I DOUBT this is a surprise to anyone, but Italy is spectacular. So you know it’s visually beautiful — as shown below — but did you know: it’s home to Europe’s only three active volcanoes; at 50, it has more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than anywhere else in the world; the first battery was developed in Italy; and pizza was invented there (OK, you probably did know that). Here are several more reasons that prove it should be high on your list to visit.
Editor’s note: These spots are all taken directly from travelstoke®, a new app from Matador that connects you with fellow travelers and locals, and helps you build trip itineraries with spots that integrate seamlessly into Google Maps and Uber. Download the app to add any of the spots below directly to your future trips. All photos by author except where noted.