Tourist Attractions & Monuments Italy

Situated on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, this ancient city probably developed around the 89 th century BC, submitted by the Etruscans, and then by the inhabitants of Cuma, it became a Roman colony in the year BC, but its total loss of autonomy coincided with the beginning of considerable growth, economic, urban and artistic. But this period of prosperity was abruptly interrupted in 63 ha. By a violent earthquake, the beginning of the Vesuvius eruption of August 24, 79. The city remained buried under the lava almost until 1748, when it was undertaken - in a discontinuous way - the first searches. We also discovered Herculaneum, another nearby city, buried also under the lava lava.

A place like nowhere else. One of the most impressive in Tuscany. It owes its name to the Roman amphitheatre that was there in the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, which could accommodate up to 10,000 spectators, whose ruins, about three metres deep, served as a base for the new buildings. Also known as Piazza del Mercato, it is surrounded by medieval buildings that have passed through time without difficulty in the enclosure of an almost perfect oval. A blond ochre light floods it during the day.

This volcano, with intense seismic activity, caused the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79. Despite its terrible past eruptions, it remains expensive in the eyes of all Neapolitan. An essential ascent to observe the crater, fumaroles and splendid panorama of the region.

Of all the caves hidden in the cliffs of Cape Caccia, Neptune's cave is the most famous. It is one of the most beautiful sights in Alghero and one of the most precious geological wonders of the Mediterranean basin. The complexity of this vast cave, 2,500 metres long, is due to the many rooms that make it up, its vast galleries and its lakes with clear water. Among them, the 100-metre-long Lake La Marmora is one of the largest salt lakes in Europe. The part of the cave open to the public is accessible by boat from Alghero when the sea is calm. Many operators will lure you to the port. The cave can also be reached on foot from the cape by a picturesque 654-step staircase clinging to the cliffside. Count on 20 minutes with a good rhythm and think about the ascent... A visit not to be missed!

Good to know. In case of bad weather, the cave may close. So as not to travel for nothing, call the tourist office beforehand and they will give you information. Make sure you have enough cash to pay for the entrance tickets, as credit cards are not accepted. It is not easy to park near the site when it is busy. Park along the road leading to the cave as soon as possible. The site is also very crowded in the summer, and guided tours can be very crowded. Come as soon as it opens or for the last visit and, if you can, choose to visit out of season.

It is the city's living place par excellence and the pride of its inhabitants. This majestic square gives the impression of having returned to the Middle Ages, the atmosphere in the evening is really captivating. It is also the monumental heart of the city. Dominated by the Basilica of San Petronio to the south, there are also a number of ancient palaces: on the west side, the 13th-century Palazzo d'Accursio (Town Hall); to the north, the Palazzo del Podestà, founded in the 13th century and refurbished in the Renaissance; to the east, the Palazzo dei Banchi (Banks), dating from 1568, which once housed the offices of the bankers; to the south-west, the 14th-century Palazzo dei Notai (Notaries). The Palazzo del Podestà has a ground floor with arches crossed by two lanes that intersect under a large vault. Its porticoes facing the square now house the tourist office. At the back, the Palazzo di Re Enzo, built in 1246, was named after the son of Emperor Frederick II Hohenstaufen, who was imprisoned here for twenty-three years. The story goes that the young man was of great beauty and attracted the attention of all the women in the city. One day he managed to escape, but he was denounced by a young girl who saw him fleeing from her window and was terrified that she could no longer admire him. The latter two palaces are open for exhibitions or special events. In summer, Piazza Maggiore becomes a large open-air cinema with film screenings every evening.

Smaller than Pompeii, but no less interesting, Herculaneum, founded by the Italic in the 290 th century B.C., successively passes under Roman domination from 79 BC Devastated by the eruption of Vesuvius in, the city of Hercules will remain hidden under the mud until its update. Without ever knowing the shopping fortune of its prestigious neighbor, the excellence of local crafts seems to have far exceeded its borders (marble work, cabinetmaking, sculpture). Its urban, regular and orthogonal urban plan obeys the Roman model with the right-angle streets (cardo and decumanus). The exceptional quality of conservation of the thermal baths and various residences makes the visit unavoidable.

In the heart of medieval Pisa, on the site of the former forum, the Place des Cavaliers (to be taken in the sense of "knights") is a must in the city. A former centre of political power at the time of the Medici, this very pleasant square is now the centre of student life in Pisa. Indeed, the Knights' Palace (palazzo dei Cavalieri), which once housed the headquarters of the Order of the Knights of St. Stephen, founded in 1562, and which was transformed by the famous architect Giorgio Vasari on the orders of Cosme I de Medici, now houses the Ecole normale supérieure (Scuola normale superiore di Pisa), founded by Napoleon in 1810. The Palazzo dell'Orologio (Palace of the Clock) and the church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, built in 1565 by Vasari, close this noble square, in the centre of which stands a 16th century fountain decorated with a statue of Cosme I. On the façade of the religious building stands a Maltese cross, symbol of the Knights of St Stephen. This order, both sacred and military, was subject to the rule of Saint Benedict and was responsible for fighting Muslim pirates in the Mediterranean. Inside, you can see a surprising coffered ceiling. The frescoes on the facade are also by Vasari. The Clock Palace is composed of two tower-houses (case-torri), the one on the right, the torre della Fame, is the one where Ugolino della Gherardesca, who established a tyranny in Pisa in 1286, died after being locked up there with his two sons.

Imposing red brick walls surround the city centre of Lucca, extremely well preserved and converted into a beautiful promenade. Formed by curtains and bastions, the Lucca fortifications celebrated their 500th anniversary in 2013! In the 19th century, this circle of fortifications, supposed to resist artillery, was transformed into a public park by the sister of Emperor Napoleon I, Elisa Bonaparte, and today forms a route ("passeggiata delle mura") of more than four kilometres very pleasant to discover, especially by bicycle.