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Top 25 Historical Places to Visit in Italy

Italy is one of the major tourist attractions around the globe that is renowned for its artworks, galleries, Museum and churches. You can witness a wide collection of paintings, sculptures and artwork that are made by renowned artists. Starting from contemporary works to ancient masterpieces, there is something for every kind of lover.

Italy has over 100 best museums  where you can visit to explore the man made marvels that will leave you awestruck. There are museums where you need to purchase tickets for an entry,

whereas some museums offer you free entry. Around Italy there are different cities that have captured the attention of art lovers from different parts of the globe.      

Italy has the collection of some of the best museums around the world that attracts millions of visitors to visit Italy. Here is the list of top 25 museums in Italy that you must visit on your trip to Italy:

  • Uffizi Gallery
  • Galleria Borghese
  • Pinacoteca di Brera
  • Vatican Museums
  • Accademia Gallery
  • Museo Egizio
  • National Archaeological Museum of Naples
  • Galleria Colonna
  • Peggy Guggenheim Collection
  • Miramare Castle
  • The Sansevero Chapel
  • Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile
  • Galleria Borbonica
  • Museo Nazionale del Cinema
  • Palazzo Pitti
  • Sistine Chapel
  • Duomo Museum
  • Vittoriale degli Italiani
  • Galleria Doria Pamphilj
  • Jewish Museum of Rome
  • Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini
  • Musei Capitolini
  • Museo del Novecento
  • Castle Sant’Angelo
  • Museo Nazionale del Bargello

Table of Contents

Historical Places to Visit in Italy

Uffizi Gallery 

Uffizi Gallery, which is also called  Galleria Degli Uffizi, which is located in Florence. This museum has a high collection of valuable works that mostly belongs from the period of Italian Renaissance. This museum was designed back in the year 1560 by Giorgio Vaari for Cosimo I de’Medici, who was the second Duke of Florence. Some of the popular paintings that are present in the museum are Raphael, Titian, Albercht Durer, Michelangelo and Rembrandt.    

It is advised that you book your tickets in advance to avoid wasting your time in que for purchasing entry tickets on the day of your visit. 

Address: Piazzale degli Uffizi 6, 50122 Florence, Italy

Timing: Tuesday to Sunday ; 8:15 AM to 6 PM

Entry Fee: 22€

Galleria Borghese 

Galleria Borghese

Galleria Borghese was earlier called Villa Borghese Pinciana that was built back in the 17th century for Cardinal Scipione Borghese. This museum houses the collections of renowned paintings and sculptures that are made by famous artists during the baroque and renaissance period of time. Here you can admire the paintings of Titian, Rubens, Raphael, Caravaggio or the statues made by Bermini.    

Address: Piazzale Scipione Borghese 5 , 00197 Roma RM, Italy

Timing: Tuesday to Sunday ; 9 AM to 7 PM

Entry Fee: Free

Pinacoteca di Brera 

Pinacoteca di Brera

Pinacoteca di Brera has some of the finest masterpieces of artwork by both foreign and Italian artists from the 13th to 20th century that is located on the 1st floor of the building, where the Academy of Fine Arts is also present. Moreover, the museum building itself dates back to the 

Baroque period was built back in the 14th century following the Humiliati religious order. 

This Pinacoteca museum was established in the year 1809 by Napoleon Bonaparte. 

Address: Via Brera, 28, 20121 Milano MI, Italy

Timing: Tuesday to Sunday ; 8:30 AM to 6 PM

Entry Fee: 15€

Also Read: Best Places to Visit in Amsterdam

Vatican Museum 

Vatican Museums 

The Vatican Museum, also called Musei Vaticani is the home to the Sistine Chapel and has a huge collection of priceless masterpieces dating to different periods of time. It is one of the busiest and most spectacular museum complexes of Italy. This museum has 26 different museums that are spread over an area of 7 km that comprises antiques and arts secured by successive popes over the past centuries.

You can also witness the collection of classical statuary and rooms filled with the works of Michelangelo and Raphael. This museum was decorated in a lavish manner by Palazzo Apostolico. There are mainly two buildings, first is the actual Vatican palace and the other is Palazzetto di Belvedere that was built in the 15th century and these two buildings are joined by two long galleries. 

