Italy is embracing the great outdoors this year with the Milano Cortina 2026, the latest Winter Olympic Games. Heading into spring and summer, attention shifts south to the sun-drenched coastlines and historic cities of Naples, Florence, and Palermo.
Check out our case for why you should make a trip to these Italian destinations a priority this summer below.
Naples: The Raw Heart of Italy
Naples is often described as “the most Italian city in Italy” – vibrant and utterly compelling. It’s one of the country’s most advantageous bases, acting as the gateway to southern Italy while offering a rich experience in its own right. A Naples break immerses you in a city where history is still visible in daily life, with laundry strung from balconies and ancient stones lining the pavements.
As the birthplace of pizza, Naples wears its culinary crown proudly, but its cultural highlights are just as strong. The Naples National Archaeological Museum is essential viewing, housing the definitive collection of artefacts from nearby Pompeii and Herculaneum. These mosaics and sculptures provide context before or after visiting the ruins themselves.
Beyond the obvious highlights, Naples rewards curiosity. Descend 40 metres below the streets at Napoli Sotterranea to explore Greek aqueducts and WWII air-raid shelters, revealing the city’s hidden spine. Art lovers shouldn’t miss the Veiled Christ at the Cappella Sansevero, a marble sculpture so realistic its translucent veil appears impossibly soft. For food on the move, follow locals through Spaccanapoli and grab a pizza a portafoglio: folded, street-style pizza eaten al fresco for just a few euros.
Florence: The Renaissance Reimagined
Florence is the Cradle of the Renaissance, and visiting in spring (April–May) allows you to experience the city before peak summer heat, when the Tuscan hills are green and flowering. Often described as the world’s most walkable art gallery, the city has seen a rise in artisan tourism, particularly in the Oltrarno district. It’s home to leatherworkers and goldsmiths who still practise crafts passed down through generations.
Watching sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo offers a postcard-perfect panorama of the Duomo and the Arno as the city glows gold. For something more unusual, guided urban rafting tours now take visitors under the Ponte Vecchio, offering a playful, unexpected perspective on the centuries-long history of the famous bridge and its jewellery shops.
Keep an eye out for special-access tours of the Vasari Corridor, the secret elevated passage once used by the Medici to cross the city unseen.
Palermo: The Crossroads of Cultures
Palermo, Sicily’s capital, was ruled for centuries by Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Spaniards, boasting architecture and cuisine found nowhere else in Europe. The city continues to celebrate its UNESCO-listed Arab-Norman heritage, with restored monuments and markets that feel closer to North Africa than mainland Italy.
Palermo is the street food capital of Europe, where arancini, panelle and cannoli are eaten standing amid noise and colour. For those with strong nerves, the Capuchin Catacombs offer a macabre yet fascinating glimpse into past beliefs about death and remembrance.
You’ll experience the Festino di Santa Rosalia if you visit in July, a five-day celebration with parades and fireworks. Take a short bus ride to Mondello Beach for a day by the turquoise waters, and admire the Art Nouveau architecture from a pedal boat.
