Architecture in Italy

A Guide for Travelers to Italy

Ancient Rome and the Italian Renaissance gave Italy a rich architectural heritage that influenced building design around the world. Follow these links for an architectural tour of Italy. Also find travel tips and resources to help you plan your Italian trip.

Top Ten Cities in Italy:

Every part of Italy brims with architectural wonders. Plan your tour to include at least one of these top ten cities in Italy.

Must-See Buildings in Italy:

Out of all the wonders Italy has to offer, which are not to be missed? Here are our top picks.

Ancient Ruins:

• The Roman Colosseum
• The Roman Pantheon
• Arch of Septimius Severus in Rome
• Alba Fucens (The Abruzzo) Ancient Settlement
• Ancient Pompeii

Buildings by Andrea Palladio:

• Palladio's Basilica
• San Giorgio Maggiore
• Palladio's Rotunda (Villa Capra)

Churches and Cathedrals:

• Cathedral in L'Aquila
• Basilica San Marco in Venice
• Trastevere Church in Rome
• Orvieto Cathedral
• The Sistine Chapel
• The Vatican Museums

Great Castles:

• Castles in Italy

Famous Landmarks:

• Tower of Pisa
• The Trevi Fountain in Rome

Important Periods and Styles in Italy:

• Classical
• Early Medieval
• Gothic
• Renaissance
• Baroque

Great Architects in Italy:

• Andrea Palladio
• Giacomo Vignola
• Michelangelo Buonarotti
• Giotto di Bondone
• Raphael Sanzio
• Filippo Brunelleschi

Styles Inspired by Italy:

• Victorian Italianate
• Renaissance Revival
• Neoclassical

Plan Your Trip to Italy:

• Where to Stay in Italy
• Two Week Itinerary
• Tour Books for Italy
• Rome on a Budget
• Florence on a Budget
• Venice on a Budget

About Architecture in Italy:

In ancient times, the Romans borrowed ideas from Greece and created their own architectural style. The 11th and 12th centuries brought a renewed interest in the architecture of ancient Rome. Italy's Romanesque style with rounded arches and carved portals became the dominant fashion for churches and other important buildings throughout Europe.

The period we know as the Italian Renaissance, or reawakening, began in the 14th century. For the next two centuries, a keen interest in ancient Rome and Greece brought a creative flourishing in art and architecture. The writings of Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio revolutionized European architecture and continues to shape the way we build today.