Address: Vatican city

Timing: Monday to Saturday (8 AM to 7 PM) ; Sunday (9 AM to 2 PM)

Entry Fee: 17€

Accademia Gallery

Accademia Gallery, which is also known as Galleria dell’Accademia, is a museum renowned for its sculptures made by Michelangelo, the great Renaissance artist. Some of the best works that are present in this gallery are David, St. Matthew, Prisoners and many more. Moreover, you can also witness the works of renowned artists like Orcagna, Allessando Allori, Andrea del Sarto, Pontormo, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Sandro Bottivelli.

This gallery is considered to be the best place for the admirers of the sculptures belonging to the Renaissance period. The latest addition to this museum is the section of musical instruments that offers one-of-a-kind masterpieces by Bartolomeo Cristofori and Stradivari.  

Address: Via Ricasoli, 58/60, 50129 Firenze FI, Italy

Timing: Tuesday to Sunday ; 8:15 AM to 6:20 PM

Entry Fee: 22.5€

Museo Egizio 

Museo Egizio

Museo Egizio is the world’s most oldest museum in respect of the collection of ancient Egyptian culture present in Collegio dei Nobili in Turin. This complex consists of a number of exhibition galleries, an open courtyard and academy of sciences. Over the past 2 centuries, this museum has undergone various changes. There are six distinct urban rooms each with unique quality, function and scale.

The largest urban room that is located at the central area of the museum is called Piazza Egizia. This museum was built back in the year 1824 and houses over 4000 years olds collections of paintings and artifacts such as statue of Sethy II weighing over 5 tonnes, Papyrus of Iufankh of length 1847 cm and display of 24 human mummies and 17 animal mummies. .  

Address: Via Accademia delle Scienze, 6, 10123 Torino TO, Italy

Timing: Monday (9 AM to 2 PM) ; Tuesday to Sunday (9 AM to 6:30 PM)

Entry Fee: 14€

National Archaeological Museum of Naples 

National Archaeological Museum of Naples

National Archaeological Museum of Naples that is also called Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (MANN) is one of the busiest and most visited museums in Italy. You can spot a huge collection of antique artworks and the first two floors of the museum are dedicated to the conservation of items from the cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii, which were destroyed in the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius back in 79 AD.

There are different mosaics and frescoes from Herculaneum and Pompeii depicting different events that took place in the past. From Pompeii, you will find mosaic of Faun’s house, highlighting the fight between the Persians and Alexander, mosaic from Cicero’s villa by Dioskourides.There are also statues and furniture’s from the Temple of Isis in Pompeii and there is also Villa dei Papiri from Herculaneum.        

Address: Piazza Museo 19, Napoli

Timing: Wednesday to Monday ; 9 AM to 7:30 PM

Entry Fee: 22€

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Galleria Colonna 

Galleria Colonna

Galleria Colonna is considered to be a jewel of Rome which was established in the 1600s by Cardinal Girolamo I Colonna and his nephew Lorenzo Onofrio. In the year 1700, the son of Lorenzo Onofrio, Philip II inaugurated this place. While taking a tour of the museum, you  must ensure to avoid a tight travel schedule,as the wide array of arts and artifacts will take you back to the past.

There are over 270 paintings present in this museum, some of which are The Rape of Europe by Albani Francesco, A Bishop Saint by Alemanno Pierto, Dead Christ Supported By Two Angels by Alfani Domenico Orazio, Portrait Of A Gentleman by Allori Alessandro, The Navity Of Jesus by Di Mariotto Bernardino and many more.  

Address: Galleria Colonna Street, Piazza SS, Apostoli, 66 Roma.

Timing: Friday (9:15 AM to 10:30 AM) and Saturday (9:15 AM to 1:15 PM) 

Entry Fee: 15€

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

Peggy Guggenheim Collection

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection is one of the most important museums of Italy where you can find North American and European art from the 20th century. This museum was the former home of Peggy Guggenheim, where you can view his collection from Rudolph B. and Hannelore B.

The sculpture garden is yet another place of temporary exhibitions that attracts visitors. One can witness both contemporary and modern art capturing different cultures via collaboration, educational initiatives and dynamic curatorial. This museum dates back to the 18th century and exhibits the architecture of the former palace along with the interesting collection of arts that has been collected over the years.   

Address: Dorsoduro, 701, 30123 Venezia VE, Italy.

