20 Top Tourist Attractions in Italy

In the eyes of most travelers, you haven't been to China if you haven't climbed the Great Wall. One of the iconic symbols of China, the Great Wall is the longest wall in the world, an awe-inspiring feat of ancient defensive architecture. Its winding path over rugged country and steep mountains takes in some great scenery. It deserves its place among "the New Seven Wonders of the World" and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in China. The wall spans from China's western frontier to the east coast, totaling around 5,000 km (3,100 miles), but the most integrated and best preserved sections are close to Beijing. So this is what people usually mean when mentioning the Great Wall of China.

The Terracotta Army has laid underground for more than 2,000 years. However, in 1974, farmers digging a well uncovered one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world. In 1987 it became World Cultural Heritage. It is significant because the hundreds of detailed life-size models represent the army that triumphed over all other Chinese armies in the Warring States Period (475?221 BC), and who were the decisive factor in forming a united China. It raises interesting questions about why it was made, which await your consideration when you come face-to-face with soldiers of the past.

It was once a "palace city" where ordinary people were forbidden entry. An extravagant demonstration of ancient Chinese architecture, over 8,000 rooms with golden roofs are elegantly designed and painted in red and yellow. The Forbidden City was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties for 560 years till 1911. 24 emperors lived there. World Cultural Heritage, and now known as ?the Palace Museum' among Chinese, it is a treasure house of Chinese cultural and historical relics. It is recognized as one of the five most important palaces in the world (with the Palace of Versailles in France, Buckingham Palace in the UK, the White House in the US, and the Kremlin in Russia).

The Bund is one of the most recognizable architectural symbols of Shanghai. It showcases the world with its colonial European buildings and skyscrapers the other side of the Huangpu, housing one of the world's foremost business districts. The Bund was Shanghai's most prosperous area in late 19th century and early 20th century. When the first British company opened an office at the Bund in 1846, it became the epitome of elegance.

The karst landscape along the Li River has captured the heart of artists. Generations of Chinese painters and poets have been inspired by the beauty of nature there, using their pens and brushes to capture the breath-taking natural scenery. Nowadays it's a popular photography destination. When Chinese travelers seek a place for natural beauty, they first think of Li River and Yangshuo. The 83-kilometer-long section of the Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo is the most beautiful. The river landscape is decorated with startling hills, steep cliffs, and farming villages, and is lined with bamboo groves. The Li River was listed as one of the "World's Top Ten Watery Wonders? by America's National Geographic Magazine. Several world famous figures have visited the Li River, including former US Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush (senior), and Bill Gates.

The giant panda is not only deeply loved by the Chinese, but by many foreigners too, and not just children. Although there are many zoos in China and elsewhere, where you can see a giant panda, the best place to see them is Chengdu ? the giant panda's "hometown". There are three places you can see pandas close up: Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center, Dujiangyan Panda Valley, and Bifengxia Panda Base. Chengdu Panda Center is in the north of the city, and is more established. Bifengxia Panda Base is 2 hours from Chengdu, has more pandas, and you can see pandas more in their natural habitat. You can get even closer to the pandas by taking a volunteer program in Bifengxia or Dujiangyan Panda Valley, an hour outside Chengdu.

In east China, close to Shanghai and Hangzhou, the Yellow Mountain Scenic Area woos travelers with its five wonders: sun rises, seas of clouds, oddly-shaped rocks, twisted pine trees, and hot springs. The Yellow Mountains are the most famous peaks in China, and one of China's three best national parks ? the other two being Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Jiuzhaigou National Forest Park. Compared to the two other national parks, Yellow Mountain National Park is easier to access, and, naturally, more popular and busy. Jiuzhaigou in west China's Sichuan Province is famous for its multicolored lakes and fall foliage; Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is well-known for its grotesque rock pillars. If you are looking for world-class scenery, consider going to all of them.

The Potala Palace is a symbol of Tibet. In 1994 it was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. It is a huge treasure house of materials and articles from Tibetan history, religion, culture and art. The palace is widely known for the precious sculptures, murals, scriptures, Buddhist statues, antiques, and religious jewelry housed within.

The view over Victoria Harbour from Victoria Peak is to Hong Kong as climbing the Great Wall is to China; it offers the iconic outlook over Hong Kong's "high rise" to success and prosperity. Victoria Peak is the best spot to have a bird's eye view of Hong Kong. Viewed from the peak, both day and night scenes are worth taking in. See high-rise buildings round the busy Victoria Harbour stretching out towards Mainland China. At night the scenery is gorgeous, when the Symphony of Lights of various buildings dances in unison.

Hangzhou is renowned as China's "paradise on earth" owing to its beautifully crafted landscape. West Lake was created after the Chinese love for garden-style parks for recreation. West Lake is a place of tranquility where urbanity becomes a silhouette on the northeast horizon and mountains near and far surround it on the other three sides. The occasional pagoda and Chinese-style arched bridge add atmosphere to the tree-lined walkways, verdant islands, and hills. To admire the beauty of West Lake, visitors can leisurely bike around the lake, walk around the lake, or take a short cruise on the lake.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, also known as La Torre Pendete, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy. Tourists love to take funny pictures with the tower like they are pushing the tower with their hands or legs and bending it. Actually the tilt of the tower made it the most famous. The tower was built over a 177 years of time. In 1173, when the construction of the tower started for the first time, the tower started to sink because of a defectively laid foundation, causing the tilt we currently see. Around a century later, in the second half of the 14th century, the construction of the tower was completed. From 2001, tourists are allowed to climb up the stairs of the leaning tower to have a amazing view of the entire Pisa city.

