Rome offers endless choices: enjoy street performers at the Spanish Steps, wine and people-watching in colorful Trastevere, or the city's rich history and architecture. St. Peter's Basilica is a full-day visit, with the Sistine Chapel and panoramic views from the dome. Don't miss the Trevi Fountain, the Colosseum, and Aventine Hill, which overlooks the Imperial Palaces ruins and the Circus Maximus.

Discover chic Positano, with its relaxed sophistication, white Moorish-style houses on steep slopes, and a sparkling bay dotted with colorful fishing boats. Then visit enchanting Amalfi to see the 12th-century Capuchin monastery, the 11th-century Cathedral and cloister, and explore on your own. Browse Positano's boutiques for locally made cotton clothes or find souvenirs in Amalfi. Enjoy fresh seafood, pasta, pastries, and espresso in a stunning seaside mountain setting.

Discover Reggio Calabria, where the Ionian Sea meets the Aspromonte. Explore hillside villages, sunlit vineyards, and authentic Calabrian cuisine rooted in tradition. Walk the elegant Lungomare Falcomatà and visit the Museo Nazionale to see the Bronzi di Riace, famed ancient Greek sculptures. Tour the Aragonese Castle and uncover the city's deeper history, from Norman roots to even older origins.

Destroyed by a 17th-century earthquake, Catania has been beautifully restored and offers ancient churches, castles, amphitheaters, lush gardens, and elegant palazzos. Visit 13th-century Ursino Castle, once on the coast before earthquakes and eruptions reshaped the land. Inland, explore Villa Romana del Casale, a 4th-century UNESCO site famed for some of the finest Roman mosaics.

Known as the "Pearl of the Adriatic," Dubrovnik was founded in the 7th century by a group of refugees from Epidaurum (today's Cavtat). It is known worldwide for its unique marble-paved squares, tall houses, steep-cobbled streets and fountains. The city walls, once used to as protection against its enemies, now keep motorists at bay in this picturesque town. UNESCO named the Old City a World Heritage Site, and Dubrovnik's beautiful historic sites have been restored to their former glory.

On the west coast of Istria, this fishing port rises from the Adriatic like a cluttered fortress, with tightly packed Venetian houses, cobbled streets, and the hilltop Church of St. Euphemia. Its egg-shaped Old Town offers boutiques, cafés, galleries, bistros, and restaurants with Italian food and local wines. Nearby, the Istrian hinterland has medieval hill villages, vineyards, olive groves, and truffles.

From Fusina, journey to Venice, where you'll witness the Grand Canal, lined with enchanting Renaissance architecture. Art lovers can visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection or the Doge's Palace, a Gothic masterpiece. Savor Venetian cuisine at a traditional trattoria, sampling fresh local dishes. History enthusiasts can also peruse St Mark's Basilica, a marvelous 18th-century cathedral adorned with sculptures, mosaics and bas-reliefs representing Italian sophistication.