50. Colosseum

What is the Colosseum?

The Colosseum is an ampitheatre that could seat 50,000-80,000 spectators in its day. Construction began in 72 AD. It was used for gladiatorial contests, classical dramas, executions, and re-enactments of famous battles.

What's the Colosseum like?

It's stupendous. It's hard to believe that it was even conceived of 2000 years ago, never mind built, and that so much of it is still here today is incredible.

Where is the Colosseum?

Rome, Italy

When did we go? 

February 2007

How did we get there? 

We flew there on a three day trip from London. The Colosseum is very central. We also saw the Vatican Museums (173), St Peter's Basilica (185) and the Pantheon (67).

Worth noting: 

It's possible to do a tour of the arena floor and underground areas - we didn't do this but I'd recommend it.

What position did the Colosseum hold in the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist?

7. It has since dropped 43 places.

Does the Colosseum deserve its lower place in the 2020 edition of the Lonely Planet top 500?

It deserves to be higher - at least top 20.
 

67. Pantheon

What is the Pantheon?

It's the world's oldest standing building that is still in regular use. The current structure began life as a Roman temple, built by Hadrian in 126AD. He built it on the site of an older temple. It was converted to a church in 609.

What's the Pantheon like? 

It was probably Pete's favourite building in the world. The front is a rectangular portico but the rest of it is round, with a huge gravity-defying dome. It has to be seen to be believed.

Where is the Pantheon? 

Rome, Italy

When did we go? 

February 2007

How did we go? 

It's in the centre of Rome where we went on a three day trip. We also saw St Peter's Basilica (185), the Colosseum (50), and the Vatican Museums (173).

Worth noting: 

The word 'pantheon' means 'temple of all the gods'. The artist Raphael was buried in the Pantheon at his own request.

Where was the Pantheon on the Lonely Planet 2015 Ultimate Travelist? 

51st. It dropped 16 places by 2020.

Does the Pantheon deserve to be on the Lonely Planet Top 500? 

Pete would say 100% yes and he'd probably put it higher up the list.

112. Florence's Duomo

What is Florence's Duomo?

Florence Cathedral, built between 1296–1436 and otherwise known as the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, is one of the largest church buildings in the world. Its octagonal dome was one of the most ambitious architectural projects of the Renaissance period. The cathedral complex also includes a baptistery and a bell tower, both also covered in white, green and pink marble, and a museum. 

What is the Florence's Duomo like?

From the outside, it's stupendous - it literally stops you in your tracks when you walk around the corner and catch a glimpse of it up close for the first time. The interior of the nave is very simple in comparison, which surprised me - there isn't much to look at. I think they moved a lot of the artworks into the museum below the church. 

Where is the Florence's Duomo?

Florence, Italy 

When did we go?

March 2023

How did we get there? 

We flew to Pisa, where we visited the Leaning Tower, and then caught a train to Florence. The train journey was very simple and took around an hour. We also saw the Uffizi Gallery and the Galleria dell'Accademia (356).

Worth noting: 

You need time in Florence. I didn't get to see the Baptistery or the bell tower or the Duomo Museum - I'll definitely go back as they all looked very interesting.

What was Florence Duomo's place in the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

66. It moved down 46 places. 

Does Florence's Duomo deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

Yes, definitely. 

162. The Uffizi

What is the Uffizi?

The Uffizi in Florence is one of the world's most famous art galleries and is known as the home of Renaissance art. The Uffizi building itself was built during the Renaissance period - it was started by Cosimo de Medici in the 16th century as the administrative centre for the city (hence the name Uffizi, meaning 'offices'). He and his Medici descendants filled it with artworks until 1737 when the Medici dynasty ended, after which it was opened to the public.

What is the Uffizi like?

