7. Rome
A visit to the hub of the Roman Empire is on every traveler’s wish list. This showcase of Western Civilization is so rich with historic, artistic and culinary marvels, you can’t miss out on experiencing the “Eternal City” first hand. Just walking past the Colosseum, the Forum or the Pantheon will have you humbled by antiquity. The Baroque flamboyance of the Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona will dazzle you. Perusing the Vatican, the Capitoline Museum and the Borghese Gallery will leave you artistically awestruck. True, the traffic is mayhem and the suburbs nondescript, but you don’t have to look hard to see the inherent beauty in this city set on seven hills. It’s a feast for the eyes and the palate.
8. Alberobello
Granted, this is more of a small town than one of the beautiful cities in Italy, but it’s just so distinctive it had to squeeze onto the list. Alberobello is in the southern Italian region of Puglia, and what makes it unique is its trulli architecture. The whitewashed limestone structures with the pointy-hat roofs give the town a gnome-like feel. There’s a surreal beauty to wandering around these 14th century dwellings, some of which are now tchotchke shop and tourist restaurants. There are about 1500 conical trulli in town, and they are a sight to be seen.