Heading to Europe on a backpacking trip? Then I highly recommend spending a week or two in Italy to get a taste of its famous gelato, focaccia, pasta, historic architecture, and so much more. One of my all-time favorite countries.
This post is a collection of my places and photography from backpacking around Italy for 10 days.
Cinque Terre Coastal Villages
The colorful architecture juxtaposed with lush hillsides and gardens made photographing Italy an amazing experience. It is pretty hard to get home from a Italy trip with bad pictures, even with too much wine.
Travel in the shoulder season (April/May and October/November) for more affordable prices and still an excellent experience in Cinque Terre. A big plus is there are less crowds throughout the villages.
The coastal walkway between the five Cinque Terre villages is some of the best day hiking in Italy. Located in the La Spezia region of Italy, the hike goes from the villages of Campiglia to Monterosso al Mare.
Riomaggiore
Colorful Riomaggiore village, with its historic houses and stores built directly into the hillside. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea with its bustling boats and fisherman at the water’s edge. Be sure to grab some gelato from a street vendor, they’re everywhere in Riomaggiore.
We saw a funny sign during lunch that said, lunch break, be back whenever. So funny but also typical for the laidback Mediterranean vibe that Riomaggiore exudes.
Vernazza
Anyone up for a boat ride? Vivid green countryside of Vernazza is one of my favorite towns in Italy.
With its sparkling blue waters and sometimes color, it is definitely hard to take your eyes off of the stunning architecture and natural scenery surrounding Vernazza.
Florence
Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy because of its many churches and intricate architectural details.
Every building in Florence was stunning, but especially the beautiful churches, plazas, and buildings along the canals.
Sienna in Tuscany
Located in the middle of Tuscany, the town of Siena was one of my favorite places in Italy. Cobblestone streets, winding alleyways, friendly people, and beautiful countryside. And not to forget the delicious authentic pizza.
The train from central Rome takes around 4 hours, and departs frequently every day. You can rent bikes when you get to Siena, so no need for a rental car.
Climbing the staircase of one of the town’s tallest church steeples affords you an amazing view of Siena and the surrounding countryside.
The tiled roofs and intricate details are perfect for photos with a telephoto (zoom) lens.
Rome
Looking up at the ancient arches and majestic columns of the Colosseum in Rome is a bucket list experience that I’d recommend for everyone.
It is humbling to be in the presence of a structure which construction started for in 70 AD. That’s over 1,900 years ago! And to think this is where gladiators battled.
Opened in 1762, the Trevi fountain was one of my favorite parts of Rome. And that’s a tough decision in one of the world’s most historic and architecturally-rich cities. Of course, I also like that it was named pretty much in my honor.
The Vatican
Within Rome, the Vatican is a must-visit destination in Italy. Seeing the Pope speak from the balcony is a classic experience regardless of your religious beliefs. You will need tickets, so be sure to pre-book to avoid long lines the day you want to visit the Vatican palace.
Venice
You could spend an entire week getting lost in the alleyways and along the canals of Venice.
The reflecting bridges, colorful buildings, and boats docked along the canal make for interesting compositions and photographic subjects.
Due to overcrowding of a very densely populated city, Venice has implemented a tourist tax to better manage visitation and preserve the historic integrity of the city.
Gondolas docked along the canals are a common sight in Venice.
The stone pillars and intricate architectural details of the buildings caught my attention. With Venice sinking each year, these buildings may not be the same for my next visit.
Genoa
Genoa is an industrial port city in northwest Italy that is not on the typical tourist backpacking trail, but was definitely one of the surprising highlights on my Italy trip.
Right past the train station that you will arrive at is a massive fountain that is worth a photo stop and probably much needed snack break. The surrounding city buildings of Genoa are also interesting to photograph with classic Italian architecture.
Genoa is a great place to just wander around and get lost. Residents often hang laundry outside their buildings, against the backdrop of vivid warm buildings with orange and yellow hues.
The churches are worth a visit to witness the stunning dome ceilings, with historic paintings that have survived hundreds of years. The intricate details will keep your camera busy.
