Italy Landmarks

Here on this page you will find 10 Famous Italy Landmarks and Attractions in Italy with fascinating information - actually this not only for kids but for all who want to know more about Italy and famous landmarks.

10 Famous landmarks in Italy by Kids World Travel Guide

Italy is one of the most popular tourist countries in the world and the top country to learn about ancient Roman history. There are so many famous monuments, buildings and castles in Italy, but these top 10 landmarks should be recognised by everyone!

10 Italian Landmarks everybody should know

1. Colosseum in Rome

Colosseum in Rome

The Colosseum in Rome is one of the landmarks most people can easily link to Italy. The huge oval amphitheatre stands in the city centre of Rome and construction was started in 70 AD.

Built in Roman design borrowed from the Greeks, the amphitheatre was build in the bad of a dried out lake. About 50,000 people could be seated on the steps of this huge ancient amphitheatre.

The colosseum was the place in those days where the Romans held their popular fights and games. There were gladiator games, animal hunts and mock sea battles held in the colosseum.

2. Italy Landmarks:
Roman Forum in Rome

Roman Forum

Also in Rome, right next to the Colosseum is the 'Forum Romanum'. The original ancient town's central square with ruins of the temples, palaces and buildings of ancient Rome, are a magnificent sight.

The forum was built around 800 BC and was in use for some 1400 years! The ruins of the buildings and temples, however, were only discovered during excavations in 1803!

3. Leaning Tower in Pisa

Leaning Tower of Pisa

The famous Leaning Tower is in fact the city cathedral's bell tower, in Italian called 'campanile'. The tower was constructed in 1173 but the structure was miscalculated and built on not so solid ground, so the tower began leaning early on!

It is said that Italian scientist Galileo Galilei used the tower for various gravity experiments, such as dropping various objects from the top of the tower.

The tower is only about 56 m/ 183 ft metres tall while the tower's tilt is actually more than 4.3 m/ 14 ft, when measured. Meaning the top is leaning over so much the towner seems to fall.

In 1999 some soil was taken away from underneath the tower, to lower the degree of the tilt and pull the tower more upright so it would not topple over. If you want to climb to the top of the tower, there are 251 steps to climb!

4. Italy Landmarks:
Canale Grande in Venice

Canal Grande in Venice Italy with Gondola

Grand Canal and the Rialto Bridge in Venice

Thousands of tourists come to Venice every year to see the houses built on wooden piles along the many canals and waterways of the city. There are about 500 wooden gondolas and many more water taxis ferrying people across the city.

Venice is called Venezia in Italian. St Mark's Square with the famous St Mark's Cathedral (Basilica San Marco) and the campanile (bell tower) are major attractions. The city's palaces and houses can either be reached by boat or foot, there are no cars driving in this city!

Three bridges cross the over 4 km/ 2.5 miles long Grand Canal, of these the Rialto Bridge is the most famous and also the oldest. By the way, the Canal Grande is only about 5 m/ 17 ft deep.

5. Italy Landmarks:
Arena in Verona

Opera Festival at the Arena di Verona

The 'Arena di Verona' is a massive amphitheatre and the second biggest in the world, after the colosseum in Rome.

In Roman times, the amphitheatre was used for gladiator fights and theatre performances. Today the amphitheatre is used for an annual opera festival in August, which is very popular with tourists from all over the world.

In Verona, you can also visit the famous balcony at the house of Juliet. Shakespeare's popular love story of Romeo and Juliet is said to have its origins in this town.

6. Italy Landmarks: Pompeii Ruins near Naples

Italy Landmarks: Ruins at Pompeii

The ancient ruins of Pompeii near Naples in southern Italy are one of Italy's major tourist attractions. The ancient town which was once home to over 10,000 people was destroyed in 79 AD by an volcanic eruption. The nearby volcano Vesuvius is still active today.

Naples is called Napoli in Italian and famous as the birthplace of the Italian pizza.

The magnificent amphitheatre is one of the most intact buildings and structures still to be seen on this UNESCO world heritage site.

7. Dolomites in Northern Italy

Dolomites in the Italian Alps

The Dolomites are a mountain range in northern Italy and part of the Alps region. This mountain region is popular with skiers and snowboarders in winter and hikers, climbers and mountain bikers in summer.

Most mountain peaks are higher than 3,000 m/ 10,000 ft high. Should you want to go hiking there in summer, come prepared as the weather can change quickly and it can be really cold at the mountain top even in summer. But then views are fantastic!

8. Ponte Vecchio in Florence

Florence and the Ponte Vecchio, the 'Old Bridge'

The 'Old Bridge' or as the Italians call it 'Ponte Vecchio' is crossing the Arno River which flows through the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany. Many artisans and craftsmen have their little workshops on this bridge.

Florence is called Firenze in Italian. The historic centre of Florence is also known for its cathedral, palaces; and the Uffizi art galleries are among the most visited by travellers.

Michelangelo's 'David' statue located also in Florence is one of the most famous sculptures in the world. According to the UNESCO about 30% of the world's most important works of art can be found and viewed in Florence!

9. Italy Landmarks:
Milan Cathedral

Milan Cathedral in Italy

The cathedral in Milan/Northern Italy is one of the most spectacular buildings in Italy.

It took nearly six centuries to complete! The 'duomo di Milano' as the Italians call the cathedral is one of the largest church buildings in the world and also in Italy the second largest, after the Vatican's Basilica di San Pietro (St Peter's Cathedral).

Milan is called Milano in Italian. Milan is also known as Italian fashion and shopping capital and is home to one of Italy's most popular soccer clubs - A.C.Milan.

10. St Peter's Cathedral in Rome

St Peter's Cathedral in Vatican City

St Peter's Basilica is the most famous and largest cathedral in the world. The place and the church are just awe inspiring! The cathedral is located in Vatican City, a city state and enclave, inside the city of Rome/ Italy.

There are 284 columns with statues of saints flanking the cathedral place. The dome alone is 42 m/ 138 ft in diameter which is more than the width of a soccer field! The cathedral was nevertheless constructed, and finished, in 'only' 170 years.

The Sistine Chapel, next to the Basilica, is also famous for it's painting of the 'Creation of Adam' by Michelangelo.

Michelangelo Painitng 'Creation of Adam'

These buildings are located in Vatican City, which belongs to the Vatican State, the smallest country in the world, which is located in the heart of Rome and most tourists will see these famous attractions when they visit Italy, so we added them to this listing.

Italy Landmarks | Useful Resources

Parco Archeologico del Colosseo. "The Roman Forum." ParcoColosseo. Last Accessed 16 August 2023
Leaning Tower of Pisa. "Leaning Tower of Pisa Facts." TowerofPisa.org Last accessed 16 August 2023
Duomo di Milano. "The Cathedral." DuomoMilano. Last accessed 16 August 2023
Musei Vaticani. "Sistine Chapel". Musei Vaticani. Last accessed 16 August 2023

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Image Credits on Italy Landmarks: Shutterstock.com, wikipedia and own images

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