Italy sights: Top 30

Milan Cathedral (Milan)
If you ask Milanese what to visit in Italy, they won't hesitate to name the Cathedral, built in honor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a symbol of the city. The monumental building can hold up to 40,000 people at a time, making it one of the largest Gothic churches in the world.
The laying of its foundations began as early as 1386 on the site of the demolished old church of Santa Maria Maggiore. The great artist and designer Leonardo da Vinci was involved in the design. But construction was completed only 427 years later by order of Napoleon Bonaparte. Although small changes in the appearance of the facade and interior decoration continued to be made until the mid-twentieth century.
The cathedral is made of white marble and sustained in the style of the flaming Gothic. The 135 marble spires reaching up to the heavens are the first sight to be seen. After admiring the spectacle, visitors go inside, where there are 3,400 sculptures, among which the golden statue of the Madonna (Milan's patron saint) is considered the main treasure. The walls are decorated with paintings by great Italian painters and above the altar you can see the nail that was used in the crucifixion of the Savior.
A visit to this place of interest in Italy is not complete without climbing up to the observation deck, which offers a magnificent panorama of the city.

Sistine Chapel (Rome, Vatican City)
On November 1, 1509, thousands of Romans, led by Pope Julius II, stood in awe and bowed their heads to the great genius of Michelangelo Buonarotti when they saw the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It is said that even the master's envious and detractors recognized his talent and the perfection of his paintings.
More than five hundred years have passed, and the images of the Sibyls, the first men, prophets and other biblical characters continue to draw people from all over the world, make hearts sink and serve as a hymn to talent and diligence. Many who have experienced it say that visiting the Sistine Chapel in Italy once is a must and then returning to relive it all over again.
Considering himself a sculptor, Buonarotti was simply forced by certain circumstances to take on the task of painting the vault of the chapel. Due to failure to observe some nuances of the technique of creating frescoes, the first paintings were lost. Then the master had to rip them off and re-create, having previously derived his recipe for plaster and paint.
The building is 20 meters high. Michelangelo himself designed the scaffolding, which was installed on the floor, not fixed by ropes on the ceiling. For several years the master climbed them daily, taking an uncomfortable posture and created his masterpieces. This body position resulted in a disability that became the payment for immortality in the eyes of posterity.

Colosseum (Rome)
It is impossible to imagine the sights of Italy without the Colosseum. It is a huge amphitheater, which was built back in 72 AD and became the main symbol of the Roman Empire. In its time this building hosted 55 thousand people, and its fame spread far beyond the country.
The Colosseum owes its creation to Emperor Titus Flavius Vespasian, who decided to destroy Nero's palace, thus eradicating the memory of him and glorifying himself as a wise ruler.
Even with the development of modern technology and the availability of heavy construction equipment, it is difficult to carry out the construction of such a grandiose structure. Therefore, when choosing what to see in Italy, you can not miss a visit to the Colosseum.
Its shape is an ellipse, whose length is 188 m, and width - 156 m. The strength of the construction is due to the fact that as the main architectural element is an arch, capable of withstanding enormous loads.
During performances, a tent was stretched over the Colosseum to protect spectators from the scorching sun and rain. Ships standing on the Tiber River with special ropes attached to them were used for that purpose, which, after stretching the tent, were attached to huge poles located on the outer side of the structure.
Numerous wars, earthquakes and other factors destroyed much of the Colosseum. The construction of freeways, heavy traffic and air pollution created a critical situation. But luckily modern architects and builders managed to keep the structure intact and in 2007 the building was named one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.

Pantheon (Rome)
When choosing the sights of Italy that you should visit on your first visit, you should not miss such a monumental structure as the Roman Pantheon. Originally built in 25 BC, it has been destroyed several times by natural disasters, rebuilt and even "changed religion". But to this day hundreds of people every day strive to get under its vaults to stand under the dome, admire the beautiful frescoes and statues, feel the breath of eternity and the inexorable destructive power of time at the same time.
The grandeur and beauty of the Pantheon's interior are astounding. It is hard to believe that all this was created by human hands and not by the mighty pagan gods in whose honor it was erected.
Passing under the vault of the portico, supported by 16 marble columns, you get into the main temple building, which is crowned with a dome with a diameter of 43 meters. In its center there is a large round hole, called the Heavenly Eye of All-Seeing. According to legend, evil spirits broke through it, wanting to escape from the holy place at the start of Mass.
The peculiarity of the light passing through the oculus is that at noon its rays do not scatter, but descend clearly vertically, forming a kind of pillar of light and moving throughout the day from one statue to another, paying homage to them.
The walls and altar are painted with magnificent frescoes, partly created by Renaissance masters. Numerous niches contain statues, and the walls and floor are lined with mosaic tiles. In the center of the temple there are pews for those who wish to offer prayers or simply rest.

Vatican City (Rome)
Looking through the guidebook and choosing what to see in Italy, you can not miss the most famous enclave in the world, which is the Vatican City. Every building of this mini-state is a landmark known far beyond the country's borders. Here you can walk the alleys of the famous Vatican Gardens and see the Pope with your own eyes, climb the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral, visit the Sistine Chapel with its immortal frescoes created by Michelangelo, Botticelli and other great painters.
To enter the Vatican grounds, you must pass a strict dress code. Guides in Rome will tell you what rules of conduct to follow to avoid trouble and misunderstandings.
The first attraction that guests are offered to visit is St. Peter's Cathedral. The size of the building is astonishing - the height is 136 meters, and the length of the main aisle is 211 meters. But the main value here are the numerous sculptural and pictorial masterpieces created by the great masters of Italy.
In the Vatican Pontifical Palace you can admire the beautiful frescoes of the great Raphael. They decorate the ceilings and walls of the four rooms (stanzas).

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)