Cinque Terre alone makes Italy worth the trip

I'll be honest — I went to Italy primarily to see Cinque Terre, and it delivered beyond what any photo prepares you for. But the surrounding region surprised me just as much. Bologna has a character I didn't anticipate, and wandering without a plan for an afternoon turned out to be one of the highlights.

The food is extraordinary. risotto sounds simple but here it's done with real craft. beautiful coastline added another layer to the experience. Spent 17 days and honestly could have used a week more.