Italy is a remarkable place to visit. It’s acknowledged as the birthplace of Western culture. It’s home to many of the world’s greatest works of art, architecture, and gastronomy. There are hundreds of Italian cities to tour and thousands of beautiful things to see. I’ve always admired the architecture there and have been obsessed with Italian mansions. There are so many exquisite things to explore in Italy. Aside from the usual places, I’ve come up with four extraordinary places that you must to see while in Italy.
NEPTUNE’S GROTTO
Neptune’s Grotto is a cave on the island of Sardinia, Italy. In the 18th century, a local fisherman spotted this beautiful grotto while fishing off the coast. Ever since then, it’s become a popular tourist attraction.
This grotto got its name from the Roman god of the sea, Neptune. Inside the grotto, you will find plenty of stalactite and stalagmite formations along with a 120-meter long saltwater lake. It’s estimated to be around four kilometers long, but only the first few hundred meters are accessible to tourists. Guided tours are led in a single-file through a lit pathway. During peak season, the tours tend to contain around 200 people at a time.
The grotto can be reached by land or sea. Since the entrance is about a meter above sea level, the grotto can only be visited when the water is calm. You can take a short boat trip from the nearby city of Alghero or park your car at the top of the cliff and walk down the 654-step stairway that is cut into the cliff.
GROTTA AZZURRA
The Grotta Azzurra, also known as the Blue Grotto, is a sea cave. This is a type of cave formed primarily by the wave action of the sea. This is located on the coast of the island of Capri in southern Italy. It’s their biggest tourist attraction on the island.
This cave is known for the bright azure color of the water. The light that passes through the cave comes from two sources. There is one small hole in the cave wall which is the entranceway. There is a second hole which is directly below the entranceway. Tihs hole is ten times larger than the entranceway. As the light passes through these holes and into the water, the reflections are filtered out and only blue light enters the cave. There are gorgeous silver reflections on objects placed in the water which is caused by tiny bubbles that cover the outside of the object when they are placed underwater. The bubbles cause the light to refract differently than that of the surrounding water and gives off the silver effect.
This cave is 60 meters long and 25 meters wide. The entranceway is only two meters wide and about one meter high. This cave can only be visited when the tides are low and the sea is calm. You can pass through the small entrance by a four-person rowboat and you must lie flat on the boat to get through. Unfortunately, swimming is forbidden for safety reasons and to preserve water clarity.
LAKE CAREZZA
Lake Carezza, often called The Pearl of the Dolomites, is one of the must-see sights in the Trentino-Alto Adige region of northern Itlay. This small but deep lake is known for its beautiful colors and for this reason, it’s also called “Lec de Ergobando” (The Rainbow Lake) in the Ladin language.
The crystal clear waters of the lake reflect the beauty of the area, which creates a rainbow of colors on the surface. Many of the colors are reflected from the surrounding evergreen forests, colors of the mountain rock faces, and the sky above.
SAMMEZZANO CASTLE
The Sammezzano Castle is an Italian palazzo nestled in the stunning Florentine countryside in Tuscany. This castle is composed of 365 rooms, one for each day of the year. It features vivid colors and geometric decorations along with large arched doorways and Corinthian columns. The Moroccan-style palatial villa is a labyrinth of exquisitely tiled rooms as each one is intricately unique.
It was originally built in 1605 by a Spanish nobleman. In the 19th century, someone inherited the property and decided to hire artisans to construct his ideal retreat in which is now known as the Sammezzano Castle. This was constructed over the course of 40 years. Later, the palazzo served as a luxury hotel in the post-WWII era, then it was neglected.
Reggello mayor Cristiano Benucci commented on Facebook, “The auction for Sammezzano Castle has just come to an end, which I attended personally to represent our residents’ apprehension regarding the castle’s fate. A 15.4 million bid was made by a company from the United Arab Emirates, to which the castle and entire complex have been sold on a provisional basis. There will be ways and means in which the new owners will be able to talk about their ideas with the council and in the meantime we hope that the new owners will take Sammezzano into their hearts, protecting it and immediately putting into action the measures needed to combat the decline and make the place safe again.”
These are only four of the most amazing and unique places in Italy to visit. While the food in Italy is reason enough to visit, the country is filled with lots of exciting places to see and things to do. Italy is a magnificent experience and everyone should visit there at least once in their lifetime. Take a look at the map of Italy to explore all the places you’d like to visit on your next vacation. Learn about all the amazing and fascinating history of Italy before you go!
56 thoughts on “4 Extraordinary Places to Visit in Italy”
What gorgeous places there are in Italy! I would want to see it all. One day, it is in my plans!
Italy is on my bucket list. The Sammezzano Castle looks absolutely amazing! I’d love to visit to experience the food and wine.
Italy is always in my visit to travel. But I wont go at first area, as it looks like horror movie. Even though whatever said is true, but don’t want to risk it. But rest of the places, I would definitely go.
The grotto azzura looks amazing! So does the castle. Ive not been anywhere in Italy except Venice but would love to see some of these places.
This Grotto looks spectacular -but seems it requires to be more adventurous hehehe. What capture me most was Sammezzano Castle very historic and wonderful. Wish O could go there soon.
