Italy is one of the most stunning and fascinating countries in the world, often called the cradle of European civilization due to the legacies of the Roman Empire and Roman Catholic Church.
Each year the Tiqets Remarkable Venue Awards showcase the best attractions around the world, including those in Italy. These awards highlight the best museums and best attractions in Italy, based on more than 1.1 million customer reviews worldwide, along with an expert panel of judges.
The awards celebrate attractions across seven different categories, all of which have wowed travelers and deserve a special spotlight.
For 2022 our Italian judges are Barbara Antonucci, (Postgraduate Coordinator: Languages, Interculturality, & Tourism Management at Roma Tre University), Josep Ejarque (Senior Destination Management & Marketing at F Tourism & Marketing), and Manuela Ronchi, (Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Action at Action Agency and Action Media).
Along with their expertise and the feedback of Tiqets customers, we are pleased to announce the best attractions and museums in Italy of 2022.
Best Hidden Gem: A World of Potential, the Home of the Human Safety Net – Procuratie Vecchie
“Interactive exhibition not to be missed!” – Annalisa, Italy.
The Best Hidden Gem is awarded to a particularly unique or special attraction. For 2022, that is the digital modern art exhibition at the Procuratie Vecchie in Venice.
The Procuratie Vecchie is one of the three connected buildings which line Saint Mark’s Square in Venice and is often used to display special exibitions. It’s located on the northern side and was built in the classical style, so it’s a beautiful attraction even without the modern art exhibition inside!
Of course, the hidden gem which received this year’s prize is the interactive art exhibit “A World of Potential”. This immersive experience allows visitors to explore their character strengths through 16 different multimedia installations which activate your curiosity, hope, perseverance, attitude to teamwork and more. Not only is it eye-opening and fun, but many of the exhibits are funny too!
Make sure you take the chance to enjoy this experience for yourself while enjoying the different displays if you are going to be in Venice.
Most Innovative Venue: Tempio del Brunello
“Great. Never seen something similar. I was there with my family. My son was very glad.”
– Roman, Russia
The Most Innovative Venue award is for spotlighting attractions that have found creative and unique ways to appeal to customers. This award is also chosen by the panel of judges and for 2022 the most innovative venue award has gone to the Temple of Brunello museum in the town of Montalcino.
Tempio del Brunello is an immersive journey where visitors can learn about the Italian wine Brunello di Montalcino. Using virtual reality inside a former convent, the Temple of Brunello provides an overview of the history of the region and its wine.
With light installations projecting onto ancient stone, this venue is definitely innovative and modern, integrating new technology to explore the making of one of the world’s most famous wines. Of course, with our tickets you can experience this remarkable venue and taste some of the delicious wine as well. Don’t miss out on a lovely meal (with more wine!) at the onsite bistro either.
Most Remarkable Venue: Il Duomo di Milano
“A marvellous visit to the Duomo of Milan. Well worth the price as it includes the interior, extensive roof terraces, and the museum. So much to see.” – Helen, United Kingdom
One of the most iconic sights in the beautiful city of Milan is the Duomo Cathedral. The Most Remarkable Venue award highlights the most popular and top-rated attraction in the country, based on customer reviews from Tiqets.com and it’s not really surprising that the winner this year is a cathedral with more statues than any other building in the world!
For 2022, the most remarkable venue in Italy is Il Duomo di Milano, also known as Milan Cathedral, which is the largest church in Italy (not counting Vatican City). Taking six centuries to construct, it was completed in 1965 and has been wowing visitors ever since. The cathedral is 108-meters high, 160-meters long, and 92-meters wide, with a roof famous for its many pinnacles, spires and flying buttresses.
To really appreciate the beauty and spectacle of the Duomo visitors need to head inside. The interior is filled with religious artwork, sarcophagi, and the largest organ in Italy. It’s possible to also access the roof to experience stunning views across Milan. No wonder it’s now named the most remarkable venue in Italy!
