Lake Como is widely known in popular culture as a vacation destination for the rich and famous, but this stunning glacial lake can actually be visited easily and cheaply as a day trip from Milan.

Often cited as one of Italy’s premier food cities, Bologna is rich with culinary tradition in past and present. The city is nicknamed la grassa (“the fat”) for its emphasis on meat and dairy products, which come from the fertile Po River Valley nearby. Bologna has produced a number of Italy’s most famous dishes—not just the bolognese.

With a history spanning nearly three thousand years, Rome has something remarkable around every corner. Its sights—the Colosseum, the Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon—are known the world over. But Rome is more than just ancient monuments. There is another city here, hiding in plain sight, that is often overlooked by the tourists who come for the ticketed attractions. This local’s guide will help you to, as the saying goes, do as the (modern) Romans do.

On the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula, which separates the gulfs of Naples and Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s premiere tourist destinations—for good reason. This is a place of stunning natural beauty, with colorful, hillside towns built into rugged mountains that lead down to the deep blue waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Located in Salento, the heel of the boot of Italy, the city of Lecce is an open-air museum of Baroque architecture, forged in the native limestone known as ‘Lecce stone.’ This stone is renowned for its softness and malleability before hardening over time with exposure to air, allowing for intricate carvings and decoration that last for centuries without wear.

Spread out along nine miles (15 km) of the rugged Ligurian coast, wedged between the Apennine Mountains and the Mediterranean, the five medieval villages collectively known as Cinque Terre are a testament to the communities who for centuries have made their lives in this beautiful yet inhospitable stretch of land.

Here is a guide to help you explore Venice from a more local perspective, visiting places off the beaten path, where you can engage with the living and breathing culture of the city.

Bari has a fascinating history as a melting pot of Mediterranean cultures.

Milan is alive with culture, with a vibrant, modern energy unlike anywhere else in the country.

Florence has much more to offer than just the well-trodden tourist itinerary. Here is a local's guide to the city.

Palermo, Sicily’s vibrant capital, is a stunning fusion of cultures shaped by centuries of conquests.

Situated at the foot of the imposing Mount Etna is Catania, Sicily’s second city. Though not quite as grand as Palermo, the city’s...

Perched atop the rolling hills of Tuscany’s Val d'Orcia, Siena is a beautifully preserved Gothic city.

Widely known and admired for its beauty, Verona served as the setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, although it is unknown whether the playwright ever even set foot in Italy. Stroll along the river and admire the wonderful architecture before stopping for lunch to try some traditional potato gnocchi or risotto all’Amarone, cooked with local Valpolicella wine.

Known variously as la grassa (the fat), la dotta (the learned), and la rossa (the red), Bologna is famous throughout Italy for its rich cuisine, vibrant academic culture, and distinctive architecture defined by its 24 miles (38 kilometers) of porticoes and numerous medieval towers.

Venture through the beautiful and historical streets of Genoa with our comprehensive walking tour.