Venice

Venice's 118 islands, connected by 400 bridges, create a car-free labyrinth that enchants 13 million visitors each year. The Grand Canal and St. Mark's Basilica remain Europe's most photographed waterscapes. Although it attracts 20 million fewer tourists than #1 Rome, its UNESCO-recognized lagoon (inscribed 1987) offers an aquatic urban experience that no other Italian destination can match—a serene alternative to Rome's bustling streets.