Best Museum: Pinacoteca Ambrosiana
““A beautiful palazzo with wonderful art. I spent a few hours just drawing and enjoying the space.” Tori, United States
The Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is an ancient arty gallery in Milan, which has now received the Tiqets Best Museum award. This award is for the best museums and art galleries featured on Tiqets.com, based on customer reviews.
Also called “Italy’s answer to the Louvre,” Pinacoteca Ambrosiana is the oldest public art gallery in the world. Named for Milan’s patron saint, Ambrose, this art gallery was founded in 1609 and contains one of the 15 known paintings attributed to Leonardo da Vinci in the world.
History and art buffs will be in heaven here as there are also masterpieces by Botticelli, Raphael, and Caravaggio on display. Aside from the artwork, the museum has some fascinating curiosities for visitors to admire, including the gloves that Napoleon wore at Waterloo and a lock of Lucrezia Borgia’s hair!
You’ll have to see the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana in real life to truly appreciate it’s beauty. Grab tickets below.
Best Attraction: Villa Gregoriana FAI
“The reservation process was great. In comparison, we were waiting in line at the Villa D’Este. This is the way to go. The Villa Gregoriana has some spectacular views, it makes one realize the importance of water in our lives, it is celebrated in Tivoli.” Mark, Italy
Villa Gregoriana FAI has won the Best Attraction award for 2022 based on the glowing reviews left by visitors on Tiqets.com. This award is for any attraction that’s not a museum, from zoos to theme parks and guided visits to interesting locations, so it’s no wonder this unique park has won this year.
Commissioned by Pope Gregory XVI around 1834, Villa Gregoriana is a stunning park and nature reserve located about 30 minutes outside of Rome in Tivoli. The park features archaeological ruins from different periods, hiking trails, and the second-tallest waterfall in Italy. There are also magical grottoes in river-eroded caves to explore, so it’s no wonder that Tiqets customers have rated it the best attraction in Italy.
Best Landmark: Galleria Borbonica
“Enjoyed hearing about the part of history. Ula was an excellent guide in the telling of the preservation and the history of the tunnels.” – James, Canada
Galleria Borbonica in Naples is a fascinating landmark tunnel, which has won the Best Landmark award for 2022. The winner of this award is chosen based on customer reviews on Tiqets.com, for iconic landmark venues such as cathedrals, churches, castles, palaces, observation decks, or tunnels!
Also known as the Bourbon Tunnel, Galleria Borbonica is an ancient underground passage that was constructed in 1853 by Ferdinand II of Bourbon. Since the monarchy feared a revolution from the people of Naples, they had this tunnel built to connect the Royal Palace with the military barracks. This tunnel was also used as an air-raid shelter during WWII and today is a fascinating spot for visitors to explore the subterranean parts of Naples.
Along with the underground tunnel architecture itself, Galleria Borbonica is also littered with historical debris such as vintage cars and a discarded fascist monument. Fans of odd history and photographers will particularly love this tour, so get your tickets below!
Best Onsite Experience: Interpreti Veneziani
“This was an unforgettable evening in Venice. The performers were passionate about the music and made it come alive. The setting at San Vidal felt grand and with incredible acoustics.” – Grant, United States
Interpreti Veneziani is a live music event that has won the 2022 Best Onsite Experience award. For this award, Tiqets.com customer reviews focusing on the overall experience at a site were evaluated. It’s awarded to a venue with the best experience for visitors, including staff interactions and the information available at the site.
There is no doubt that the Interpreti Veneziani is a truly unforgettable event, as this experience is a live classical music concert held in the Chiesa di San Vidal, a beautiful 17th-century church in Venice! The Interpreti Veneziani is an ensemble group consisting of bows, violins, and harpsichords. They have been stunning audiences around the world since 1987 but we challenge you to find a more epic location than a Venetian church to listen to the melodious works of Mozart, Bach, and Vivaldi.
On top of all this, the performance inside the Chiesa di San Vidal takes place on the former church altar, underneath the Renaissance painting ‘San Vidal on Horseback’ by the master artist Vittore Carpaccio. Book your tickets below if you also want to experience this incredible live concert in Venice! Planning a weekend in Venice? Take a read of our ultimate guide!
