The UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy offer insights into the country’s history. For example, you can see impressions of ancient civilizations before the Roman Empire or be amazed by art showing Western Europe’s different times.
Italy has some of the best art, architecture, and food. It can provide visitors with experiences like no other place can. Italy has the world’s most UNESCO World Heritage sites. It’s got a total of 58 as of this writing, placing itself ahead of China with 56.
Of these 58 UNESCO-protected locations, 53 are cultural and 5 are natural, with 7 that are transnational.
Now let’s have a look at some of the most spectacular UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy.
Top 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy
Here are the best UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy that you must visit at least once in your lifetime.
1. Matera
Matera, in Basilicata, is one of the most popular UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy recently.
Matera is the third-oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the world and is known as the “City of Caves.” The city’s ancient cave dwellings are believed to be among Italy’s first human settlements.
Visit the rupestrian churches with beautiful frescoes, tour Casa Grotta di Vico Solitario to see how people lived in the Sassi until the 1950s, and hike to the caves in Murgia National Park.
Matera is a maze of staircases, steep lanes, and tiny courtyards with adventure around every corner.
We have a guide for visiting Matera. Check it out!
2. Venice
Veneto region’s capital is one of the most famous UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy.
While everyone agrees that Venice is a beautiful romantic destination, what makes the Venetian capital a UNESCO World Heritage site is the fact that it balances the natural elements of 118 small islands and man’s determination to populate them.
The city was founded in the 5th century AD to escape the Barbarian invasion, making it historically significant. The first areas to be completed and populated were Torcello, Lesolo, and Malamocco.
Venice’s lagoon is one of the most significant examples of excellent architecture and culture combined to create a destination worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.
In 1987, Venice was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Gondolas and water taxis expertly navigate the canals here, and restaurants and hotels are built on sturdy platforms above the lagoon, making the entire experience extraordinary.
There are exciting day trips from Venice by train that await you as well!
3. Florence
The Tuscan Renaissance city of Florence is filled with incredible art, architecture, and must-see landmarks.
Florence should be high on your list for stunning UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy to visit because of its beautiful museums, art galleries, and historical interest points. One of the most notable highlights is the Uffizi Gallery.
Florence has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1982 and is famous for its Renaissance art and rich history, with the city still surrounded by the 14th-century ruins of its walls.
To get a sense of the historic center, walk the cobblestoned streets and alleyways around the beautiful buildings and local squares at your own pace. Immerse yourself in local culture by visiting churches and towers like the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Visiting Florence soon and only have 24 hours to stay in the city? Find out the best things to do in our one day in Florence itinerary.
4. Naples
Naples is one of Europe’s oldest cities and one of the best UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy.
It was refounded as Neapolis (or New City) in 470 BC. Naples’ trading history and culture are UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Castel Nuovo and Santa Chiara church have an impressive architecture in the city center. The Catacombs of Naples are among the most exciting cemeteries in Italy that you should visit. Christmas Alley and Bourbon Tunnel are nearby, and many museums explain Greek, Egyptian, and Roman influences.
People love or hate Naples. It’s a gritty, noisy city, yet colorful, edgy, vibrant, and full of life. Naples is home to the best Italian pizza, the Pizza Napoletana.
Check out our list of the best things to do in Naples to enjoy the very best this interesting Southern Italian city can offer.
5. Rome
Rome’s historic center is one of Italy’s most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage sites. It runs from Piazza del Popolo to Piazza Venezia and from the Tiber to Piazza di Spagna.
This site was given UNESCO status in 1990 because the city center has many beautiful Renaissance buildings, squares, and monuments such as the Forums, the Pantheon, and the papal Rome’s religious and public buildings.
Because of its rich history, Rome has become a legendary city that attracts millions of visitors each year.
Buy a Roma pass for public transport and two museum tickets to see these historical sites. Make sure to purchase a ticket to visit the Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum to save money while seeing the most beautiful parts of the city.
Now if you also want to see a different side of the Eternal City, check out the cool and unusual things to do in Rome. You can also enjoy the Italian in one day in this Rome itinerary. After which you can head to the Vatican and check out the free museums and the free best things to do there.
6. Pienza
Pienza is a hilltop town in Siena’s Val d’Orcia in southern Tuscany. This romantic town offers incredible views of the Tuscan countryside.
Due to its Renaissance architecture and city planning, this 1458 town became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996.
Visit Piazza Pio II, Pienza’s hub. It is dedicated to Pope Pio II. Located here is the Pienza Cathedral with late Gothic and Renaissance interior flanked. Three important palaces are also on this piazza: government, bishop, and Pope Pio II.
