Italy

Nestled on the eastern edge of the beautiful Amalfi Coast, the town of Salerno offers a blend of rich history and modern Italian charms. The historic city center is a maze of cobbled streets, vibrant piazzas and landmarks like the 11th-century Salerno Cathedral, a pilgrimage site believed to house relics of Saint Matthew in its elaborate crypt adorned in brilliant frescoes. The palm-lined waterfront promenade of Lungomare Trieste invites a seaside stroll, while the hilltop Castello di Arechi provides sweeping views from above.

Sitting on the edge of Europe, Palermo is a glorious mish-mash of Baroque churches, Arabesque domes, souk-like marketplaces and Gothic palaces. You’ll find yourself gazing at glittering mosaics at the Cappella Palatina, sampling cheeses at the bustling Mercato di Ballarò, viewing the largest collection of ancient anchors in the world at the Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonio Salinas, wandering serene subtropical gardens at the Orto Botanico or watching world-class opera at the Art Nouveau Teatro Massimo.

With its sun-dappled Piazza del Duomo, winding alleyways, Byzantine-influenced cathedral and pretty little beach, the town of Amalfi embodies Italian charm. Neighboring Atrani is also well worth a visit, as it’s considered to be one of the most beautiful villages in Italy. With its ancient churches and whitewashed alleyways, it’s a lovely place to spend a relaxing day away from the crowds. Alternatively, make your way to the magical Grotta dello Smeraldo, which is named because of the gorgeous emerald color that emanates from the water.

With its blend of Italian and Catalan influences, Alghero’s Old Town is breathtakingly beautiful and refreshingly unpretentious. You’ll find Gothic and Catalan architecture around every corner of this authentic centro storico. Pull up a chair in a café in the shadow of one of the city’s 16th century towers and sip a morning coffee before strolling along the pedestrianized Sea Walls, which run all the way from the Piazza Sulis to the marina. The views over to Capo Caccia on the horizon are amazing.

Impressive Neoclassical buildings, boulevards and piazzas are everywhere you look in this elegant port city. The best way to start your day in Trieste is with a coffee. The city is said to have the finest coffee in the whole of Italy and sampling a cup or two in its beautiful Belle Époque cafes is an absolute delight. After your coffee take a walk along the Canal Grande, or head to the superbly decadent Miramare Castle – a vanity project of the Archduke Maximilian of Habsburg.

Dating back to 734BC, Siracusa was once one of the great ancient capitals of Western civilization. Today it’s a lively city with a charming historic center, lovely Baroque architecture and some amazing Greek and Roman ruins, like the monumental Teatro Greco at the Parco Archeologico – one of Sicily’s most impressive archaeological sites. At Siracusa’s heart you’ll find the beautiful island of Ortygia, which was first inhabited by the ancient Greeks.

Italy’s ‘City of Flowers’ simply overflows with Riviera-style grandeur. Ostentatious villas and grand hotels line the sun-kissed streets that have been attracting Europe’s aristocratic elite for over a century. The city has managed to retain all of it’s early 20th century glamor – an age when it was the playground of choice for people like Russia’s Empress Maria Alexandrovna. Soak up a sense of the city’s sumptuous past in the old squares of the La Pigna neighborhood or head out of town to explore the artist colony at Bussana Vecchia.