Skip menu
This content was automatically translated. View the original text（https://www.italia.it/it/italia/cosa-fare/arte-cultura）.
Search Nearby
View all
View all regions
Close
Filter by
Back
Search
Share
Like
Find out more
View list
Explore map
Art & Culture in Italy
Close
Map
Close
Explore the vibrant art and culture of Italy. Visit enchanting works of art and immerse yourself in its thousand year old history
From the archaeological ruins of Rome and Pompeii, or the picturesque villages of Tuscany, Italy is a land rich in art and culture. Immerse yourself in Italian historical sites and its many UNESCO sites, for a cultural journey discovering the homeland of some of the most important painters, sculptors and architects who have left an incredible mark on history.
Like
Theatre
Shakespeare 2026
01/01/26 - 31/12/26
Verona
Learn more（https://www.italia.it/en/veneto/verona/things-to-do/shakespeare-2026-event-verona）
Like
Art and culture
Elliott Erwitt exhibition in Bologna
01/10/26 - 28/02/27
Museo Civico Archeologico
Learn more（https://www.italia.it/en/emilia-romagna/bologna/things-to-do/event-exhibition-elliott-erwitt-bologna）
Like
Art and culture
Viva Varda!
05/03/26 - 10/01/27
Bologna
Learn more（https://www.italia.it/en/emilia-romagna/bologna/things-to-do/event-exhibition-viva-varda-bologna）
Like
Art and culture
Les Modernes. From Matisse to Bacon
08/10/26 - 14/02/27
Venaria Reale
Learn more（https://www.italia.it/en/piedmont/turin/things-to-do/event-exhibition-les-modernes-2026-turin）
Previous
Next
Shakespeare 2026
Elliott Erwitt exhibition in Bologna
Viva Varda!
Les Modernes. From Matisse to Bacon
View all（https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/events）
To be inspired
By millions of experiences
Art（https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/art-culture/art） Villages（https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/art-culture/villages-borghi） Monuments（https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/art-culture/landmarks-sculptures） Museums（https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/art-culture/museums） Archeological Sites（https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/art-culture/archaeological-sites） Unesco Sites（https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/art-culture/unesco-world-heritage-sites-italy） Theaters（https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/art-culture/theatres） Cinema（https://www.italia.it/en/italia/cosa-fare/arte-cultura/cinema）
Not to be missed
Art & Culture
Highlights
Museums and monuments
Unesco sites
Archaeological sites
Theaters
Handicraft & Design
Villages and Art Cities
Cultural cities Like Bologna: young, cultured and welcoming It is 'the learned', because in 1088 it saw the birth of the first university in the western world, which still today attracts students from around the world. It is 'the red' because of the characteristic colour of its roofs, visible from the top of its medieval towers. And it is 'the fat' – you just try to resist the temptation of a sandwich stuffed with fresh mortadella or a dish of piping hot lasagna! 4 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/emilia-romagna/bologna/guide-history-facts）
Cultural cities Like Matera: the wonderful UNESCO World Heritage site Sassi of Matera Matera, a rare jewel of Basilicata, is an enchanting miracle of time. Visiting this Lucanian city is like reliving a glorious past. It resembles a small and delightful nativity scene, which is why it is known as 'the second Bethlehem', providing a backdrop for films such as Pier Paolo Pasolini's The Gospel according to St. Matthew and Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. 4 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/basilicata/matera/guide-history-facts）
Spirituality Like Emilia Romagna: where the Via Francigena becomes culture Passing by historic villages, cities of art, holy buildings and monuments, the Via Francigena in Emilia Romagna is a journey of culture, art and considerable beauty, enriched by deeply felt traditions going back thousands of years: 5 unmissable places of discovery. 2 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/emilia-romagna/things-to-do/via-francigena-emilia-romagna）
Art and culture Like Lombardy: 10 treasures you may wish to explore in the city of Milan and its surrounding areas It would all seem very easy, but an inevitable dilemma derives from the immense cultural heritage of the capital of the Lombardy region and the surrounding districts that are literally dotted with historic buildings, sculptures, art collections and charming villages. Where should we begin? We would suggest you try this essential list of wonderful sites. 2 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/lombardy/milan/things-to-do/top-works-of-art-in-lombardy）
