Italy is home to some of the most famous cities in the world. On this page is a list of the 10 most famous cities in Italy; included with the top 5 cities are a few interesting facts about each. These short descriptions include where the city is located, population, climate, and what tourist attractions are located there. There are links to more detailed information, written for both kids and adults, about several of these cities.
10 Most Famous Cities in Italy
Rome
Venice
Florence
Milan
Naples
Turin
Palermo
Genoa
Bologna
Salerno
Rome
Rome (called Roma in Italy) is the capital city of Italy.
Rome is famous for many things including its ancient Roman ruins, the Vatican, incredible museums, and countless works of art.
Rome's most popular tourist attractions include the Colosseum, Vatican City, the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon.
This city is located in central-western Italy.
The 2017 population of Rome is estimated to be just over 4 million people.
The Tiber River flows through the city.
Rome has a Mediterranean climate with warm to hot summers and cold winters.
Vatican City, an independent country, is completely inside Rome; making it the only country in the world found within a city.
Venice
Venice (Venezia in Italian) is the capital of the Veneto region of Italy.
Venice is located in north eastern Italy.
This city is built upon 118 small islands separated by canals and connected by bridges.
In 2014 the population was estimated to be 264,579.
Venice has a Mediterranean climate with cold rainy winters and hot humid summers.
Popular tourist attractions include the Grand Canal, St. Mark's Square, and St. Mark's Basilica.
Florence
Florence (Italian name Firenze) is the capital of the Tuscany region of Italy.
This city is located in northern Italy, 80 miles (129 kilometers) from the west coast.
Florence has a transitional Mediterranean climate which is generally very mild.
This city's 2016 population was estimated to be 383,083.
Florence is often referred to as the "birthplace of the Renaissance".
Florence has numerous points of interest including the Piazza della Signoria, the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), and the Galleria dell'Accademia.
In this city, you can view perhaps the most famous statue ever made, Michelangelo's David, located at the Galleria dell'Accademia.
Milan
Milan is the financial center of Italy; the national stock exchange is located there.
It is considered the fashion capital of the world.
This city is located in the Lombardy region of northern Italy.
Milan is one of the largest cities in Italy; the 2016 estimated population was 1,368,590.
Milan has a humid subtropical climate.
Leonardo da Vinci's famous mural The Last Supper is located in this city, at the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie.
A major tourist attraction in Milan is the La Scala opera house.
Naples
Naples (called Napoli in Italian) is located in southern Italy on the western coast, just north of the famous ancient Roman town of Pompeii.
This city is the capital of the Campania region of Italy.
Naples is the largest city located in southern Italy.
In 2015 the population was estimated to be 975,260.
Naples has a Mediterranean climate; with hot Summers and cool rainy winters.
Popular points of interest in this city include the Duomo di San Gennaro, the Royal Palace, and Castel Nuovo.