Highlights of Rome, Tuscany and Venice

About the destination: Modern and ancient, past and present coexist, constantly. Whether you're in Rome for 3 days, 3 weeks or 3 months, be ready to step into the world's largest open-air museum. Rome will charm you and it will hardly leave you unaffected. It will astonish you, as it has so much to offer to any visitor, and its beauty has merely been slightly obscured by the passage of time. Rome is one of the world's most photogenic cities - not surprising when you consider what's here - The Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, St Peter's Square, Spanish Steps, Colosseum... Whether you spend your time sightseeing, or lounging in cafes watching the world pass by, it will be your turn to star in your very own Roman Holiday. If you can plan to stay for at least a week, you won't run out of things to do and you'll still feel like you're leaving too soon.

About the destination: Tuscany is situated in the heart of Italy, extending from the Apennines to the Tyrrhenian Sea. Its picturesque landscapes, rich artistic heritage, and prominent cities - with Florence leading the pack - make Tuscany a prime destination for international tourists. The region boasts a diverse natural environment, from its coastline that alternates between long sandy beaches, such as Versilia beach, and rugged cliffs and steep promontories. The islands of the Tuscan Archipelago, encircled by Mediterranean flora, clear waters, and abundant marine life, are unparalleled. Visitors can appreciate untouched natural beauty in the Apuan Alps and in various protected areas like the Orbetello Lagoon, which is a haven for many migratory bird species, including pink egrets. However, the region's most characteristic landscapes are those that blend natural beauty with the ancient handiwork of humans. The stunning Gulf of Baratti and the sites of Vetulonia, Vulci, and Pitigliano preserve necropolises and remnants of the Etruscan civilization, while Roselle and Cosa bring to mind the Roman era. Medieval villages, historic towns, castles and fortifications, rural churches (known as pievi), and stunning abbeys, such as Sant'Antimo, are scattered throughout the region, their silhouettes punctuating the landscapes of the Crete Senesi, Orcia Valley, Garfagnana, Chianti, and the Maremma. Lastly, Tuscany is renowned for its spas: Montecatini, Saturnia, Montepulciano, Monsummano, and Bagno Vignoni, which offer relaxing getaways with their thermal waters and well-appointed facilities for all kinds of treatments. The provinces of the region include: Florence (the regional capital), Arezzo, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa Carrara, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, and Siena.

About the destination: Perhaps no city is as extraordinary as Venice, a metropolis constructed on stilts, a maze suspended over a lagoon. Venice has been referred to as Europe's living room, and indeed for centuries, the city was a haven for ideas and idealists, a junction of the Byzantine and Roman worlds. Today, Venice is a different kind of living room. Affluent visitors scramble into gondolas to marvel at the Byzantine palaces while being serenaded by accordionists and art enthusiasts strain to catch a glimpse of Renaissance masterpieces. No monument is as unforgettable as the city itself, so use the major attractions only as a pretext for exploration. Venice revolves around Piazza San Marco. The best feature of the mosaic-covered Basilica di San Marco is the Pala D’Oro, a dazzling gold Byzantine bas-relief. The Torre dell’Orologio, to the left of San Marco, is a beautifully adorned clock tower. For culture enthusiasts, check out the Accademia for the finest Venetian paintings. Some say that the tourist Venice is indeed Venice, but there are other versions of Venice as well. To discover them, stray from the major attractions and into the quieter outlying residential neighborhoods, you won’t be disappointed, this labyrinth of stone and color radiates charm from every brick.