Maybe you've heard plenty about Italy. The tantalizing food. The jaw-dropping scenery. The laid-back culture. But if you haven't actually been to Italy, you can't fully know what it's like.

We can't recommend enough adding Europe's Boot to your bucket list. But if you need a little more inspiration, just scroll down. We searched Instagram and collected the most gorgeous pictures of Italy we could find. From whimsical Venice to the waterside mountains of Lake Como, this country leaves us breathless every time we see it.

 

The Vatican Museums, Rome

 

A post shared by Monika Bl (@moni.ble) on Oct 5, 2017 at 7:26am PDT

Technically, Vatican City is not in "Italy," it's its own sovereign principality in the middle of Rome. But we couldn't resist sharing the exquisitely detailed Gallery of Maps inside the Vatican Museums.

See it for yourself: Shop vacations and hotels in Rome.

 

Arnolfo Tower, Florence

 

A post shared by DORIAN PELLUMBI (@dorpell) on Oct 5, 2017 at 12:10pm PDT

This image actually captures two of Florence's most beloved structures: Arnolfo Tower of the Palazzo Vecchio is seen in the distance. But the picture is taken from Giotto's Bell Tower, a campanile on the site of Il Duomo.

See it for yourself: Shop vacations and hotels in Florence.

 

Venetian Canals

 

A post shared by Jacopo De Michelis (@geidiemme) on Oct 14, 2017 at 11:32am PDT

Nothing in the world can prepare you for Venice's charming canals. And while everyone is focused on the Grand Canal, so many smaller neighborhoods offer quiet scenes like this—some of the best pictures of Italy are found in the less touristy sections.

See it for yourself: Shop vacations and hotels in Venice.

 

Cinque Terre

 

A post shared by S A N Y (@doounias) on Oct 6, 2017 at 2:40am PDT

After Venice and its canals, Italy's most picturesque region has to be Cinque Terre, a collection of five cliffside towns along the Mediterranean.

 

Ponte Garibaldi, Rome

 

A post shared by ~ яσмιиα ¢αмρσ∂σиι¢σ ~ 👸🏼 (@viajandoxahi) on Oct 13, 2017 at 12:58pm PDT

Stretching across the Tiber River, Ponte Garibaldi is a favorite photo op for those taking a Roman river cruise.

See it for yourself: Shop tours and hotels in Rome. 

 

Tivoli

 

A post shared by Davide ⚓️ (@davideor94) on Oct 5, 2017 at 12:35pm PDT

Some of Italy's most peaceful places are its side streets and alleyways, like this garden-laden scene in Tivoli, a town about 20 miles north of Rome.

 

Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence

 

A post shared by Riccardo Brig Casarico (@brigrc) on Oct 5, 2017 at 3:36am PDT

Beautiful on the outside, Basilica di Santa Croce is especially historic on the inside—it's the final resting place of Michaelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli.

See it for yourself: Shop vacations and hotels in Florence.

 

Siena, Tuscany

 

A post shared by Don Quiel Lumbera™ (@donquiellumbera_) on Oct 17, 2017 at 12:44pm PDT

Siena is one of the gems of Tuscany, known for its rolling hills and picturesque vineyards, making it an ideal spot to take Italy photos. You can see some of the geography in the background of this picture of the Siena cathedral.

See it for yourself: Shop vacations and hotels in Tuscany.

 

The Island of Burano, Venice

 

A post shared by Nanda Hampe & Bartolomeo Toto (@100gramsofsun) on Oct 24, 2017 at 5:00am PDT

Even more colorful than Venice is the smaller island of Burano, located about 30 minutes north of Venice (an express ferry stops here and Murano, the island renowned for its blown glass). If you love to show off your Italy photos after a vacation, both are a must-visit.

See it for yourself: Shop vacations and hotels in Venice.

 

Lake Como

 

A post shared by Folk Italy Lifestyle Cyclist (@dario_di_giorgio) on Oct 21, 2017 at 5:05am PDT

If you've come to Italy to relax, go to Lake Como. The mountainside lake, located on the border by Switzerland, is dotted with small, tourist-friendly towns, plus the homes of George Clooney, Madonna, and Richard Branson.

 

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan

 

A post shared by Лиза Суродеева (@lisa_surodeeva) on Oct 24, 2017 at 11:07am PDT

Considered the first shopping mall in the world, the Galleria in Milan wows visitors with its spectacular iron-and-glass ceiling.

See it for yourself: Shop vacations and hotels in Milan.

 

Doge's Palace, Venice

 

A post shared by Nina Akimkina (@seem0na) on Oct 21, 2017 at 10:22am PDT

The Doge (essentially Venice's mayor or king) lived in this palace for nearly six centuries, and it's a prime example of Ventian architecture.

See it for yourself: Shop vacations and hotels in Venice.

 

The Pantheon, Rome

 

A post shared by Antonio Rotundo🚶Travel Blogger (@anto81nio) on Oct 22, 2017 at 10:07am PDT

 

Built by Marcus Agrippa in the early second century, the Pantheon is perhaps Rome's best preserved example of ancient Roman architecture.