Italy’s healthcare system, known for its quality and accessibility, is predominantly publicly funded through a tax-based system, providing universal coverage to its residents. Notably, it’s ranked among the best in the world by the World Health Organization. The Italian hospital network excels in areas like preventative measures, early diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.
The medical system in Italy also stands out for its strong primary care network, with general practitioners playing a central role in patient care. Additionally, Italy has been recognized for its advanced medical research and innovations, particularly in fields such as genetics, pharmaceuticals, and medical technology.
We analyzed all the large hospitals in Italy to determine the best options for medical care available to expats living in Italy when in need. We looked at their Google ratings and reviews, top medical specialties, bed capacity, and features that makes them stand out.
These are the top-rated best hospitals in Italy
1. U.S. Naval Hospital Naples
- Rating: 4.5 (18 reviews)
- Specialty: Military hospital
- Location: Via Contrada Boscariello, 81030 Gricignano di Aversa CE, Naples, Italy
- Emergency department: Open 24 hours
The U.S. Naval Hospital Naples is a comprehensive medical facility that plays a crucial role in serving the healthcare needs of U.S. military personnel, their families, and other eligible beneficiaries in the region. With a 29-bed capacity, the hospital, along with its Naval Branch Health Clinic located at Capodichino and a Navy Fleet Liaison Detachment at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, caters to approximately 9,800 individuals.
It supports not only U.S. Navy tenant commands but also the USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) and forces from the twenty-two nations comprising the Allied Joint Forces Command in Naples, Italy.
The hospital offers a wide range of health services, ensuring comprehensive care for its patients. These services include primary care (family medicine, active duty, internal medicine), public health (nutrition services, medical readiness, immunizations), hospital care and surgery (general surgery, ENT, surgical services, urology, orthopedics, anesthesiology), mental (behavioral) health, laboratory and radiology services, specialty care (dermatology, physical therapy, audiology, occupational health, travel medicine), women’s health and pregnancy, children’s health, and various other medical services.
2. Ospedale Di Montepulciano
- Rating: 4.3 (19 reviews)
- Specialty: Government hospital
- Location: Ospedali Riuniti Valdichiana Sudest, Località Nottola, 13, 53045 Ospedali Riuniti Valdichiana Sudest SI, Siena, Italy
The Ospedale di Montepulciano, also known as Ospedale Valdichiana, is a prominent healthcare facility located in the Località Nottola area of Montepulciano in the province of Siena, Italy. It is part of the Azienda Usl Toscana sud est Arezzo- Grosseto- Siena.
This hospital offers a wide range of services through its main functional units, which include Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Cardiology UTIC, General Surgery, Nephrology and Dialysis, Immunotransfusion, Endoscopy, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Laboratory Analysis, Internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, Oncology, Orthopedics and Traumatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Neonatology, Emergency Room, Radiology, and ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) department.
The Montepulciano Hospital has a bed capacity of 255 and employs approximately 500 staff members, including doctors, nurses, technicians, administrative personnel, and other healthcare professionals. The hospital, which was inaugurated in January 2001, is set on a 13-hectare site amidst open countryside and vineyards, covering a total area of 65,000 square meters.
The construction of this modern facility involved the consolidation of six smaller hospitals in the region, thereby creating a comprehensive medical service hub. The hospital is recognized for its high standards of safety and hospitality, having been awarded the title of the safest and most welcoming hospital in Italy by the Court of Patient Rights. It also holds the distinction of being a child-friendly hospital, an international recognition granted by UNICEF and the World Health Organization.
3. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Foggia
- Rating: 4.3 (2200 reviews)
- Specialty: General hospital
- Location: Viale Cappuccini, sn, 71013 San Giovanni Rotondo FG, Italy
Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, located in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy, is a prominent private scientific research hospital. Founded in 1956 by Saint Pio of Pietrelcina and administered by Vatican City, it has established itself as one of Europe’s most efficient scientific research hospitals.
The facility includes two major activity wings: an internationally recognized hospital and a state-of-the-art scientific research center. This center, known as the Scientific Hospitalization and Treatment Institute (IRCCS), focuses on genomic and genetic disorders and runs the world’s first non-profit clinical trials.
The hospital boasts 900 beds, including 206 for elderly care, and is staffed by 2900 employees. It handles 60,000 annual admissions, 9,500 surgeries per year, and over 1.3 million outpatient services. The hospital is divided into 30 medical and surgical wards, offering 50 clinical specialties and over 4,300 diagnostic and therapeutic services.
It has an extensive range of departments includes Health Management, Pathological Anatomy, Cardiac Surgery, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Medical Genetics, Neurosurgery, Oncology, Orthopedics and Traumatology, Pediatrics, and many others.
