the Tuscan medieval town famous for its bricked buildings and the Palio, a traditional horse race happening every year since 1633 involving all 17 town Contrade (town district), is a great choice for a less popular destination than Florence and my personal favorite as well.

Great local and street food like the Pici with boar ragù and the Ribollita (a warm and tasty vegetable soup)

Colorful Contrada -especially during the Palio on the 2nd of July and 16th August of every year – and an overall lovely vibe, welcoming people and a destination easily consumed by foot ranks it to my top favorite in Italy.

the medieval county town of Tuscany is a popular favorite and a must stop when traveling Italy.

Jewel city of the Renaissance era, Florence still holds the vibe of the XV Century worldwide recognized museums -like the Galleria degli Uffizi-, majestic architectures like the Brunelleschi Dome and Giotto Tower in the Cathedral just to name two, makes Florance a cultural and historical center.

The Fiorentina steak and Chianti wine aroma filling the air, the typically leisurely old Italian ambiance, the cheerful citizens and the relaxed aura emanating from the roads and the Arno riverside, luring you out to a sunset stroll, leading you to the Ponte Vecchio and its shiny, golden jewelry makers’ shop windows.

Florence lives up to its fame and easily makes it amongst my favorite travel destinations.

The charming county city of Veneto rises from 100 small islands on the Adriatic Sea coast and through its canals.

Melancholic and classy like an Oscar Wilde novel. It’s a beautiful choice if you’re fond of Renaissance and Gothic history and walking -within the old town you may move only by foot and boat or Gondola-.

It is also an expensive choice, therefore if you’re looking for a budget-friendly location this might not be the best option, but if you’re intrigued by a mysterious and gothic atmosphere, this is definitely the right destination.

Founded in Roman time, an important religious center for centuries since the year 1000, contended between Napoleon and the Asburgic Empire in 1800 and finally annexed to Italy in 1919 at the end of WWI, Trento has seen quite a bit of history passing by amongst its walls.

Located in the Adige river’s valley, it’s fully immersed in the mountain environment to which the city still holds a strong bond.

It won’t come as strange then that one of the best features of Trento is being a great stay for those who enjoy hiking, nature, and mountain activities.

The mountain range encircling the town is full of great hiking tracks and the old town delivers a wide spectrum of possibilities, whether you’re interested in history, architecture and art or science.

My absolute favorite feature in Trento has to be the MUSE Science Museum, an extraordinary architectural piece of art designed by Renzo Piano, which holds, like a pyramid, archeological finds starting from the most ancients at the bottom to the more recent at its top floor. If you’re a science history lover like me you just can’t miss it!

But there’s more for those who love architecture and history: the Castello del Buonconsiglio erected in the XIII century and Palazzo Pretorio, the beautiful Rainessance fresco facades of the buildings in Via Belenzani, San Vigilio Cathedral and the Fontana di Nettuno (Neptune’s fountain).

Trento’s habitants are a typical mix of Italian and Austria-Hungarian legacies; they speak both Italian and German as well as Ladino, an ancient language formed at the time of the Roman conquest of the Alps.

The typical mountain cuisine stars dishes like Polenta, Canederli (balls made with dry bread), Spätzle (spinach gnocchi), Strangolapreti (another type of gnocchi made with dry bread and chard or spinach) just to name a few, closing with one of my favorite desserts: Strudel, a pastry filled with apple, cinnamon and often pine nuts and raisins. Simply delicious.

A beautiful example of multi-cultural heritage, whether you’re looking for culinary, history and art, or mountain adventure, Trento won’t let you down.

I guess it has to make an appearance in the list.

The ancient Roman capital of Italy probably doesn’t need much of an introduction;

Founded April 21st 753 b.C. by Romulus, It is a city living and kicking for almost 3000 years today.

In Rome, you’ll find yourself fully immersed in history, with the ancient Roman architecture surrounding you on every side, at every step you take.

The Foro Imperiale (Imperial forum) and the Colosseum, the Fontana di Trevi and Piazza Navona, Ponte and Castel Sant’Angelo, the Pantheon just to name the most iconic; the variety of historical architecture is vast and will keep you busy even if you decide to just sightsee around.

