5 Remarkable Reasons to Visit Italy

Greenways Italy
Aug 28
3 min read

"Some countries capture your imagination. Italy captures all your senses — with the numbers to prove it."

Boats sailing in the venice canal grande — Venice

For travelers seeking more than just beautiful photos, Italy delivers quantifiable wonders: from a world-record number of UNESCO sites to the greatest biodiversity in wine grapes, and thousands of years of living history.

Whether you’re a foodie, a culture seeker, or a lover of natural beauty, the numbers speak for themselves — and they all say go.

Here are 5 undeniable, data-driven reasons why your next trip should be to Italy.

1. Home to the World’s Largest Number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Italy currently holds 59 UNESCO World Heritage Sites — the highest number in the world (as of 2024), tied only with China.

view of the rouins of roman forum in rome — Breathtaking view of the Roman Forum

That means more globally protected cultural and natural treasures per square mile than any other place on Earth.

From the ancient streets of Pompeii to the Renaissance wonders of Florence, from the trulli of Alberobello to the Dolomites, Italy is not a country you visit — it’s a museum you walk through. Even the lesser-known towns often host churches, castles, and piazzas older than the United States itself.

Travel tip: You’re never more than a couple of hours away from a UNESCO

site — whether by train, bike, or scenic road.

2. Over 500 Native Grape Varieties: A Wine Lover’s Wonderland

Italy boasts over 500 native grape varieties, more than any other country in the world.

vines with fresh grapes — Sangiovese Grapes

By comparison, France has around 250.

In Italy, wine is not just a drink — it’s a language. Sagrantino in Umbria, Nebbiolo in Piedmont, Nero d’Avola in Sicily.

Each region speaks with its own accent, and each bottle tells a different story. With more than 400 DOC and DOCG wines and 20 official wine regions, the possibilities for discovery are endless.

For wine travelers: forget the familiar. Italy invites you to explore the unknown, one glass at a time.

3. Culinary Diversity: 5,000+ Traditional Dishes Across the Country

"Italian cuisine isn’t a monolith. It’s a mosaic."

According to various gastronomic archives and research institutes, Italy is home to more than 5,000 traditional regional recipes.

From Ligurian pesto to Tuscan ribollita, from Neapolitan pizza to Sicilian arancini — every region, every town, sometimes every village has its own take on flavor, shaped by geography and history.

There’s no “Italian food” in Italy — there’s only local food.

For foodies: This is not the Italy of restaurant menus. This is the real thing, plate after plate, market after market.

4. A Country Built on History: Over 100,000 Historic Landmarks

"Italy is estimated to have more than 100,000 historical monuments and cultural landmarks, according to the Italian Ministry of Culture."

the inside of a church with rich frescoes — A typical Italian frescoed church

From Roman amphitheaters and Etruscan tombs to medieval abbeys and baroque palaces, the past is not hidden in Italy — it’s part of everyday life.

You’ll walk on Roman roads, dine inside Renaissance villas, and sleep in centuries-old farmhouses.

Whether you visit well-known destinations or take the road less traveled through Umbria, Puglia, or the Langhe hills, history is always close — and often right under your feet.

Perspective: That’s one cultural site for every 600 people living in Italy.

5. Natural Beauty in Every Direction: 7,500 km of Coastline + Mountains + Lakes

Italy isn’t only about art and architecture — it’s a land of natural contrasts.

With 7,500 kilometers (4,660 miles) of coastline, 20 national parks, the towering Alps in the north, the rolling hills of Tuscany and Umbria, and famous lakes like Como, Amalfi, and Capri Riviera, the country is a natural paradise.

You can hike, bike, ski, swim, and sail — often within the same week.

Whether you’re wandering the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast or biking through vineyard-covered hills, Italy offers a perfect blend of culture and nature.