A beautiful city greets you when you arrive in Venice, Italy.  The city known for its canals and Carnavale celebration opens its doors to thousands of visitors each year, and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to count yourself among them!

Compared to some of the other major cities in Italy (see our articles on Rome or Florence), Venice doesn’t boast as many grand museums or galleries.  However, the entire city could easily be considered a slowly sinking museum itself and just walking the streets will provide you with the same artistic and cultural splendor as in several of the larger museums – but for free.  If you’re thinking about traveling to Venice, there are several sites you simply can’t miss.

The Grand Canal. When you arrive in Venice, the first thing you do should be to hop on the local ferry boat known as a Vaporetto.  This form of public transportation runs you a lot cheaper than a gondola and shows you the same sites.  Take a full run around the city and you’ll see some of the best sites from the water.  Once you’ve gone round once, step onto land and explore some of the inside of this great city.

Doge’s Palace. This building, right off of St. Mark’s Square (or Piazza di San Marco, in Italian) houses some pretty astounding works of art.  By far, though, its greatest attraction lies away from the artwork – in the dungeon.  This area of the palace houses no art but you will remember it just as much.  The stark contrast between it, the Bridge of Sighs that leads you there, and the main gallery will be sure to keep you entertained for hours.

St. Mark’s Basilica. If you’re not arriving at the height of tourist season, make sure you see the Basilica in Venice.  If you’re arriving during tourist season (whenever there’s warm weather, really), then be prepared to wait – a while – to get in.  History tells us that many of the windows in the Basilica have been covered over by the sheer amount of artifacts and artwork the Venetians collected and conquered over the years.

Island of Murano. This island lies a little ways outside of Venice, available by Vaporetto.  This island is home to craftsmen who, since the 1200s, have been crafting beautiful artwork made of glass by hand.  Murano Glass, as it’s called, can be found all over the world in both it’s original and copied forms, but some of the best can only be found on Murano.  Make sure you go!

As you explore Venice, make sure to notice all the little intricacies that make this city great.  Many famous artists, writers, poets, and politicians have visited or lived in the city, and in many cases these cases have been marked on buildings with commemorative plaques.  So don’t just look down at the water as you walk – also look up and around at this great world treasure!

The Eternal City.  It wasn’t built in a day.  Rome, that is, and you shouldn’t spend less than three days in this jewel of the Western Europe.  The city is jam packed with sites, sounds, and food that you won’t want to miss.  The capital of what once was the greatest empire on Earth, the Roman Empire, Rome holds numerous treasures housed in everything from churches to museums to street corners.  No matter how much time you have in Rome, there are several sites you won’t want to miss and here they are in no particular order.

The Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. Although technically not part of Rome but it’s own country, the Vatican is home to the Papacy, the heart of the Catholic Church.  Over time, the Vatican has acquired through conquest or donation more artwork and artifacts than the Pope could apparently display in his living room, so they find themselves now in the Vatican Museums.  Everything from statues from the Roman Empire to mummies of Ancient Egypt lie within these walls, and you won’t want to miss any of it.  Get there early, though, as the line to get into the museum can get very long very quickly.  Plan on arriving at least two hours before the gates open, and bring breakfast.  After you’re done exploring the Museums, round the corner to St. Peter’s Basilica.  Some of the greatest statues ever crafted in Western culture lie within these walls, so make sure you explore every corner of this great monument.  Whatever you do, though, make sure you plan at least a day solely for Vatican City.

The Roman Forum and the Colosseum. And the general area around it, for that matter.  Tucked away amongst modern apartments (you literally round a corner and find yourself staring at the massive stone colossus known as the Colosseum), devote a day at least to exploring the historical side of Rome.  Some great restaurants can be found in this area as well, so save some money and pictures for your trip to this area of Rome.

The City. If you have time, walk around Rome.  As tiring as that sounds, it’s also quite picturesque.  Lots of piazzas and building walls also happen to double as mini-Museums!  The Spanish Steps, for example, will provide you with a spectacular view of a part of the city.  The budget conscious will find no lack of memories just wandering the streets – but make sure to bring a map to find your way back!

There are way too many sites to list in this one article to visit while you’re in Rome, but these are the few you definitely won’t want to miss.  And just remember, when in Rome, do as the Romans do!

Europe has long been a favorite destination for people of all ages eager to explore new areas while having a great time doing it. As you will discover in this article, Europe is a place that offers culture, history, modern day interests, and more. Narrowing the list down to just a few was difficult but after conducting in-depth research, we were able to identify what we believe are five excellent choices.

Topping our list is none other than Tuscany where the land is breathtakingly beautiful and the sky unrivaled. People from around the world are drawn to Tuscany with its simplistic beauty, unique architecture, and Renaissance art. If you visit Lunigiana in the northern region, you will find few tourists and a magical, rural quality. The countryside is brimming with vegetation and the people are warm and inviting. However, in the heart of Tuscany are castles, wonderful festivals during the summer, mouth-watering Italian food, and the most amazing European experience possible.

After Tuscany , we recommend you consider taking a trip to Meteora , Greece , which is a little off the beaten track. The history of this part of Greece dates back to the 11 th century when hermits came to find peace and solitude. Today, you will find beautiful monasteries and one of the most stunning vistas in all of Europe . You will discover a nearby community called Metsovo, featuring very talented woodcarvers. Because the crowds can be bad during the summer months, the best time to visit is in the spring or fall.

Next on the list for European destinations is Asturias , Spain , located in the northern region. Interestingly, many Americans overlook this part of Spain , which is a real shame. You will find incredible prehistoric painted caves, one in particular called Altamira , meaning “Sistine Chapel of Prehistoric Art” and the country side is beautiful. For accommodations, there are small, historic inns or rural houses. The way of life there is very slow paced, making this a wonderful choice for tranquility. Even in the summer season, Asturias has mild temperatures due to the Bay of Biscay just to the north. However, in July, this city is prone to severe thunderstorms.

The fourth choice would be Corsica, which can be reached from Sardinia by ferry. The culture and language there are French and the environment very mountainous and green. While there, you want to experience some of the traditional Corsican music and stay in a music house hotel. If you like, you can visit Casa Musicale and actually take music lessons. The Corsican food is delicious, the beach magnificent, and the people generous and hospitable. If you love hiking, you can enjoy any of the many trails as you look out over the ocean!

Finally, Malta is another place that people forget about but there, you can visit the Neolithic Temples. This town was built a full millennium prior to the pyramids. The design and architecture show the skill these people had, especially considering they had no modern day tools. In fact, for the temples to be completed, 20-ton blocks had to be moved through rough and rocky terrain. In Malta , you can even take a stroll along the same path that St. Paul took when shipwrecked on the coast. The coastline is spectacular and to see all the islands, there are guided boat trips.