Located just about two hours from Florence, Bologna is an equally enticing destination to visit on a trip to Italy. With a remarkable food history dating back to the Middle Ages, it's the place to thank for some of the world’s most beloved dishes, including lasagne alla bolognese, tortellini, and ragù.

The northern Italian city is also home to the oldest university in the Western world, and it maintains a music scene so rich that it was designated a UNESCO City of Creative Music. I recently visited and was impressed by its seamless blend of old and new: A lively college community gathered in a pop music-fueled bar just steps from a towering sixth-century Gothic basilica.