Discover Italy: Cultural Heritage, Islands and Mountains

Italy can be explored through a variety of themes: archaeological sites, a long-established cultural landscape, volcanic islands and striking mountain ranges. At the time of access on August 25, 2026, the UNESCO country page listed a total of 62 World Heritage Sites inscribed in Italy; the number may change as sites are inscribed in the future. The following examples show how culture, nature and activities can be brought together when planning a trip.

Cultural Landscapes and Archaeological Sites

The Ligurian coast between Cinque Terre and Portovenere is a cultural landscape that reflects continuous human settlement in the region over the past millennium. In Cinque Terre National Park, a network of more than 120 kilometres of trails adds another dimension to this historical perspective: it includes different types of paths and allows visitors to explore the entire area. If you want to explore the region on foot, you will find not just a single trail, but a network of different routes.

Another way to explore history is to visit the Archaeological Areas of Pompei, Herculaneum and Torre Annunziata. The World Heritage Site comprises three archaeological areas with ancient cities, villas and other associated sites. They have been gradually excavated and opened to the public since the mid-18th century. The excavated area of Pompeii covers 44 hectares and provides a complete picture of an ancient Roman city. The three places are therefore part of a shared World Heritage Site, while the size and description of the cityscape refer specifically to Pompeii.

Archaeology on the Aeolian Islands

The Aeolian Islands form an archipelago of seven volcanic islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Archaeological Park of the Aeolian Islands extends across Lipari, Panarea, Filicudi and Salina. Its themes include prehistoric villages, Greek and Roman necropolises, and Roman baths. The islands thus offer an archaeological focus that differs from the broader picture of a single ancient urban site.

On Lipari, the Luigi Bernabò Brea Museum Complex stands on the volcanic rock of the Castello. Six pavilions document human settlements and successive civilizations in the Aeolian archipelago, from prehistory to the threshold of the modern era. Italian and English labels are provided for a quick visit; more detailed explanatory texts are available in Italian. This is useful to know when deciding between a brief overview and more in-depth texts during a museum visit.

Mountains and Volcanic Landscapes

The Dolomites are a mountain range in the northern Italian Alps. There are 18 peaks over 3,000 metres, and the mountain landscape covers 141,903 hectares. The Dolomites World Heritage Site is structured as a serial site comprising nine areas, and includes glacial landforms and karst systems. Its distinctive character thus encompasses individual peaks as well as different geological formations and component areas. Another mountain attraction, Dolomiti Superski, is Italy’s largest ski area.

Mount Etna represents a different type of landscape: it is the highest mountain on an island in the Mediterranean and the world’s most active stratovolcano. Etna is also home to terrestrial ecosystems with endemic flora and fauna. The Dolomites and Etna therefore offer different highlights: a mountain range with peaks, glacial landforms and karst systems on the one hand, and an active volcano with distinctive flora and fauna on the other.

Hiking and Cycling Routes

On Elba, the Tuscan Archipelago National Park manages a well-developed network of hiking trails, with routes for families as well as easy and challenging hikes. The Grand Trail of Elba connects most of the island’s trails and offers views of its geological, vegetational and morphological diversity. Trail conditions may change; check them before setting out. It is also helpful to distinguish between individual hikes and a route that links many of the island’s trails.

The Sentiero Italia CAI is a hiking trail almost 8,000 kilometres long that crosses all of Italy’s regions, including its two largest islands. It can also be explored in shorter sections. If you are looking for a cycling route rather than a hiking trail, Calabria’s Ciclovia dei Parchi della Calabria is 545 kilometres long and runs through Aspromonte, Sila, Pollino and the Serre. One is an almost 8,000-kilometre hiking trail crossing all of Italy’s regions; the other is a 545-kilometre cycling route through four areas of Calabria.

Food and Travel Planning

Italian cuisine varies from region to region, city to city and family to family, forming a diverse gastronomic mosaic. One specific product is Dolomiti Bellunesi DOP honey, which Apis mellifera produces from the nectar of local flowers.

For journeys between Milano and Venezia, Frecciarossa connects the two cities, stopping in Brescia, Verona, Vicenza and Padova. Check the service before travelling. When choosing a hotel location, your planned focus is a useful starting point: first decide whether an archaeological site, an island, or a specific hiking or cycling route will be the main focus. Then tailor your search to the actual destination of your trip.

Discover more destinations: Aosta Valley, Apulia, Basilicata, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Calabria, Campania, Lake Maggiore, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Abruzzo, Molise, Piedmont, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto, South Tyrol.