City: Italy
Top Things to do in Italy
The 10 Best Free Things to do in Italy, Italy
Coordinates: 43°N 12°E / 43°N 12°E / 43; 12
Restaurants in Italy
1. Val d'Orcia
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 423 reviews
Reviewed By SJWilson - Rome, Italy
Here’s a nice, winding, country walk we did from Gallina to Montichiello in beautiful Val d’Orcia, which you can do if the Orcia is pretty dry and is easy to cross. There’s nothing much in Gallina, but you might be in an agriturismo nearby, you never know, there are so many. All references to Google maps! Right, so walk straight up Via del Colombaio with the local church there on your left. Keep going up, cross the road that curves back right towards the industrial area, and follow the country track round to your right, passing a ruined house to your left. Follow the track all the way up to a nice-looking agriturismo called Locanda in Tuscany and turn left there along the country road between fields, heading towards another agriturismo called La Rimbecca, passing the driveway in front of you up to agriturismo Poder Nuovo and turning right. Yes, lots of agriturismos round here! Walk up to Rimbecca, another nice looking place, head right towards the main gate, then cut left across the car park, where you’ll find a nice long, straight tree-arched alley running down left, probably once the original driveway, and walk straight down it towards the River Orcia. Follow the curve of the road left, passing what looks like an old mill on your right, and you’ll come to the river bank. We did the walk in summer, so there wasn’t much river, just a few large puddles. Climb down into the riverbed and head left, after about 200 metres on the opposite bank you should see an exit point. We had to paddle across one of the puddles, very refreshing on the toes. About 10 metres up this track you’ll find two paths heading left, both going in the direction you want, the first running closer to the river, the second skirting the trees. Take your pick! They meet up near the river, where you continue along the main path and at a certain point, on the right, you’ll find another long straight path heading up towards the main road, Strada Provincial 53 and, yes, another agriturismo/farm called Le Checche. Cross the road and head up past the farm, the road curving round right behind it, then curving back left as you follow it up towards Villa Il Tiglio and a lovely property called Casanova, with a beautiful plump blonde horse and his sheep mates in residence if you want to say hello and nobody objects. But the main road passes under these properties, with a small body of water on your left, following a really lovely country path, my favourite of the day. You’ll come to a bend with a driveway to a house on your right, follow the bend round left and you’ll see a road heading right that goes up past two very nice little properties, highly covetable. After the second of these, when we were there, the actual road seems to vanish into a field with a hedgerow on your right, and the path should continue up to the right of that hedgerow, on the other side. But we found it pretty overgrown, so carried on up the fields with the hedgerow to our right, to the road that passes Aurora Festival on the right, where a nice lady refilled our water flasks. Continue straight on, till you pass Agriturismo Fonte Senesi on your left. Take the second road on your left, which leads down towards the main road, Strada Provinciale 88. Then all you have to do is follow that up as it evolves into Viale Marino Cappelli, which curves round left and leads you up to the main gate into the lovely little town of Montichiello! It was a very very hot day when we walked there so we immediately stopped at the nice little garden bar on the right just before arriving at the gate and had some very welcome cold beer and ice-cream.
2. La Citta Alta
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8,014 reviews
Reviewed By 537gwynethr - Altrincham, United Kingdom
Cita Alta, Bergamo's old town, is the most amazing place. I spotted it whilst travelling from Bergamo airport to the train station and cut short a visit to Milan to go and see it and I am so glad that I did. It is the most wonderful old town, full of cobbled streets and a wonderful piazza with wonderful historical buildings. A great place to wander around and sit and have a drink and watch the world go by. Very atmospheric. It's worth a detour to visit if you fly into Bergarmo and very easy to get to. Just take the No.1 bus (first bus stop as you leave the arrivals hall and signposted Bergamo. Get off at the Funiculare stop ( just ask anyone) and then take the funicular train up to the old town. Depending on traffic this takes 20-30 mins from the airport. You can leave your luggage at the airport but do not follow the left luggage signs as that takes you on a detour. From the arrivals hall cross straight into the carpark and then on the left you will see the carhire office. The left luggage facility is part of that building.
