Destinations Mediterranean Europe

Set your sights on Italy, part 2: Central and Northern Italy

Lush landscapes, cosmopolitan cities and iconic sights: this is the Italy of romantic films, artistic masterpieces and many a daydream. These four Central and Northern Italian ports of call will turn your reveries into reality.

4 min 09 Sep 2025

Editorial Team

Author

The diversity of Central and Northern Italy is like nowhere else. Where else can you throw a coin in Rome’s Trevi Fountain one day and sip a glass of Chianti in Tuscany the next? A holiday here gives you a taste of Italy’s best – and no doubt you’ll want a second helping.

Civitavecchia: the road to Rome

It’s about an hour from the port to the ancient capital of the Roman Empire, but nothing can prepare you for your first look at the Colosseum. It’s a 2,000-year-old reminder that this city invented grandeur. It’s a hard task to cram the must-sees into a day but in Rome the magic is in the meander. Stand under the oculus of the Pantheon and feel centuries settle around you. Climb the Spanish Steps. Toss a coin into the Trevi Fountain (yes, it’s cheesy, but it’s a rite of passage). And of course, there’s the Vatican. The scale and splendour of St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel will steal your breath.

 

While Rome often steals the spotlight, the port city of Civitavecchia has its own charms and history worth exploring. See the Forte Michelangelo, a 16th-century fortress, or stroll along the Largo della Marina promenade to the old port gate, Porta Livorno. The Terme Taurine, or Roman baths, are just a short trip away. You can also explore the National Archaeological Museum or simply wander the historic centre and enjoy a seafood meal. Discover Civitavecchia (tours to Rome).

Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
Trevi Fountain, Rome, Italy
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Trieste: quiet elegance

Perched at the edge of the Adriatic, where Italy leans into Slovenia, this stately port city is all Habsburg grandeur, literary ghosts and sea-sprayed coffee houses.

 

Piazza Unità d’Italia is one of Europe’s largest seafront squares. From here, wander to Caffè San Marco to sip espresso on its dark wood bar. Once frequented by James Joyce, it’s quietly thrilling to know that revolutions and novels once brewed here. Next, climb to Castello di San Giusto for sweeping views over red-tiled roofs and the port, or dive into the city’s multicultural past at the Synagogue and Serbian Orthodox church.

 

A little south of the city centre is Miramare Castle, a 19th-century confection perched on a cliff, its white towers watching the sea. For a true local ritual, join Triestini in sipping a spritz bianco or strong espresso at sunset, facing the wind (they have a name for it: the bora). Trieste may whisper rather than shout, but its voice lingers long after you leave. Discover Trieste.

 

Trieste lighthouse Phare de la Victoire and cityscape panoramic aerial view, Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy
Trieste lighthouse Phare de la Victoire and cityscape panoramic aerial view, Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy
Trieste lighthouse Phare de la Victoire and cityscape panoramic aerial view, Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy
Trieste lighthouse Phare de la Victoire and cityscape panoramic aerial view, Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy

La Spezia: gateway to wonder

While La Spezia does have its own charms, including a beautiful waterfront, the obvious draw from here is Cinque Terre, five tiny pastel villages clinging to cliffs, linked by train and crumbling footpaths. The entire route talks about six hours. If you’re short on time, but big on appetite, consider the less-visited Corniglia, high on a hill and crowd-free. The anchovy spaghetti in Vernazza is worth the pilgrimage alone.

 

Just a short trip from La Spezia, you can discover the glamor of Portofino. Yes, it’s glam. Yes, it’s expensive. But hike in from Santa Margherita and arrive windswept and sun-kissed, ready for a spritz beside the superyachts.

 

Similarly, lovely Lucca is another medieval gem within easy reach. With its tree-topped towers and bike-friendly walls, it's perfect for a slow afternoon. The Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, built on the site of an ancient Roman amphitheatre, is packed with restaurants. Undeniably touristy, it’s also atmospheric and charming, especially when the light spills across the cobbles and the buzz of aperitivi begins. Explore the outer rim of the Piazza and you’ll stumble across locals lunching in the shade. Discover La Spezia.

Pretty Porto Venere with medieval castles and pastel-painted houses and wooden boats are picture perfect for the Ligurian Coast
Pretty Porto Venere with medieval castles and pastel-painted houses and wooden boats are picture perfect for the Ligurian Coast
Pretty Porto Venere with medieval castles and pastel-painted houses and wooden boats are picture perfect for the Ligurian Coast
Pretty Porto Venere with medieval castles and pastel-painted houses and wooden boats are picture perfect for the Ligurian Coast

Livorno: icons and intimacy

Docking in Livorno, most visitors make a beeline for Florence or Pisa. And if you’re a first-timer to Italy eager to take it all in, a shore experience can take in both of these fair cities. Pisa’s leaning tower is a must-snap, though the nearby cathedral and baptistery are more impressive up close. And Florence is, well, Florence. In the Renaissance city, every corner reveals a masterpiece, and the walking tour takes in Piazza della Signoria, Santa Croce Square as well as the Duomo’s marble façade, Giotto's Campanile, and the Ponte Vecchio. There’s also free time for personal exploration: wander the leather workshops of Santa Croce and climb San Miniato al Monte for a panoramic view. For lunch, skip the riverside tourist traps and head to Sant’Ambrogio market, where locals grab a lampredotto (cow’s stomach sandwich) with Chianti in plastic cups. Discover Livorno 

Beautiful view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence, Italy.
Beautiful view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence, Italy.
Beautiful view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence, Italy.
Beautiful view of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, Florence, Italy.
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