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.

Loved by Italian urbanites and little known outside Rome, this Monte Argentario harbor has bobbing megayachts, excellent restaurants, steep cliffs, crystalline seas, secret coves, and the 17th-century Spanish-built Fortezza Spagnola. Explore hidden bays and headlands, with Roman villa ruins, views to distant islands, and access to the Tuscan Archipelago National Park.

Elba, the largest island in the Tuscan Archipelago, lies in a scenic land-and-marine park between mainland Italy, Corsica, and the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas. Its hilltop main town, Portoferraio, still shows 16th-century fortifications. Napoleon was exiled here, but the island's real draw is nature: rocky coastlines, bays, coves, beaches, and rugged mountain trails. Take the cable car up Monte Capanne for views. Local traditions include cacciucco and ancient wines like Aleatico.

Tuscany's countryside is dotted with medieval hill towns, cypress-lined roads, and rolling vineyards. Though Chianti, Brunello, and Vino Nobile are famous worldwide, the region's real draw is its art and architecture. Near Livorno, Florence-the cradle of the Renaissance-offers masterpieces by Dante, Galileo, da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli, and Donatello. Other beautiful towns include Pisa, Siena, Lucca, and San Gimignano.

Portofino, with pastel houses around its harbor, is one of Italy's most photographed spots. Highlights include the 12th-century Church of St. George and medieval Castello Brown, both with harbor views. A scenic hike or boat ride leads to the restored 11th-century abbey at San Fruttuoso. Nearby are Genoa, with museums, palaces, and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, and Cinque Terre, the UNESCO-listed cliffside villages, about an hour away.

Cannes, on the French Riviera, is world-famous for its annual film festival and draws the rich and famous to its beaches and stylish scene. The Promenade de la Croisette, lined with designer boutiques, grand hotels, and restaurants, is the place to see and be seen. In the hills lies Le Suquet, the historic quarter, with cobblestone streets and city views. Nearby are Monte Carlo's casinos and Grasse, birthplace of the French perfume industry.

Saint-Tropez is famed for designer shopping, all-night nightlife, and luxe beach clubs like Le Club 55 and Nikki Beach. Made famous by Brigitte Bardot, who still lives here, it also has a quieter side in the hills: narrow cobblestone streets and a 17th-century citadel with stunning port views.

Monte Carlo is a glamorous port built for luxury yachts, with some of the world's finest vessels in its harbor. Luxury cars line the winding streets during the Grand Prix, while steep green mountains rise behind the bay. On the cliff stands the Prince's Palace, where the Changing of the Guard draws crowds at 11:55 a.m. Nearby are Monaco Cathedral, with Princess Grace's tomb, the oceanographic museum founded by Prince Albert I, and the Monte Carlo Casino, created by Prince Charles III.