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.

Trieste's elegant port cityscape is full of Neoclassical buildings, boulevards, and piazzas. Start with coffee-its Belle Époque cafés are said to serve Italy's finest. Then stroll the Canal Grande or visit decadent Miramare Castle, built for Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg. End at Piazza Unità d'Italia, Italy's largest sea-facing square, for an aperitivo; at night, its lights reflecting on the water are magical.

Called the "Pearl of the Adriatic," Opatija is a charming coastal town backed by the Učka Mountains. A favorite of European dignitaries since the 19th century, it's known for its mild climate and luxury spas. Stroll the seven-mile Lungomare for Adriatic views and royal-era architecture, visit the historic center and main beach, or head to nearby Volosko for a quieter fishing-village feel. Enjoy Park Angiolina's gardens and excellent local seafood.

Life in this vibrant city centers on UNESCO-listed Diocletian's Palace. Far from a quiet museum, it's a sprawling ancient complex of 220 buildings and the living heart of the city. Around 3,000 people live there, carrying on daily life amid this Roman treasure. Its narrow alleys are lined with great restaurants and bars-try local pašticada, then head to the Riva waterfront for excellent wine and people-watching.

Kotor is unforgettable: the fjord-like Bay of Kotor winds through forested mountains to a sparkling sea, with the coral-roofed UNESCO Old Town tucked into the innermost cove. Venetian ramparts enclose landmarks like the 12th-century Cathedral of St. Tryphon and the Maritime Museum. Fit visitors can climb 1,350 steps to St. John's Fortress for sweeping views; others can take a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks or visit medieval Budva.

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.

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.

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.

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.