Italy boasts an abundance of historical landmarks ranging from ancient Greek temples and Renaissance churches to medieval castles and UNESCO-listed villages, making Italy an acclaimed historical destination. Standout sites include Pisa Tower Leaning Tower of Pisa Herculaneum town square Largo Argentina in Siena as well as Largo Argentina Square of Siena Town.
These architectural marvels will enthrall you with their timeless classic beauty and fascinating histories.
Alberobello
Alberobello has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site due to its remarkable architectural style. The town is most notable for its iconic small historical houses known as “trulli,” one of only few places around where a complete village made of these is present.
Trulli houses were constructed during the 16th century to avoid taxes that were calculated based on roof area. Peasants would use limestone without mortar to form its distinctive conical form and dismantle easily in case of inspections.
Wander the streets to experience breathtaking trulli-lined streets and meet friendly locals. Make sure you visit Trullo Sovrano – a two-story trullo converted into a heritage museum featuring authentic furniture – as well as Belvedere Santa Lucia for breathtaking panoramic views of trulli.
Spending the night is the ideal way to fully experience this vibrant region’s rich culture; with many authentic trullo accommodations available, there’s sure to be something suitable.
Val d’Orcia
Val d’Orcia (or “The Golden Valley”) is one of Tuscany’s iconic postcard images, known for its rolling hills and cypress trees dotted with farmhouses. As part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this valley produces wine including Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano as well as olives, crops and sheep for pecorino cheese production.
Siena’s aristocratic history was shaped in the 14th and 15th centuries by wealthy residents who devised an innovative agricultural model, encouraging small landholders to cultivate multiple crops on farmsteads that reflected an idealized Renaissance aesthetic. This rural hinterland inspired and influenced Renaissance painters; today its distinctive aesthetic symbolizes Tuscan rural landscapes as part of well-managed agricultural environments.
San Quirico d’Orcia and Castiglion d’Orcia will transport you back in time, while Rocca d’Orcia stands out against its rugged landscape with its fortified castle and natural hot spring that forms a steaming river in a forest setting. Bagno Vignoni’s tiny hamlet also makes an impressionful stop along this journey through Tuscany’s history and natural hot spring is worth discovering as it provides relief for any sore muscles aching to visit this wonderful region of Tuscany!
Poveglia
Poveglia Island in Venice Lagoon has an infamous and tragic past as it served as a plague quarantine station, mental hospital, and mass gravesite during the Black Death epidemic. Many believe their spirits still roam this land today.
Poveglia Island first made an appearance in documents dating back to 421 AD and, by the 9th century, was home to refugees from Padua and Este. When Venice came under attack from Genoese fleet in 1379, Poveglia residents were relocated to Giudecca instead.
Following its discovery, the island became an area for maritime quarantine; during the 18th and 19th centuries it also functioned as a geriatric hospital. Since 1960 it has been State Property; several redevelopment proposals (such as youth hostel) were presented; however it remained abandoned as nature gradually reclaimed its former glory; today however it can be visited via boat.
Matera
Sassi di Matera are unique troglodyte dwellings located within Basilicata’s rocky landscape in southern Italy and listed by UNESCO. Some have been inhabited since Palaeolithic periods. This UNESCO-inscribed area blends seamlessly into its surrounding natural surroundings.
The Sassi were home to thousands of residents until the 1950s, when poor living conditions led to disease and famine in the region. To address this issue, many families were forcibly removed from their cave houses without notice or options; later the area would be renovated as an attraction and cultural site for tourists and residents alike. Today they remain an attractive tourist spot.
Visits to the Sassi will prove both educational and memorable, with so much to see and explore! Don’t miss the Church of Purgatory (Chiesa del Purgatorio), with its impressive paintings depicting souls trapped in purgatory. Additionally, check out Palombaro Lungo; an underground cistern considered to be the cathedral of water that stands as testament to their inhabitants.