3. Il Sentiero Degli Dei
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,817 reviews
Reviewed By moot1 - Bristol, United Kingdom
I've wanted to do this walk for years ,and finally I got the chance. I was not disappointed. We were blessed with beautiful sunny February weather. It takes a fair bit of travelling from Sorrento, but the walk was actually easier and quicker than I'd thought. We walked the route from Nocelle back towards Positano. We used the sunflower guide which I highly recommend. We took the higher route - where the path goes off to the right by a house with a cross in the garden - the signage takes you to the lower route at this point, but apparently the higher route is more spectacular which makes sense, and it was certainly very lovely! The cafe at the end of the route is basic but has a beautiful view too so a good place to stop off before doing the steps down to the road, which was definitely the more tiring bit of the walk. We caught the bus back to Sorrento from a stop at the bottom of the steps rather than in Positano.
4. San Benedetto market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 475 reviews
This open-air market in Sardinia's principal city is noisy, busy, colorful and lots of fun.
Reviewed By 294mariay - Chester, United Kingdom
Loved this place - sights, smells, bustle, amazing food! Mix with the locals and spend a fraction of what you would in a restaurant .. we loved buying up lots of little portions of Salami, breads and cheeses (you can also try first !). The seafood market is out of this world.. market sellers very friendly and patient with our rubbish Italian and will throw in a freebie or bargain. Great for photographers too!
5. Ortigia
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15,488 reviews
This offshore island was occupied by the Greek colonists who fortified it and constructed the earliest structures, including the temples of Athena and Apollo, whose remains can still be seen today.
Reviewed By pedrol366 - Madrid, Spain
This is a really beautiful island next to Siracusa (you can access it by car) with really beautiful streets, a magnificent Piazza del Duomo with beautiful buildings and where you can enjoy Sicilian gastronomy. Its streets are full of wonderful corners, shops and restaurantes... it is worth a visit if you are in the eastern part of Sicily
6. Menaggio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 277 reviews
This attractive resort, located on the western shore of Lake Como, is a joy for outdoor enthusiasts who may be tempted by wind surfing and water-skiing on the lake, as well as golf and horseback riding in the countryside.
Reviewed By lakecomolakeview - Acquaseria, Italy
From our apartment in Acquaseria we took the beautiful walk along the lake to Menaggio (3.5 km). In the charming town of Menaggio we visited some nice shops, went to the tourist office and sat on a terrace overlooking the lake where we saw the Ferry arrive and depart. We really like that Menaggio is so close to Acquaseria.
7. Piazza delle Erbe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,227 reviews
It's no wonder that this is one of the most historic and picturesque squares in Italy: in antiquity, it served as a Roman forum; today, it contains many historic buildings, sculptures with a popular and colorful market overflowing with fresh fruits and vegetables.
Reviewed By Colincfc - Maidstone, United Kingdom
Lovely little square with plenty of restaurants, shops & market stalls, can get busy at times, great area for having a drink & people watching
8. Piazzale Michelangelo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33,242 reviews
This 19th century piazza has undoubtedly the best panoramic view of Florence. The square is decorated with copies of Michelangelo's sculptures, but it's the view people come here to see.
Reviewed By 224lorie - Bonita Springs, United States
Many friends recommended that we get some food, a bottle of wine and go to the top of the Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sunset and see the fantastic views of Florence as the sun sets and the lights of Florence go on. It did not disappoint. We walked there and found it to be a good walk but don't recommend walking it if you're not a walker. While it was very crowded, that did not take away from the experience. We are very happy we had this experience!
9. Piazza Maggiore
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,773 reviews
Reviewed By nwaf247 - London, United Kingdom
The Centre of Bologna to meet or stroll or sit with drink or visit many of the historic sites surrounding The Piazza. Should be first stop when you arrive for first time.
10. Basilica San Nicola
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,373 reviews
Reviewed By RCZ953 - Paola, Malta
Beautiful church and highly evocative because of the story behind its dedication to Saint Nicholas, which is very much part of Bari's identity.
