Italian regions and cities you shouldn’t miss

Italian regions are blessed with various tourist attractions. Italy is widely known for its beautiful cities amongst its unique fashion, architecture, and also its beautiful sceneries. Undoubtedly, Italy is amongst the most anticipated travel destination for many tourists around the globe.

THE MOST POPULAR ITALIAN REGIONS

Let us consider the following destinations in Italy:

• Abruzzo

Abruzzo is geographically located in central Italy. The region has four administrative provinces, namely: Pescara, Teramo, Chieti, and L’Aquila. According to various organizations, Abruzzo is a statistical history, culture, and language aspect recognized in Southern Italy.

• Apulia

Apulia’s Italian name is Puglia.  Basilicata borders the Apulia region on the southwest, Molise on the northern side, and Campania on the western side. Bari is Apulias chief town. The area is bordered by various seas such as the Adriatic Sea and the lonian sea making it a re-known tourist destination during summer holidays.

• Basilicata

Basilicata is in Southern Italy and is home to the Lucanian people. The Basilicata has the Gulf of Taranto and Tyrrhenian Sea coastline. It is divided into two provinces, Potenza the capital city, and Matera. Basilicata borders Calabria, Apulia, and Campania.

• Calabria

Calabria region is found in Southern Italy, bordered by the Gulf of Taranto, Basilicata, the lonian sea, and the strait of Messina. Its region has a population size of around 2 million people. The area is estimated to cover about 15,222 square kilometres. Calabria region is especially famous for the Pollino national park, the largest park in Italy.

• Campania

The Campania region comprises Capri, the Italian peninsula to the southwest, and the Phlegraean Islands. As of the 2018 census, Campania’s population is estimated at 5.8 million people, making it the third most populated in Italy. Campania’s capital city is Naples, the seventh most populated in the European Union. Campania region hosts 10 UNESCO sites out of 58 located in Italian regions. Some of the best tourist attractions in Campania include Pompeii, Naples historic centre, Amalfi coast, Caserta Royal Palace, Mount Vesuvius, and Herculaneum.

MOST TOURISTIC ITALIAN CITIES

• Emilia-Romagna

Emilia-Romagna is located in Northern Italy. The region is famously known for its tourist attraction of the Emilia and Romagna historical regions. The capital city of Emilia-Romagna is Bologna. The region cover about 22,446km2.

Apart from its tourist attraction, Emilia-Romagna is known for its development and financial ability. The region GDP is the third highest in Italy. This region is one of the wealthiest because of the living standards and social services provision. The region also gets its wealthiest status from being home to popular automobiles such as Dallara, Maserati, Pagani, Ferrari, Lamborghini, De Tomaso, and Ducati. In 2018 Emilia-Romagna region was named by the lonely planet guide as the best tourist destination in Europe. On the other hand, Emilia-Romagna has the oldest university globally: Bologna. Great Italian cities to visit in the region include Ferrara, Modena, and Parma.

• Friuli Venezia Giulia

Friuli Venezia Giulia region has three-spoke languages: Slovene, Friulian, and German. The Friuli Venezia Giulia capital city is Trieste. The region covers 7924Km2 with a population of 1.2 million people. Some tourists usually confuse Friuli Venezia Giulia with Venezia (the city of Venice), although the city is located in a different region.

• Lazio

The Lazio region is located in the central part of Italy. Is home to a population of 5.8 million people, making it the second most people in the country. It is famous for its good economic standing as its GDP per year goes beyond €197 billion. Lazio is the second biggest economy in the region. Also, Rome, the largest city in Italy, is the capital of Lazio and has four more provinces, namely Frosinone, Rieti, Viterbo, and Latina.

BEST ITALIAN REGIONS TO LIVE

• Liguria

The region of Liguria is located on the northwest side of Italy and has Genoa as its capital city. The area is famous for its territorial mountains of the Apennines and the Alps. Liguria has an estimated population of 1.6 million people.

• Lombardy

Lombardy’s Italian name is Lombardia. The Lombardy region covers an estimate of 23,844 Km2 with 10 million people. The region is famous for its tourist attractions, including hosting 10 UNESCO sites and historical figures. Most tourists visit the region to see the Ambrose, Alessandro volta, Antonio Stradivari, Caravaggio, Pliny the Elder, Virgil, Claudio Monteverdi, Cesare Beccaria, Alessandro Manzoni, Paul VI, and popes John XXIII figures.

