Rome is Italy's treasure, packed with masterpieces from more than two millennia of artistic achievement. Modern Rome has one foot in the past, one in the present. Find a cafe at summer twilight and watch the shades of pink turn to gold and copper before night finally falls. That's when another Rome comes alive; restaurants and cafes grow more animated and after dinner you can have a gelato (or an espresso in winter) or stroll by the fountains or through Piazza Navona, and the night is yours.

Amalfi is a jewel of a picturesque seaside resort that has an ideal climate, breathtaking views and unique natural beauties plus the most vibrant, typical Italian atmosphere. It is a graceful place with its cluster of white buildings which amble up the hillside from the water rather than clinging vertically to it like the other towns in the area, making it a bit easier to walk around. The city starts at the water`s edge with a pretty promenade along the Mediterranean and a marina full of colorful boats and their international flags. The focal point of the historic center is the Piazza del Duomo, in front of the striking cathedral. The piazza is clustered with sidewalk cafes and elegant shops, sixty steps lead to the church with its the Byzantine style structure that bears Moorish-influenced arches and decoration. Dedicated to St. Andrew, the Duomo di Sant`Andrea is a truly beautiful structure. Inside is the hidden Cloister of Paradise, dating to 1266, with a forest of columns, Arabesque arches and an amazing fresco. The crypt is highly decorated and worth a visit, too.

MUST SEE`S:
The Emerald Grotto is one of Amalfi`s natural wonders, at Cape Conca. It emits an eerie emerald hue that emanates from its depths thanks to an underwater crevice that refracts sunlight.
Convento di San Francesco (now Hotel Luna Convento). Its 16th-century watchtower over the cape to the east of town is an annex of the hotel. Here you can visit the well-conserved 13th-century cloister and the attached church.

Distances: Naples - 45 miles, Sorrento - 20 miles, Positano - 12 miles