Forget rushed itineraries and crowded destinations. In 2024 we’re all looking for more authentic, experiences. Places we can feel more genuine connection with the beauty and history around us. With this in mind, here are our top picks for destinations in Italy to visit in 2024. Places full of art, culture, beauty and wonder, that pack more inspiration into every minute.
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Inspiring Places to Visit in Italy in 2024
1. Val d’Aosta – See the 3 highest peaks in the Alps
Aosta is a lively, historic town in the midst of the Italian Alps. It’s the main centre of Italy’s smallest region, Valle d’Aosta where you’ll find the fabled peaks of Mont Blanc, Mount Rosa and Cervino. Giants of superb beauty, they enclose the region in a white embrace, offering spectacular views.
If you’re based in Aosta you can explore the Gran Paradiso National Park, take day trips to scenic towns like the popular Courmayeur, Cogne, Cervinia, and little gems like Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Antagnod, Arnad, Etroubles (the list goes on!). While the main valley, where Aosta sits, is quite busy and developed, if you take the smallest side valleys you’ll be surrounded by impressive landscapes, that are straight out of a Romantic painting.
Highlights: Aosta’s attractions include a Roman archaeological park, delicious food and shops. Then of course there’s the wonderful mountain scenery, nature, hiking, winter sports.
Insider’s Tip => Valle d’Aosta is less crowded, and a bit cheaper than its better-known neighbour Trentino region.
2. Turin – The charm of Italy’s first Capital
We have a soft spot for Turin (Torino in Italian). Maybe it’s the welcoming atmosphere, the fact that it’s less touristy than other Italian cities, or the literary air. We love the old world feeling of Turin, that once was the capital of Italy. Its historic cafès (where you get the best hot chocolate in the world!), its bookshops, the impressive Royal Palace, the Cinema Museum in the Mole Antonelliana, and the enchantingly presented Egyptian Museum.
Highlights: museums and art galleries, grand squares, cafes and restaurants, food and wine to die for (our favourite? agnolotti, the local cheeses and Langhe wines).
3. The Rome less travelled
The Eternal city attracts tons of visitors every year, but if you plan your trip properly you can add some lesser known attractions to your itinerary and enjoy the great Italian capital like a local. Book your Guided Tours to Rome’s most popular attractions to save time and learn its fascinating stories with a local guide, and then move on to some uncharted attractions.
A few ideas? The round-shaped Tempietto (little temple) built by Bramante on the slope of Gianicolo hill, some Caravaggio paintings in the San Luigi dei Francesi Church, or the impressive statue of Moses by Michelangelo in San Pietro in Vincoli Church. Or walk around the art-nouveau inspired neighbourhood Coppedè, full of fanciful buildings from the early 20th century – in the area around Piazza Mincio – that has been used in many films for its evocative atmospheres.
Join this Colosseum tour that includes skip-the-line entry. Explore areas of the Colosseum not accessible to regular ticket holders. See the underground level, the Arena,and the Roman Forum. History will be brought to life with guided commentary.
4. Meet the Etruscan in central Italy
Follow the Etruscans in central Italy. The Etruscans inhabited this area – that today comprises Tuscany and Lazio – long before the Romans. From the 9th century BC they were building great walled cities, cultivating vines and perfecting their skills at metalworking. They left vast necropoli, with collections of statuettes, urns and intricate jewels, now hosted in archeological museums: the main ones are Florence Archeological Museum, Guernacci Museum in Volterra and Tarquinia Archeological Museum.
Exploring Southern Tuscany and nearby Lazio gives you the chance to learn more about this people, enjoy a fascinating, history-rich and less travelled part of Italy, where tourism becomes a way to truly learn and understand the heritage of a place. For anyone who loves history, the Etruscan sites are surely among the top places to see in Italy in 2024.
Highlights: Step back into ancient times and visit the Etruscan necropoli like Tarquinia, Cerveteri, Populonia or Sovana Archeological Park.
5. Ischia Island – Sea and Scenery near Naples
Ischia is the biggest island on the scenic Bay of Naples, and with its beautifully kept beach resorts and thermal springs is nearly as popular as nearby Capri. With a good bus network, the island is small enough that it can be easily explored by public transport.
The scenery is breathtaking, from the imposing Aragonese Castle perched on a rocky islet that’s linked to the town via a narrow bridge, luxurious spa resorts where you can bathe in volcanic waters, to the biggest port Ischia Porto which is the heart of the island, with nice restaurants and shops. Travelling out of the main tourist season (which goes from July to mid September) gives you a chance to enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of the island.
=> Don’t miss the small borgo of Sant’Angelo, a tiny village where pastel coloured houses soak up the Mediterranean sun, surrounded by azure waters.
6. Visit Medieval Arezzo in Tuscany
A Medieval jousting tournament in an impressive-looking Italian square, why not? Every summer, Piazza Grande in the town of Arezzo (Eastern Tuscany) becomes the setting for a thrilling event, the joust of the Saracen, that transports you back to Medieval times. Knights on horses showing-off their skills (charging a wooden target representing the Saracen shield), a parade in historic costume, the square dressed-up with colourful banners. Its Medieval excitement in a great setting.
It’s the perfect opportunity to get to know Arezzo, one of Tuscany‘s lesser known towns. Discover the magnificent Piazza Grande, historical buildings, museums, antique shops and all the goldsmiths you can imagine. See other scenic places and towns to visit near Arezzo.
JOUST OF THE SARACEN, is on the third Saturday of June and first Sunday of September – TICKETS REQUIRED => see more Great Traditional Festivals in Tuscany.
7. Music-inspired Trip | Puccini’s Operas in his favourite town
2024 marks the 100th anniversary of Giacomo Puccini’s death. The perfect excuse to head to Italy and catch one his famous operas. Torre del Lago, near Lucca in central Italy, was his home for the best part of his life, and a great source of his inspiration. He loved the lake of Massaciuccoli and the tranquillity of the natural setting. His Villa is now a museum that you can visit to breathe in the everyday life of the master. On the shore of the lake there’s a great open-air theatre, that every Summer has a program entirely dedicated to Puccini’s operas.
8. Pesaro, Italian Capital of Culture for 2024
Pesaro has been chosen as the Italian Capital of Culture for 2024, and the town and its surroundings celebrate in grand style, dedicating this year to special exhibits and events. It’s an opportunity to reevaluate the cultural and historic heritage of the city, one of the Adriatic’s largest seaside resorts. Surely one of the best places to visit in Italy in 2024.
Behind the promenade, lined with white pastel coloured Liberty hotels and buildings, there’s a lively and pretty Medieval area. Piazza del Popolo is the heart of the town, which can be explored by foot or by bike. Pesaro is a welcoming town still undiscovered by tourists, that offers a relaxed pace of life and interesting attractions.
Here you find more musical connection, as composer Rossini was born in Pesaro. You can visit his home Casa Rossini with memorabilia and the master’s some original manuscripts. Every August the Rossini Festival celebrates his music.
Highlights: Piazza del Popolo, Sant’Agostino Church, Civic Museum, Casa Rossini, the famous Palla, contemporary sculpture by Pomodoro set in a pool near the sea.
Do you know what Pizza Rossini is? Even the street food is inspired by him, try Pizza Rossini – a anarchic kind of pizza with slices of boiled eggs and maionese on top.
=> 5 Great Summer Destinations in Italy
=> Top 10 Food Markets in Italy
Author: Sabrina Nesi, founder of Lovefromtuscany.com, passionate about sharing the beauty of Tuscany and Italy with the world.
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