Rome, ITALY

The history of this amazing city spans more than two and a half thousand years. It is one of the most historic places on the planet Earth, and it's artistic and cultural contributions have colored global development.

Vatican City, ITALY

This small country, surrounded by the larger city of Rome, is the center of the Catholic Church and home of the Pope. Famous sights are St. Peter's Square and the Basilica, as well as the Vatican Museum.

• Vatican Museums

  In terms of combined annual visitors, this museum complex, owned and operated by the Catholic Church in Vatican City, is the 5th most visited museum in the world. It houses the Sistine Chapel, the iconic piece by Michelangelo.

• Sistine Chapel

  In 1508, Michelangelo, the famous Renaissance artist, came to Rome to pain the ceiling of this chapel in the Apostolic Palace, the residency of the Pope. The resulting mural has come to be regarded as a sublime masterpiece.

• St. Peter's Square

  This major piazza in the Vatican sits directly in front of St. Peter's Basilica, the enter of the Catholic church. An Egyptian obelisk made of red granite sits in its center, surrounded by a columned colonnade.

• St. Peter's Basilica

  Perhaps the most famous church in the world and the center of Roman Catholicism, this ornate basilica in the small sovereign state of Vatican City has been a place of pilgrimage for nearly two thousand years.

Rome, ITALY

The history of this amazing city spans more than two and a half thousand years. It is one of the most historic places on the planet Earth, and it's artistic and cultural contributions have colored global development.

• Roman Forum

  More commonly known as simply the "Forums," this ancient site was once a public square surrounded by active governmental buildings. The ruins go back at least as far as the eighth century BC and were the heart of ancient Rome.

• Colosseum

  This nearly 2000-year-old structure is one of the most famous buildings in all of human history. At its height, it could hold up to 80,000 people, and was usually used for gladiatorial contests, executions, and drama productions.

Orvieto, ITALY

Situated on the flat summit of a large butte of volcanic tuff. The site of the city is among the most dramatic in Europe, rising above the almost-vertical faces of tuff cliffs that are completed by defensive walls built of the same stone called "Tufa".

Assisi, ITALY

It is a town Italy in the Province of Perugia in the Umbria region, on the western flank of Monte Subasio. It was the birthplace of St. Francis. UNESCO collectively designated the Franciscan structures of Assisi as a World Heritage Site in 2000.

• Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi

  The mother church of the Roman Catholic Order of Friars Minor Conventual in Assisi, where Saint Francis was born and died. It is a Papal minor basilica and one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2000.

Florence, ITALY

Historic Florence, Italy is considered to be one of the most gorgeous cities in the world. Its long tradition of art and culture can be seen on nearly every doorstep. Millions of people travel here each year.

• Campanile di Giotto

  This freestanding belltower in Florence rises 280 ft above the surrounding city. There are several hexagonal panels that can be seen around the base of the structure.

  Duration: Approx. 10 Hours 30 Minutes

• Gates of Paradise

  The eastern gateway of the Florence Baptistery is known as the "Gates of Paradise." They were designed by Lorenzo Ghiberti. The gate was given this nickname by the famous Renaissance artist Michelangelo.

• Piazza della Signoria

  The Piazza della Signoria features many can't-miss Florentine buildings. The Palazzo Vecchio, Florence's massive fortress of a town hall, towers above. The Loggia dei Lanzi is a beautiful piece of Renaissance architecture, bedecked with bronze and marble sculptures.

Padua, ITALY

The city is picturesque, with a dense network of arcaded streets opening into large communal piazze, and many bridges crossing the various branches of the Bacchiglione, which once surrounded the ancient walls like a moat. Padua is the setting for most of the action in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.

Venice, ITALY

This city off the coast of northeast Italy is famous the world over for its many canals. It is actually a chain of 118 islands linked together by bridges and waterways. Venice is world-renown for its art and beauty.

• Piazza San Marco

  The Piazza San Marco is the largest and primary public area in Venice. The structures surrounding it date back more than one thousand years, although the vast majority are from Renaissance times. It has been called "the drawing room of Europe."

• Saint Mark's Basilica

  The Basilica Cattedrale Patriarcale di San Marco is the most famous church in Venice and is known for its unique and ornate Italo-Byzantine architecture that includes five hemispherical domes and fine patterns. It was built in the 11th century AD.

• Doges' Palace

  Built in Venetian Gothic style, as one of the main landmarks of Venice, the palace was the residence of the Doge of Venice, the supreme authority of the former Venetian Republic, opening as a museum in 1923. Today, it is one of the 11 museums run by the Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia.

• Bridge of Sighs

  This gorgeous white-limestone bridge in Venice gets its name from an almost ironically bleak place: In the 1800s, the windows looking out from the enclosed bridge's interior were the last views of sublime Venice convicts would see before their imprisonment.

Verona, ITALY

It is one of the main tourist destinations in northern Italy, owing to its artistic heritage, several annual fairs, shows, and operas, such as the lyrical season in the Arena, the ancient amphitheatre built by the Romans.

• House of Juliet

  This house in Verona is supposedly where Juliet lived, the titular character from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. Visitors stand under the balcony and recite the most famous scene of the play.

• Arena di Verona

  Built more than two millennia ago, this Roman amphitheater has been hosting performers from around the world for two thousand years. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people travel here to see artists ranging from opera singers to pop stars.

Milan, ITALY

This city in the northernmost part of Italy is a global center for fashion and design. Its artistic history dates back hundreds and hundreds of years; places like Santa Maria delle Grazie are decorated with Leonardo da Vinci's work.

• Teatro alla Scala

  Usually known simply as "La Scala," this Milanese theater is a world-renown opera house that was founded in 1778. Premieres at the theater include Giacomo Puccini's "Madame Butterfly," among a litany of others. It underwent major renovations in the early 2000s.

• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

  The Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II is one of the world's oldest shopping malls, dating back to 1877. This dramatic building features exclusive, upscale stores as well as some of the oldest shops and restaurants in the city.

• Duomo

  Milan's cathedral is the largest in all of Italy and the fifth largest in the world. The groundbreaking occurred in 1386; however, construction was not completed until 1965. Visitors can access the rooftops, which provide amazing views of the city.

Como, ITALY

The administrative capital of the Province of Como.Its proximity to Lake Como and to the Alps has made Como a tourist destination, and the city contains numerous works of art, churches, gardens, museums, theatres, parks and palaces.

• Lake Como

  This lake it the northernmost region of Italy is considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe. It is a popular upscale vacation destination due to its magnificent scenery and variety of available activities.

Bellagio, ITALY

Bellagio, located in Italy, is a town of just over 3,000 people. It is located on the world-famous Lake Como, with the most central position. It is one of the most popular tourist resorts in Europe.