A visit to Italy is a lesson in living well. Open-air vegetable and fruit markets, neighborhood bakeries and fresh cheeses made daily are fixtures of Italian life. Tradition reigns: Neighbors still meet in the piazza to discuss the day, laundry is still line-dried, even in the largest of cities, and the passeggiata (leisurely stroll) is still made in the evening air – preferably with a gelato in hand. From the mountains to the coasts, the emphasis is on simple pleasures and high quality.

On this essential highlights tour, visit Italy’s most magical cities: Venice, Florence and Rome. Built on over 100 islets, linked by 400 bridges, Venice is the only city in the world that is built entirely on water. The city has captivated poets, painters and writers for centuries and continues to charm visitors with its fragile beauty. Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its palaces, churches and museums overflow with masterful paintings and sculpture. The Eternal City of Rome, sprawling among its seven hills, is fascinating for both its ancient and its modern wonders. All that surrounds a visitor in Rome – the stunning art and architecture, the grandeur of scale and the city’s lively citizens – guarantee an unforgettable visit.