Walk through the heart of the ancient world. From the Romans Forum and Palatine Hill at the center, to the monumental ruins of bath houses, the architectural gem that is the Pantheon and, of course, the Colosseum.

If you love art, Rome will be a dream come true for you. Masterpieces by Michelangelo, Bernini, Raphael and Caravaggio fill not only galleries and churches around the city, but even buildings and squares bear the mark of their genius.

Visiting Vatican City is a must, but don’t rush. Take a tour of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica and the wonderful square outside. If you have the energy, climb Michelangelo’s great dome for the best views of Rome.

Walk along the ancient Appia Way where Roman soldiers once marched. Pass through the ancient city walls into the Roman countryside where tombs lined the roadside and catacombs are hidden underground.

Take a break from the crowded city and spend a day in Tivoli, home to 2 UNESCO sites. Visit the Renaissance water gardens of Villa d’Este and the ancient ruins of Hadrian’s Villa.

Another great day trip is to the Castelli Romani, lovely towns in the hills to the south of Rome. Here you’ll find aristocratic villas, the papal summer palace and volcanic lakes. Try porcetta and the local white wine as you enjoy the view down to Rome.

Step back into Etruscan times at the burial sites of Cerveteri and Tarquinia, famed for its underground painted burial chambers.

Visit the Medieval towns of Viterbo and Anagni. You’ll learn how popes came to be elected in a conclave and why a Roman aristocrat once slapped a pope.

Garden lovers won’t want to miss the English-style gardens of Ninfa, built around the remains of an ancient village, the Park of the Monsters at Bomarzo, or the pope’s gardens at the Vatican and Castel Gandolfo.

If you’re visiting Viterbo, make sure to visit the ‘Dying Town’ of Civita di Bagnoregio. Only accessible by foot, nobody lives in the town that is slowly crumbling into the surrounding valley.