Art In Italy Is More Than Just Art by Clyde Dennis

Millions of people visit Italy every single year and why not. It is after all one of the world's richest cultures when it comes to art. In fact art in Italy is a major part of the country's culture.

There is much art and architecture to see when in Italy that you could not possibly see it all even in an entire lifetime. Just the cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice alone offer an inexhaustible choice of art excursions.

Here are a few things you simply must see if you're on your own voyage seeking Italian art, either ancient or modern.

The Coliseum The Coliseum is an artistic wonder that was originally used as an entertainment venue and is still an amazing site to see. Curiously, although it could consider a source of embarrassment of the past, it has come to be known as an icon from the ancient Roman period.

Vatican City Vatican City is actually a tiny country and is perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of Rome. As any Catholic will tell you Vatican City is the heart of Catholicism, both spiritually and politically. St. Peter himself was crucified on this spot, and St. Peter's basilica was built directly above the ancient hill. Even today Basilica and St. Peter's square are studies in architecture. Both often the subject of many art history classes. Visitors who go to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are treated to see some of the true masterpieces of Roman art.

Piazza San Marco Piazza San Marco is still studied today by urban architects and planners as a one of the most beautiful public places on earth. The square is surrounded by coffee houses, quaint little shops, and of coarse Campanile and St. Peter's Basilica. Tourists and locals mingle or sit and sip in its coffee houses, or meet to talk, and climb the Campanile to see the amazing view of Venice.

The Peggy Guggenheim Collection In a city world renown for its ancient art and architecture, the Guggenheim Collection houses one of the greatest collections of modern art anywhere in the world. It's a collection that includes works by Pollack, Picasso, Klee, Rothko, Chagall, Mondrian, and more. There is also a splendid sculpture garden housing many other works of art.

In reality one could certainly wander Italy for many years and never experience all of it's great art and architecture. The I've listed and briefly discussed are a mere thumbnail sketches of art in Italy.