In many other top 10 tourist attractions in Italy lists, you won?t find Da Vinci?s Last Supper (Il Cenacolo). But if you are an art lover and don?t want to miss the magnificent work of great Da Vinci, you got to keep it in your visiting list. ?The Last Supper? is Da Visci?s visual interpretation of an event narrated in all 4 of the Gospels. The famous wall painting, measuring 15 x 29 feet (460 x 880 cm), depicts the evening before Jesus Christ was betrayed by one of his disciples. He gathered everybody to eat his last supper and to tell them that he knew what was coming. He showed all his disciples how to eat and drink in his tribute. The painting is located on the wall of the dining hall beside the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, on the western periphery of central Milan.

The Pantheon in Rome is a monument with the maximum number of records. The monument has the largest brick dome, said to be the best preserved and mostly copied monument in the entire world. It is also the ancestor of all contemporary places of worship. All these records make Pantheon one of the most popular tourist attractions in Italy. The building was commissioned by Marcus Agrippa at some stage in the reign of Augustus (27 BC ? 25 BC) and reconstructed by Domitian around 80 A.D. The Pantheon merges a noticeably Roman, cylindrical structure with the marvelous outer row of pillars of Greek insight.

The Roman Forum, located between the Roman Colosseum and Piazza Venezia, is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the entire planet. From the ancient days, the forum, being located in the central square of urban settlement, is the heart and soul of Rome city. This rectangular shaped structure is surrounded by a number of significant ancient government buildings. The forum might not look as charming and attractive as many other attractions in Italy, but if you know the significance of the place in Roman history, you should love beholding every bit of it. For centuries, it was the center Roman public life: the nucleus of commercial affairs; the venue for criminal trials, gladiatorial matches and public speeches; the place of jubilant processions and elections. From the wonderful terraces of Campidoglio, the most astonishing panoramic view of the whole Forum complex can be observed. Every year 4.5 million local and international tourists visit this historically significant location in Rome.

?Cinque Terre? means five lands. Situated in the Italian locality of Liguria, Cinque Terre is five beautiful small coastal villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia and Riomaggiore. As I mentioned in the introduction, Italy is not famous for its archeological sites only. These five small villages are renowned for their beauty, completely natural beauty without the touch of modern development. The villages are connected by paths, boats and trains and even cars from outside can?t reach these villages. The coastal sides of these villages provide a spectacular view of the Mediterranean sea. So, in no way one can leave out Cinque Terre from the list of top ten tourist attractions in Italy.

Based in Rome in Italy, Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. Vatican became a sovereign country even after being located in another sovereign country, Italy, by the Lateran Treaty of 1929. There are a total of 11 museums inside Vatican City in addition to residence of Pope. St. Peter?s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel are two other significant attractions inside Vatican City. The museums feature some of the world?s most renowned sculptures and paintings. Even specific attractions such as St. Peter?s Basilica or any of the museums within Vatican can be listed in this top ten tourist attractions in Italy list. So, in no way, one can leave out Vatican City or one of its major attractions from a top attractions in Italy list.

Trevi Fountain, known to be the most beautiful fountain in the world, is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome, Italy. Due to its beauty, you should find Trevi fountain in any top ten tourist attractions in Italy lists found online. There is a legend that if a tourist throws a coin in into the fountain, he or she is ensured a return to Rome. This amazing masterpiece of Italian art that we see today was designed by Nicola Salvi in 1732 and competed in 1762. But the site formerly marked the terminal at the Aqua Virgo aqueduct constructed in 19 BC.

In the 79 AD?s eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the city of Pompeii and nearby areas was mostly buried and destroyed under 13 to 20 ft (4 to 6 m) of pumice and ash, and consequently preserving the city in its condition from that historic day. Excavation of the city of Pompeii has provided a marvelous view and insight of people living there around 2000 years ago. Currently, Pompeii is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Italy. Every year, around 2.5 million tourists visit this ancient city of Pompeii.

Having more than 150 canals and being called as ?The City of Water?, Venice wins the crown of best water city of among all water cities around the world. Grand Canal, Romantic gondolas along with Italian architecture helped Venice earn this rank. The romantic charm of all its canals attracts both local and international tourists. Canals of Venice are something that you got to admire at the end of your Venice tour. Most tourists will rank Canals of Venice in the top of top ten tourist attractions in Italy. Maybe my love for archeological sites makes me rank Colosseum on top.

What comes to your mind when you hear about Italy? The Colosseum? Yes?. It is one of the most stunning archeological sites in the entire world. A visit to Italy without visiting the Colosseum is completely incomplete. The construction of the Colosseum was initiated by Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty in 72 A.D. and was completed by his son Titus in 80 A.D. When it was up and running, it had the capability of holding around 50,000 audiences who could enter the structure through as a minimum of 80 entrances. The remains of the Colosseum that we see today give us enough understanding of how beautiful it was when it was up and running. Therefore, I put The Colosseum at the top of this list of top ten tourist attractions in Italy.