I've traveled to many of the most popular spots in Italy. Here are the 4 places I'd return to and the 2 I'd skip next time.

Florence was one of the many cities I visited in Italy.Catarina Belova/Shutterstock

• While working on an Army base in Vicenza, Italy, I got to visit many of the country's hot spots.
• I'd love to return to places like Vicenza, Verona, Florence, and Cinque Terre.

While working on the US Army base in Vicenza, Italy, I had the unique opportunity to visit many of the country's most popular destinations.

After getting a real taste of Italy's varied landscapes and experiences — from swimming in the Blue Grotto to hiking through Cinque Terra — I'm not surprised that Italy is such a popular travel destination. In fact, the country saw record tourism numbers in 2023.

Still, Italy has 20 regions and many cities to explore. To help you narrow down your options when planning your dream trip, here are the four places I'd return to and the two I'd skip next time.