Italy Travelers Recommend

Of the global cultural wonders which have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, only one represents an entire country: Vatican City. The world’s smallest sovereign state is – as well as being the spiritual home of the world’s billion or so Catholics – an incomparable storehouse of artistic treasures. It’s also one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, so a pre-booked ticket which takes you to the head of the line is a must. Once you’ve mounted the remarkable double helix stairs at the entrance to the Vatican Museums, a unique overview of the origins and development of Western art awaits you. It’s a journey which takes you from fine Greek and Roman statuary to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes, the undisputed masterpiece of the Renaissance, and on to contemporary ecclesiastical works. And that’s before you’ve even stepped inside the colossal house of worship that is St Peter’s Basilica, with Michelangelo’s Pietà and countless other sacred works.

Michelangelo is considered one of Tuscany’s most famous sons, but many of the masterpieces for which is he is best known are not found in Tuscany. In fact, Michelangelo spent much of his life in what is now the Italian capital of Rome, and you can see much of his artistic legacy in Rome today. In his artistic youth, Michelangelo was held in local esteem by the ruling Medici family of Florence, but he was by no means an artistic legend by the time he arrived in Rome in 1496 at age 21. But the following year, he began work on a commissioned piece that would become one of his most celebrated sculptural works - the stunning Pieta, which now sits near the entry of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The other Michelangelo masterpieces in Vatican City are his enormous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel. The ceiling was painted from 1508–1512, and the Last Judgement fresco behind the altar was painted from 1534–1541.

The heart of Roman civilization, which once included some 80 million inhabitants, has now been reduced to a series of important ruins in the center of the city of Rome. It is believed that Rome itself was founded in 753 B.C. by brothers Romulus and Remus, decedents of a Trojan prince. Over just a couple of centuries the city evolved into the most powerful entity on the planet, with over 20 percent of the entire Earth's estimated population under its control at one point. In its glory, this part of the Roman city was full of intricately built temples and other important buildings made of the world's finest marble and stone. However, in the 15th century, many of the ancient city's temples were scavenged of their materials and used to build a number of churches and other more modern buildings.

While it's impossible to see all that Rome has to offer, there are a few things you simply can’t miss—after all, have you really been if you don’t see the Colosseum or the Vatican? See below for our list of must-do experiences in the Eternal City.

Getting to Pompeii from Rome is a two-step process. First, you’ll need to take the train to Naples, and then change trains to the slower Circumvesuviana line that will take you to the excavation site at Pompeii. (The Circumvesuviana is in the same station as the main trains to and from Naples, so that part is easy - it’s just in a different part of the station.) From Rome-Naples on the high-speed train takes 1 hour 10 minutes, and then from Naples-Pompeii on the Circumvesuviana takes a little over a half-hour. You can catch an early train from Rome and be at the entrance to Pompeii with plenty of time to explore the site before retracing your steps for the journey home. It’s definitely an investment in time, since you’ll spend nearly four hours of your day in transit, but it beats missing out on the ruins of Pompeii completely.

Day 1: City of Rome Explore Rome with a hop-on hop-off bus or a specialist walking tour that includes Ancient Rome, Baroque Rome, Jewish Rome, and art history. Don’t forget to visit the Colosseum, the Roman catacombs, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain. Then end the day with a night tour of the city or a Tiber River cruise. Day 2: The Vatican Spend a day in the Vatican City. Witness the Papal Audience and skip the line to the Vatican Museums, Raphael's Rooms and La Pieta, in St Peter's Basilica. Then view Michelangelo's masterpiece at the Sistine Chapel or experience an exclusive viewing of the Vatican Museums. Day 3: Day Trips Take a food trip out of the city to Chianti and Umbria or an overnight tour of the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany. Sail across the Gulf of Naples and discover the secrets of Capri, or take a three-day excursion to Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri.