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Capital of Tuscany and one of the world's most visited art cities: 360,000 residents, a million in the metropolitan area, an economy of tourism, fashion, leather and pharmaceuticals, a university and dozens of foreign university programmes. Expensive housing contested by short-term rentals, very hot summers. Suits those in fashion, culture or research; hard for those seeking cheap housing.

Capital of the Maremma, on a plain crossed by the Ombrone a few kilometres from the coast, with a medieval circuit of walls of about 3 km. It has the Misericordia hospital of Azienda USL Toscana sud est and University of Siena courses taught in person and by online lectures.

A port city on the Tuscan coast that grew under the Medici, who drew merchants from all over the world: the Venezia quarter on its canals, Medici fortresses, a seafront running to the cliffs of Calafuria. The sea economy weighs far more than the Italian average, between port, logistics and tourism; home of the Naval Academy.

A Tuscan provincial capital enclosed by a 4.2-kilometre ring of walls, built between the mid-16th and mid-17th centuries and now a public promenade. In the centre, Piazza Anfiteatro follows the outline of a Roman amphitheatre and the Guinigi Tower carries holm oaks on top; the city hosts the IMT School for Advanced Studies.

A city with an early-medieval old town below the Malaspina Castle, a Renaissance layout around Piazza Aranci and, on the coast, Marina di Massa. The Apuan Alps, with their regional park, rise right behind the city.

A Tuscan city known for Piazza dei Miracoli, on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987, and for a university officially founded in 1343. The University has 20 departments; the university hospital and local health services belong to AOUP and USL Toscana nord ovest.

Tuscany's second city and capital of a small province a few kilometres from Florence: a historic textile district built on recycled wool, now flanked by a large Chinese-run fast-fashion sector. A medieval centre with the Cathedral, Donatello's pulpit and the Emperor's Castle; a textile museum and contemporary art.

A Tuscan provincial capital, proclaimed Italian Capital of Culture 2017 and Italian Capital of the Book for 2026. Piazza del Duomo holds the bell tower (67 metres) and the baptistery; the Pistoia Sotterranea, starting from the Ceppo loggia, is the longest underground route in Tuscany.

Medieval city in Tuscany whose historic centre has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1995. The Palio is run in Piazza del Campo on 2 July and 16 August. The University's earliest documented date is 1240 and the Monte dei Paschi bank describes itself as founded in 1472.

Capital of Umbria on a hill at almost 500 metres: 162,000 residents in a very large municipality, two universities (State and for Foreigners) filling the acropolis with students, an economy of public employment, services, agri-food and Perugina. Low costs, good air, slow links to big cities. Suits students and those who want a human-scale city; less so those seeking skilled private-sector work.

A city of southern Umbria between the Nera and Serra rivers: an industrial steel city since the nineteenth century, with the AST steelworks still active, the city of Saint Valentine and the gateway to the Marmore Falls, Piediluco and the Valnerina.

Capital of the Marche region, Ancona is a city of about one hundred thousand people built on a promontory between the port and Monte Conero. A passenger and freight port among the Adriatic's busiest, shipbuilding, a technical-scientific university and the regional hospital. A compact, mid-sized city with the sea in town and a moderate cost of living.

A city in the Marche that the Comune calls the "city of the hundred towers". The historic centre is protected by a ZTL with electronic gates; the Universities of Camerino and the Marche Polytechnic teach in town, and in 2025 Ascoli was European City of Sport.

A city in the Marche that its tourism site calls an "art city close to the sea". Piazza del Popolo, the Roman cisterns and the Teatro dell'Aquila mark the centre; the Cavalcata dell'Assunta is held every 14 and 15 August. The hospital is a first-level DEA.

Provincial capital in the Marche and a university city, with five departments and a Scuola di Studi Superiori "Giacomo Leopardi". The Arena Sferisterio hosts the Macerata Opera Festival; the feast of the patron saint San Giuliano is held in late August.

Capital of the province of Pesaro e Urbino, divided into 12 quartieri. It was Italian Capital of Culture in 2024 and the Comune presents it as a UNESCO Creative City of Music; the Rossini Opera Festival is, according to its site, the only international event entirely dedicated to Rossini.

A provincial capital in Lazio. The city hosts the Frosinone ASL with the Frosinone-Alatri-Anagni hospital unit and the Licinio Refice Conservatory, established as a state institution in 1974. From 26 October 2026 BRT and TPL tickets can also be bought online.

A founded town of the Agro Pontino born in the 1930s as Littoria, with a centre of rationalist architecture and a network of rural villages and districts reaching the sea at Latina Lido. The municipality is preparing the 2032 centenary and backs the bid for UNESCO World Heritage status for rationalist architecture.

A city in Lazio on the Velino river, in the Valle Santa, on the third stage of the Way of St Francis. It has the Sabina Universitas university centre with Sapienza and Tuscia courses, the San Camillo de Lellis hospital (first-level DEA according to the ASL) and urban transport run by ASM Rieti.

Italy's capital and most populous municipality, Rome has almost three million residents spread over a very large territory divided into 15 municipi. A service economy: public administration, international organisations, tourism, film and TV. Newcomers find many universities and a high cost of living in the centre, more moderate along the metro lines.

Provincial capital of the Tuscia area in northern Lazio. The centre preserves the Papal Palace, whose construction began in 1257, and the medieval San Pellegrino quarter; on the evening of 3 September the Facchini carry the Macchina di Santa Rosa in procession. The University of Tuscia is based in the city.

Capital of Abruzzo at 700 m altitude at the foot of the Gran Sasso, L'Aquila is a city of about seventy thousand people spread over a vast municipal territory with dozens of hamlets. The earthquake of 6 April 2009 marked its recent history: the historic centre has largely been rebuilt and the city is Italian Capital of Culture 2026. University, research and pharmaceuticals sustain the economy.

Abruzzo provincial capital, with the Comune at corso Marrucino 81. The municipal site distinguishes Chieti Alta, the historic centre on the hill, from Chieti Scalo, the newer and commercial part in the valley, home to the campus of the «G. d'Annunzio» University of Chieti-Pescara. The National Archaeological Museum of Abruzzo is in Villa Frigerj, in the villa comunale.

An Adriatic city born in 1927 from the union of the two banks of the Pescara river, set to merge with Montesilvano and Spoltore into a new municipality from 1 January 2027. A seafront with the Ponte del Mare, the D'Annunzio pine forest, a university, a station with direct trains to major cities and an airport.