rome

When I first went to Rome, I was 17 years old, and it was the first time I ever had been to Europe. I was a stereotypical teen, it seemed: I had a nice iPhone, I was a pile of angst occasionally, and I loved video gaming and sleeping. It seemed like I would be the last to love travel and the stress that came with it. However, I remember being giddy with excitement to see all the sites and learn a bit of Italian while walking through the ancient city. Before my family of four left the US, I had gotten a pocket-sized dictionary and even started using Duolingo to learn the basics of Italian.

European countries house some of the world’s most famous pieces of art and recognizable architectural triumphs. Millions of tourists visit the continent each year to personally witness these masterpieces, but it can be overwhelming to decide which cities to prioritize and what to visit when you’re there.While there are many ways to see the major art centers of Europe, the following path allows visitors to see the continent’s masterpieces while limiting the amount of travel from place to place. However, if you need to adjust your schedule, every location on this list is only a short flight or train ride away from the others, so it’s easy check everything from Rembrandt to da Vinci off your list.

Julius Caesar, the Apostle Paul, Herman Melville, and Mark Twain—what do all these men have in common? They all traveled on and were inspired by one of the earliest and most-traveled roads in history: the Appian Way.