Lombardy is an important economic city as it contributes more than a fifth of the country’s total GDP.

• Marche

Marches Italian name is ‘market. Marche is a great hiking location as it’s most hilly, although it has river valleys. Marche is famous for its historic features, such as the 19th-century railway, the twisting roads, and Urbino Raphael’s birthplace.

Marche’s favourite dishes include Moscioli, Ascoli stuffed olives, Fish stew, Acqualagna’s truffles, Tagliatelle, Rabbit in porchetta, and Ancona’s Stockfish.

• Molise 

Molise famous tourists attractions include Museo Combat Road, War Museum WinterLine Venafro, Museo Internazionale delle Guerre Mondiali, Pontificia Fonderia di Campane Marinelli and Area Archeologica di Saepinum. It is known for dishes such as Fusilli, Tortarello, Cicerchie, Caciocavallo di Agnone, Signora di Conca Casale, and Pampanella.

• Sardinia

Sardinia, whose Italian name is Sardegna, is a great tourist location. Tourism attractions include Maddalena islands, Costa Smeralda, Cala Brandinchi beach, the old town of Alghero, the Nora and Tharros roman cities. It is also famous for its cuisine and one of its most famous dishes is the roasted suckling pig.

ITALIAN REGION FAMOUS FOR ITS DISHES

• Sicily

Sicily’s Italian name is Sicilia. Sicily is famous for various tourists destinations, amongst them the Taormina town which hosts resorts. Taormina, the pearl of the Mediterranean sea, is a favorite spot for excursions. Other places to visit include; etna, Ortigia, Ragusa ibla, Valle dei Templi, Favignana, Erice, Segesta.

Sicily known dishes include Gelato, Catanese dish, pasta alla Norma, Sicilian orange salad, and stigghiole.

• Trentino-South Tyrol

Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol (Italian name) is famous for dishes such as Schüttelbrot and Meraner Wurst.

Trentino-south Tyrol’s top attractions include Museo di Arte Moderna e gallery, Contemporanea Rovereto, Val di Genova, Gardens, and Schloss Trauttmansdorff Gardens.

• Tuscany

Toscana (Italian name) is famous for its culture, landscapes, and historic sites. Some famous cites to visit include the Uffizi and Palazzo Pitti museum.

Tuscany popular dishes include Acquacotta Meremmana, Panzanella, iconic Tuscan steak, Lampredotto, Crostini Toscani, Ribolitta soup,  and Trippa alla Tocana.

• Umbria

Umbria is the home of wine and food. Umbria’s popularity is because of its flavorful dishes such as salami, farro, lentils, olive oil, game birds, honey, chocolate, and grilled meat.

Umbria tourists attraction include Norcia, Monti Sibillini National Park, Todi, Spello, Lake Trasimeno, Narni, and Marmore Waterfalls.

• Veneto

Veneto’s popular dishes include Fagioli di Lamon, Asiago, Radicchio Rosso di Treviso, Soprèssa Vicentina, Vialone Nano Veronese Rice, Moeche, and Bassanos White Asparagus.

Veneto’s excellent tourist destinations include Venice Islands, Doge’s Palace, St. Mark’s Basilica, Murano, Grand Canal, and St. Mark’s Square.

• Aosta Valley

Valle d’Aosta (Italian name) top tourist attractions include Skyway Monte Bianco, Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso, Valle del Gran San Bernardo, Passerella Panoramica,  and Teatro Romano.

Aosta Valley is famous for its many dishes, including; fondue, Polenta concia, Vapelenentse soup, Valdostana ribs and Suede Civet. Don’t forget the Valdosta coffee, the sweetest in Italy.

CONCLUSION

Italian regions host various beautiful scenery from the beaches, hotels, UNESCO sites, historical cities and figures, and the host of the oldest university globally. Italy is a great travel destination, and while at it, learn Italian culture, language, and recipes. There’s just so much to do in Italy.

Would you like to know more about Italian culture and language? Discover these 30 basic phrases in Italian you need to learn!

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