4 Beautiful Faces of Italy: Where to Find Them

If you’re planning a visit to Italy, I have found from experience that there are four categories of gorgeous locations to see. I would recommend visiting at least one of each type, and there are plenty to choose from because Italy is so rich in culture, history, art, and even science. To help you get started on deciding where to go based on the constraints of your trip – budget, time, and energy – I’ve compiled descriptions of the four types of locations with an example for each. These places are truly awe-inspiring and I can’t do them justice with words, but I hope that you’ll be inspired to experience them for yourself.


Religious Sites
You’ll walk right past beautiful religious sites every day as you travel through Italy, but there’s one that stands out in aesthetic wonder and historical interest. The tranquil basilica of San Miniato al Monte in Florence is a site you won’t want to miss. It stands at one of the highest points in the city and offers a beautiful view while showing off its exalted place at the top of the list of most gorgeous churches in the country. And if you’re looking for a fascinating story to go along with it, you’re in luck – legend has it that Saint Miniato was beheaded for being a Christian, but then he carried his own head up to the site where the basilica was later built. Be sure to watch for the famous mosaic of Christ between the Virgin and St. Minias, which was constructed in 1260, about 200 years after construction began on the basilica itself.


World Heritage Sites
Let the natural beauty of Italy overwhelm your senses when you visit the Orto Botanico, or Botanical Garden, in Padua. It became a World Heritage Site in 1997 because of its incredible history as the first botanical garden, constructed in 1545. The original layout has been preserved, representing the world with its circular shape and ring of water running around the circumference. Interestingly, it has always served scientific purposes and continues to do so today, contributing to valuable research done in the fields of botany, chemistry, medicine, ecology, and pharmacy. You would never guess its practical usefulness by observing its beauty, but this incredible garden manages to serve multiple purposes while preserving a fascinating piece of Italian history.


Museums and Archeological Sites
There’s certainly no shortage of historical sites to visit in Italy, and many of them are famous as tourist attractions, such as the Leaning Tower of Pisa and Pompeii. But in order to experience Italy’s historical richness without the modern-day reminders of tourism, you might have to try going somewhere a little more obscure. That’s not to say that famous attractions aren’t beautiful and inspiring, but it’s tough to imagine being in a different period when people are snapping pictures all around you. To transport yourself to another time and place, try visiting Selinunte, a Greek archaeological site on the southern coast of Sicily. Before it fell to the ruins you see today, Selinunte held five temples on an acropolis, but the only one that’s been re-erected is the fifth temple. The city was once progressive and powerful, but it was destroyed in just ten days by a Carthaginian army that took advantage of an ongoing conflict to strike while Selinunte’s defenses were down. A massacre of over 16,000 Selinunte inhabitants occurred, with the survivors enslaved and the rubble abandoned. Today, there’s a strange tranquility to the ruins, and you’ll be inspired to spend some time in reflective thought when you visit.


National Parks
The natural beauty of Italy is apparent in its 24 national parks, and your visit wouldn’t be complete without visiting one. For a truly engaging experience, you can select the largest marine park in Europe: Arcipelago Toscano. You’ll get to visit the park’s seven main islands, with a few minor islands and cliffs thrown in for good measure. Each island is different, from composition to wildlife – the islands range from volcanic to granitic, with a wide variety of shapes, and they each support spectacular endemic species of flora and fauna. Leaf-fingered geckos and strawberry trees are just a few of the incredible wonders being preserved in Italy’s oldest marine park. This gorgeous national park would make a perfect ending to your Italian adventure, so be sure to append it to your itinerary.
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The above guest post was written by Maria Rainier, a freelance writer and blog junkie. She is currently a resident blogger at First in Education, researching various online degree programs and blogging about student life. In her spare time, she enjoys square-foot gardening, swimming, and avoiding her laptop.