The World’s 100 Best Palaces · 2026

The Best Palaces in Italy

12 of the 100 palaces in The World’s 100 Best Palaces 2026 are in Italy. The highest placed is Royal Palace of Caserta in Caserta, at number 12 in the world. Villa del Balbianello in Lenno (number 23) and Villa d’Este in Tivoli (number 35) follow.

Royal and ducal palaces

The Royal Palace of Caserta has a long park axis of fountains that ends at a waterfall. The Doge's Palace in Venice was the seat of government, courts and prison of the Venetian Republic. Palazzo Pitti in Florence holds painting galleries and royal apartments in front of the Boboli Gardens. The Royal Palace of Turin and the hunting lodge of Stupinigi were built for the House of Savoy.

Mantua

Two palaces of the Gonzaga family are on the list. The Ducal Palace is a complex of over 500 rooms that includes Mantegna's Bridal Chamber. Palazzo Te, about 1.5 km from the centre, was designed by Giulio Romano and has the Hall of the Giants.

Villas and lakes

Villa d’Este in Tivoli has hundreds of fountains on a terraced hillside. Villa Farnese in Caprarola is a pentagonal palace with a circular courtyard. Villa del Balbianello is on Lake Como, Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Bella in Lake Maggiore, reached by boat from Stresa. Miramare Castle stands on a promontory above the Gulf of Trieste.