Italy, 7 days: Rome, Florence, Venice

About the destination: Modern and old, past and present go hand in hand, all the time. Whether you're in Rome for 3 days, 3 weeks or 3 months, be ready to step into the world’s largest open air museum. Rome will charm you and it will hardly leave you unmoved. It will surprise you, as it has so much to offer to any visitor, and its beauty has merely been slightly obscured by the passage of time. Rome is one of the world's most photogenic cities - not surprising when you remember what's here - The Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, St Peter's Square, Spanish Steps, Colosseum... Whether you spend your time sightseeing, or lounging in cafés watching the world go by, it will be your turn to star in your very own Roman Holiday. If you can plan to stay for as long as a week, you won't run out of things to do and you'll still feel like you're leaving too soon.

About the destination: Florence is as vibrant and beautiful today as when its wool and silk merchants and bankers revolutionised the economy of 13th century Tuscany, and the art of Dante and Michelangelo stunned the world. Florence was the centre of the Italian Renaissance. The fruits of the city’s rebirth are still evident in its seemingly endless array of museums, churches and palazzi. With its historic centre classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Duomo, the elegant and beautiful cathedral, dominates the city and is an unmistakable reference point in your wanderings. The River Arno, which cuts through the oldest part of the city, is crowned with the Ponte Vecchio bridge lined with shops and held up by stilts. Dating back to the 14th century, it is the only bridge that survived attacks during WWII. Standing by the river at night, when the city is illuminated with a myriad twinkling lights, is unforgettable. But more remains of Florence’s incomparable heritage than stones and paint, the city’s indomitable spirit has also survived the centuries, ensuring Florentine life today its liveliness and sophistication.

About the destination: Perhaps no city is as fabulous as Venice, a metropolis built upon stilts, a maze perched over a lagoon. Venice has been dubbed the parlour of Europe, and indeed for centuries the city was a haven for ideas and idealists, a crossroads of the Byzantine and Roman worlds. Today Venice is a different kind of parlour. Wealthy visitors scramble into gondolas to gawk at the Byzantine palaces while being serenaded by accordionists and art lovers strain for a glimpse of Renaissance masterpieces. No monument is as memorable as the city itself, so use the major sights only as an excuse for wandering. Venice revolves around Piazza San Marco. The best feature of the mosaic-covered Basilica di San Marco is the Pala D’Oro, a glittering gold Byzantine bas-relief. The Torre dell’Orologio, to the left of San Marco, is a beautifully adorned clock tower. For culture enthusiasts, check the Accademia for the best of Venetian paintings. Some say that the tourist Venice is indeed Venice, but there are other Venices as well. To find them, wander away from the major sights and into the quieter outlying residential areas, you won’t be disappointed, this labyrinth of stone and colour radiates enchantment from every brick.