Italian cities

Known as La Dotta, La Grassa and La Rossa, Bologna is a city of stories, traditions, and secrets just waiting to be discovered. Beyond the usual tourist hotspots, keep an eye out for these unusual gems in the heart of Emilia-Romagna.

If you’re weighing up the best place to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Italy, picture Capodanno as a long dinner rolling into midnight, with fireworks cracking over church domes.

Winter in Italy runs from candlelit piazzas in the north to sunlit promenades in the south. Crowds thin out after the holidays, museum lines shrink, and prices ease up, though daylight is short and the odd storm rolls through.

November is a wonderful month to escape to Italy. Many parts of the country still enjoy mild weather, and in the major cultural cities, you can explore historic sites without the summer crowds. It’s also perfect for hikers wanting to enjoy the magical autumn colours.

Italy wears its history on its sleeve, and some corners are a touch darker than others. Think cursed palazzi, plague islands and catacombs where time seems to freeze.

The Port of Naples is one of Italy’s most important ports, not just for goods but also for thousands of passengers every year. Visitors arriving from other Mediterranean cities, or simply from the islands in the Gulf of Naples, often begin their exploration of the city right from the port.

Florence is taking a decisive step to protect its historic heart. From 15th October 2025, the city will ban rickshaws, tuk-tuks, golf carts and other “atypical tourist vehicles” from circulating in its UNESCO-listed centre.

Among Florence’s most iconic artistic landmarks, the Baptistery of San Giovanni is unmissable. Situated directly opposite the Duomo, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, and the famous Giotto’s Campanile, it stands as a historic landmark of unparalleled significance.

Florence has been crowned Europe’s best city in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2025.

Italy is home to countless medieval towns and villages, each steeped in history and bursting with charm. From hilltop villages in Tuscany to coastal gems along the Amalfi Coast, these towns transport visitors back in time, offering a glimpse of life as it was centuries ago.

Rome’s Department of Mobility is set to introduce significant changes to speed limits on the city’s busiest roads.

Venice, the iconic city of canals and gondolas, is famous for its romantic atmosphere and rich history. But one thing often surprises visitors: the city streets and squares are almost empty of cats.

Located between the Apennines and the Adriatic, Molise features stone hill towns that watch over olive groves and a quiet coastline. Life ambles along in Campobasso and the fishing docks of Termoli, with truffles, bean stews and moreish local wines.

When the summer heat hits, tourists and locals alike look for ways to cool down — and sometimes that means jumping into public fountains. This is especially common in Rome, but you’ll see it across many of Italy’s beautiful cities too. However, bathing in these fountains comes with some serious consequences.

Verona is in northern Italy’s Veneto region, with the Adige River flowing right through its centre. While it's often linked to Shakespeare’s famous couple, the city's character is really shaped by its grand Roman amphitheatre and winding medieval lanes.

Everyone knows Verona as the stage for Shakespeare's most famous love story, but there's so much more to the city than balconies. You’ll find its real heart in the gorgeous medieval streets and the incredible Roman Arena.

Inflation in Italy continues to affect household spending, and a new analysis reveals a significant shift in the cities where the cost of living has risen most sharply.

Bari is a spirited port city on the Adriatic coast, constantly enlivened by its university population. Bari Vecchia—a proper olde worlde maze of timeworn streets—sits right next to the neat, grand grid of the 19th-century Murat district.

For many, August is the month for holidays by the sea, in the mountains or in the city. However, the hottest month of summer also offers plenty of high-profile events taking place from North to South.

Each late summer, the island of the Venice Lido transforms, swapping its quiet seaside charm for the international buzz of the Venice International Film Festival.

Udine is one of those understated places, full of elegant Venetian architecture and quiet, cobbled squares, but without the tourist crush you get elsewhere. It's tucked away in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, a region in Italy's far northeast that borders both Austria and Slovenia.

Located in the Emilia-Romagna region, Bologna is a city of real substance. With a population of just under 400,000, it feels lively and important without the intense tourist crowds you might find in Florence or Rome.

Sitting squarely in the Emilia-Romagna region, this gorgeous city, home to just shy of 200,000 people, has a name you’ve probably heard, even if your mind doesn't jump to the city itself If you're pondering living in Parma, you'll soon discover it's a place where life moves at a lovely pace, steeped

Italy is renowned for its sun-soaked summers, but when temperatures soar, finding a cooler corner of the country can transform your holiday.

When people ask where most American expats live in Sicily, many will point to Palermo or the tourist towns. However, the underdog city of Catania has a significant, if less conspicuous, international community, partly thanks to the nearby NATO base.