4. Maria Beatrice Hospital Florence
- Rating: 4.1 (15 reviews)
- Specialty: General hospital
- Location: Via Alessandro Manzoni, 12, 50121 Firenze FI, Italy
Maria Beatrice Hospital in Florence, Italy, is a multispecialty healthcare facility, distinguished for its specific focus on certain medical disciplines. Established in 1974 and part of GVM Care & Research since 1988, the hospital is accredited with the Italian National Health Service and specializes in Orthopedic Surgery and Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. With a capacity of 32 beds, it provides both inpatient services for acute cases and outpatient services, ensuring comprehensive care for patients.
The hospital is structured to offer specialized services through its Functional Surgical Organizational Area, which includes a Functional Unit of Orthopedics and a Functional Unit of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.
These units are supported by Intensive Care, Anesthesia and Resuscitation, Diagnostic Imaging (Radiology Service), and a Chemical-Clinical and Microbiological Analysis Laboratory. The facility is equipped with modern equipment and has two operating rooms to facilitate the distinct health activities of its specialized units.
Additionally, Maria Beatrice Hospital has implemented a comprehensive Clinical Risk Management system to improve healthcare service quality and patient safety. This includes various actions such as risk identification, analysis, assessment, and the adoption of prevention measures, all in alignment with the policies of the Tuscany Region and the Regional Center for Clinical Risk and Patient Safety (GRCT).
5. Maurizio Bufalini Hospital Cesena
- Rating: 4.1 (345 reviews)
- Specialty: General hospital
- Location: Viale Giovanni Ghirotti, 286, 47521 Cesena FC, Italy
- Emergency department: Open 24 hours
The Maurizio Bufalini Hospital in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy offers some of the best medical services in the country. Its specialties include Pathological Anatomy, Anesthesia Resuscitation, Intensive Anesthesia Therapy, Cardiology U.T.I.C., a center for severe burn injuries, an emergency surgery department, general thoracic surgery, maxillofacial surgery, vascular surgery, dermatology, hematology, gastroenterology and digestive endoscopy, geriatrics.
The hospital also has a laboratory analysis unit, long-term care, infectious diseases, metabolic diseases and diabetology, emergency medicine, internal medicine, nuclear medicine, rehabilitative medicine, transfusional medicine, vascular medicine and angiology, nephrology dialysis, neurosurgery, neurology, neuroradiology, ophthalmology, oncology, orthopedics, obstetrics gynecology, otolaryngology, pediatrics, pneumology and bronchial endoscopy, radiology, intensive pediatric and neonatal therapy, and urology.
6. University Of Pittsburgh Medical Center Palermo
- Rating: 4.0 (11 reviews)
- Specialty: General hospital
- Location: Discesa dei Giudici, 4, 90133 Palermo PA, Italy
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in Palermo, Italy, is a significant presence in the region’s healthcare landscape. Established in 1997, UPMC, through a public-private partnership, created the Mediterranean Institute for Transplants and Highly Specialized Therapies (ISMETT) in Palermo, which stands as one of the three recognized IRCCS in Sicily.
This facility is part of a broader initiative by UPMC to build a health and research hub in Sicily, including a new 250-bed hospital and a center for biotechnology and biomedical research.
Moreover, UPMC’s influence in Italy extends to advanced radiotherapy, with two centers in Rome and Avellino’s province. These centers are part of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, renowned as one of the world’s first integrated oncology and research networks. Additionally, since 2018, UPMC has been operating the UPMC Salvator Mundi International Hospital in Rome, further expanding its healthcare footprint in Italy.
7. New Clinic Annunziatella Rome
- Rating: 4.0 (186 reviews)
- Specialty: General hospital
- Location: Via Meropia, 124, 00147 Rome RM, Italy
The New Clinic Annunziatella in Rome, Italy, is a notable healthcare facility known for its surgical focus. It is a private hospital accredited with the Italian National Health System and operates 24/7. The hospital is set in the greenery of the Appia Antica park, in the heart of the Ardeatino district, emphasizing a serene and healing environment.
With a capacity of 89 beds, including 74 under the National Health Service and 15 private beds, the clinic is equipped with modern facilities, including two operating rooms. The hospital specializes in laparoscopic surgery and urology, and offers a range of services including gastroenterology and endoscopic digestive, diagnostic imaging, laboratory analysis, anesthesia and sub-intensive therapy, nephrology and dialysis, cardiology, general medicine, gynecology, andrology, obesity surgery, and minimally invasive colorectal surgery.
8. Ospedale Santa Chiara Pisa
- Rating: 4.0 (4 reviews)
- Specialty: General hospital
- Location: Via Bonanno Pisano, 10, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy
The Ospedale Santa Chiara, also known as the University Hospital of Pisa, is a significant and historic medical facility founded in 1257 near the Piazza dei Miracoli. It is renowned for combining medical activities with university training.
The hospital specializes in various high-specialization fields such as ophthalmology, intensive neurological care, nefrourology, kidney, liver and pancreas transplants, thorax and lung cancer surgery, general and minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopy, endocrinology, endocrine surgery, and treatment for large burns.
