by Stephen Schreck

A spell was cast over me the first time I went to Italy. It could have been the mouth-watering breads and pastas. It might have been the ancient sights of a country that had been the center of the world for thousands of years. And just maybe, it was the bright smiles from the kind-hearted locals that went out of their way to welcome me.

Whatever the reason was, there is no doubt that I was in love with this magical country, and still am today. It's a place that every traveler should see at some point.

Let me tell you why.

Rome

Rome, the eternal city, has something for everyone. For a history buff like myself, Rome is considered sacred ground. It is hard not to stand in amazement as you wander the markets where ancient heroes and villains like Marc Anthony and Cicero stood, or when you gaze up at the senate where Julius Caesar was assassinated, or stare at the mesmerizing Sistine chapel and picture Michelangelo's brush strokes bringing a masterpiece to life. The first time I arrived in Rome, I was extremely jet lagged but yet stubbornly determined not to spend my first hours in Italy in bed. My legs felt heavy and I seemed to stumbled every step of the way but eventually found myself standing before the towering coliseum. As I looked upon this magnificent ancient wonder of the world, battered and broken over the many centuries, cold chills swept over my body. Immediately I felt a surge of energy and a smile crossed my face as the impact of where I was and what I was doing settled over me.