Italy rewards narrow itineraries more than broad ones. The classic first trip links Rome, Florence and Venice by train, but the country's character shifts sharply from north to south — Alpine lakes and industrial Turin and Milan at the top, Tuscan and Umbrian hill towns in the middle, Naples, Sicily and the coastline further down, each with its own food, dialect and pace.
The guides on this page cover Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Turin, Bologna, Pisa, Siena, Palermo, Catania, Rimini and more. Two practical points shape most trips: entry to the Vatican Museums, the Uffizi and the Accademia in Florence is by timed slot and worth booking before arrival, and many historic centers restrict car traffic through camera-enforced zones, which makes trains the simpler option between cities.