Best photography vantage points

Venice: the top of the Academia Bridge, the top of the bell tower at San Giorgio Maggiore, the front steps of the Della Salute Church, views down the many small canals, etc.........

That is an impossible question. If the light is right, the composition is correct, just about any location would work. There is no "off the beaten path." That is an illusion.

Venice: the top of the Academia Bridge

Don't know when the OP's trip is, but the Accademia Bridge is currently covered up for restoration. You can walk across it, but can't see anything from it.

To the OP--Do a Google images search for each city, you'll see all the "classic" shots, and figure out where they were shot from. You can also Google photographer's for each city--their websites often have photos that can give you some ideas. But, as Frank said, getting good shots is really up to you and your abilities. Also, you'll need to be willing to get up pre-dawn to both miss the crowds and get that great sunrise lighting.

Trip is in September so hopefully the Bridge restoration will be done by then. Thanks to lnbsig for your location suggestions!

There are so many good locations. A few that come to mind....

• Rome - top of the Vatican dome, top of the Victor Emmanuele monument, locations along the Tiber.
• Florence - top of the Duomo dome, vantage point on the other side of the Arno.
• Venice - as someone else mentioned, explore the obscure back streets, as there are often good photo op's there.
• Cinque Terre - many photo op's in the five towns. For classic shots, the vantage point on the trail looking down on Vernazza. You might want to also take the Ferry from Monterosso to Porto Venere, as the view from the water provides some good shots (with the right lens of course).

Are you packing along a Tripod? That will provide the opportunity for some night shots, which provides a different perspective of the locations you mentioned.

In Florence, Giardino delle Rose and the garden at villa Bardini are two vantage points, as the city looks closer than shooting it from other points. All the area at Pian de' Giullari - old villas with narrow roads enclosed between walls is very much off the beaten path. I also suggest getting up very early as it really makes a difference.

Here are some shots I've taken that are on my wall:

Venice: from the Rialto Bridge at dusk, facing south. That's the 24"x36" print that's hanging on my wall at home now.

Florence: from Piazzale Michelangelo (hill) looking down across the river on Florence. Sunset shot from here as a panoramic is also on my wall.

Cinque Terre: Riomaggiore: walk up toward the dock for the boats that go from town to town; at the highest point, you can get a great view north.

These aren't on my wall, but...
Vernazza: approaching on the trail from the south (walking north), you can see the lighthouse in the foreground - also a nice place to view the sunset.

Vernazza: approaching on the trail from the north (walking south), as you start descending down you get some perfect shots down on the town.

You will know it when you see it

One pointer would be to get out and working EARLY. Not only is the light better but most of these places will fill up with tourists by 9:00.

You will know it when you see it

That's really the key. The "classics" are not difficult to find, just follow the crowd. For the rest, go just about anywhere the crowds aren't. You have to plan time just to wander about. Some of my own favorite shots are not the vantage-point variety but of things: weathered, flower-framed window shutters and doorways; street-corner Madonnelle and tiny shrines (I'm very fond of those), a scarlet Vespa parked against a mottled terra-cotta wall; an interesting little detail on a very old building, a colorful line of laundry; etc.

Also narrow, atmospheric alleys and people, the latter almost always taken with a zoom so they don't know I'm shooting them: the wedding party in Florence; an elder lady watching the world go by from her lace-curtained window; a laughing toddler scattering a flock of pigeons... They're unique and "in the moment".

As already mentioned above, very early morning is a great time to be out and about to catch the best light and fewer bodies.

Some of my own favorite shots are not the vantage-point variety but of things: weathered, flower-framed window shutters and doorways; street-corner Madonnelle and tiny shrines (I'm very fond of those), a scarlet Vespa parked against a mottled terra-cotta wall; an interesting little detail on a very old building, a colorful line of laundry; etc.

Same here Kathy. There are as many "slice of life" photos on my walls as postcard type "classic shots".

On a side note, I got tired of lugging my full frame DSLR kit all around Europe. When my wife had to go to London and Paris on business (with me tagging along), I took it as an excuse to buy a mirrorless camera. My kit went from 22 pounds to 6 pounds with essentially the same field of view covered. My small messenger bag is a lot less noticeable and easy to carry than my big camera bag. Also, it is hard to shoot street photos without being noticed when you've got a large white lens on your camera. When I shot on the street in London and Paris with my small Fuji X-E3, no one noticed.

I beg to differ about there not being any "off the beaten path" areas. The best photo I've ever taken in Italy was in Rome in a subway underpass (sottopassaggio) down by San Paolo Fuori Le Mura, if I remember correctly. An old accordion playing busker in front of a mural. (Yes, I gave generously after taking the photo.) I've actually sold copies of it.

The Piazza Michelangelo in Florence is definitely a great photo spot, especially at dusk. Unfortunately, it's not a secret. When I was there in June, I had to fight my up to the wall into order to get shots back toward the Duomo. Just horribly crowded.

