Historical Attractions in Italy
From the birth of the Roman Empire in 29 B.C. when Julius Caesar's nephew, Octavius, declared himself Emperor Augustus to Benito Mussolini's dream of a new Roman Empire in the early 20th century, Italian history has been dominated by cultural, political, religious and military leaders. Imagine life in ancient times as you walk through the ruins of Pompeii, the Colosseum and the Forum and admire the architecture, artwork and religious icons in throughout Vatican City. Whether you are traveling through Rome, Naples, Pisa, Venice or Turin, Italy offers a wide selection of historical attractions to explore.
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The Ruins of Pompeii
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In addition to the many picturesque architectural masterpieces in Naples, the city is conveniently located close to Pompeii. The once thriving city of Pompeii was buried by a volcanic eruption from Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. but as you walk through the ruins it is easy imagine the ancient society. The cultural and religious center of the city was the forum, where elections, political speeches and official announcement were made. Markets were held in the Macellum, on the eastern side of the forum, while worshipers gathered at the Tempio di Giove in the northern section of the forum. In addition to exploring the Forum, be sure to view the frescoes at the Villa dei Misteri, located at the far northwestern edge of Pompeii.
Pisa
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One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy and situated close to the Tower is the Pisa Cathedral. The first stone of the cathedral was laid in 1093 and at the time, the primary architect was Buscheto. When the architect died during construction, he was buried within the structure. Buscheto's body has been entombed within the last blind arch on the left side of the facade and the facade was built by his successor, Rainaldo.
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Turin
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Explore the Museo Egizio to see the largest Egyptian Museum in the world located outside Egypt. The site of Museo Egizio is a 17th century palace originally built as a Jesuit school by the architect Guarino Guarini. The museum houses thousands of historic pieces, including statues, papyri and mummies. Also in Turin, visit the Cappella della Sacra Sindone and you may be fortunate to see one of the rare public displays of the famous Christian relic, the Shroud of Turin.
Ancient Rome
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In a city full of historical sites, it can be difficult to decide what to see first. One of the most popular historical Roman attractions is the Colosseum. Built in 72 A.D. and originally capable of holding up to seventy thousand spectators, the Colosseum is now just a skeleton of its former glory with three-fifths of the outer surrounding brick wall missing. Among the other historical sites, the Roman Forum and the Pantheon should also be on your must-see list. The Forum is the former political and social center of the Roman Empire, while the Pantheon, an ancient temple, was originally built in 27 to 25 B.C.
Vatican City
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Vatican City, the home of the Pope, offers many historic and scenic attractions, museums and artwork. View Porta Pinciana, the gate for the Aurelian Walls of Rome built in the beginning of the fifth century, Michelangelo's ceiling painting in the Sistine Chapel and the largest Church in the world, St. Peter's Basilica.
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