My Favourite Photos of Italy to Inspire Your Next Adventure

ByAlex Tiffany Posted on Updated on

Italy is unique and iconic – a country brimming with beauty, passion, and a healthy dose of chaos.

From Tuscany’s rolling hills to Puglia’s sun-drenched beaches, it’s a true feast for the senses.

I’d struggle to name my favourite place in Italy. There are just too many!

One of my most special trips to Italy was a surprise visit my partner organised for my birthday a few years ago.

It was late January, and there were hardly any tourists. The city, however, was buzzing with people dressed in masquerade costumes and masks, preparing for the upcoming Venice Carnival.

We wandered the city on foot for hours. The canals were shrouded in mist, pierced only by the sound of water lapping against stone, the distant tolling of bells, and figures gliding past in traditional Renaissance and Baroque costumes.

Some people even went all-in on fantasy and cosplay outfits.

It was bizarre – but magical. I’d never seen anything like it.

Over the years, I’ve been lucky to visit Italy many times. It’s the kind of place you can return to again and again and still uncover something new.

Whether you’re exploring the medieval hilltop villages of Umbria, hiking in the Dolomites, sailing along the Mediterranean coastline, admiring art in Florence, sipping wine in Tuscany, or marvelling at the countless ancient ruins (Rome, Pompeii, Tivoli, Verona – the list goes on), Italy is an exquisite destination.

It’s a country where history and modern life blend (almost) seamlessly. A place of adventure, wonder, warmth, and spontaneity.

The food’s not bad, either.

Need help planning your next trip? Hire me as your Personal Travel Planner!

A foggy evening scene with a row of gondolas docked in front of beautifully lit historic buildings, their warm glow reflecting off the water in Venice.

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A blurry figure walking on a Venetian square at night, with dimly lit buildings along the canal reflecting light on the water.
A quiet, misty Venetian alley lined with brick buildings, street lamps glowing softly in the distance.
A serene Venetian canal with brightly colored buildings reflected on the water, and small boats moored alongside a wooden bridge.
A dark, narrow canal in Venice illuminated by a single lit window and glowing street lights, with boats floating quietly in the water.
A tranquil, narrow canal with rustic boats docked along weathered buildings in Venice, with colorful laundry hanging on a line.
A wide Venetian canal at sunrise with historic buildings lining the water, bathed in soft, golden light.
A scenic view of snow-capped mountains in the Dolomites, framed by a rustic wooden fence and a bare tree, with patches of snow visible in the valley below.
A lone, leafless tree standing in the middle of a snowy landscape with a backdrop of distant snow-covered mountains under a clear blue sky.
A narrow street in Naples, decorated with festive hanging lights, where people ride motorbikes along cobblestone roads surrounded by historic buildings.
A dimly lit, narrow street in Italy at night, with orange streetlights illuminating the steps and a lone person walking up the stairs.
The ancient ruins of Pompeii, with a snow-capped Mount Vesuvius towering in the background under a cloudy sky.
The grand amphitheater in Pompeii, with rows of stone seating and brick ruins, surrounded by trees and mountains in the distance.
A silhouette of a statue of a centaur holding a spear, set against a dramatic sunset sky in the ruins of Pompeii.
A cobblestone street lined with ancient ruins in Pompeii, with a distant view of a snow-covered Mount Vesuvius under a golden sky.
A panoramic view of Naples, Italy, with Mount Vesuvius in the background, overlooking the bustling city and its harbor.
Alex Tiffany taking a selfie at a snowy mountain ski resort in the Italian Alps, wearing a helmet with a "snowspace" sticker, with ski lifts and equipment visible in the background.
A peaceful scene on the shores of Lake Como in Italy with boats docked on the water and houses nestled along the hills, with green mountains rising in the distance.
A winding mountain road in a lush green landscape in Italy, with trees and bushes lining the path and distant peaks visible under a partly cloudy sky.
A colorful mural on a wall in Milan, featuring historic figures like Napoleon, with rows of parked bicycles and a man helping a child with a bike.
A grand indoor shopping gallery in Milan with an ornate glass dome ceiling, intricate architecture, and a crowd of people walking and browsing stores, including luxury brands like Louis Vuitton.
A street scene in Milan, Italy, with tram tracks running through a narrow road lined with colorful buildings and scooters parked along the sidewalks. In the distance, an archway is visible.
A serene sunset over a calm sea with dramatic clouds in the sky, casting a warm glow over distant mountains and the horizon.
A view from a boat’s cockpit as it sails through open water, with rugged mountains visible on the horizon, under a clear blue sky.
A panoramic view of a coastal area on the Costa Smeralda in northern Sardinia with deep blue water and scattered sailboats. The shoreline is dotted with rocky formations and greenery.
A close-up of a uniquely shaped rock formation with natural holes and curves, set against a bright blue sky.
A bright yellow sailboat on calm waters, surrounded by rocky hills and lush greenery under a clear sky.
A tranquil sunset over the sea with two yellow kayaks tied to the back of a larger boat, the water gently reflecting the orange hues of the setting sun.
Alex Tiffany smiling and steering a sailboat on a sunny day, with a backdrop of open blue ocean and a clear sky.
A playful scene where a woman in a car reaches out toward a curious donkey peeking through the open window, with dry fields visible in the background.
A wide view of a coastal landscape in western Sardinia with rolling hills, scattered greenery, and a few sailboats in the calm blue waters. The sky is clear and blue, with soft light illuminating the scene.
A panoramic view of a sandy shoreline extending along a rugged coastline. The waves gently lap against the shore, and small settlements are visible in the distance under a clear blue sky.
The ancient ruins of a Nuragic village in Sardinia, with circular stone structures scattered across the dry landscape, surrounded by distant fields and olive trees.
A close-up view of stone walls forming the remains of a Nuragic tower, with views of rolling farmland and hills stretching into the distance.
A detailed view of a medieval-style brick archway and walls decorated with faded frescoes, depicting various coats of arms and religious figures, inside a historic building.
A wide-angle shot of Piazza del Campo in Siena, Italy, with crowds of people walking through the large square, surrounded by historical buildings and dominated by the tall Torre del Mangia under a cloudy sky.
A misty landscape with an ancient stone castle perched atop a hill, surrounded by a village of rustic buildings and rolling green mountains partially hidden by thick fog.
An ornately carved stone archway featuring decorative sculptures of figures and symbols, overlooking a distant valley with a dramatic cloudy sky as the sun begins to set.
A majestic fountain in Tivoli's Villa d'Este, with large water jets shooting up from multiple levels surrounded by greenery and historical architecture, under a soft blue sky with clouds.
A formal garden with tall, slender cypress trees lining a walkway leading up to a grand villa in the distance. The garden features neatly trimmed hedges and a golden light hitting the scene.
A grand garden scene in Tivoli's Villa d'Este at sunset, featuring tall water fountains in the foreground, perfectly aligned rectangular pools, and well-manicured hedges leading into the distance, with a backdrop of trees and a colorful sky.
A stunning coastal view on the Amalfi Coast at sunset, with the sun's golden rays illuminating the sea and the rugged cliffs, with lush green trees framing the scene and a coastal town visible in the distance.
A closer view of a steep coastal mountain covered with green trees, leading down to a small, densely packed town built along the cliffside with white buildings, bathed in soft sunlight.
Another view of the Amalfi Coast with calm seas, steep cliffs, and a partly cloudy sky.
A view of the center of the ancient hilltop city of Matera, Italy with tightly packed stone buildings with beige facades, stacked on different levels, creating a picturesque and historic urban landscape under a clear sky.

