806 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Italy - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Italy

Sorrento, Italy

Valle dei Mulini (Valley of the Mills)

An Italian crevasse filled with abandoned buildings gives visitors a look at the world without humans.

Santa Maria della Concezione Crypts

The crypts of Capuchin friars decorated with the bones of over 4,000 friars, including an entire "crypt of pelvises."

The Monsters of Bomarzo

A 16th-century horror show built in a lovely Italian garden.

Torre Argentina (Roman Cat Sanctuary)

Hundreds of lucky felines haunt the ruins where Caesar was murdered.

The Sunken City of Baia

A submerged archeological park still holds the wonders of a Roman Sodom.

Libreria Acqua Alta

This Venice bookstore has resigned itself to constant flooding by keeping its books in bathtubs and boats.

Quartiere Coppedè

Architectureal fantasy quarter of Rome.

Porta Alchemica

An alchemist's "magic door" stands in the middle of a Roman park.

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Italy

Museo Nazionale delle Paste Alimentari

This delightful little museum is dedicated to only one thing: pasta.

BackDoor 43

One of the world’s smallest bars, just 13 square feet, is brimming with speakeasy flair.

Thermopolia of Pompeii

Ancient snack bar of the Roman Empire re-opened.

Langhirano, Italy

Museum of Prosciutto di Parma

Ham is serious business at the Prosciutto Museum-Serious, delicious business.

Atlas Obscura Trips

From Chocolate to Truffles: Italian Culinary Adventures in the Langhe Region

Taste your way through Italy’s northwest region of Piedmont, sampling sweets, sipping local wine, and foraging for truffles.

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Top Discussions in the Italy Travel Forum

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Where is your favorite place to eat and see something unusual in Rome?	1 July 23, 2019	1632	July 23, 2019
Uffizi Gallery Trip	3 July 30, 2019	1023	July 30, 2019
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Stories About Italy

The Farmer Trying to Save Italy's Ancient Olive Trees

A fast-spreading bacteria could cause an olive-oil apocalypse.

by Agostino Petroni

Apple blossoms peeking out of the ice.

Why Italian Apple Farmers Are Coating Their Orchards in Ice

Freezing the trees, blossoms and all, may be the only way to save the crop.

by Vittoria Traverso

A 15th-century painting illustrates the miracle of San Frediano diverting the Serchio River in Tuscany in the sixth century, a local legend that endures in the region even today.

Did Climate Change Cause a Flood of Water Miracles by Italian Saints?

Researchers link a wet period in Tuscany's past with a rise in tales of water-related works of amazement.

by Sofia Quaglia

Overlooking the Ligurian Sea in northwestern Italy, the village of Manarola is flanked by terraced vineyards.

How a Village United to Save Cinque Terre's Ancient Terraces

The iconic Italian landscape suffered decades of neglect, but a tragedy spurred locals to action.

Military uniforms have been a mainstay at the market for decades.

For Decades, Italians Have Salvaged Old American Military Uniforms in This Open-Air Market

The khaki and camouflage have traveled from battlefield to clothes rack—and sometimes stage and screen.

by Daniela De Lorenzo

Several years ago, photos like this made the Valley of the Mills internet-famous.

Is This the End of Italy's Iconic Valley of the Mills?

The charm of centuries-old ruins and a unique ecosystem face the perverse incentives of the modern tourist economy.

by Vittoria Traverso

The villa is a well-known World Heritage Site.

Found: Emperor Hadrian's Palatial Breakfast Chamber

This was no cozy nook.

by Eric J. Wallace

February 17, 2021

Packed with sweet ricotta, candied fruit, and sponge cake, the treat is indulgently intense.

How a Breast-Shaped Cake Became the Symbol of a Sicilian City

History and legend collide in the story of one seriously suggestive sweet.

February 5, 2021

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