Italy Travelers Recommend

From picturesque farmhouses to auburn sunsets, Tuscany is one of the most romantic and visually seductive areas of the world. The pomp surrounding this region isn't pomp, but rather well earned admiration. The rolling hills, the amber grasslands, the sunny vineyards; they all make for splendid living - and boy, do the Italians know how to drink full from these rich waters of life. An easy day trip from Florence is all it takes to see them yourself. Gourmands and sommeliers from around the world gather to this illustrious region to sharpen their palettes and indulge in a little gastronomic extravagance. A small group tour of Chianti and the surrounding areas is a good way to stay intimate, and appreciate more. Scenic sunsets and drives through the hillsides are another romantic foray into Tuscany, but perhaps the most personal route is Tuscany on horseback. Can there be a better way to see the countryside?

Getting to Pompeii from Rome is a two-step process. First, you’ll need to take the train to Naples, and then change trains to the slower Circumvesuviana line that will take you to the excavation site at Pompeii. (The Circumvesuviana is in the same station as the main trains to and from Naples, so that part is easy - it’s just in a different part of the station.) From Rome-Naples on the high-speed train takes 1 hour 10 minutes, and then from Naples-Pompeii on the Circumvesuviana takes a little over a half-hour. You can catch an early train from Rome and be at the entrance to Pompeii with plenty of time to explore the site before retracing your steps for the journey home. It’s definitely an investment in time, since you’ll spend nearly four hours of your day in transit, but it beats missing out on the ruins of Pompeii completely.

Of the global cultural wonders which have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, only one represents an entire country: Vatican City. The world’s smallest sovereign state is – as well as being the spiritual home of the world’s billion or so Catholics – an incomparable storehouse of artistic treasures. It’s also one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, so a pre-booked ticket which takes you to the head of the line is a must. Once you’ve mounted the remarkable double helix stairs at the entrance to the Vatican Museums, a unique overview of the origins and development of Western art awaits you. It’s a journey which takes you from fine Greek and Roman statuary to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes, the undisputed masterpiece of the Renaissance, and on to contemporary ecclesiastical works. And that’s before you’ve even stepped inside the colossal house of worship that is St Peter’s Basilica, with Michelangelo’s Pietà and countless other sacred works.

Take your vacation to the next level with local food expertise and a cooking class, too. You can take a small-group Italian cooking class in Florence in a private home, where you'll make a four-course Tuscan meal from the ingredients you pick up – with your chef and teacher – at the San Lorenzo Market. For an even more exclusive experience, sign up for a VIP cooking class in a noble villa and a farmers’ market tour with one of the best chefs in Florence. If you only have a half-day to spare, you can still get some useful cooking tips with a cooking class to learn how to make gelato and pizza. There's nothing quite like savoring your own culinary creations in the country where they were born. Perhaps you're more enthusiastic about the dining experience than the cooking? You can take a small-group Tuscany wine-tasting tour from Florence that includes visits to two Chianti wineries. You'll sample six wines, enjoy a three-course lunch and explore a quintessentially Tuscan town.

Day 1: City of Rome Explore Rome with a hop-on hop-off bus or a specialist walking tour that includes Ancient Rome, Baroque Rome, Jewish Rome, and art history. Don’t forget to visit the Colosseum, the Roman catacombs, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain. Then end the day with a night tour of the city or a Tiber River cruise. Day 2: The Vatican Spend a day in the Vatican City. Witness the Papal Audience and skip the line to the Vatican Museums, Raphael's Rooms and La Pieta, in St Peter's Basilica. Then view Michelangelo's masterpiece at the Sistine Chapel or experience an exclusive viewing of the Vatican Museums. Day 3: Day Trips Take a food trip out of the city to Chianti and Umbria or an overnight tour of the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany. Sail across the Gulf of Naples and discover the secrets of Capri, or take a three-day excursion to Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri.