Rome is a vivid blend of sound, movement, history, and art. Church bells and traffic echo off ancient stone as workers, tourists, and café crowds move through the city. From the Colosseum and Roman Forum to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica, Rome's monuments are world-famous. Its sculptures, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, and Bernini's fountains make its art and architecture unsurpassed. Rome belongs not only to Italy, but to the world.

This port on Italy's southern coast overlooking the Bay of Naples is a popular starting point for the Amalfi Coast, but Sorrento itself is worth seeing. Perched on cliffs above the marinas and port, it features the 8th-century Cloisters of San Francesco, the Sorrento Cathedral (begun in the 15th century), and lively Piazza Tasso. From here, you can also visit the UNESCO-listed ruins of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius.

Palermo, on Europe's edge, is a glorious mix of Baroque churches, Arabesque domes, souk-like markets, and Gothic palaces. See the mosaics at Cappella Palatina, shop at Mercato di Ballarò, visit the Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonio Salinas, stroll the Orto Botanico, and catch opera at Teatro Massimo. Don't miss a pasticceria like I Segreti del Chiostro for cannoli, fruit-shaped marzipan, and Fedde del Cancelliere-apricot jam and almond pudding in a marzipan shell.

Taormina, on Sicily's coast, is famed for the 3rd-century Teatro Antico, a dramatically sited Greek theater. Its old center has 15th-century palaces and churches, and pedestrian Corso Umberto is ideal for strolling, shopping, dining, or gelato. Below lies Giardini Naxos, a seaside resort on Sicily's oldest Greek colony. Nearby are Mount Etna, a UNESCO site, and the scenic Alcantara Gorge for hiking and cooling off.

Dubrovnik, dubbed by Lord Byron the pearl of the Adriatic and by George Bernard Shaw a place to seek paradise on earth, is a UNESCO World Heritage city of red-tiled roofs, green hills, and the blue Adriatic. Its thick medieval walls encircle Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces, and fountains. It also featured prominently in Game of Thrones. Its ancient ramparts, surviving centuries of sieges, remain deeply inspiring.

Zadar, one of Croatia's oldest cities, charms with its cultural heritage, spectacular sunsets, and nightlife. Its walled Old Town sits on a tiny peninsula with a waterfront promenade. Inside Venetian fortifications are narrow streets and landmarks like a Roman Forum, a Byzantine church, and a 12th-century Romanesque cathedral. A bridge links it to the mainland, but you can still cross between the sea gate and marina by rowboat. End the day with a drink or dinner while watching its famous sunset.

Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage city, rises from a lagoon on more than 100 small islands linked by canals. A gondola ride passes under the Rialto Bridge and along the Grand Canal. At Piazza San Marco, St. Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace reflect Venetian power. Art highlights include the Gallerie dell'Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim Collection. Nearby Murano is known for glassblowers, and Burano for colorful shops and lace makers.