Italian
Admissions to state cultural sites are on the rise: Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Pantheon top the list of favorites
ROME – Last weekend’s Ferragosto national holiday was marked by culture, with numbers showing a sharp increase compared to last year. Around 470,000 visitors chose to spend the long August 15–17 weekend in Italy’s state-run cultural sites.
On Ferragosto day alone, there were 161,278 entries, confirming the timeless appeal of Italy’s artistic and archaeological heritage.
At the top of the most-visited destinations is the Colosseum Archaeological Park, with 76,860 entries to the Flavian Amphitheater and 50,393 to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Following closely are the Pantheon with 35,813 visitors, and Pompeii with 29,361 entries.
Excellent results also came from Florence’s major museums: the Uffizi Galleries welcomed 27,370 visitors, while the Accademia Gallery recorded 23,033. Other top attractions included Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome (12,346) and the Royal Palace of Caserta (12,083).
Among the institutions drawing large numbers of tourists were the Royal Museums of Turin (10,996), Palazzo Pitti (7,644), the Borghese Gallery (6,616), and the National Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria (6,260), home to the famous Riace Bronzes.
Sites of widespread archaeological heritage also confirmed their appeal: the Grottoes of Catullus in Sirmione (4,922), the Herculaneum Archaeological Park (4,913), and Villa d’Este in Tivoli (4,842).
The Ferragosto holiday also boosted less central destinations in international tourist routes. Among the sites with over 1,000 visitors were the Pinacoteca di Brera (3,287), Last Supper Museum – Cenacolo Vinciano (3,440), the National Gallery of the Marche in Urbino (2,550), Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli (2,443), the Ducal Palace of Mantua (1,662), and the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice (1,605).
To these figures can be added 40,720 visitors to the ViVe complex – Vittoriano and Palazzo Venezia, and 10,744 to the Boboli Gardens.
The Ministry of Culture released the provisional data, stressing that the increase in admissions represents a positive sign: Italy’s state heritage continues to attract both Italian and international tourists, proving the vitality of museums and archaeological sites as drivers of cultural and economic growth.
Rome and Florence, with their most iconic landmarks, remain the strongest hubs, but Ferragosto 2025 confirmed the strength of Italy’s widespread cultural network across the entire country.
