Rome

As Italy's capital, Rome would probably be a must-see city for most tourists. But the fact that Rome is the heart of the Italian government isn't even something that most visitors even pay attention to. And why would you when the city is where the Roman Empire was born? At the historic center of Rome is an incredible wealth of Roman ruins, and even some 2,000-year-old buildings which are still in use today.

But to think of Rome as purely an historic city is to overlook the bustling modern city that has grown up around the ruins. Today's Romans are thoroughly cosmopolitan, and think nothing of talking on high-tech mobile phones while sitting in the shadow of a Roman church. Rome may not always be easy on the senses, but it's always a city that Italophiles should visit.