By the way, there is an app called The Photographer's Ephemeris that I have found useful. It allows you to see when and from where sunrise and sunset (and everything in between) will occur anywhere on Earth on any date in the future. It has helped me know where to set up for sunrise or sunset shots around specific landmarks. For instance, used it before a trip to Venice last February to see where the sun would be rising in relation to San Giorgio Maggiore. Got a great shot that (cold!) morning from roughly in front of the Giardini Reali.

Hi Mr. P,
A topic dear to our heart. I'll pass on giving any Florence advice coz its been 29 years since our last visit. As for CT, here'a a tip that once came from a family friend pro photographer: bring your tripod and check out Manarola during sunrise. His over-sized shot of that scene was world-class quality and became his best-seller.
For Rome, I have 2 suggestions. 1) get thee down to Ninfa Gardens, near Latina. The gardens are a daytrip out of Rome, an easy 1 hr train ride, followed by a supposed brief bus connection. There were skeletons wearing Tilly hats over by the bus stop when we visited, so we opted to take a taxi instead. Note that one must reserve ahead of time for the obligatory guided tour--you *cannot just show up (see 'Friends of Ninfa' site).
2) Via Giulia is a very good street for photos, especially at either of its ends. For more specific info, maybe check out our trip report here. The report ('Bella Puglia') also addresses some foto tips for Puglia and Basilicata.
For Venice, as elsewhere, there are a smazillion cliche photo ops, but most are so compelling as to be worth every effort. Firstly, I would recommend the colourful isle of Burano. It has been portrayed on countless promo posters, guidebook covers and postcards. The stretch looking both ways at 'Gato Nero' restaurant is one of its iconic scenes, with every colour in the rainbow right there at your fingertips. We always stay until the very final boat returns back to Venice proper coz the unique atmosphere alone, cameras in hand or not, is worth crossing an ocean for. If you miss the final boat via Mazzorbo, and have always wanted to take a private taxi along the route, here's your chance.
Venice proper: we favour, in approximate order, the backstreets of San Polo, Castello and Dorsodouro.
All the above is merely a rough guide (sorry Rick). Italy rewards the curious photographer willing to explore and discover their own personal photographic highlights like few other places.
Bonne chance and have fun!
I am done. The end.

Yeah - I'll second (or third) the getting out early/staying out late. I've been out in Venice at 6:30 am and you'll have the Rialto and ST Mark's Sq almost to yourself. And you can get a photo of the Bridge of Sighs without fighting hordes of selfie stick carrying people. And the view from San Giorgio bell tower across the lagoon from St Marks is beautiful (and there probably won't be a line either).

For me, I did a lot of looking at Instagram and seeing places that looked interesting and trying to figure out where they were/how to get that angle. I saw some amazing photos of the Louvre at night taken from a certain spot (I know, Paris isn't Italy) but was able to recreate that for myself.

A nice spot in Rome is the bridge leading to Castel Sant Angelo. Colosseum at night is great. Got some great photos of the Duomo in Florence from the bell tower/Giotto's Campanile (if you go up the Duomo, you can't really get pics of the Duomo!). Got a few nice photos of Corniglia in Cinque Terre on the road leading to the village (not coming up from the train stn, tho that would probably work too, but I think of it as the road leaving the village - past the main square heading away from the train stn - but I love all the alleys and whatnot in each village)

My favorite photos are the ones that most remind me of special moments in a particular trip.

They may have nothing to do with a vantage point from a bridge, a courtyard, or monument.

They just happen, and they may not be remarkable to anyone else.

And I don't care.

Venice, get on a vaporeto going back to the train station, but don’t get off. The next stop is their terminal. Make sure you validate your ticket.
Wait for an open fronted one going down, to st Marcos, and get on front right outside seat.
Try to do this around 4:30 to 5:00 pm, a 24:70 or better a 24:105 will work just fine. Keep a bit more sky in your shots ,if you are into perspective correction in post.
Murano early, as is further out in the lagoon, for more colour.... before the hordes arrive.

I’m not sure if st marks still prohibits photos inside, but upstairs outside was allowed, behind the horses into st marks is good, as is the bell tower, I went later in the day.

If you don’t have one, Do invest in a fibre travel tripod, on that folds to go inside a backpack.
Likewise a 10 stop, if you don’t have one visit Matt Granger . Com. He just did an extensive review of them in the present US market. Don’t even think about using the tripod in the daytime.
Cigarette butts, before you take your shot,.... look around, just remember it’s not the locals that litter.

Rome at the top of the Spanish steps, in the afternoon.
Very top of St. Peter’s, be in the first group. Any where in the forum.

If you have it, take a 1.4, for anything inside. Regards

Florence:

Piazza Michaelanglo (very beautiful in the rain);
Fort Belvadere;
The walk from Florence to Fiesole (beautiful in spring with the wisteria-like flowers in bloom);
Outside the Uffizi at nighttime;
The piazza in front of Santa Maria Novella* (church not the train station); and
The pizzza in front of Santa Croce*.

*these ones are awesome in B&W. I spent a lot of time in Florence as an art student. These were some of my favorite spots to visit, sketch and photograph.