7 Must-See Italy Landmarks Kansas City Travelers Should Have on Their List
For Kansas City residents with ties to the city’s Italian-American heritage, a trip to Italy offers more than sightseeing. It’s a chance to walk the same streets, worship in the same churches and experience the culture that generations of KC families have kept alive.
Whether you’re a Catholic parishioner in the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph drawn to the Vatican or a University of Missouri–Kansas City student eager to see Renaissance masterpieces in person, these seven landmarks belong on your itinerary.
The Colosseum (Rome)
This ancient amphitheater was built in the 1st century CE at the request of the emperors of the Flavian dynasty. It hosted gladiatorial combat, animal hunts and other public spectacles, and it’s said to have seated around 50,000 spectators.
The Vatican & St. Peter’s Basilica (Rome)
The Vatican is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and home to the Pope — a destination with particular meaning for the large Catholic community across the Kansas City metro, including parishioners in the Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph.
At its heart is St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world, filled with remarkable paintings, statues and architectural details. The Vatican is also home to famous artist Michelangelo’s painted ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.
Trevi Fountain (Rome)
The Trevi Fountain is the terminal point of the Virgo aqueduct — the only ancient aqueduct in continuous use to this day — and the largest Baroque fountain in Rome.
Tossing a coin is said to guarantee you will visit Rome again. Tossing two coins is said to bring you love, and three is said to ensure marriage. Stand with your back to the fountain and throw the coins with your right hand over your left shoulder.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Pisa)
The famed freestanding bell tower of Pisa’s cathedral has an unintended tilt — caused by the settling of the building’s foundation — that has made it one of the world’s most recognizable structures.
Between 1990 and 2001 the tower was closed while engineers worked on decreasing the lean by about 17 inches to keep it from collapsing. They believe the work has stabilized it for at least the next 200 years.
The Uffizi Gallery (Florence)
One of the most notable collections of Western art in the world, the Uffizi is home to iconic pieces such as Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. Other world-famous artists whose work is housed here include Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael.
The Grand Canal & Rialto Bridge (Venice)
Venice’s main waterway stretches just over 2 miles long and 100 to 225 feet wide. It’s best experienced by gondola to get the full effect for yourself.
The canal is lined on either side by palaces, churches, hotels and other public buildings, with 4 bridges across it. The most famous is the 16th-century Rialto Bridge, which sits roughly at the halfway point and is considered a remarkable architectural and engineering achievement of the Renaissance period.
Pompeii (near Naples)
This preserved ancient Roman city was frozen in time by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Everything became buried beneath a blanket of ash and pumice.
In the 1700s, what was preserved at the site finally began to be unearthed. It’s believed the city had between 10,000 and 20,000 inhabitants at the time of the eruption. It’s now an open-air museum where visitors can see ancient theaters, temples, baths, houses and shops.
Getting There From Kansas City
KC travelers heading to Italy can connect through major hub airports from Kansas City International Airport.
For a taste of Italy closer to home, Kansas City’s Columbus Park neighborhood — the city’s historic Little Italy — keeps those cultural connections alive through its Italian restaurants and community traditions.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
