If you ask an Italian where they are from, there’s a good chance that they will identify this by region.
Before unification in 1871, Italy was a collection of individual states, each with its own history, customs and local dialects. Today’s 20 administrative regions still carry that identity, and it shapes everything from the food to the architecture.
Knowing what each region offers matters when you’re planning a trip. I’ve put together a region-by-region summary below, drawn from my own visits over the years, to help you work out where to go.
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A to Z List of the Regions of Italy + Map
| REGION | POPULAR PLACES TO VISIT |
| Abruzzo | L’Aquila, Gran Sasso National Park, Parco Majella |
| Apulia (Puglia) | Bari, Alberobello, Lecce |
| Basilicata | Matera, Melfi |
| Calabria | Reggio di Calabria, Tropea |
| Campania | Naples, Capri, Ischia, Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius |
| Emilia Romagna | Bologna, Modena, Parma, Ferrara, Ravenna, Rimini |
| Friuli-Venezia Giulia | Trieste, Lignano |
| Lazio | Rome, Civita di Bagnoregio, Ostia Antica, Tivoli, Sperlonga |
| Liguria | Cinque Terre, Genoa |
| Lombardy | Milan, Bergamo, Brescia, Cremona, Lake Como, Lake Garda (western shore), Lake Maggiore, Mantova/Mantua |
| Le Marche | Ancona, Urbino |
| Molise | Agnone, Térmoli |
| Piedmont (Piemonte) | Turin, Alba |
| Sardinia (Sardegna) | Costa Smeralda, Alghero, Cagliari, Su Nuraxi di Barumini |
| Sicily (Sicilia) | Palermo, Catania, Taormina, Mount Etna, Siracusa |
| Tuscany (Toscana) | Florence, Siena, Pisa, Arezzo, Cortona, Chianti subregion, San Gimignano, Elba |
| Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol | Trento, The Dolomites |
| Umbria | Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto, Spoleto, Gubbio |
| Valle d’Aosta | Mont Blanc and Matterhorn, Gran Paradiso National Park |
| Veneto | Venice, Verona, Vicenza, Padua (Padova), Treviso, Lake Garda (eastern shore) |
For most travellers, it’s more useful to think of Italy in broad geographic bands rather than twenty separate names.
This guide starts in the industrial north, works down through the sun-drenched south, and finishes on the two island regions. Each entry gives a quick overview and my picks for its best-known destinations.
NORTHERN ITALY
Northern Italy is the country’s industrial and economic powerhouse. It’s also known for its jaw-dropping landscapes, including the majestic Alps and the Italian lakes.
This is where you’ll find two of Italy’s great cities: fashion and finance hub Milan, and Venice. The regional food here includes risotto, polenta and pesto
1. Piedmont (Piemonte)
Piedmont is in Italy’s northwest corner and combines history, food and mountains. Skiers head for its Alpine resorts, including Sestriere, which hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics. The region is known for wine, particularly Barolo and Barbaresco, and for the white truffles of Alba.
Turin, the regional capital, has grand architecture and world-class museums.
Where to visit in Piedmont:
- Turin – Baroque city that is the home of Fiat, Italy’s car manufacturing giant.
- Asti and Alba – centres for the production of Barolo and Asti Spumante
- Alpine resorts, including Sestriere, Bardonecchia and Limone Piemonte
2. Valle d’Aosta
Home to Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest peak, Valle d’Aosta is defined by its Alpine landscapes. This is the region for skiing, hiking or mountaineering.
The cuisine reflects its French and Italian roots, with dishes like fondue and Fontina cheese.
Where to visit in Valle d’Aosta:
- Alpine resorts on the south slopes of Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn (Courmayer, Bréuil-Cervinia)
- Gran Paradiso National Park – Italy’s oldest national park and home to the Gran Paradiso, the highest mountain entirely within Italy
- Aosta – the regional capital, known as the Rome of the Alps
3. Liguria
Liguria serves up a tasty dish of natural beauty, history and food along the Ligurian Sea. Its rugged cliffs and fishing villages are among the most photographed in Italy, and Genoa, the capital, is a historic maritime city.
The region is known above all for pesto and fresh seafood.
