Italy Travel Guide – Fun Facts
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Capital City: Rome.
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As of 2025, Italy is the 5th most visited country in the world – over 60 million visitors in 2024!
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Italy has three active volcanoes: Etna, Vesuvius and Stromboli.
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World’s largest wine producer – 44 million hectoliters in 2022, aka 20% of global production.
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There are more hotel rooms here than any other European country – over 1 million!
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Home to the oldest university in the world – the University of Bologna, est. 1088.
Rome
While Rome started off as the capital of the Roman Empire in 753 BC, Italy’s official capital has changed many times over the last couple millennia! For its most recent stint, Rome has been the capital of modern-day Italy since 1870. The city has a population of over 2.7 million people and is home to two of Italy’s most iconic landmarks: the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain. Speaking of fountains, you definitely won’t go thirsty! There are over 2,500 public water fountains, or fontanelle, scattered throughout the city.
For many, visiting Rome also includes a trip to the Vatican. The home of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church, Vatican City, is its own separate city-state that is fully surrounded by the Italian capital.
Venice
Often called the City of Canals, Venice is the capital of the Veneto region in northeastern Italy. The city isn’t a singular island, but consists of a cluster of over 100 small islands linked by around 400 bridges. You won’t find any roads in the city – everyone gets around via boats in the canals or walking! Venice has actually been slowly sinking into the lagoon for centuries. As a result, it often floods during high tide (“Acqua Alta”) in the winter.
Milan
Located in Italy’s northern Lombardy region, Milan is the second most populated city in Italy and the country’s economic and fashion capital. This gives the city a very international feel, with many areas not looking very traditionally Italian. At some points I almost felt like I was back in New York City! You’ll notice a major contrast in architecture throughout the city – from the gothic Duomo di Milano or Santa Maria delle Grazie convent, to luxury shopping areas and modern skyscrapers. Home to Campari, maker of it’s namesake red liqueur and vermouth, Milan is arguably the capital of the aperitivo.
Florence
Firenze, as it’s called in Italian, is the capital of the Tuscany region and the birthplace of the Renaissance. Often called the “Capital of the Arts”, Florence is where you’ll find a number of famous pieces like Michelangelo’s Statue of David and Botticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’. One of the most recognizable features of the city is the Ponte Vecchio, or ‘Old Bridge’. This medieval bridge across the Arno River was the only one in the city to survive World War 2! It is one of the most photographed landmarks in Florence, along with the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.
Pisa
This small Tuscan city is most famously known for being the home of the Piazza dei Miracoli, a UNESCO World Heritage site where you’ll find the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It’s also the birthplace of the renowned astronomer and scientist Galileo! Pisa’s train station, which sees over 15 million passengers a year, is integral to transportation in the Tuscany region. And you may be surprised to learn that despite the city’s size, Pisa even has its own international airport.
