Rome

At times, Rome feels like the world's biggest open-air museum. Its jaw-dropping historical center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to ancient architectural icons like the impressively intact Colosseum and the resplendent Roman Forum. Then of course there's St Peter's Basilica, the world's largest church and a preeminent masterpiece of Italian Renaissance architecture.

But the ostentatious Italian capital is in no way stuck in the past. On the contrary, it's a cosmopolitan modern metropolis, with edgy contemporary galleries, eclectic nightlife and a trailblazing fashion scene. Of course, it's also a gourmand's paradise, where you can feast on crispy wood-fired pizzas and creamy homemade gelato to your heart's content.