UNESCO Like Genoa and the splendour of Palazzi dei Rolli Thanks to its strategic position, Genoa established close relations with the Greek, Etruscan and Punic worlds, but the city's great expansion began after the year 1000. As a powerful maritime republic, Genoa was the protagonist of a public aristocratic residential project to build a system of new streets and palaces. The historic centre was already densely populated and limited by the conformation of the urban area, the sea on one side and the Apennine mountains on the other. The solution found was ingenious and destined to influence urban architecture for centuries: the new palaces were articulated on several levels, with loggias, courtyards of honour and a tendency towards vertical architectural development. This was how Palazzi dei Rolli was conceived, built along the Strade Nuove that still today make Genoa a true architectural jewel to be admired. Are you ready for the journey into Renaissance and Baroque luxury that only Genoa can offer? 4 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/liguria/genoa/things-to-do/genoa-strade-nuove-and-palazzi-dei-rolli）
Museums and monuments Like St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums Right in the middle of Rome, within the Vatican City rises the magnificent St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world. Its impressive dome stands out over all the other roofs of the Eternal City, while the Vatican Museums know that what they hold inside goes beyond the value of the Sistine Chapel alone. 4 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/lazio/rome/things-to-do/st-peters-basilica-and-the-vatican-museums）
Learn more（https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/art-culture/landmarks-sculptures）
UNESCO Like Siena and the understated charm of its historic centre Siena is nestled among the Tuscan hills. A cultured city and an ideal destination for food lovers, Siena captivates visitors even from a distance. UNESCO has described it as “a masterpiece of dedication and inventiveness, in which the buildings were designed to fit into the overall layout of the urban structure”’, and in 1995, it was inscribed on the World Heritage List for having skilfully preserved key features of its medieval layout: a historic centre enclosed by ancient city walls built between the 14th and 16th centuries, and a main square, Piazza del Campo, which is truly breathtaking due to the number of monuments and sites to be admired. 5 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/tuscany/siena/things-to-do/siena-historic-centre）
UNESCO Like San Gimignano, a journey through the charm of the Middle Ages and the magic of Nature Amidst the vineyards, wheat fields and ancient villages, it is a worthy representative of the Tuscany of Chianti and Val D'Orcia, where unmistakable flavours and good, traditional cuisine reign supreme. Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1990, San Gimignano lovingly preserves the atmosphere of a fourteenth-century village and the appearance of one of the best examples of urban organisation since the age of the communes, or city-states. Its unmistakable towers dominate a landscape that deserves more than a visit to discover it. 4 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/tuscany/siena/things-to-do/san-gimignano）
UNESCO Like Pienza, the Ideal City Considered the ideal city of the Renaissance, it was built on the wishes of Pope Pius II, who was born in this area to parents who were members of a noble Sienese family. Recognised as a Unesco site in 1996, it is a marvellous testimony to the urban standards of the Renaissance: the rational organisation of its spaces and the unparalleled perspectives of its 16th-century squares and palaces captivate the visitor's gaze. 4 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/tuscany/siena/things-to-do/pienza-the-ideal-city）
UNESCO Like Montecatini Terme, historical thermal centre in Tuscany Among the Italian jewels recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site there is also one of Europe's great spa towns, Montecatini Terme, in the heart of Tuscany, surrounded by cities of art such as Florence, Pisa and Lucca. Wonderful and easy to get to. 4 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/tuscany/pistoia/things-to-do/montecatini-terme-unesco-grandi-terme-europa）
Art and culture Like 13 February is the World Day of Radio The centrality of radio as a medium is marked by an international anniversary: 13 February. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has named it World Radio Day and the initiative goes far beyond the celebration. Throughout Italy, there are numerous associations of amateurs, audiophiles and collectors who, together with institutions, have helped to create radio museums, small and large treasure troves where you can retrace the evolution of radio and listen to voices and music from a century of national history. Powered by: 6 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/world-radio-day-13-february）
