Italy for art-lovers

The Italians have been creating art and architecture for thousands of years, and it’s largely still there for you to walk around. Lots of pieces are in the same place they were originally made for, so you can picture generations of people admiring them - it’s like looking back in time.

Click here to find out more about our city breaks

Rome

Rome doesn’t need much of an intro - it’s world-famous and for very good reason. The big sights are at the Vatican City, especially Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling. The queue can be long - and you’ll need to book - but it’s worth it. For pure genius in a sculpture, you have to see Bernini’s Apollo and Daphne which is intricate beyond words. A hidden gem is Villa Farnesina in Trastevere. Pope Julius II commissioned the great artists of the time to paint the big, airy space. It’s stunning. 3 nights from £335 per person

Venice

As if Venice wasn’t a work of art in itself, the floating city has culture going back hundreds of years. St Mark’s Basilica is a must. It’s packed with treasures from the crusades and conquest of Constantinople, plus there’s over 8,000 square metres of mosaics. It’s easy to lose a few hours wandering. If you visit just one gallery, the Gallerie dell’Accademia is the one to go for. You’ll see the classic Venetian style of painting with deep, rich colours, using the effects of light too. It would have been the closest thing to photography when it was first seen. 3 nights from £649 per person

Milan

For lots of us art-lovers, Milan is a dream destination. It’s got everything from the Gothic and Renaissance, to Futurism and contemporary art. You’ll be like a kid in a sweet shop - it’s all there, in the architecture as well as the galleries. For Gothic art, the Duomo has around 3,400 statues and gargoyles - it’s difficult to imagine until you see it yourself. Next door in the Piazza del Duomo there’s the Museo Novecento where you can literally walk your way through the history of modern Italian art. For the film buffs, you’ve got to take a break in Bar Luce - designed by film director Wes Anderson. 3 nights from £475 per person

Verona

It’s known as the home of Romeo and Juliet but the cultural sites here were famous long before then. When you arrive, there’s thousands of years of culture you can walk around and see for yourself. In the first century, Verona was a Roman stronghold. Arena di Verona - one of the most impressive Roman sites in Italy - transforms into a spectacular opera venue in the summer. 3 nights from £325 per person

Florence

Get up close to the masterpieces of the Renaissance. It’s got an incredible medieval centre, along with paintings, frescoes and statues from some of the greatest artists of all time. Think Raphael, Titian and Michelangelo - all on your doorstep. There’s not many places in the world where you can see masterpieces exhibited in the way the artist originally intended. In Florence, every chapel, church and Duomo has beautiful artistic treasures inside. 3 nights from £345 per person