• Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy
    Manarola, Cinque Terre

Italy

Bell'Italia! Italy has Europe's richest, craziest culture. After all, this nation is the cradle of European civilization — established by the Roman Empire and carried on by the Roman Catholic Church. As you explore Italy, you'll stand face-to-face with some of the world's most iconic images from this 2,000-year history: Rome's ancient Colosseum and playful Trevi Fountain, Pisa's Leaning Tower, Florence's Renaissance masterpieces (Michelangelo's David and Botticelli's Venus), and the island city of elegant decay — Venice. Traditions still live within this country that is vibrant and fully modern. Go with an eye open to both the Italy of the past and of the present.

Places

At a Glance

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▲▲▲ Venice Dreamy island city, powerful in medieval times; famous for St. Mark's Basilica, the Grand Canal, and singing gondoliers.

▲▲▲ Cinque Terre Five idyllic Riviera hamlets along a rugged coastline (and part of a national park), connected by scenic hiking trails and dotted with beaches.

▲▲▲ Florence The cradle of the Renaissance, with the world-class Uffizi Gallery, Brunelleschi's dome-topped Duomo, Michelangelo's David, and Italy's best gelato.

▲▲▲ Siena Florence's smaller and (some say) more appealing rival, with its magnificent Il Campo square, striking striped cathedral, and medieval pageantry.

▲▲▲ Rome Italy's capital, the sprawling Eternal City, studded with Roman ruins (Forum, Colosseum, Pantheon), romantic floodlit-fountain squares, and home to Vatican City and the astonishing Sistine Chapel.

▲▲ Milan Powerhouse city of commerce and fashion, with the prestigious La Scala opera house, Leonardo's The Last Supper, and three airports.

▲▲ Heart of Tuscany Picturesque, wine-soaked villages of Italy's heartland, including mellow Montepulciano, Renaissance Pienza, and Brunello-fueled Montalcino.

▲▲ Assisi St. Francis' hometown, perched on a hilltop, with a divinely Giotto-decorated basilica.

▲▲ Orvieto and Civita More hill-town adventures, featuring Orvieto's classic views, Classico wine, and ornate cathedral plus pint-sized, hilltop village of Civita di Bagnoregio.

▲▲ Naples Gritty, in-love-with-life port city featuring vibrant street life and a top archaeological museum starring the treasures from ancient Pompeii.

▲▲ Amalfi Coast String of seafront villages — including beautiful but pricey Positano and maritime Amalfi — tied together by a scenic mountainous coastal road.

▲▲ Pompeii Famous ruins of the ancient town, with its nemesis, Mount Vesuvius, looming on the horizon.

▲ Lake Como and Lake Maggiore Two relaxing lakes, each with low-key resort towns and a mountainous backdrop: Lake Como, with quaint Varenna and upscale Bellagio; and Lake Maggiore, with straightforward Stresa, manicured islands, and elegant villas.

▲ Padua and Verona Two intriguing towns near Venice: Student-filled Padua (with Giotto's gloriously frescoed Scrovegni Chapel) and Verona (Roman amphitheater plus Romeo and Juliet sights).

▲ Dolomites Italy's mighty alps, featuring Bolzano (home of Ötzi the Iceman), the charming village of Kastelruth, and the Seiser Alm (alpine meadow laced with lifts and hiking trails).

▲ Riviera Towns More Italian Riviera fun, including the coastal towns of Levanto, double-beached Sestri Levante, the larger Santa Margherita Ligure, gem-like Portofino, and to the south, resorty Porto Venere.

▲ Pisa and Lucca Two classic towns: Pisa, with its iconic Leaning Tower and surrounding Field of Miracles, and Lucca, with an inviting old center, encircled by a wide medieval wall you can stroll or bike.

▲ Volterra and San Gimignano Two hill towns in northern Tuscany: vibrant, rustically real Volterra and multitowered, touristy San Gimignano.

▲ Sorrento The glitzy (if touristy) seaside resort port of Sorrento, a well-located home base and a good place for a vacation from your vacation.

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