Italy Miscellaneous

Venice
No matter where you go in Venice, you’re hardly ever more than a few feet from the water. The city is built along the coast amid a winding system of canals; it’s worth it to hop on one of the local waterbuses, which travel along the Grand Canal and to the small islands that surround the city center.

Say it in Italian: Venezia
Must-see attractions: Saint Mark’s Basilica and the Doge’s Palace; both are centrally located in Saint Mark’s Square
Watch a glassmaking demo: on the islands of Murano, world-famous for colorful stemware and chandeliers

Florence
The city of Florence is considered by many to be the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century, thanks in part to the support of the powerful Medici family. They helped fund some of the country’s most renowned sculptors and painters, including Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci. You can still see many of these artists’ masterpieces today at Uffizi Gallery, one of the city’s best art museums.

Say it in Italian: Firenze
Must-see attraction: the legendary Statue of David, housed in the Academia Gallery
Go shopping: You can pick up handmade jewelry from small stands along Ponte Vecchio, a pedestrian bridge built in the 14th century.

Rome
Rome is one of the oldest cities in Europe—according to its foundational myth, Rome was founded in 753 B.C. by Romulus after he killed his twin brother Remus. It was around this time that a handful of ancient Romans settled along the Tiber River, creating a society that would grow into one of the most prolonged and powerful civilizations in European history. You can still see remnants of ancient Rome today at popular sites such as the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, and Circus Maximus.

Say it in Italian: Roma
Must-see attraction: Vatican City, a sovereign city-state that encompasses St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican Museums, and the Vatican Gardens
Make a wish: at the Trevi Fountain. Legend holds that visitors who toss a coin into the fountain are guaranteed to return to Rome.