Sights of Italy

Emilia-Romagna
In a region as overwhelmingly foodie as Emilia-Romagna it's only natural that its capital, Bologna, is dubbed 'La Grassa' (the fat one). Many belt-busting Italian classics hail from here, including mortadella, tortellini and tagliatelle al ragù. Shop in the deli-packed Quadrilatero and day-trip to the city of Modena for world-famous aged balsamic vinegar. Leave room for Parma, hometown of parmigiano reggiano cheese and the incomparable prosciutto di Parma. Wherever you plunge your fork, toast with a glass or three of Emilia-Romagna's renowned Lambrusco or sauvignon blanc.

Tuscany
Italy's most romanticised region, Tuscany is tailor-made for art-loving bon vivants. Home to Brunelleschi's Duomo and Masaccio's Ca****la Brancacci frescoes, Florence, according to Unesco, contains 'the greatest concentration of universally renowned works of art in the world'. Beyond its blockbuster museums, elegant churches and flawless Renaissance streetscapes sprawls an undulating landscape of sinuous cypress trees, olive groves and coveted regional treasures, from the Gothic majesty of Siena and Manhattan-esque skyline of medieval San Gimignano to the vineyards of Italy's most famous wine region, Chianti.

Vatican Museums and Sistine ChapeL

One of the world's most visited museums, with more than 6 million visitors in 2014, is the huge Vatican Museums complex that includes the famous Sistine Chapel. Although technically not in Italy but in Vatican City, it's the most visited museum by tourists when in Rome.

The museum complex is huge and usually crowded. Expect to spend at least several hours and do a little research beforehand about what to see in the Vatican Museums so you can plan your route. Be sure to buy tickets in advance or book a tour so you don't waste time in the ticket line. Or better yet, consider a before or after hours tour so you can see the Sistine Chapel without the crowds.

Piazza San Marco

Piazza San Marco, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Saint Mark's Square, or Piazza San Marco, is Venice's main meeting place and one of Italy's most famous squares. Lined with cafes, shops, and a number of museums, the square is home to two of Venice's top monuments, Saint Mark's Basilica and the Doge's Palace. Saint Mark's Square is the most popular area for tourists.

Cafes around the square are expensive and sitting at a table outside will add on an additional service charge but if you plan to linger for a while and enjoy the ambiance, it might be worth it if your budget permits. In the evening, orchestras sometimes play at the cafes.

Florence Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore

Regarded as one of the finest cathedrals in the world, the Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore, or the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, dominates the Florence skyline. The cathedral was built between the 13th and 15th centuries, with the most famous piece being the extraordinary dome, completed by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1434.

The cathedral's bell tower stands close beside the cathedral in Piazza del Duomo, covered in the same patterned marble typical of Tuscan Romanesque architecture.

Designed by Giotto, the campanile stands 82 meters tall, and you can climb the 414 steps up to a viewing platform with fantastic views of the city and the dome.

Opposite the Duomo is a magnificent baptistery, famed for its bronze paneled doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti. To see the original, exquisitely crafted panels, which have been replaced by exact replicas to protect the originals from weathering, visit the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo, the cathedral museum.

Colosseum

This huge amphitheater, the largest of its kind ever built by the Roman Empire and the largest of their constructions to survive, remained a model for sports facilities right up to modern times. Built by Vespasian in AD 72 and enlarged by the addition of a fourth story by his son, Titus, it was a venue for public spectacles and shows - even mock sea battles.

A wooden floor that was 83 by 48 meters covered two additional underground stories with tunnels, rooms, cells, and passages that provided space for gladiators, workers, wild animals, and storage.

Today, the structure stands in stark contrast to the modern development that surrounds it and is a prominent reminder of ancient times and the extensive history of Rome.