Best 28 Days in Italy — Summer

Make fresh ravioli, fettuccine, and pappardelle in a small-group Roman cooking class — great for children age 5+

Wander Trastevere's cobblestone lanes at sunset and eat supplì, cacio e pepe, and Roman pizza al taglio

Ride through Rome's ancient streets in a Vespa sidecar with a local guide narrating the city's history

Cook three Roman classics — fresh pasta, cacio e pepe, and tiramisu — in a hands-on family kitchen class

Sample 20+ tastings of Rome's best street food, wine, and local specialties across two neighborhoods at dusk

Visit two UNESCO sites 30km from Rome — Emperor Hadrian's 120-hectare villa and 500-fountain Renaissance gardens

Train with replica Roman weapons and learn gladiator combat techniques at a historic school near the Colosseum

Learn ancient Roman mosaic techniques and create your own piece at a historic family-run studio

Pre-book Vatican Museums tickets to see the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms without queuing for hours

Visit the Pantheon, toss a coin in Trevi Fountain with the children, and stroll to Piazza Navona for gelato

Walk Rome's dark alleys at night and hear stories of murders, executions, and hauntings across centuries

Reserve a mandatory 2-hour slot at the Borghese Gallery, then let the children ride bikes and row boats in Rome's loveliest park

Hand-stitch a leather wallet, card holder, or bracelet under the guidance of an Oltrarno master craftsman

Walk across the medieval Ponte Vecchio and browse Oltrarno's leatherworkers, bookbinders, and mosaic workshops

Watch the sunset over Florence's rooftops and Arno River from the panoramic Piazzale Michelangelo

Spend unscheduled time in Florence — climb the Giotto Campanile, browse Oltrarno leather shops, or linger at a cafe

Take the 2.5-hour train to Cinque Terre and hike or ferry between five pastel fishing villages on the Italian Riviera

Take the vaporetto to the Murano glass museum and glassblowing demos — kids love the fire — then ride to Burano's candy-colored houses

Visit three art museums covering Venetian masterpieces from the 14th century to 20th-century modern art

Walk Sorrento's clifftop center, descend to the fishing harbor, and take in views of Vesuvius across the Bay of Naples

Take the bus to Anacapri and descend by rowboat into the Blue Grotto's eerily glowing sea cave

Stroll to the clifftop park at the Gardens of Augustus — children love spotting the Faraglioni sea stacks from the viewpoint

Walk Positano's steep narrow lanes, photograph its pastel dome from the beach, and swim at Spiaggia Grande

Catch the morning hydrofoil to Capri, visit the Blue Grotto, and browse the glamorous Piazzetta before the return ferry

Book months ahead to see Leonardo's Last Supper mural — only 40 visitors admitted every 15 minutes

Walk through Milan's 1867 glass-vaulted arcade and stroll the Quadrilatero della Moda — Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga

Hike the Sentiero Azzurro coastal trail from Monterosso to Vernazza along dramatic cliffside paths above the Ligurian Sea

Swim and sunbathe at Monterosso al Mare's sandy beach — the only proper beach in Cinque Terre — with views of medieval towers

Drive through UNESCO-listed Val d'Orcia, stopping at cypress-lined roads, Pienza village, and a Brunello di Montalcino tasting

Swim from a private lido, rent a kayak, or sit on a villa garden terrace and watch the light change on the Alps

Cross the lake by ferry between Bellagio and Varenna, browsing pastel lanes, gelato shops, and silk boutiques