Hop on the train and head towards Florence to learn some of Italy's most interesting history. Any well-informed Florentine of the mid-15th century would have recognized the distinctive profile of Il Magnifico —  Lorenzo the Magnificent de’ Medici (b. 1449 - d. 1492). His was not a handsome face but it was a memorable one. He had a flattened, sloping nose that looked broken, a prominent jaw and wide, dark eyes lurking under bumpy, irregular brows. His was the visage of power. 

Hop off the train at Rome's Termini train station and you'll soon learn Rome isn’t simply one of the most beautiful cities in the world — it’s also one of the most delicious. If you’re planning a trip to the Eternal City, you owe it to yourself to experience the remarkable diversity of traditional Roman cuisine.

With so many excellent places to visit, a quick glance at some of the best cities to visit in Italy can make your trip planning that much smoother. 

Let’s take a look at some of the best urban Italy destinations to explore during your vacation in Italy.

There’s no better time to visit Milan than Fashion Week when all the celebrities and global trendsetters converge on the streets of Milan and transform it into one big fashion show. 

Whether you've just stepped off the train at Milano Centrale, simply wandering the streets or gazing at the sleek, stylish fashionistas in town, you’ll get a first-hand glimpse of where many of the world’s fashion trends begin. Milan Fashion week is all about the prêt-à-porter, or ready-to-wear, styles.

Probably the best Italy travel advice out there is simply that you must experience Italy once in your life. Whether you're exploring Lazio or traveling to Italy's toe, Calabria it's hard to find a bad thing to say about Italy. With a glorious history stretching back thousands of years, and a multi-dimensional culture famous for everything from fine art to fashion to cuisine, it’s no wonder that planning a trip to Italy is on everybody’s bucket list.

With its international image of tablecloths, candles, and hearty multi-course meals, Italy might not be the first place that pops into your head when you hear the words “street food.” If you stop and think about it for a moment though it makes sense — Italian street food has been going back for thousands of years.

Shakespeare famously wrote in Hamlet about the spirits of the dead that inhabit Rome: “The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets.” 

Many Romans can verify that Shakespeare was onto something. According to a recent survey, 75% of Italians believe in ghosts and Romans are no exception. Inhabitants of an ancient city, they’ve lived side-by-side with their share of specters, both ancient and recently departed. 

Rome was originally built on the foundations of seven independent settlements on seven hills. Over time, the swampy valleys between them were drained and replaced with public spaces. Only then did Rome as we know it begins to emerge. This consolidation of the seven hills was made concrete with the erection of the Servian Walls in the fourth century BC, built to protect the seven hills.

Whether you're heading to Florence from Rome or making a quick stop before you take the train to Naples, chances are you’ve already put aside money to spend on some beautiful, Florentine leather products. If not, you should.

After spending time in Rome, you may be interested in taking a train to the beach. Italy has some spectacular seaside holiday destinations. One of the most stunning options is the Amalfi Coast. Our Italy travel experts share tips and tricks for making the most of your Amalfi Coast holiday.