Next, visit Rossellino’s Palazzo Piccolomini where you can find the Diocesan Museum which showcases local textiles and religious artifacts.
7. Modena
UNESCO recognizes Modena in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region.
Modena is home to Italy’s top sports car manufacturers — Ferrari and Lamborghini, as well as the best Italian motorcycle brand Ducati. Several Michelin-starred restaurants are also in Modena.
Piazza Grande, the Modena Cathedral, and the “Ghirlandina Tower” adjacent to the square were honored in 1997. The quality and architectural detail of these Romanesque structures are exceptional. These buildings took over 200 years to build (1099-1319).
9. Botanical Garden of Padua
The Botanical Garden of Padua (Orto Botanico di Padova) was the first in Italy, founded in 1545 as a center for scientific research.
Colorful flowers and abundant greenery that grow in and around the gardens once played an essential role in medicine and chemistry centuries ago.
The botanical garden also houses a library with over 50,000 volumes and manuscripts of historical texts essential to the herbarium field.
Brush the balustrades, stroll past the installations, and enter the greenhouses to explore the 6,000 species of rare plants organized by the ecological environment.
10. Royal Palace of Caserta
No grand building in Italy is more breathtaking than the Royal Palace of Caserta, an 18th-century Baroque masterpiece located less than 20 miles from Naples.
Take the time to tour the palace to taste Italian affluence, splendor, and Baroque royalty’s lifestyle.
Walk from decorated rooms through ornate halls and out the doors to the manicured lawns, admiring its fantastic façade, frescoes, art, tapestries, and Baroque period furniture.
The sounds of rushing water echo from the Aqueduct Carolino as you stroll along pathways winding through exotic flora and around trickling pools.
Caserta Palace shouldn’t be missed when you’re visiting this part of Southern Italy.
11. Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia
Cerveteri, a town northwest of Rome, is home to the Etruscan Necropolises. These are among the most imposing and amazing burial sites of the ancient Mediterranean.
Historians call the complex the “City of the Dead” because it encompasses nearly 1,000 acres of land and 1,000 tombs.
From a distance, the crypt mounds resemble rolling hills in the Lazio countryside.
The necropolis of Monterozzi in Tarquinia, an old city in Lazio’s province of Viterbo, displays Greek and Phoenician-influenced burial techniques to reveal the pre-Roman Etruscan civilization of Northern and Central Italy.
12. Verona
Verona is best known as the home of William Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. This makes this Venetian city one of the most popular UNESCO World Heritage sites in Italy.
Veronese history dates back to the 1st century B.C., and the city’s art, cuisine, and architecture reflect over 2,000 years of culture.
The historic city’s church-dotted streets and Roman-influenced districts are punctuated by glamorous neighborhoods referencing the shadow of the Venetian empire and a profound artistic atmosphere born from operatic scenes and literary finds.
13. Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast, a 25-mile stretch of coastline outside of Naples in Southern Italy’s region of Campania, has become one of the world’s most famous road trips.
The breathtaking scenery embodies the physical beauty and natural diversity of the landscape, as well as the charming towns adorning the coastal cliffs with a Middle-Ages heritage.
Your journey will take you through bucolic pastures, olive-green orchards, rugged cliffs, cascading vineyards, and pristine beaches, and finally, to painted villages where 16th-century culture is brought to life.
14. The Dolomites
The Dolomites are composed of 18 majestic alpine peaks with 350,650 acres of sheer cliffs, vertical walls, narrow valleys, and hidden pastures.
Its heritage status protects its magnificent scenery, and you will be delighted to embrace the magnificence of the mountainous region shaped by ancient glacial landscapes, limestone structures, and extensive soft hills on which farmers allow cows, sheep, and goats to graze.
All year long, the natural landscapes support a slew of small towns, cultural history, and exciting activities ranging from mountaineering to skiing and hiking to luxurious spa treatments.
ALSO READ: 10 Best Ski Resorts in Italy
15. Val di Noto
The Baroque towns of Val di Noto are a must-see UNESCO World Heritage site in Sicily.
These 8 beautiful towns – Ragusa, Noto, Modica, Scicli, Catania, Palazzolo, Caltagirone, and Militello Val di Catania – were rebuilt entirely after the 1693 earthquake.
Sicilians rebuilt using Italian Baroque. Sicilian Baroque is a beautiful blend of mainland Baroque and local flair.
As you tour Val di Noto, look for Baroque churches, town halls, buildings, and homes. They’re decorated with stucco, masks, and cherubs.