With its beautiful basilicas, cathedrals, ornate opera houses, statues, paintings, frescos, public buildings, fountains, and museums, your Italy tour package will be spoilt for choice. Thanks to the classical tradition of the ancient Greeks and Romans, wealthy patrons like the Medicis and Farnese, and the fact that Rome was at the centre of the Catholic faith, Italy became famous for its architectural achievements.
The Vatican is one of the finest examples of this rich heritage with its treasure trove of iconic art and architecture. Saint Peter’s Basilica is famous for its grandiose design and invaluable artworks, including Michaelangelo’s Pieta, Bernini’s Longinus, the monument to Pope Alexander VII and Canopy, and the Baldacchino. The Sistine Chapel is famous for Michaelangelo’s frescos and other paintings by Raphael, Botticelli, and Ghirlandaio.
Other artworks at the Vatican Museums include paintings by Caravaggio, Raphael, Van Gogh, and Fra Angelico.
Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is home to sculptures, cathedrals, buildings, statues, and museums that are now masterpieces. Prominent among them are the famous Statue of David, the cathedral of Florence, especially the red bricked dome, and the artworks of Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, and Raffaello in the Uffizi Gallery.
Sicily is known for its Baroque buildings, especially buildings constructed after the earthquake in the 17th century, where towns such as Noto, Ragusa, Modica, and Catania were practically rebuilt, resulting in some of the finest buildings of the time. These buildings are known for their ornate facades, the use of chiaroscuro and stucco, statues of saints, balconies in cast iron and stone, interior frescos, and elegant gardens.
Siena is famous for its medieval architecture, especially the central piazza, II Campo, renowned for its architecture and beauty. The Siena Cathedral is another popular monument famous for its marble inlay, the graffito floor, the Duomo, and the intricate Romanesque and Gothic architecture. The church is famous for its artworks, including those of Michaelangelo and Bernini.
Venice isn’t famous only for its romantic gondola rides but also for the Renaissance and Gothic palaces on the edge of the Grand Canal. Some of the architectural attractions in the city include Saint Mark’s Basilica, the Palazzo Cavalli Franchetti, and the Palazzo Ducale. You can’t visit Venice and not admire the beautiful Venetian glass industries in Murano and Torcello.
