeii and its inhabitants were buried, only to be unearthed and excavated some 1700 years later. To this day, it remains like no other place in the world.

A loose substrate in the ground of the foundations allowed Pisa’s famed Leaning Tower to start its precarious lean almost as soon as it was erected back in the 12th century. Following decades of correctional work, the tower recently re-opened to the public.

The frescos of the Sistine Chapel top off the immense Vatican Museum in stunning fashion. The ceiling (which Michelangelo painted lying on his back) depicts a wide range of events from the Old Testament, including the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden.

Venice’s main piazza is one of the most famous squares in Italy or, for that matter, the world. A huge urban space, the square is flanked by some of Italy’s premier buildings, such as St Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace.