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.

Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a tiny, history-rich city. Its harbor shows domes, spires, limestone façades, and strong ramparts. Built by the Knights of St. John in the 16th century, it blends Baroque, Mannerist, neoclassical, and modern styles. See City Gate, the National Museum of Archaeology, Grand Master's Palace, and St. John's Co-Cathedral, home to Caravaggio's The Beheading of St. John. Visit Upper Barrakka Gardens, plus nearby megalithic temples and the Blue Grotto.

Trapani, on Sicily's western tip, blends maritime heritage, sunlit seafront charm and easy access to some of the region's most appealing sights. Its historic center invites leisurely strolls past Baroque facades, lively squares and tempting cafés, while nearby salt pans and the hilltop town of Erice add striking scenery and classic island atmosphere. Fresh seafood, local wines and views across the Mediterranean complete the experience.

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.

Amalfi charms with its sunlit Piazza del Duomo, winding alleys, Byzantine-influenced cathedral, and small beach. Nearby Atrani, one of Italy's most beautiful villages, offers ancient churches and whitewashed lanes for a quiet day. Visit the magical Grotta dello Smeraldo for its emerald waters, and don't miss Pompeii, where you can walk Roman streets and enter ancient houses and temples.

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.