Venice

Venice defies description. Many have tried, from Goethe to Brodsky, but it has to be seen, felt and wandered through to be believed. Don't just stick to the tried, true and obvious. Sure, the Basilica di San Marco, Palazzo Ducale, Peggy Guggenheim Collection and Gallerie dell'Accademia are all important. But 'lesser' sights like Ca' Rezzonico, Ca' Pesaro, the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and Arsenale all give special insight into the city. A city for meanderers, Venice rewards every minute devoted to penetrating its cat's cradle of intertwined lanes. And while millions stream into this tiny city, it's easy enough to find peace and discover the extraordinary: after all, barely a building here isn't a unique monument of some sort. Lose yourself in the labyrinth - that's part of the fun!

The charming canals of Venice have been synonymous with romance since long before Shakespeare and the Renaissance. Local legend maintains that lovers will find eternal happiness if they share a kiss while passing beneath the Bridge of Sighs on a sunset gondola ride. Rather unromantically, the bridge’s name came about because it connected a courtroom and a prison, and criminals would often sigh as they took a final look at the beautiful city before being locked away.