All these places look amazing and definitely worthy of a visit. Neptunes grotto looks spectacular as does the other places.
haha why did you do this, my bucket list is already long enough as it is! Now I have to add more :p I love the idea of the caves the best, seems like another world! Luckily – Italy isn’t that far from us!
Grotto Azzurra, I visited Italy last year and so the Grotto. Words cannot really describe the beauty I felt once inside to feel this magnificent magic.
I have only travelled to Italy once and that was to Rome. There are so many wonderful sights I have yet to explore there.The Sammezzano castle for me is the absolute ultimate in artistic genius. The colours and mosiac work just breathtaking.
I remember living in Germany & Italy when I was younger. I do not recall all the beautiful places we got to go visit, but I miss Italy so much. Mostly the belgian waffles. <3
We visited Milan earlier this year but didn’t have the opportunity to visit any of these places. I will check them out for our next trip to Italy.
Oh, wow! Italy is at the very top of my list of places I really want to visit. And seeing these 4 places I could visit while I’m there has made me want to go even more! I’d never heard of Neptune’s Grotto before but it looks incredible. Now I just need to start saving up 🙂
Louise x
lovely country with even more lovely food lol
Fantastic looking places! Would love to visit them.
Nice classic place, I have to visit them some time
the Azzurra cave was the best of all what a beautiful scenery
WOW you have some beautiful pictures the colors are so great. Would love to go there and see all the caves.
I’d love to see the Blue Grotto! GROTTA AZZURRA! These are truly all amazing places!
Beautiful pictures! I am part Italian and Italy is on my bucket list!
Thank You for the tips and information.
Marion
I’m hoping to go to Italy this summer! I’ll have to visit all of these places. 🙂
I would love to visit Italy. This is so beautiful. I am happy you got to enjoy this. Thank you so much for sharing. God Bless
Those places are stunning! I would love so much to visit Italy! Hopefully, one day I will get the chance.
Neptune’s Grotto and the Castle are gorgeous. Italy is #1 on my bucket list. Italy has so much to offer in the way of art, agriculture and the mansions and beautiful churches. Thank you for sharing these 4 spectacular places.
Carol Luciano
Lucky4750 at aol dot com
I don’t know where my comment went but I wanted to say that Neptune’s Grotto and the castle are beautiful. Italy is #1 on my bucket list and I hope to go there soon. Thank you for sharing these places.
Carol Luciano
Lucky4750 at aol dot com
I would love to visit Italy! It’s definitely pn my bucket list of place to see when my husband retires! Thanks for sharing 💖
I would love love love to visit Italy one day. Perhaps we’ll go once our children are a bit older. 😄
Awesome pictures . I would love to go one day . Looks like an awesome time .
These pictures are beyond stunning! I have never been to Europe at all. I hope to see Italy and London someday!
This post makes me want to go back to Italy. I went in high school and saw the Grotto Azzurra but I didn’t appreciate it like I would now.
I’ve always wanted to go to Italy. THe SAMMEZZANO CASTLE looks amazing!
Italy is breathtaking! Thanks for sharing all these fabulous photos!
These places look too beautiful to be real. My husband and I dream of going to Italy someday… once the kids get bigger. It would be a great family trip.
I would so love to get a chance to go to Italy. Everything looks so beautiful.
I would love to go to Italy one day. I have family there. Those places are definitely on my bucket list. I hope one day I’m blessed to go there and meet family for the first time.
Italy is definitely on my bucket list! It is just beautiful!
No caving or water adventures for me but that castle is stunning!
The neptunes cave looks awesome! Id love to go to italy!
These places look incredible! Now I really want to take a trip to Italy!
I visited Italy over fifteen years ago but sadly didn’t have a lot of time there. I would love to take a trip back. The grotto looks incredible.
I have never been but would love to. The photos are all so beautiful!
My bestie is in Venice now! On my bucket list .. Especially, Amalia Coast.
Wow! I’ve been to Italy a lot and have never visited these places…..they are on the list for my next trip there which will probably be next Spring.
Italy is definitely on my bucket list!
I have always wanted to go to Italy! This is just making me want to go more!!
I would so love to visit Italy. I’d fit right in. Love the food 😀
I want to travel the world and see everything! I would love to see Italy, it looks beautiful
Thank you for posting this! I love to travel and am always looking for new places and sights. The grotto azzura looks amazing and is now on my list!
Wow! I studied Venice for a bit while writing about it, but hadn’t heard about these other places. Stunning photos!
The Sammezzano Castle sounds great. We visited Tuscany previously but didn’t get a chance to see the castle. Maybe next time.
Those are absolutely stunning! I went to Italy years ago but never got to those exact places. This makes me want to go back even more!
Wow, I would really like to visit Neptune’s Grotto, that looks so interesting to visit.
Absolutely stunning!
How wonderful! I’d love to be able to visit these places one day. I also love that you were able to take photographs inside.
All cool places, but just wow, that castle is truly spectacular! After seeing the outside, I wasn’t expecting the exquisite artistry that was on the inside. So glad to see these pictures as it’s doubtful I’ll ever get to see this place in person. thanks for the tour…
These are beautiful pictures. I would love to visit someday. Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures.