Historical Buildings in Italy

Only a few countries in the world can boast a collection of historical buildings as great in magnitude as Italy can.

As the birthplace of both the Roman Empire and the Renaissance, there is no lack of famous buildings and sites in Italy. All the monuments and palaces in Italy have great historic and aesthetic value.

Famous Italian buildings were commissioned by public and private benefactors. That tradition continues into the present day with numerous benefactors who support the arts. These include the Agnelli Foundation, La FIMA (Foundazione Italiana per la Musica Antica), and numerous others.

The history of architecture in Italy is very long. Italian architects such as Vitruvio, Lorenzo Maitani, Leon Battista Alberti, Andrea Palladio, Bernini, Borromini are well known throughout the world. Italy has a cultural heritage that is felt everywhere in the country. Remains of Greek and Etruscan historical buildings are found throughout the south and middle of the peninsula, such as the Greek temples dotting the landscape near Agrigento in Sicily. Roman antiquities are found everywhere. Pompeii and Herculaneum are famous for their well–preserved archaeological remains. The city of Rome is itself a living museum. Throughout the country there are churches, palaces, museums and other famous buildings that preserve the past.

The museums are world famous and contain, perhaps, the most important collections from ancient civilisations. The archaeological collections held in famous buildings such as the Roman National Museum in Rome and the National Archaeological Museum in Naples are probably amongst the world's most renowned collections. Similarly, the Etruscan collection in the National Archaeological Museum of Umbria in Perugia, the classical sculptures in the Capitalise Museum (Museo Capitolino) in Rome and the Egyptian collection in the Egyptian Museum in Turin.

The following is a very short list of the best, most beautiful sights that Italy has to offer: The Ruins of Pompeii in Naples, The Sistine Chapel, Pantheon and the Colloseum in Rome, Piazza del Campo in Siena, the leaning tower of Pisa, Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Saint Mark's Basilica in Venice and countless offers.