Timing: Wednesday to Monday ; 10 AM to 6 PM

Entry Fee: 16€

Miramare Castle 

Miramare Castle

Miramare Castle is located outside Trieste from where you can enter the oasis of the Miramare Castle park and spend your leisure time amidst vegetation. Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Habsburg commissioned the entire Miramare Castle complex around the mid 1800s. The name Miramare was adopted from the Spanish word Mira el Mar, meaning look at the sea.

You can immerse into both historical facts as well as mother nature that are seen to be intertwined in this castle. This castle showcases its 20th century history around different parts of the castle and there is also a park that is spread over an expanse of 22 hectares offering a wide variety of monumental trees and plant species.    

Address: V.le Miramare, 34151 Trieste TS, Italy

Timing: Monday to Sunday ; 9 AM to 6:30 PM

Entry Fee: Free

Also Read: Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Italy

The Sansevero Chapel 

The Sansevero Chapel

The Sansevero Chapel was built around the 16th century to serve as the house of tombs of di Sangro family. The architecture of this chapel was given its present getup by Prince Raimondo di Sangro, who commissioned the finest artists to make the necessary changes in the interiors and exteriors of this museum in between 1749 to 1766. It is in this museum where you will find the incredible sculpture of Giuseppe Sanmartino,

Cristo Velato, which is a marble sculpture that is made of marble and is very realistic that will tempt you to lift the veil and view Jesus Christ underneath. There are also other artistic marvels that are present in this museum such as colorful frescoes by Francesco Maria Russo, Pudicizia by Antonio Corradini and Disinganno by Francesco Queirolo, which have remained untouched since the year 1749. 

Address: Via Francesco de Sanctis, 19/21, 80134 Napoli N, Italy

Timing: Monday to Sunday ; 9 AM to 7 PM ; Closed on Tuesdays

Entry Fee: 10€

Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile 

Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile

Museo Nazionale dell’Automobile is yet another must to visit museum if you love cars, as Italy is the birthplace of one of the global car manufacturers, which is Fiat, whose T stands for Torino, hence Turin is the perfect place for a car museum. This modern museum will offer you its precious collection of over 200 automobiles  starting from the 1892 Peugeot to 1980 Ferrari 308.

This museum will take you to an adventurous journey across the three floors, starting from the first floor where you can witness the car chronology, the second floor offers deep insights on the technical look of car design and the third floor shows the critical assessment of issues associated with automobiles such as congestion and pollution.

This museum was inaugurated back in the year 1932 and is located near the bank of Po river and was built upon the idea of Roberto Biscaretti di Ruffa and Cesare Goria Gatti.  

Address: Corso Unità d’Italia, 40, 10126 Torino (TO)

Timing: Monday to Sunday ; 10 AM to 6 PM

Entry Fee: 16€

Galleria Borbonica 

Galleria Borbonica 

Galleria Borbonica helps in highlighting the Bourbon tunnel and the surrounding underground environments that depicts the 500 years long history of Naples. This museum also helps in offering a close experience to the life of underground workers who used to work here early and recognize their magnificent works, despite their terrible experiences.

The bourbon tunnel is an ol underground passage that has been constructed to strengthen the military operations by connecting the military barracks with the Royal Palace in Naples. This tunnel in the 16th century has been converted into aqueducts that are located 100 feet below the ground.

Over the period of time this tunnel has lost its integrity as it was built at the time of the king, as later in the 1950s it was littered with water tanks, rusting vintage cars and discarded motorbikes, which were forgotten. In the early 2000s, the locals re-visited this tunnel by accessing through a staircase that was built back in the 189th century and then transformed the passageways into a tourist attraction and named it Galleria Borbonica.     

Address: Via Domenico Morelli, 61 C, 80121 Napoli NA, Italy

Timing: Friday to Sunday ; 10 AM to 5 PM

Entry Fee: 5€

Museo Nazionale del Cinema 

Museo Nazionale del Cinema 

Museo Nazionale del Cinema, also known as National Cinema Museum, is an amazing museum located in Mole Antonelliana, which offers you a remarkable tour of cinematic history. This building was designed back in the 19th century by architect Alessandro Antonelli and since then, it has served as an architectural symbol of Turin.

Some of the popular attractions that are put to display are the coffin used by Bela Lugosi’s Dracula, robe of Peter O’Toole’s from Lawrence of Arabia and black lace bustier of Marilyn Monroe.

