Cadogan's original three cities guide is now in its fifth edition--and travel companies consistently cite this combination as their most sought-after Italian tour. These are three remarkable cities with three remarkable stories to tell. Rome went out and conquered the world, and in its retirement came back to remake itself as Europe's most ornate capital. Venice built itself up from a Dark Age swamp to become a fairy city of canals. Florence built its empire on finance and wool, and lavished the profits on art and science. Cadogan explores their three very different characters: stately Rome, with its Coliseum and the Sistine Chapel; dreamy Venice, and the eternal romance of a gondola ride along its canals; and Florence, bursting with more paintings, sculptures, and monuments than anywhere else in Italy. They all combine to offer a sublime introduction to the country, or a perfect multi-center trip for travelers with limited time. Cadogan's essential guide uncovers the divine, the great, and the quirky in each city.