Plan your trip in Italy

When the weight of ancient Rome or the buried past of Piacenza feel too serious, head to one of these delightfully low-brow spots for a break.

Growing visitor hype around Bologna’s Finestrella (“Little Window”) puzzles locals. But the larger story behind the Instagram attraction of the moment deserves a deeper look.

Italian tenor and crossover artist Andrea Bocelli got his start playing piano bars around his tiny hometown of Lajatico. We look at the live music haunts where you might spot a rising star today.

Set in a 12th-century palace on a promontory overlooking the sea, the family-run Palazzo Avino radiates warmth, beauty and joie de vivre thanks to its owners, a pair of stylish sisters.