Francisco Anzola from United States, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Italian Modern Architecture

Published: 1 October 2022 Updated: 11 July 2025

The subject of architecture in Italy typically makes one think of classical buildings such as the Colloseum in Rome, the Pantheon, or the Piazza of San Marco in Venice.

Around the turn of the 20th century prominent Italian architects looked to find a national modernist language and personal identity, within the various pillars of the modernist movement and under rule of a fascist government.

However, the late 20th and 21st centuries have seen a growing trend towards revitalizing cities with modern architecture and urban planning in Italy. Many famous architects, both Italian, such as: Renzo Piano, Carlo Scarpa and Aldo Rossi, and international, such as: Rem Koolhaas (Netherlands), Zaha Hadid (Iraq) and Richard Meier, (USA), have designed buildings of note.

Despite Italy's already healthy tourism industry, many cities have been tempted to commission 'star architects' to design iconic buildings. The 'Bilbao effect' as it is known, refers to Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum in the previously sleepy Spanish city of Bilbao. These projects are likely vehicles to promote Italy as a country of innovation as much as they are stand-alone tourist attractions.

Below are some of the modern buildings worth visiting in Italy:

Rome

Parco della Musica - Renzo Piano

Jubilee Church - Richard Meier

MAXXI - National Museum of the 21st Century Arts - Zaha Hadid

Venice

Olivetti Showroom & The Gallerie dell'Accademia (restoration) - Carlo Scarpa

Ponte della Costituzione - Santiago Calatrava

Milan

Luigi Bocconi Free University - Grafton Architects

Velasca Tower - BBPR

SS. Giovanni E Paolo Church - Luigi Figini and Gino Pollini

'City Life' (architecture and urban design) under construction, completion due 2014 - Arata Isozaki, Daniel Libeskind, Zaha Hadid, and Pier Paolo Maggiora

San Paolo Church - Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas

Nembro

Municipal Library - Studio Archea

Padre Pio Pilgrimage Church - Renzo Piano

Ravello

Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium - Oscar Niemeyer

Verona

Ca Di Cozzi - Aldo Rossi

Castelvecchio Museum (renovation) - Carlo Scarpa

Verona Forum - Mario Bellini Architects

Italy — national feature image — Italy at a glance — then the bigger picture: what shaped the state, how it works, what it produces, and where it stands.

Italy — global snapshot

Stable reference signals for quick orientation.

Area

301,340 km²

Covers a long peninsula extending into the Mediterranean, plus two major islands — Sicily and Sardinia — and numerous smaller island groups. The geography includes alpine regions, fertile plains, volcanic zones, and extensive coastline, shaping settlement, climate, and transport patterns.

Population

~59 million

One of the largest populations in the European Union, with density concentrated in urban and northern regions. Long-term demographic trends include low birth rates, population ageing, and increasing reliance on inward migration for workforce balance.

Coastline

~7,600 km

A predominantly maritime nation bordered by the Tyrrhenian, Adriatic, Ionian, and Ligurian seas. The extended coastline supports ports, tourism, fisheries, naval infrastructure, and a long-standing seafaring and trading tradition.

UNESCO sites

The highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally, spanning ancient cities, archaeological landscapes, historic centres, and cultural routes. This reflects Italy’s layered civilisations and the density of preserved cultural assets across its territory.

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Member of the Eurozone, with monetary policy set at European Central Bank level. Use of the euro facilitates trade, investment, and financial integration across the EU single market.

Time

CET / CEST

Operates on Central European Time, with daylight saving applied seasonally. The time zone aligns Italy with major European capitals, supporting coordination in business, transport, and broadcasting.

Tourism

~50–65M

Among the world’s most visited countries, attracting visitors for heritage cities, landscapes, cuisine, and lifestyle. Tourism is economically significant but regionally uneven, with strong seasonal concentration in major destinations.

Global role

A founding member of the European Union and a permanent participant in G7 coordination. Italy’s influence is exercised through diplomacy, industrial capability, cultural reach, and multilateral institutions.

Governance