Florence, Italy

It’s no exaggeration that all of your Italian travel fantasies can come true in Florence. First, there’s the art. Florence is home to some of the world’s most famous Renaissance masterpieces, from artists including da Vinci, Botticelli and Caravaggio at the renowned Uffizi Gallery, Raphael’s works at the Pitti Palace and Michelangelo’s statue of David at Accademia Gallery. Then, there’s the architecture, from the iconic red dome of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore to the Medieval stone bride of Ponte Vecchio and stunning town squares like Piazza della Signoria and Piazzale Michelangelo.

Florence, Italy

And finally, there’s the food—and, of course, the wine. As the capital of Tuscany, Florence sits at the crossroads of one of the world’s most celebrated wine regions—Sangiovese, anyone? —and one of the world’s most admired gastronomic districts: Emilia-Romagna; home to balsamic vinegar of Modena, prosciutto of Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and many varieties of pasta. Need we say more?