City Life: A Look at the 5 Largest Cities in Italy

Put down that map and get wonderfully lost

Well maybe getting lost, as in you don't know where you are going and can't get back to where you are staying for the night, is not a good idea. But, getting "lost" in the streets and culture of the city can have a tremendous positive impact on your trip. No matter if you are from a large city, or a small town in the middle of nowhere, the big cities in Italy are definitely worth your visit!

Let's explore a little bit more about these big cities, and a little bit about what you can expect from each of them. According to statista.com, and comparing it with other sites, the 5 largest cities in Italy (2013 population data) are the following:

1) ROME

Trevi Fountain at night

Never would've guessed that one right? With a population of roughly 2.86 million people, Rome is both the capital and largest city in Italy. The history in Rome is monumental. There are very few cities in the world today that have so much rich history, and historical sites, within a consistently growing and more modernizing environment. You can walk right from the shopping district over to the Roman Colosseum. Rome boasts many different attributes, including the Colosseum previously mentioned, the Roman Forum, the Spanish Steps, the Vatican City within the roman boarders, the Pantheon, and many other sites. And lets not forget the Trevi Fountain...make sure to throw in your coins when you visit! The first is a wish to one day come back to Rome, and the next is a wish of your choosing.

View from the top of St. Peter's Basilica

The streets are also filled with many different shops and restaurants, each of which are unique in their own way. Climbing the stairs in St. Peter's Basilica is a must on your trip, if you wish to have one of the most amazing views you will ever see. It is a 551 step trek up to the top of the dome; however, it is well worth the walk up. You can look out over the Pope's garden, the Vatican City, and much of Rome. There is too much to put into one post about Rome; many books are dedicated to just this city alone. Rome was easily one of my favorite places that I have ever been! On your trip, be sure to visit this historical city that is one of the top destinations in the world.





2) MILAN
Milan is located in northern Italy, and has a population of 1.32 million people. Milan is highly known all over the world for its fashion. Much of the city was rebuilt after World War II; however, there are still many historical sites to see on your trip. Milan also is home to many different shopping centers, and is one of the richest cities in Europe. This city has the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, known as the Duomo or Milan Cathedral. The Duomo is not only the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, but also has the title of being the third largest church in all of Europe. It is a very popular attraction for people from all over the world.

Milan Cathedral (Duomo in Milan)

Along with fashion, Milan is also highly regarded for its art and art history. The art museums will be a wholesome trip for any art enthusiast. In the Santa Maria delle Grazie, you can find one of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous works, titled "The Last Supper." You can find art dating back from the renaissance, all the way up to modern art. Many art festivals are also held in this city, so be sure to check out the official Milan tourism website to find out about any exhibitions you can catch while on your trip (www.tourism.milan.it).



3) NAPLES
As the third largest city in Italy, Naples has a population reaching about 990,000. This beautiful city is the largest in Southern Italy, and sits approximately two hours south of Rome. It is a hub to other very notable places, such a Pompeii. The Naples harbor is also said to be the most important port in all of the Southern part of Italy.

The center of Naples is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which only further provides proof of its historic and modern-day benefits to travel there. Naples provides some of the best museums and statues in the country, including the Museo Archeologio Nazionale (National Archaeological Museum) where you can see a wide array of the world's best Graeco-Roman artifacts. Many of the things that you can view in this museum were excavated from the Pompeii site.

Spaccanapoli Street

Well worth the visit is the street known as Spaccanapoli, which is the center of Naples. This street goes through the historic center, splitting it in half, and is mainly a pedestrian street where you can find many little interesting shops to explore. On this street, you can still see some of the remains of the original Greek city of Neapolis. There are also some of the best pastry shops in the area, along with many stores.





4) TURIN
Not as many people have heard about the city of Turin, which is located in the very northwest of Italy. Home to 900,000 people, Turin is the fourth largest city in the country. This city was the original capital of Italy for a very brief period of time, and its monarchy was given to the entire country when it unified in 1861. The Basilica of Superga is a very prominent church to visit while in town.

One of the most popular things to have originated from Turin is the chocolate that we eat today....thank you Turin! Along with chocolate, this large city is known for its cafe scene. The more laid back environment allows it to be known for its cafe style town. Turin was one of the first cities in Italy to bring a cafe society into the country; therefore, it still yields some of the best cafes in the country.

Basilica of Superga

While in Turin, you can also see collections from all over the world. This city is known for having one of the largest Egyptian artifacts collections in all of Europe, and the world. The museum that houses these ancient Egyptian artifacts is known as Museo Egizio. Throughout this city, you also get a lot of french influence. This is because, the city itself is only roughly an hour drive from the boarder of France. The rich Italian culture, mixed with the abundances of other cultures, make Turin a memorable city to visit while in Italy.

5) PALERMO
Palermo boasts the fifth largest population in Italy, with numbers totaling approximately 680,000 people. Palermo is a city known for its churches, theaters, and the catacomb that is situated here. Palermo is located in Sicily, and is a major connection point for people traveling around Sicily and the islands off of the coast. We stayed here twice during our visit while traveling.

Massimo Theater

Palermo has many churches full of the history of the Sicilian culture. Many of the churches that we went into had some of the most amazingly detailed work I have ever seen in my life (picture of the inside of one of the churches shown later). Some of the churches do cost a very small fee to get into, or ask for a donation to visit. The Massimo Theater is also a large part of this city. This theater is one of the largest performing arts theaters in Italy, and a main focal point within the city itself.

Inside Catacombe dei Cappuccini

One of the most amazing things to experience in Palermo is the catacomb; although, it can be a bone-chilling experience. The Catacombe dei Cappuccini is located more on the outskirts of the city, but is well worth the trip. This catacomb is a historical site; however, unlike many other sites, you are not allowed to take pictures inside....so make sure to get a postcard to keep as a memory. As gruesome as it may sound, the catacombs are a very interesting place to visit. This catacomb holds over 8000 people, dating back from the 1500's until fairly recently (within the last decade). Some of the skeletons hanging on the walls....honestly within about an arms reach....still have visible hair, eyelashes, teeth, etc. All of these people are also still in the cloths from that time period, so it is interesting to see the actual people from those days so long ago. There is a girl named Rosalia in this catacomb who died in 1920, at the age of two, from pneumonia. Her father had her preserved, and she is nicknamed "sleeping beauty" because it literally looks like she is taking a nap. Rosalia has been the focus of many articles by big sources such as Discovery.

Lastly, in Palermo there is a very cool old world market (a picture of which can be seen in the previous blog post). In this market, you can experience how many people in Italy have come to get their food for centuries. As you walk through the market, you will hear people yelling out prices etc., and can see the different array of fish caught that morning that are now for sale.

Inside of a church in Palermo

These cities all have numerous additoinal attractions to visit and see. Make sure that if you have the chance to stop by them, you pay a visit. The big cities are a great place to see both the historic side of the culture, as well as the vibrant life of the modern day city. 

"Notti d'estate e le luci della città"

Please feel free to leave comments!