Where to visit in Liguria:
- Genoa – Italy’s historic port city and capital of Liguria
- Cinque Terre – UNESCO World Heritage-listed area of five colourful fishing villages set into the coastal cliffs: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
- Portofino – a picturesque fishing village and resort town known for its upscale shops, cafes and harbour
- Santa Margherita Ligure – a town known for its beautiful harbour and pastel-coloured buildings
4. Lombardy
Prosperous Lombardy is a dynamic mix of modernity and tradition. Milan, its capital, is a global fashion and financial hub, while Lake Como and towns like Bergamo add scenic contrast.
Local food includes risotto and creamy polenta.
Where to visit in Lombardy:
- Milan – home to the Duomo di Milano, Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper and world-class shopping
- Lake Como – an achingly picturesque lake studded with towns like Bellagio, Varenna and Como itself
- Lake Garda – Italy’s largest lake, famous for its clear waters and laidback lakeside towns
- Bergamo – a historic city with medieval architecture and artistic treasures
- Mantua (Mantova) – UNESCO World Heritage-listed city known as the Venice of Lombardy
5. Veneto
Veneto is best known for Venice, but it offers so much more. Three other Veneto cities that are more than worth at least a day each are Verona, Padua and Vicenza.
Beyond the cities, there’s the clear water and lakeside towns of Lake Garda, and the Prosecco vineyards further east.
Where to visit in Veneto:
- Venice – for its canals, St. Mark’s Square, Doge’s Palace and gondola rides your wallet won’t forget
- Verona – the city of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the Arena di Verona and the annual opera festival. It’s one of my favourite solo travel destinations in Italy.
- Padua (Padova) – home to one of Europe’s oldest universities and the Scrovegni Chapel with Giotto’s sublime frescoes
- Vicenza – UNESCO-listed for the architecture of Andrea Palladio
- Treviso – also known as “Little Venice” and a centre for Prosecco production
6. Trentino-Alto Adige
Trentino-Alto Adige has a dual identity. Trentino, with its capital Trento, has Alpine landscapes and lakes. Alto Adige (South Tyrol) has a German-speaking majority and the Dolomites.
The result is a mix of Italian and Austrian food and culture that you won’t find anywhere else in the country.
Where to visit in Trentino-Alto Adige
- Bolzano (Bozen) – the capital of South Tyrol (Alto Adige), known for its old town
- Merano (Meran) – a spa town, famous for its thermal baths
- Trento – the historic capital of Trentino, with the Dolomites as a backdrop
- Dolomites – UNESCO World Heritage-listed mountain range for outdoor enthusiasts and landscape lovers
- Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) – Europe’s largest high-altitude Alpine meadow
7. Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Bordering Austria and Slovenia, Friuli-Venezia Giulia has been shaped by a blend of Italian, Austrian and Slavic influences.
The region plays with a full deck: majestic Alpine scenery, vineyard-covered hills, Adriatic coastline and historic cities. Few non-Italian travellers make it here, which is much of the appeal.
Where to visit in Friuli-Venezia Giulia:
- Trieste – the regional capital, known for Piazza Unità d’Italia (Italy’s largest seafront square) and Miramare Castle
- Udine – celebrated for its Renaissance architecture and castle
- Aquileia – an ancient Roman city with archaeological remains, including a basilica with mosaics
- Grado and Lignano Sabbiadoro – popular coastal resorts with sandy beaches
8. Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna has a strong claim to being Italy’s food region. This is the home of Parmesan cheese, prosciutto, balsamic vinegar and the sauce that shares the region’s name. I usually base myself in Bologna, with Ravenna, Modena and Parma all within easy reach by train.
Its main cities, several of them UNESCO-listed, are steeped in history, and its Adriatic coast has plenty of seaside resorts if you want a couple of days by the sea.
Where to visit in Emilia-Romagna
- Bologna – the regional capital, with a well-preserved historic centre and one of the world’s oldest universities
- Ravenna – famous for its glittering Byzantine mosaics, including those in the Basilica di San Vitale, a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Modena – known the world over for its balsamic vinegar
- Parma – forever associated with Parma ham and Parmesan cheese, it also has a beautiful cathedral
- Rimini – the biggest and brashest resort on the Adriatic coast
CENTRAL ITALY
Central Italy is the part of the country most people picture: rolling hills, vineyards, historic towns. It’s home to Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio, and to Rome, Italy’s capital.
9. Le Marche
Le Marche sits on the Adriatic coast and stays off most people’s itineraries, which is a mistake. Its landscape looks like Tuscany’s, with quieter beaches and far fewer visitors.
Add the Renaissance city of Urbino and the town of Ascoli Piceno and it’s a region worth building a trip around.