At the center of the museum, you can also find ten interactive chapels that are dedicated to different film genres. The uniqueness of the exhibition layout is what attracts the visitors the most as the spiral towards several levels offers a spectacular presentation along with light and projection effects that helps the visitors offer immerse magic of cinema.

You will also be able to witness the secrets and tricks that are used by filmmakers behind the scenes that help a movie become more interactive and fantastic, starting from the shadow theater to the modern special effects.  

Address: Via Montebello, 20, 10124 Torino TO, Italy

Timing: Sunday to Monday (9 AM to 7 PM) ; Wednesday to Thursday (9 AM to 7 PM) ; Friday to Saturday (9 AM to 8 PM)

Entry Fee: 15€

Also Read: Historical Monuments to Visit in Italy 

Palazzo Pitti 

Palazzo Pitti 

Palazzo Pitti is a popular museum that is located at the foot of Boboli hill, which is past the Arno river. The building is divided into five museums over the three floors, namely, Museum of Costume and Fashion and the Gallery of Modern Art on the second floor, the Imperial and Royal Apartments and the Palatine Gallery on the first floor and Museum of Russian Icons and Treasury of the Grand Dukes on the ground floor.

This place was actually built by a wealthy Florentine banker, Luca Pitti, back in the 15th century and later the Medici family acquired this property which became their primary residence. In the year 1550, Cosimo I de’ Medici and his wife Eleanor of Toledo started living which soon made it the symbol of Medici’s power over Tuscany.

The internal decoration of this palace was completed in the 17th century by Sebastiano Ricci, Antonio Domenico Gabbiani, Pietro da Cortona and others. Hence, the grand architecture, extensive collection of artworks and lavish interiors makes it a must visit museum in Italy.  

Address: Piazza de’ Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy

Timing: Tuesday to Sunday ; 8:15 AM to 6:30 PM 

Entry Fee: 22€

Sistine Chapel 

Sistine Chapel 

Sistine Chapel is a part of the Vatican Palace, which was built by architect Giovanni dei Dolci in the year 1473 to 1481 for Pope Sixtus IV. One can witness the wall decoration consisting of portraits of popes, stories of Christ and Moses along with false drapes. This museum is famous for its Renaissance frescoes by Michelangelo, where millions of visitors around different parts of the globe visit every year.

Different official ceremonies of the Pope like baptism and conclave are held inside this chapel. One can witness the works of many renowned artists via their tapestries, paintings, sculptures and many more. Some of the popular artwork that you can witness inside this chapel are The Creation of Adam, The Vault of the Sistine Chapel and The Last Judgment.

This Sistine Chapel is said to be “the shrine of the theology of the human body”, as it consists of the art of Michelangelo who helped in translating the invisible beauty into visible forms. However, during the 16th century some of the paintings and the frescoes of the entrance wall had to be repainted.  

Address: 00120 Vatican City

Timing: Monday to Saturday (8 AM to 7 PM) and Sunday (9 AM to 2 PM)

Entry Fee: 25€

Duomo Museum 

Duomo Museum 

Duomo Museum is also called Opera del Duomo Museum, which is spread over 6000 square meters and divided into 28 rooms and three floors. The brilliant setting of the different artifacts helps in presenting a faithful sense for which the artifacts and artworks were created.

The museum was founded in the year 1891 and in the year 2015, the museum was renovated after which different artists have helped in enhancing the beauty of this monumental complex. It is one of the most important museums around the world

which is also the cradle of the Renaissance, as it houses some of the finest works of history along with its technological and architectural avant-garde along with its museographic equipment. Some of the precious works that have been kept in this museum are the original masterpieces that were created by Ghiberti, Brunelleschi. Donatello, Michelangelo and many others.  

Address: Piazza del Duomo 12, inside the Royal Palace.

Timing: Thursday to Tuesday ; 10 AM to 7 PM

Entry Fee: 31.50€

Vittoriale degli Italiani 

Vittoriale degli Italiani 

Vittoriale degli Italiani is the name of the home of the famous poet Gabriele d’Annunzio. The museum is spread over an area of 9 hectares, which consists of a mausoleum, museum, streets, outdoor theater, garden with waterfalls and waterways and the poet’s house. The house offers you a number of artifacts like chinoiserie, lacquer boxes, gilded ornaments, leopard skins, leather bound books and classical statues.

