Historic Heritage Sites in Italy

For lovers of art and history, there is no more special place to visit than Florence's Uffizi Gallery. Open to the public since 1765, this former magistrate's office on the banks of the Arno welcomes some two million tourists a year. The Uffizi's collection is laid out in chronological order from the 13th up to the 17th century, so visitors get to experience the evolution of Italian art, from the introduction of realism and perspective of Cimabue and Giotto up to to the High Renaissance of Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, and finally to the Baroque chiaroscuro of Caravaggio. A visit to the Uffizi is a unique chance to commune with the protagonists of the Italian Renaissance. When planning a trip here, always remember that the Uffizi Gallery is closed on Mondays.

The Colosseum is a massive ancient amphitheater in the center of Rome. Picked apart by scavengers and ravaged by earthquakes and time, the Colosseum still stands as an impressive symbol of life in Ancient Rome. It showcases the power of past emperors and the durability of the Eternal City. This huge, marble and limestone structure was built to hold more than 50,000 spectators, all there to revel in the various forms of (mostly violent) entertainment, such as hunts, gladiator battles, and executions.

Visitors to Florence's Accademia Gallery invariably come for one reason – to see Michelangelo's magnificent statue of David. David has been on display here since 1873 along with the artist's Slaves and St. Matthew. On a trip to the Accademia – originally founded in the 1780s – you'll also be able to take in an important collection of Renaissance paintings by the likes of Botticelli and Ghirlandaio, see the remarkable original plaster cast of Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Women, and the charming Museum of Musical Instruments.

The Renaissance-era St Peter's Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world (and the home-church of the Pope). Highlights include the dome (the biggest in the world), Bernini's Baldacchino (the centerpiece of the church), and Michelangelo's Pietà (the only artwork he ever signed). For both the pious and the casual visitor, a trip to St. Peter's is an awe-inspiring trip into the heart of Vatican City.

Huge and filled with experiments on subjects from energy to communication, this is 50,000 m2 of investigation into science and technology, with 16,000 historical objects and 13 interactive laboratories. Plus it has models of some of Leonardo's famous inventions, including war machines, flying machines, and more.

This 15th-century church and Dominican convent is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The popular attraction features Leonardo da Vinci's fresco The Last Supper in its refectory - one of the most important artworks of the whole Renaissance.