the Travel Enthusiast
- 24 Mar
Top 5 historic cities in Italy
Palermo
Italy is seen as the place where good art comes from (not all good art, of course, but much of it), a place where you can see the newest fashions and buy them too, and where there are more historical attractions per square km than anywhere else in Europe.
Italy is a great place for the exploration of historic places, but it has its fair share of cosmopolitan cities too. If you want to avoid fashion capitals and trendy holiday destinations and get a closer look at this country’s rich historical heritage, here are the top 5 historic cities in Italy.
San Gimignano, Tuscany
San Gimignano is a small walled medieval town in Tuscany, famous for its exquisite architecture, especially its towers which can be seen from miles away. It was founded in the 3rd century, and its glory days were during the Renaissance, when it became a major stop on the route of pilgrims going to Vatican. Although many of its towers were torn down by time, or during wars, there are 14 beautifully preserved towers in San Gimignano.
Montepulciano, Tuscany
photo by Alex Pears
Montepulciano is a commune in Tuscany, well known for its delicious wines and cuisine, and also its Renaissance heritage. Montepulciano is one of the famous Italian hill-towns, perched at an altitude of about 600 meters on a limestone ridge.
There are very few cars in the town, and since it’s not large, you can easily visit all of it on foot. The main sights include the Palazzon Comunale, Pallazo Tarugi and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.
Castiglione di Garfagnana, Lucca
Castiglione di Garfagnana is a walled medieval town on the banks on river Esarulo. The town started out as a Roman castra, and in the early Middle Ages is was incorporated into the Republic of Lucca. One of the best features of the town is the 13th century medieval bridge, but the castle and the medieval walls are also worth your full attention.
Cervara di Roma, Latium
photo by LPLT
Cervara di Roma is a great destination for a day-trip from Rome, seeing as it’s located 50 km from the capital, but there is so much to see in this little gem of a town that it warrants at least as few days of sightseeing. Cervara was founded by Benedictine monks in the 8th century, but although it has such a long history, now it’s in danger of being abandoned, especially since it has less than 500 inhabitants left.
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travel search by Travelgrove (get this widget)Cefalù, Palermo, Sicily
Cefalù is one of the most amazing destinations in Sicily, and since many tourists know that, you can expect a large crowd. As its name suggests, the town was founded by Greeks, but it took its present shape during the Norman occupation in the 12th century (when its breath-taking cathedral was built).You might also like
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when I was in Italy, apart from the above mentioned cities, I have been to Verona. Its a great experience to be there. It is a majestic, elegant and romantic city. When you visit Italy, don’t miss Verona. If you want to plan your Verona tour, http://www.apartmentsinverona.com are there to help you.