Plan your trip to Colle di Val d'Elsa, Italy

Tuscany, a hilly wine country in Central Italy, tantalizes the taste buds while tickling the creative side of the brain.

Considered the birthplace of the Renaissance movement, Tuscany boasts a rich culture that inspires the production of painting, architecture and sculptures—as well as hordes of tourists to visit each year. Summer is the best time to visit and attend outdoor festivals that feature local specialties such as truffles and olive oil.

Go museum-hopping, starting in Florence at the Galleria dell’Academia, home to Michaelangelo’s David; then drop in at the Galleria degli Uffizi for a look at some of the Renaissances’ most famous works. Move on to Pisa to marvel at the carvings at the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. Spend a day at a cooking class with the chefs of Kitchen chez Nous.

Just don’t burn yourself under the Tuscan Sun.