With sumptuous palaces and romantic waterways, Venice is straight out of an 18th-century Canaletto masterpiece. No matter how many times you have seen it in movies or TV commercials, the real thing is more surreal and dreamlike than you ever imagined ... more

With sumptuous palaces and romantic waterways, Venice is straight out of an 18th-century Canaletto masterpiece. No matter how many times you have seen it in movies or TV commercials, the real thing is more surreal and dreamlike than you ever imagined. Its landmarks, the Basilica di San Marco and the Palazzo Ducale are exotic mélanges of Byzantine, Gothic, and Renaissance styles. It is full of secrets, ineffably romantic, and - at times - given over entirely to pleasure. You must walk everywhere in Venice and where you cannot walk, you go by water.  (close)

A former Roman settlement, Padua's importance grew during the 13th and 16th centuries when it had become the second biggest university city in Europe. Dante and Copernicus studied here, Petrarch and Galileo taught here. It has a picturesque atmospher ... more

A former Roman settlement, Padua's importance grew during the 13th and 16th centuries when it had become the second biggest university city in Europe. Dante and Copernicus studied here, Petrarch and Galileo taught here. It has a picturesque atmosphere. "Basilica di Sant'Antonio" with the grave of "Sant'Antonio" is the most important attraction. Here one can also admire works by medieval and renaissance artists, such as Giotto. The Prato della Valle, the biggest square in Europe is worth a visit.  (close)

Situated 60 km west from Venice, Vicenza is a town with a great history. Surrnamed "the City of Palladio" due to its great Palladian architectural treasures considered of exceptional interest and value, Vicenza has been included in the UNESCO's World ... more

Situated 60 km west from Venice, Vicenza is a town with a great history. Surrnamed "the City of Palladio" due to its great Palladian architectural treasures considered of exceptional interest and value, Vicenza has been included in the UNESCO's World Heritage list in 1994. Don't miss the Villa Capra (also known as "La Rotonda"), centrally located in Vicenza's Piazza dei Signori, of which Palladio himself said that it might stand comparison with any similar work of antiquity the Teatro Olimpico.  (close)

Formed by glaciers, Lake Garda, the largest and easternmost of the lakes, is one of the most beautiful places in Italy. Its exotic landscape has attracted the poet Gabriele d'Annunzio, whose villa near Gardone is one of the area's major attractions. ... more

Formed by glaciers, Lake Garda, the largest and easternmost of the lakes, is one of the most beautiful places in Italy. Its exotic landscape has attracted the poet Gabriele d'Annunzio, whose villa near Gardone is one of the area's major attractions. Visitors come here to swim, windsurf, and enjoy the relaxing ambience of Garda's many pleasant lakeside resorts. The ancient fortified town of Sirmione, located on the south of the lake is one particularly popular destination.  (close)

Milan is Italy's window on Europe, its most sophisticated and high-tech metropolis. La Scala, its landmark, is one of Europe's most prestigious opera houses. In addition, it's the site of several world-renowned annual trade fairs. Milan is one of Eur ... more

Milan is Italy's window on Europe, its most sophisticated and high-tech metropolis. La Scala, its landmark, is one of Europe's most prestigious opera houses. In addition, it's the site of several world-renowned annual trade fairs. Milan is one of Europe's top shopping cities, with an incredible concentration of sophisticated, high style boutiques - and that's only fitting because Milan is the dynamo of the Italian fashion industry. Dolce & Gabbana, Ferré, Krizia, Moschino, Prada, Armani, and Versace have all catapulted to international stardom from design studios based here. Inevitably, shopping is of almost religious significance.  (close)