I hate to say this, but it wasn't a pleasant experience. This was mainly because of the poor signage and the rudeness of the staff - they were unbelievably unhelpful and miserable. It's also an unusual place - it's the 27th most visited art gallery in the world but it's a historic old complex that wasn't built to accommodate 4 million people every year. BUT it is very beautiful and it contains some real treasures of art, so it was well worth the hassle.

Where is the Uffizi?

Florence, Italy

When did we go? 

March 2023

How did we get there? 

We flew to Pisa, where we visited the Leaning Tower, and then caught a train to Florence. The train journey was very simple and took around an hour. We also saw Florence's Duomo (112) and the Galleria dell'Accademia (356).

Worth noting: 

The most famous painting in the Uffizi is probably Birth of Venus by Botticelli (below), along with Medusa by Caravaggio and Adoration of the Magi by Leonardo da Vinci, but there are thousands of pieces to see.

What was the Uffizi's place in the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

72. It moved down 90 places. 

Does the Uffizi deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

Yes - the Uffizi is the home of Renaissance art in the city that is the home of Renaissance art. I would put it lower on the list though.

173. Vatican Museums

What are the Vatican Museums?

The Vatican Museums were founded in the early 16th century by Pope Julius II and today form one of the largest museums in the world, with 54 galleries and 70,000 objects (of which 20,000 are on display). 6 million people visited in 2017. The Sistine Chapel is the last gallery within the museums. 

What are the Vatican Museums like? 

To be very honest, I didn't know that the Vatican Museums were a thing when we went to Rome - I only knew about the Sistine Chapel, so that's all we really looked at. 

Where are the Vatican Museums?

Rome, Italy 

When did we go?

February 2007 

How did we get there?

It's very easy to get to the Vatican from the centre of Rome, where we went on a three day trip. We also saw St Peter's Basilica (185), the Pantheon (67), and the Colosseum (50). 

Worth noting: 

It's free to get into the museums on the last Sunday of each month but be prepared for the worst queues that you ever saw in your life. When I went back to Rome with my mum and sister I booked a guided tour of the Sistine Chapel rather than endure that queue again. 

Where were the Vatican Museums in the 2015 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List? 

115. They dropped 58 places.

Do the Vatican Museums deserve their place in the Lonely Planet Top 500?

Pete loved the Sistine Chapel so I'm going to say yes but maybe not so high up.  

182. Lake Como

What is Lake Como?

Lake Como is an upscale tourist destination that is loved by George Clooney and numerous other luminaries. It's basically a glacial lake at the foot of the Alps in the north of Italy - it is the country's third largest lake (after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore) and the deepest in Europe outside Norway. It has an unusual shape, like an upside down Y, with towns and villa dotted all long its shoreline.

What is Lake Como like?

It's stunningly beautiful. The combination of mountains with clear, cold water make you feel rejuvenated, while the air of refined sophistication makes for a relaxing Italian experience. We stayed in Varenna, which is a beautiful little town that is worth a visit. We also visited Lecco, which is a bigger town with a supermarket and other amenities. The best way to visit Lake Como is probably to pick a base and then visit the various towns via boat or car or train.

Where is Lake Como?

An hour's train journey north of Milan, Italy.  

When did we go?

July 2024

How did we get there? 

We flew to Milan Malpensa, travelled by train to Milano Centrale (50 minutes) and then switched to a train to Varenna (just over an hour). 

Worth noting: 

Benito Mussolini was executed in a town on Lake Como in 1945.

Where was Lake Como in the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

It was a new addition for 2020.

Does Lake Como deserve its place on the 2020 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

Yes - it's beautiful with a unique character.

185. St Peter's Basilica

What is St Peter's Basilica? 

It's the biggest church in the world. It was built between 1506-1626 on the spot where Peter, one of the apostles, was buried. The original church, built by the Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, had fallen into disrepair and was knocked down to make way for its replacement.

What's St Peter's Basilica like?

It's huge but it's so full of tourists that it's quite hard to take in the scale.

Where is St Peter's Basilica?

Rome, Italy

When did we go? 

February 2007

How did we get there?