UNESCO Like The ancient Italian beech forests, primeval forests and a temple of nature Stretching from Emilia Romagna to Basilicata, they belong to the transnational Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe. These precious ancient beech forests spread across the Apennines represent a true journey through history: they date back to the end of the last Ice Age, after which they spread across the globe, offering an exploration immersed in pristine nature. 3 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/basilicata/potenza/things-to-do/ancient-beech-forests）
Learn more（https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/art-culture/unesco-world-heritage-sites-italy）
Archaeological sites Like Tour through archaeological Campania from Pompei to Herculaneum, Aeclanum and Pausilypon Campania is one of Italy’s regions where ancient history is most deeply intertwined with the landscape, art and everyday life. From Roman cities buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius to an ancient town along the Appian Way and villas overlooking the sea in Naples, the region’s archaeological heritage offers a journey through centuries of civilisation, cultural exchange and territorial transformation. Visiting the archaeological parks of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Aeclanum and Pausilypon means exploring four distinctive sites that share the ability to bring the ancient world to life through places, buildings and material evidence. These destinations are ideal for history enthusiasts, families travelling with children, archaeology lovers and visitors wishing to discover a less familiar side of Campania, beyond its best-known attractions. 5 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/campania/things-to-do/archaeological-parks-campania）
Nature Like The Murgia Materana Park The Murgia Materana Park was established in 1990 with the name of Parco Regionale Archeologico Storico Naturale delle Chiese Rupestri del Materano (Natural Historic Archaeological Regional Park of the Rock Churches of the Matera region). This is the spectacular Italian rocky landscape which best testifies the ancient relationship between man and nature in southern Italy. 2 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/basilicata/murgia-materana-park）
Villages Like Squillace, Badolato and Roccelletta di Borgia: Three delightful towns in central Calabria Aside from its 800 km of coastline, Calabria is a mountainous region, and its geography has deeply influenced its history and culture. It is primarily in the inland areas that you find ancient hilltop villages, offering a vantage point for exploring the plains and the coast. If you wish to experience authentic Italy, we encourage you to keep reading… you won't be disappointed! Powered by: 9 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/calabria/things-to-do/central-calabria-visit-tour-historic-villages）
UNESCO Like Discovering the archaeological area of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata This jewel near Naples, in Campania, which lets you travel back in time, has long held the record as the most visited place in the world. The archaeological area of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata is among the 58 Italian UNESCO sites in the World Heritage List. It never ceases to amaze, giving you the opportunity to explore the extent of the commercial city of Pompeii, the fewer but better-preserved remains of the ancient town of Herculaneum and the frescoes of the Villa Oplontis in Torre Annunziata, which portray the opulent lifestyle of the wealthy classes at the beginning of the Roman Empire. 4 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/campania/things-to-do/pompeii-herculaneum-and-torre-annunziata）
UNESCO Like Cilento, between unspoilt beaches, wild nature and charming hamlets As a crossroads of peoples and a treasure trove of ancient traditions, the territory is rich in chestnut and holm-oak forests, streams and hamlets overlooking the sea or built on rocks. Here, we find some masterpieces included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998: the magnificent Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, with the archaeological sites of Paestum and Velia and Certosa di Padula. Hidden beaches, small fishing villages, unspoilt nature and rich archaeological evidence make Cilento an irresistibly fascinating destination. 3 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/campania/things-to-do/cilento）
UNESCO Like Aquileia, the Ruins and the Basilica An ancient metropolis of the Roman Empire and later the main centre for the spread of Christianity in northern and eastern Europe, Aquileia today offers a unique and enthralling sightseeing experience. The extent of its archaeological area and the importance of the role played by its Patriarchal Basilica are the reasons for its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Powered by: 4 minutes（https://www.italia.it/en/friuli-venezia-giulia/things-to-do/visit-aquileia-top-6-things-do-see）
Learn more（https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/art-culture/archaeological-sites）