Where to visit in Le Marche:
- Urbino – a UNESCO World Heritage site and the birthplace of Raphael
- Ancona – the regional capital, with a harbour and the Arch of Trajan
- Ascoli Piceno – famous for its stuffed olives (Olive all’Ascolana)
- Loreto – home to the Basilica della Santa Casa, a major pilgrimage site believed to house the Virgin Mary’s house
10. Abruzzo
Abruzzo is another overlooked region. Its Apennine peaks and national parks suit outdoor travellers, and it’s home to Gran Sasso, Italy’s highest peak, along with wildlife including the Abruzzo bear.
The food here is hearty: arrosticini (skewered lamb) and Montepulciano wine are the local staples.
Where to visit in Abruzzo:
- L’Aquila – the regional capital, known for its historic centre and the Fountain of the 99 Spouts
- Abruzzo National Park – Italy’s oldest national park, known for its wilderness, hiking trails and wildlife
- Pescara – a coastal city with beaches, a promenade and a modern marina
- Scanno – a village in the Apennines, famous for its traditional costume and its lake
11. Molise
Molise is one of Italy’s least-visited regions, known for its unspoiled landscapes, historic sites and slower pace of life.
Where to visit in Molise:
- Campobasso – the regional capital, home to the Monforte Castle
- Termoli – a coastal town with sandy beaches and a historic cathedral
- Agnone – known for its traditional bell-making craftsmanship
- Sepino – an ancient Roman town with a well-preserved theatre
12. Tuscany
For very good reasons, Tuscany is one of the most popular regions of Italy, It’s the birthplace of the Renaissance, home to Florence, Pisa and Siena, and its rolling vineyards and cypress-lined roads have inspired countless films.
Local food centres on Chianti wine, olive oil and rustic Tuscan cooking.
Where to visit in Tuscany:
- Florence – the regional capital is one of my favourite cities in the world and is lauded for its Renaissance art and architecture, including works by Michelangelo
- Pisa – so much more than its much-photographed Leaning Tower
- Siena – the setting for the Palio horse race and home to many artistic treasures
- Lucca – enclosed by Renaissance walls, one of Tuscany’s most appealing cities
- San Gimignano – a Medieval Manhattan, known for its towers, and a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Chianti Wine Region – say no more
13. Umbria
Umbria, Italy’s so-called Green Heart, is one of my favourite regions. It’s known for medieval hill towns like Assisi and Orvieto, and is a quieter alternative to Tuscany.
Where to visit in Umbria:
- Assisi – a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for the Basilica of St. Francis
- Orvieto – Known for Orvieto Cathedral, its labyrinthine underground city and eponymous white wine
- Perugia – the regional capital, which hosts an annual chocolate festival (well worth going to!)
- Spoleto – a gorgeous Umbrian city that hosts the annual Spoleto Festival
- Lake Trasimeno – Italy’s fourth-largest lake
14. Lazio
For many travellers, Lazio equals Rome, but it offers much more than this.
The capital and nearby sites like Ostia Antica and Tivoli hold onto the Roman Empire, while northern Lazio was the ancient Etruscan heartland. To the west, the Tyrrhenian Sea brings long coastlines and good beaches.
Where to visit in Lazio:
- Rome – Italy’s capital is stuffed with world-famous landmarks like the Colosseum and the Pantheon, and world-beating art collections, such as those in the Borghese Gallery and the lesser-known Palazzo Doria Pamphilj
- Ostia Antica – one of the best archaeological sites in Italy, offering insights into daily life during the Roman Empire
- Tivoli – known for Villa d’Este and its Renaissance gardens, and Hadrian’s Villa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Sperlonga – a popular coastal town with beautiful beaches, a favourite with weekending Romans
- Civita di Bagnoregio – perched precariously on a cliff, the so-called “Dying Town” is a unlike anywhere else in the region
SOUTHERN ITALY
The south of Italy, or Mezzogiorno, can feel like a different country to the north and centre.
The mountains and rolling hills give way to rugged coastlines and fertile farmland, shaped by centuries of exchange with the wider Mediterranean and Arab world. You’ll hear a mix of dialects and regional languages here too, including Neapolitan.
15. Campania
Campania attracts the lion’s share of visitors to the south of Italy. Greek, Roman and Etruscan civilisations all left their mark here, and the Amalfi Coast is a UNESCO-listed stretch of dramatic cliffs and villages like Positano and Sorrento.