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Essential Travel Resources


🛏️ Book cheap hotels
I always use Booking.com to find the best hotel deals. Vrbo is great for short-term apartments.

🚗 Find cheap rental cars
Check both Discover Cars and Rentalcars.com to find cheap rental cars.

🌍 Book the best tours
Viator and GetYourGuide have a huge selection of tours in virtually every destination worldwide.

✈️ Find cheap flights
I use a combination of Skyscanner and Google Flights to find cheap flights.

📱 eSIMs
Airalo is my favourite travel eSIM provider – I’ve used it in over 10 countries and really rate it. So much easier than buying physical SIM cards when you travel!

🚑 Do I need travel insurance?
YES! Never travel without adequate travel insurance. It’s just not worth the risk.

• SafetyWing – if you’re a digital nomad like me, SafetyWing is super flexible and affordable. You can sign up for as little or as long as you want, and activate and deactivate it whenever you need to. I’ve made several claims in the last few years and thoroughly recommend this company.

• World Nomads – for adventurous travellers, covers 200+ activities that many other insurers won’t, such as skydiving, heli-skiing, rock climbing, rafting, scuba diving, cliff jumping, and kiteboarding (not available for residents of every country – check here).

💻 Do I need a VPN?
YES! Always use a VPN when using public WiFi (in airports, cafes, hotels, stations, etc.). This helps protect your personal information and also bypasses internet censorship and restrictions in certain countries. I use NordVPN and highly recommend it.
Alex Tiffany

Alex is a former lawyer and an expert in off-the-beaten-path travel. Originally from the UK, Alex has explored over 70 countries independently, from hitchhiking in East Africa and Central Asia to road-tripping across Europe and the USA. He loves hiking, camping, and discovering lesser-known destinations.

Alex's writing and photography have been featured in many leading travel publications. He's passionate about sharing his travel expertise with others and encouraging people to step out of their comfort zones and travel more adventurously.

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