Itinerary: Perfect Day Spent in Italy

The Renaissance began here for a reason. Wander Italy's best museum, the Uffizi, and gaze at works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Donatello. Find David at the Galleria dell'Accademia. Climb to the top of the Duomo, Firenze's glorious Cathedral, and sip unparalleled views of the city from the Campanile. Indulge in the country's delectable cuisine before retreating to your hotel room.

Photo Credit: Il Duomo, Florence, Italy (Photodisc)

World's Greatest Art Hubs: Rome, Italy

If you haven't satiated your thirst for art in Florence, a weekend in Rome will cure all. At the Vatican Museums, it's a labyrinthine walk through hallways lined with art by masters Raphael, Caravaggio, and Giotto to reach the Sistine Chapel. Bernini brings myth to life at the quieter, manse-like Museo and Galleria Borghese; his sculpture of Pluto grabbing Proserpina's thigh is more supple than stonelike.

Photo Credit: St Peter's Cathedral and River Tiber, Rome, Italy (Digital Vision)

Must-See World Festivals: Calcio Fiorentino in Florence, Italy

What could be better than no-holds-barred European football? No-holds-barred European football in medieval garb! Each year during the third week of June, Florence's Piazza Santa Croce hosts the Calcio Fiorentino, the revival of a 16th-century football match complete with period garters and pantaloons. The aim of the game: seize the ball and put it in the netקby whatever means available.

Photo credit: Il Duomo in Florence, Italy (Photodisc/Getty)