Local specialities include Neapolitan pizza and creamy buffalo mozzarella, followed by limoncello straight from the freezer, of course.
Where to visit in Campania:
- Naples – the regional capital known for its vibrant street life and pizza
- Pompeii – the most famous ancient Roman city, preserved under volcanic ash after Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD
- Herculaneum – Pompeii’s neighbour, in some ways more compelling despite being less well known
- Amalfi Coast – colourful towns tumbling down the cliffs to the crystal-clear waters of the Bay of Naples
- Naples’ Islands – Capri is the most famous, but Ischia and Procida are worth the ferry ride too
16. Calabria
The “toe” of the Italian boot mixes rugged coastlines, untouched beaches and mountains. Its history is reflected in ancient artefacts like the Bronzi di Riace statues, and its traditional villages still feel far removed from the tourist trail.
Don’t miss the spicy ‘nduja sausage and fresh seafood.
Where to visit in Calabria:
- Tropea – a coastal town, known for its clifftop views, beaches and historic centre
- Pizzo – known for its Tartufo ice cream, considered by some to be the best in the world
- Reggio Calabria – home to the National Archaeological Museum and the Bronzi di Riace statues
17. Basilicata
This lesser-known southern region has rugged landscapes and the unique cave dwellings of Matera, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its national parks are worth the detour if you like the outdoors.
The food is simple and good: orecchiette with turnip greens is the dish to try.
Where to visit in Basilicata:
- Matera – the most famous destination in Basilicata, known for its ancient cave dwellings known as “Sassi”
- Craco – a medieval ghost town sitting atop a hill
- Pollino National Park – Italy’s largest national park
18. Puglia
Puglia, in the “heel” of Italy, has a history shaped by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Normans. I travelled around by train and bus without much trouble, and the coastal line between Bari and Brindisi makes it an easy region to explore without a car.
It’s best known for its whitewashed trulli houses, especially in the town of Alberobello.
Where to visit in Puglia:
- Alberobello – a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its trulli houses
- Lecce – a Baroque city, often called the “Florence of the South”
- Bari – the regional capital, offering a mix of history and modernity
- Ostuni – known as the “White City”
THE ISLANDS
The journey through Italy’s regions ends with its two autonomous island regions: Sardinia and Sicily.
19. Sardinia
I am longing to return to Sardinia, Italy’s second-largest island. Its pristine beaches, rocky cliffs and coves draw the crowds, but venture inland for its rugged interior that teems with wildlife.
Sardinia also has unique archaeological sites: more than 7,000 nuraghi, Bronze Age stone towers built by the island’s Nuragic civilisation, still stand across the island.
Where to visit in Sardinia:
- Costa Smeralda – the playground of Sardinia, famous for its luxury resorts and gorgeous beaches
- Cagliari – Sardinia’s capital city has Roman ruins and a pretty waterfront
- Alghero – a coastal town with fortified walls. Don’t miss the Grotta di Nettuno (Neptune’s Cave) nearby.
- Nuraghe Su Nuraxi – the best preserved Nuragic complex on the island
20. Sicily
The architecture, food and traditions of the Mediterranean’s largest island have been shaped by the many civilisations that ruled it, and Sicily’s archaeological sites bear witness to that history. It’s also home to Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano.
Where to visit in Sicily:
- Palermo – the regional capital, mixing architectural styles, from Arab-Norman to Baroque
- Taormina – – perched on a hilltop, known for its ancient Greek theatre
- Agrigento – home to the Valley of the Temples, including the Temple of Concordia
- Siracusa – known for its Greek and Roman ruins and the island of Ortigia
- Catania – a lively city with Baroque architecture
- Cefalù – a coastal town with a medieval core and a Norman cathedral
And That’s a Wrap!
I hope this guide helps you plan your next Italian trip. I’ve visited most of these regions over the years, and there are still a few I’m looking forward to seeing for myself.
For more on Italy, take a look at:
I’VE WRITTEN THIS ITALY SOLO TRAVEL GUIDE!
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- Plan Your Trip – with curated itineraries, budgeting and how to get around
- Explore Awesome Destinations – guides to the must-see cities of Rome, Florence, Venice and Naples
- Stay Safe as a Solo Traveller – practical safety advice, empowering you to confidently navigate Italy and avoid common pitfalls
- Enjoy Eating Out in Italy – essential tried-and-tested solo dining tips
About Bridget
Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.
Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.
To get in touch, email her at hello@theflashpacker.net or follow her on social media.