Additionally, it is recognized as a tertiary referral hospital, capable of providing the highest level of performance in emergency situations, including heart surgery, neurosurgery, and neonatal intensive therapy.
9. Ospedale Niguarda Milan
- Rating 3.7 (1024 reviews)
- Specialty: General hospital
- Location: Piazza dell’Ospedale Maggiore, 3, 20162 Milano MI, Italy
As the largest hospital in Milan, Ospedale Niguarda offers a diverse range of treatments and services, both in public and private healthcare. Niguarda Hospital features a world-class emergency room and outstanding outpatient recovery facilities.
Ospedale Niguarda is known for its highly trained specialists and personalized healthcare solutions. It has a total of 1,167 beds. It’s a major healthcare facility with a high volume of patient interactions, as evidenced by its 32,249 admissions and 93,013 emergency room admissions. The hospital also employs a large staff, with 4,847 professionals and employees.
The hospital covers a wide range of medical specialties. It is an authorized center for prescribing biological drugs for rheumatologic diseases and serves as a reference center for the diagnosis and therapy of various pathologies and rare diseases, such as Behçet’s disease, connective tissue diseases, and vasculitis.
Niguarda Hospital also focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and therapy of allergopathies and the treatment of diabetic foot. It features over 200 outpatient clinics and 70 clinic facilities for the care of both adult and pediatric diseases.
In terms of global recognition, Niguarda Hospital was ranked 47th in Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2020 and was the top-ranked hospital in Italy that year. In 2023, it was ranked 60th globally and 2nd in Italy, maintaining its status as a highly regarded healthcare institution.
10. Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia Perugia
- Rating: 3.6 (413 reviews)
- Specialty: General hospital
- Location: Piazzale Giorgio Menghini, 3, Perugia, Italy
Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia in Perugia, Italy, stands as the largest tertiary hospital in Umbria, reflecting its significant role in the region’s healthcare system. The hospital boasts a capacity of 963 beds, highlighting its substantial size and ability to cater to a wide range of medical needs. This capacity is part of a strategic design implemented in two phases, including the reconstruction of the R. Silvestrini complex and new construction, ultimately accommodating up to 900 patients.
The facility’s design features two morphologically distinct and parallel blocks, each offering six levels for hospitalization over a service level dedicated to diagnostic and therapeutic services. The hospital’s structure is enhanced by aerial paths made of glass and steel, linking the new segments with the existing building and creating a rational network of paths that improve the operational functionality of the entire facility.
The hospital is renowned for its high specialization in various medical fields, demonstrating top-quality care in areas such as Interventional Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Thoracic Surgery, Nephrology and Renal Transplants, Neurosurgery, Interventional Neuroradiology, Hematooncology with Bone Marrow Transplant, Oncological Radiotherapy, and a Unipolar Spinal Unit.
This array of specialties highlights the hospital’s commitment to providing advanced and specialized medical care. The hospital’s Stroke Unit also serves as the referral center for thrombolysis and thrombectomy in Umbria, further emphasizing its role as a key healthcare provider in the region.
11. Policlinico Gemelli Rome
- Rating: 3.1 (1190 reviews)
- Specialty: General hospital
- Location: 00168 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome, Italy
This hospital is one of the largest private hospitals in Europe, and the largest in Rome. It serves as a teaching hospital for the medical school of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.
Although it’s not necessarily a top rated hospital according to Google, it is one of the most highly regarded medical facilities in Italy. Policlinico Gemelli is renowned for its large and modern hybrid operating theatres, a unique Oncological Radiotherapy Center, and the NEMO Clinical Center specialized in neuromuscular diseases.
With 1,575 beds, Gemelli Hospital is the second-largest hospital in Italy, the largest hospital in Rome, and one of the largest private hospitals in Europe. It operates both under the Italian national health system and offers private healthcare services.
The hospital is organized into 21 areas grouped in 8 departments to coordinate healthcare, training, education, and research. It features advanced medical facilities, including one of the largest and newest hybrid operating theaters in Europe, a unique Oncological Radiotherapy Center (Gemelli ART), and the NEMO (NEuroMuscular Omnicentre) Clinical Center for neuromuscular diseases like ALS and muscular dystrophies.
Gemelli Hospital is renowned for its expertise in colorectal tumors, diseases of the stomach, liver, pancreas, and biliary system, endocrinology-metabolic diseases, and cardiac surgery, with one of the lowest mortality rates in Italy for cardiac surgery.
In 2021, Gemelli Hospital was rated as the best hospital in Italy and ranked 45th in the world. In 2023, it maintained its top position in Italy and was ranked 38th worldwide in Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list, marking its third consecutive year as the top hospital in Italy.
The hospital handled almost 95,000 hospitalizations and conducted more than 45,000 surgical operations in a single year (2015). Its emergency department treated 80,000 patients, and the hospital conducted 10,000 blood dialysis sessions and over 6 million radiological procedures. The staff includes more than 5,000 employees, including nearly 1,000 physicians and over 2,000 nurses.
