Sandwiched between Italy and Croatia, Slovenia manages to squeeze in its own bit of coastline on the Bay of Trieste, which opens to the Adriatic. Koper, Izola and Piran are all historic cities along this gorgeous stretch of Slovenia that only spans some 10 miles or so as the bird flies. That makes it a perfect day trip from Trieste.

Venice, Italy is a must-visit for anyone who has never been as it really is a sight to see. If you mention Venice, people conjure up images of sunset gondola rides while being serenaded with Italian love songs. While I am sure that there was once a time that Venice was truly spectacular - I think that time has passed. Follow along for our thoughts and some tips from our first trip to Venice.

One of the most beautiful and picturesque spots in Italy lies along the Mediterranean on the western coast of the peninsula - Cinque Terre. Literally meaning five lands, Cinque Terre is a national park that is made up of five small coastal towns. From Monterosso al Mare in the north to Riomaggiore in the south, each village has its own personality and is worth a visit. If you only have a short time in the area, it is definitely doable to see them all in one day and that is exactly what we did.

Is an Italy trip complete without a trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa? We didn't think so. We made it a point to schedule some time during our tour of Italy to stop and be sure that the tower was still leaning. They have not stood it up straight and it has not fallen over yet so if you are in the area and haven't seen it - do it.

No matter how much time you have to spend in Florence, spend it wisely. There is so much to see and do in the birthplace of the renaissance that you can easily be overwhelmed. Whether you want to experience the arts, culture, history or great food, Florence is your place.

Spending the night in a medieval Tuscan castle is something that most people only dream about doing. However, it is easier than you think. Throughout Italy, there are castles that have been converted into accommodations for tourists. Some of them plush and luxurious while some of them still retain their minimalistic 12th century charm. We got the opportunity to rent out an entire castle and its associated farmhouses for our wedding.

Do all roads lead to Rome? Today, the ruins of the great Roman empire are surrounded by a modern capital city. Cobblestone streets that were once traveled by chariots and pedestrians are now bustling with cars and tourists. An impressive sports stadium was long ago pillaged for its beautiful marble and stonework. The crumbling walls of a once great palace are now covered with dirt and grass. The remaining structures are all that give us a look at what was like for these peoples 2,000 years ago.

Standing in the middle of Pompeii, looking up at Mt. Vesuvius tower over the city and hearing the rumble of the approaching thunderstorm, I couldn't help but think about what it must have been like the day of the eruption.

With little villages snuggled into coves along the Mediterranean shore and mountains in the background towering over them, the Amalfi Coast is a place made in someone's dream. It is one of the most spectacular places that I have visited to date and definitely our favorite in Italy. Follow along as we explore this slice of Italian heaven, from Ravello and Amalfi to Praiano and of course Positano.

Taormina is a hilltop town that sits along the coast of Sicily, in the shadow of Mt. Etna.