Visit the tourist attractions-Milan

Milan's Duomo, or Cathedral, is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world. Construction started in 1386 but took nearly 500 years to complete. 135 spires and 3200 statues adorn the duomo roof and you can take an elevator (or climb the stairs) to the rooftop for a close-up view as well as magnificent views of the city below. Piazza del Duomo, the square where the cathedral sits, is the hub of Milan's historic center.

La Scala Opera House and Museum

La Scala, is one of Italy's top historic opera houses. La Scala first opened in 1778 and has been the opening venue for many famous operas. The theater was renovated in 2004. Attending an opera in La Scala is a top experience for opera fans but you'll need to book in advance. La Scala's museum has a collection of musical instruments and portraits and busts of musicians and you can view the auditorium from boxes and the backstage area. It's currently open daily except holidays.

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, built in 1867, is a huge glass-roofed shopping arcade lined with elegant shops, bars, and restaurants. Inside are mosaics with the symbols of the cities forming the newly united Italy. Some people consider it good luck to stand on the testicles of the bull of Turin. The galleria is built in a cross-shape and links the squares of the Duomo and La Scala.

Saint Mark's Basilica (Italian: Basilica di San Marco)

Saint Mark's Basilica, the cathedral of Venice, is the most famous of the city's churches and one of the best known examples of Byzantine architecture. It lies on St Mark's Square adjacent and connected to the Doge's Palace. Originally it was the "chapel" of the Venetian rulers, and not the city's cathedral. Since 1807 it has been the seat of the Patriarch of Venice, archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Venice. For its opulent design, gilded Byzantine mosaics, and its status as a symbol of Venetian wealth and power, from the 11th century on the building was known by the nickname Chiesa d'Oro (Church of gold).

Venice

The Grand Canal (Italian: Canal Grande)

The Grand Canal is a canal in Venice, Italy. It forms one of the major water-traffic corridors in the city. Public transport is provided by water buses and private water taxis, but many tourists visit it by gondola. At one end the canal leads into the lagoon near Santa Lucia railway station and the other end leads into Saint Mark Basin: in between it makes a large S-shape through the central districts of Venice. It is 3,800 m long, 30-90 m wide, with an average depth of five meters.

Venice

Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio

Florence's most famous square is Piazza della Signoria, the heart of the historic center and a free open-air sculpture exhibit. The Loggia della Signoria holds some important statues including a copy of Michelangelo's David. The piazza has been Florence's political center since the middle ages and Florence's town hall, the medieval Palazzo Vecchio, sits on the piazza. The palazzo contains elaborately decorated public rooms and private apartments that can be visited. Around the piazza are cafes and restaurants.

Florence

Il Duomo-Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore

Florence's most popular site is its Duomo (cathedral), the Cattedrale de Santa Maria del Fiore. The huge Gothic duomo was begun in 1296, consecrated in 1436, and holds 20,000 people. Its exterior, made of green, pink, and white marble, has several elaborate doors and interesting statues. Inside, Brunelleschi's Dome is a masterpiece of construction. Here's what to see inside the duomo

Campanile - Bell Tower

The Campanile, bell tower, is in Piazza del Duomo. The first story was designed by Giotto and it is commonly called Giotto's Campanile. Buy a ticket and climb the 414 stairs (no lift) for great views of the Cathedral and its dome and the city of Florence and surroundings

Florence

The Colosseum of Rome

Ancient Rome's huge amphitheater, holding up to 55,000 people, was built by Emperor Vespasian in AD 80 and was the scene of many deadly gladiatorial and wild animal fights. Today you may see men dressed in gladiatorial costume as you walk between the Colosseum and the nearby Arch of Constantine, built in AD 315.

The Pantheon

Rome's Pantheon, the temple of all the gods, was built between AD 118-125 by Emperor Hadrian. In the 7th century it was made into a church by early Christians and now is lined with tombs. Go inside to see the spectacular dome. Admission is free. The Pantheon is the best preserved building of ancient Rome and today is surrounded by a pleasant and lively piazza, a nice place to sit in the evening and enjoy a drink. A good nearby restaurant is Armando's, on a street coming off the piazza.

The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum) was the political and

economical centre of Rome during the Republic.