Italy is justifiably one of the world's top tourist destinations. It has it all: art, culture, shopping, great food, fine wines, spectacular scenery, and over 2,000 years worth of historical sites.
Start with central Italy: Rome has the Vatican, the ruins of the Coliseum and Forum, and the excitement of a capital city. Tuscany and Umbria feature the museums of Florence, the wines of Chianti, the churches of Assisi, and the wild Palio festival of Siena.
Moving north, Venice offers more than just canals, with its own art and history. Farther north is the hikers'and skiers' paradise of the Alps, and the relaxation of the Lakes Region. The coast of Liguria has the posh resorts of the Riviera, and the scenic seaside villages of Cinque Terra.
In the south, Naples hosts its unique flavor of food and culture, with the nearby Amalfi Coast and Pompeii providing scenery and history, and the island of Sicily offering a traditional rural setting.
Be sure to feast on Italy's wealth of pizza and pasta, slurp gelato, and sip fine wines across the country. Italy is also a pilgrimage site for shoppers, for high-end designer shoes and handbags, cheaper leather markets, and a wealth of antique shops.
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- Bill Fink for AAA Destination Discovery
Italy is justifiably one of the world's top tourist destinations. It has it all: art, culture, shopping, great food, fine wines, spectacular scenery, and over 2,000 years worth of historical sites.
Start with central Italy: Rome has the Vatican, the ruins of the Coliseum and Forum, and the excitement of a capital city. Tuscany and Umbria feature the museums of Florence, the wines of Chianti, the churches of Assisi, and the wild Palio festival of Siena.
Moving north, Venice offers more than just canals, with its own art and history. Farther north is the hikers'and skiers' paradise of the Alps, and the relaxation of the Lakes Region. The coast of Liguria has the posh resorts of the Riviera, and the scenic seaside villages of Cinque Terra.
In the south, Naples hosts its unique flavor of food and culture, with the nearby Amalfi Coast and Pompeii providing scenery and history, and the island of Sicily offering a traditional rural setting.
Be sure to feast on Italy's wealth of pizza and pasta, slurp gelato, and sip fine wines across the country. Italy is also a pilgrimage site for shoppers, for high-end designer shoes and handbags, cheaper leather markets, and a wealth of antique shops.
- Bill Fink for AAA Destination Discovery
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Must See
- #1 Food: Pasta Wine & Gelato
- #2 Culture: Vatican Uffizi
- #3 Cities: Rome, Florence, Naples
- #4 Scenery: Alps, Amalfi Coast
- #5 History: Pompeii, Venice
Skip It 'til Next Time 
- #1
Beaches: too crowded
- #2 Driving: too scary
- #3 Summer: too hot
- #4 Milan: too modern
- #5 Pisa: too-rist trap
