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.

Gallipoli, meaning "Beautiful City" in Greek, is a charming town on Salento's coast. Its historic center sits on a small island reached by sea or a 16th-century bridge, and its seafaring heritage is everywhere-from fishermen mending nets to fresh seafood in the Old Town. Relax at Baia Verde beach, hike at Parco Regionale Porto Selvaggio, then end with red prawns and spumone ice cream.

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.

Korčula, off Croatia's central Dalmatian coast, is a lush island of olive groves, vineyards, and pine forests. Its charming Old Town shows rich Venetian heritage, with 15th-century St. Mark's Cathedral above red-roofed Gothic and Renaissance buildings. Taste wine in Smokvica or Cara, relax on a Lumbarda beach, or kayak the Skoji islets, especially Badija's monastery. End at Massimo Bar in Korčula town, set in 15th-century Zakerjan Tower and reached only by ladder.

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.

Hvar is a glamorous island escape with super yachts, lively bars, lavender fields, vineyards, sunshine, and nonstop nightlife. But it also has deep culture and history: a Benedictine convent where nuns make lace in a 150-year-old UNESCO-recognized tradition, the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain, unchanged since Greek colonization in the 4th century BC, and a beautifully preserved capital with an ancient fortress worth climbing for the views.

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.