It can be a transcendental immersive experience, especially if you’re used to a mostly contemporary urban environment.

Rome it’s a flexible choice for every travel budget as you can opt for cheaper as well as more expensive staying solutions.

Having a walk along the Tevere riverside, stopping along the distinct eras bridges while having gelato and roaming around Trastevere for a Carbonara, Amatriciana, or pasta Cacio e Pepe for dinner.

Being fully immersed in the Bel Paese vibe with the buskers playing the old Italian classics and the sun tanning your skin, amongst the noises of the tourists crowd and the smell of dust taking you through the eras.

Here you can find the most stereotypical version of Italy -which doesn’t mean the most authentic-; Roman-dressed human statues asking money for a picture, overpriced coffee, the often invasive attitude of Romans and peddlers surrounding you in the most touristic areas.

Meals are always best consumed in the less crowded alleys of the tourist area, same goes if your doing souvenir shopping or looking for delicious gelato.

Yes, Rome is worth a visit and all roads lead to Rome … But they don’t necessarily stop there.

a picturesque town on the north-western coast of Sardinia encircled within the Catalan-Aragonese walls, Alghero is not just beautiful but a perfect romantic destination as well.

The famous Catalonian lobster, the fresh seafood cuisine you’ll hardly find elsewhere in Sardinia, mixed with the more hinterland-oriented dishes makes it a unique fusion of maritime and agrarian legacy.

Refreshing and lively like the Tirrenian Sea that harbors its walls, vibrant and brilliant like the beautiful coral and filigree jewelry sparkling in the small shops’ windows throughout each alley, Alghero is an absolute must destination if you decide to travel Sardinia.

Colorful, small and lively, with the gentle lacustrine breeze blowing from the Garda Lake.

Riva is one of my favorite places to visit at Lake of Garda.

Located on the North coast of Lake of Garda, is right at the border between Lombardy and Trentino. A small town that gets especially vibrantly lively in the Spring and Summer seasons and a favorite destination for windsurfers thanks to her windy position.

I love wandering around its pebbled alleys while eating gelato, roaming around small shops and through its Porta (entrance), all the way to the main square and the medieval Torre Apponale.

Just sitting on the shore, watching the boats passing by and the swans lazily floating, sunbathing and relaxing before lunch, glimpsing up at the XVI Century bastion erect over the mountain that rises from the water.

It’s a delightful, small destination at Lake of Garda, worth stopping at especially on a road trip around the area.

Sunlight turquoise water, white-sanded beach, the hot, dry air of the Mediterranean coast.

Tropea is the biggest urban center of the Costa degli Dei (Gods Coast), the breathtaking coastline ranging from Pizzo Calabro to Nicotera; a postcard-perfect village and one of the first places that come to mind when Italy and the sea are mentioned.

Can’t say anything against that really. Tropea is in fact a seaside gem and the most beautiful coastal destination I’ve ever been to. Granted, I’m not a “beach-type” to be honest, but even I can tell a stunning location when I see one.

Clear, warm water all the way down to 20 meters to the bottom, it is also a great area for scuba diving, with ancient Roman remnants just a small way out in the open sea.

But crystal seawater is not all that Tropea has to offer.

A small and enchanting old town, best enjoyed on foot, where you can wander around cobblestone alleys, picking inside small artisans and local food shops, where you can purchase chilis, ‘Nduja (a typical spicy salami) and the famous Tropea onion largely used to make marmalade as well.

The seafood here is a must and lots of dishes include it, as well as more hinterland ingredients starring into dishes like the eggplant Parmigiana.

Get a lemon Granita (slushy) and stroll around the old town, have a pick inside churches and let yourself be carried into the Mediterranean atmosphere.

Walk down the steps that lead from the old town on top of the cliff to the shore and if you’re up for it climb your way up again the cliff where the Benedictine sanctuary of Santa Maria dell’Isola rises. Here, for a small price, you can flee the heat by having a walk around its typical Mediterranean garden of olive trees and juniper bushes, admiring the absolutely breathtaking view over the coast and the town in front of you.

Tropea is lively day and night, full of tourists at every hour. It’s quite a perfect destination if you enjoy leisure and amusement.

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