There are also many medals, banners and mementoes of D’Annunzio’s wartime exploits. By exploring Vittoriale degli Italiani, you can attain an understanding of the personality of d’Annunzio. Some of the astounding things that you can see in this place are a MAS96 submarine, Puglia military ship and a SVA plane.  

Address: Via al Vittoriale, 12, 25083 Gardone Riviera BS, Italy

Timing: Monday to Sunday ; 9 AM to 8 PM 

Entry Fee: 18€

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Galleria Doria Pamphilj 

Galleria Doria Pamphilj 

Galleria Doria Pamphilj or Doria-Pamphilj Gallery is located within the premises of the palace with the same name and was completed between the 15th century to 18th century. This palace was earlier the property of Della Rovere family and later in the 1601, it came under the possession of the Aldobrandini family and in 1647, after the marriage of Camilo Pamphilj and Olympia Aldobrandini, the palace came under the possession of Pamphilj family. In the year 1651, Giambattista Pamphilj built this gallery.

It includes paintings by Raphael , Titian , Domenichino , Parmigianino, Caravaggio, Annibale e Ludovico Carracci, Mattia Preti,Guercino, Guido Reni, Velazquez, Brueghel the Elder, Gaspard Dughet.   

Address: Via del Corso, 305, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Timing: Monday to Thursday (9 AM to 6 PM) and Friday to Sunday (10 AM to 8 PM)

Entry Fee: 17€

Jewish Museum of Rome

Jewish Museum of Rome

The Jewish Museum of Rome is situated inside the monumental complex of the Great Synagogue. When you walk across different rooms where you can see the reconstruction of Jewish life in Rome as it is the earliest settlement in the 2nd century just before entering the common era. The jewish community is believed to have resided in Rome for around 2200 years,

which makes it one of the oldest communities to reside outside Israel. The exhibits that are on display belong to the “Five Synagogues” building that actually dates back to the ghetto period (1555 – 1870). The rich collection present in the museum consists of marble works, records, historical documents, incunabula, manuscripts and liturgical furnishings.

During 1960, the display of the artifacts would be displayed in a single room, and in 2005, a new exhibit was inaugurated based on the cataloging of works. The museum is placed over an area of 700  square meters that has 7 rooms with different themes. This museum will offer you significant insights on the integrity of the socio-economic structure of the city by maintaining their own identity. 

Address: Via Catalana, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Timing: Sunday to Friday; 9:30 AM to 4 PM

Entry Fee: 11€

Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini 

Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini 

Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini will help you immerse yourself in ancient rome. There are three archaeological areas present in this museum, namely Domus, Baths and Temple. The name “Palazzo Valentini” was named after the banker Vicenzo Valentini, who purchased this building back in  the year 1827.

In the basement of this  museum you can find two large residences of an enormous temple from the imperial era and it was believed that this temple was dedicated to Plotina Divi and Trajan by Hadrian. There is another archaeological site at the basement of the palace called Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini that was discovered in the year 2005.

Some of the things that are well preserved inside this museum are amphorae for transporting wine, containers for cooking, plates for eating and ceramics for daily use. The present appearance of the museum is the result of the renovation that took place in between 320 AD and 350 AD.  

Address: Foro Traiano, 85, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Timing: Wednesday to Monday; 9:30 AM to 4 PM

Entry Fee: 12€

Musei Capitolini 

Musei Capitolini 

Musei Capitolini, also called Capitoline museum, dates back to the year 1471, when Pope Sixtus IV had donated a group of bronze statues. There is also a picture gallery that was made by Pope Benedict XIV back in the 18th century. The museum houses a wide number of collections of ancient sculptures that were made by great noble families in the past.

The collection of the Museum is seen to be displayed in two of the three buildings that contain the Galleria Lapidaria that leads to an arches which overlooks the Forum. Since 15th December, 2021, the museum has been hosting Visea, which is a cutting edge multimedia application which tells the story of the art of fresco painting.

On the first floor of the museum, one can spot a huge glass room that contains the statue of Marcus Aurelius as well as the remains of the Temple of Capitoline Jupiter. 

Address: Piazza del Campidoglio, 1, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Timing: Monday to Sunday ; 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Entry Fee: 18.50€

Also Read: Hill Stations to Visit in Italy 

Museo del Novecento 

Museo del Novecento 

Museo del Novecento i



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Top 25 Historical Places to Visit in Italy

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