Destination Profile: Italy

Population: 60.1 million

Capital: Rome

Major language: Italian

Number of U.S. students who studied abroad in Italy during 2008/2009 academic year: 27,362

Popular cities with study abroad programs: Rome, Florence, Torino, Siena, Venice and Milan

What to see

Rome: With so much history, art and culture in this city there are countless things to do. Some of the main attractions include the Colosseum, an amphitheater built during the Roman Empire;  the Roman Forum, a valley that was used as a political and social center during the Roman Empire; the Pantheon, a Roman temple; the Spanish Steps at Piazza di Spanga; the Trevi Fountain; the artwork of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, of which the ceiling was painted almost entirely by Michaelangelo; and Saint Peter’s Basilica.

Florence: One of the most distinctive attractions in Florence is the Duomo, the cathedral of Florence with a dome. Near the Duomo is the Piazza della Signoria, the center of Florentine life that features sculptures such as Neptune’s Fountain and a copy of Michelangelo’s David. Another attraction is the Uffizi Gallery, which has a large collection of Renaissance art.

Torino: The site of the 2006 Olympics is home to the Mole Antonelliana, known as Italy’s Eiffel Tower. This city is full of plazas and churches. One of the more interesting churches is the Duomo di San Giovanni. The Shroud of Turin is kept on the altar of this famous church.

Siena: One of the main attractions in this medieval city is the Palazzo Pubblico and its tower. The Civic Museum houses many examples of Sienese art. Being that this city is in Tuscany, wine tours are often big attractions as well.

Venice: Famous for its canal system, Venice offers attractions such as St. Mark’s Basilica, Doge’s Palace, the church bell tower Campanile and a plethora of islands. Burano, Giudecca, Lido de Venezia, Murano, San Giorgio Maggiore Island and Torcello offer cultural experiences such as glass blowing.

Milan: This city is often described as fashion-focused. Besides shopping, the center of tourist activity is the Duomo of Milan. Another famous attraction is Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “The Last Supper.” This can be found in the church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. For soccer fans, this city is the home of two teams – AC Milan and Inter.

If you aren’t sold on Italy after reading about all these historical and cultural attractions, did I mention pasta and gelato?