We went on a three day trip from London - Vatican City is in the centre of Rome and very easy to get to. We also saw the the Colosseum (50), the Vatican Museums (173), and the Pantheon (67).

Worth noting

The Pope holds an audience in front of the basilica every Wednesday - it's free but you need to get tickets in advance.

St Peter's Basilica's place in the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

85. It dropped 100 places.

Does St Peter's Basilica deserve its position in the Lonely Planet Top 500?

Yes. I'd have put it higher up.

279. St Mark's Square

What is St Mark's Square?

It's the 'drawing room of Europe' according to Napoleon - it's a large square in the centre of Venice containing St Mark's Church, the Doge's Palace, and the Clock Tower.

What's St Mark's Square like?

It was an unexpectedly restful place for me - it's the centre of Venice and packed with tourists, but you can sit and have a very expensive coffee and soak up the atmosphere.  

Where is St Mark's Square?

Venice, Italy

When did we go?

October 2010

How did we get there?

We went for one night for Pete's birthday - we flew very early from London and returned the following evening. We got a traghetto public ferry from the airport on the way there, but on the way back we got our own taxi boat - it was expensive but great.

Worth noting: 

The chances of you not being ripped off at some point in Venice are very slim, and almost non-existent in St Mark's Square - we decided to go with it and had extortionate drinks in Harry's Bar just off the square, as well as a dinner that cost way over the odds. But it was still a great trip.

Where was St Mark's Square in the 2015 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

26. It had dropped 253 places.

Does it deserve its lower place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500?

No way. It should be much higher.

356. Galleria dell'Accademia

What is the Galleria dell'Accademia?

The Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence is most famous for being home to the original statue of David, the masterpiece of Renaissance art completed by Michelangelo in 1504. It also contains a number of other pieces of Michelangelo's work. Other Florentine artists from the 13-16th centuries are also on display, including Botticelli, del Sarto and Ghirlandaio. 

What is the Galleria dell'Accademia like? 

It's smaller than the nearby Uffizi, which means that it gets very busy. The statue of David is spectacular - the pictures don't do it justice - but otherwise the experience felt crowded and rushed. 

Where is the Galleria dell'Accademia? 

Florence, Italy

When did we go? 

March 2023

How did we get there? 

We flew to Pisa, where we visited the Leaning Tower, and then caught a train to Florence. The train journey was very simple and took around an hour. We also saw Florence's Duomo (112) and the Uffizi Gallery.

Worth noting:

I had to book a tour of the Galleria dell'Accademia, as there were no tickets left. This turned out to be a good decision: the guide was great and I learned a lot about the sculptures and paintings that I wouldn't have known otherwise.

The Galleria dell'Accademia's position in the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist 2015 edition:

It was a new entry in the 2020 edition.

Does the Galleria dell'Accademia deserve its place in the 2020 top 500? 

I'm not sure.

Milan's Duomo

What is it: The Duomo is the third largest cathedral in Europe (after St Peter's in Vatican City and Seville Cathedral) and the fifth largest in the world. It took 600 years to complete - construction started in 1386 and the final details were finished in 1965.
What's it like: It's a very striking and unusual cathedral. It's built from Candoglia marble, which gives it a much brighter, whiter look than most other Gothic cathedrals that are usually built from stone. From the outside it seems to occupy more space horizontally, rather than vertically reaching for the skies (and in terms of height it is the 73rd tallest church in Europe) but once you're inside the scale of it still takes your breath away.
Where: Milan, Italy
When: November 2019
How: I flew to Milan Linate airport and stayed in the city for a couple of days with my friends Justine and Sam.
Worth noting: The Last Supper, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, can be found in another church (Santa Maria delle Grazie) a short walk from the Duomo. It is well worth seeing but you need to book your tickets in advance.

Place in the 2015 edition: 245
Did it deserve to lose its place in the 2020 top 500: I don't think so. It's an unusual and memorable place.