| The Vatican, Rome | | | | entirely to Florence. This Renaissance wonderland |
| Technically this is a city-state, not an attraction within | | | | boasts the Uffizi gallery, Ponte Vecchio, the Duorno, |
| Italy, but guidebooks have been guilty of pairing | | | | Michelangelo's David, and the Basilica di San Lorenzo, |
| them for decades with less justification than this. | | | | to name but a few. |
| Enter St Peter's Cathedral, considered Christianity's | | | | Walk on Cinque Terre |
| most magnificent Renaissance church. And get ready | | | | The five postcard-perfect fishing villages of the |
| to queue for Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel (or book | | | | Cinque Terre (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Monterosso, |
| ahead), though many find the maps and even | | | | Vernazza and Corniglia) along the northwest coast |
| frescoes on the way to the Chapel even more | | | | are connected by a cliff-side hiking trail that can be |
| compelling than the main draw. | | | | completed in one long day or divided up into a few |
| Assisi | | | | days with hotel stays and good meals. |
| Perched halfway up Mount Subasio, overlooking the | | | | Climb the vie ferrate in the Dolomites |
| town of Perugia, this walled city with a | | | | The vie ferrate (iron ways) are a magnificent system |
| fourteenth-century fortress (Rocca Maggiore) is the | | | | of steel ladders and fixed cables, originally built during |
| birthplace of St Francis (1182), work began on his | | | | World War I to help Alpine troops move through the |
| basilica in 1228, two years after his death, and if you | | | | mountains. With only modest modifications, they now |
| can get past all the religious pilgrims, it's one of the | | | | allow beginner climbers to clip in and safely ascend to |
| most enchanting towns in the country | | | | incredible heights. |
| The Colosseum, Rome | | | | Take a wine tour |
| Long before Gladiator was made into a movie and | | | | Brunello di Montalcino is the Rolls-Royce of Italian |
| David Beckham put on body armor for Pepsi, the | | | | wines. You can tour Montalcino, Chainti, or try the |
| Colosseum in Rome (completed in 80 AD) was the | | | | Cabernet Sauvignon of the Tuscan coast. The choice |
| ultimate arena for public games. | | | | is limitless; you can taste some of the world's top |
| Venice | | | | wines almost everywhere you go. |
| It's sinking (possibly under the weight of all the | | | | Watch the volcano |
| tourist), and there's a chance the water may be | | | | Check your insurance coverage, then take a ferry |
| knee-deep in St Marks Square by the time you visit, | | | | from Naples or the north of Sicily to the island of |
| but to stroll Venice without crowds (off season, or | | | | Stromboli, hike a few hours up to the top of its |
| at sunrise) may top your European visual highlights. | | | | volcano (you can't miss it), watch the sunset and |
| There's a reason so many use it for comparison | | | | then stick around for Mother Nature's fireworks as |
| (Stockholm says it's the "Venice of the north", The | | | | small eruptions send orange molten lava 50-100m up |
| Okavango Delta calls itself the "Venice of Africa"). | | | | into the air. |
| There's little need for an overpriced gondola ride. A | | | | Watch a football match |
| cheap city bus boat will do just fine. Do yourself a | | | | The bigger clubs like AC Milan, Juventus and Roma |
| favour while visiting, and get lost; put away your | | | | are among the best in the world, but you might find |
| map and wander the narrow back alleys until you | | | | it more culturally enlightening to watch a game at a |
| need to ask a local for directions. | | | | smaller stadium. Just make sure you're wearing the |
| Florence | | | | right colors. Rather, make sure you're not wearing |
| This city offers more art history per square meter | | | | the wrong colors. If you're not sure, bring a bag with |
| than any other place outside Louvre. You could spend | | | | a few options so you can get adapted to your |
| a year here and not see it all. In fact, several | | | | surroundings. |
| guidebooks far thicker than this book are devoted | | | | |