Greetings from Budapest, since I'm going back to Italy for Christmas with some friends on Como (not named Clooney, unfortunately) this year and saw rcc's post, thought I'd put this out there w the following notes & caveats:

- not mentioning the Big Three, because, duh - you've got to hit those spots just be acknowledged as a participant in civilization. Italy has layers upon layers that can hardly be uncovered in a lifetime, let alone one or two trips.
- to that point, even having been lucky enough to make a dozen or so visits there in the last two decades, there are still key spots (like Sicily) where I've never been.
- my highly scientific algorithm disproportionately weights historic interest and uniqueness and also just the way I feel. But here are ten places that absolutely kick donkey and I'll fight anyone who disagrees. I also disproportionately weight the underrated. Basically, in terms of rigor and methodology, I'm the KenPom of Italian destinations.

1. Siena: Perfectly preserved in its medieval grandeur bc it got frozen in time by losing its generations long struggle against its rival, Florence. Never disappoints. Bonus: Nearby is the Monteriggioni, one of the best preserved castles (and basically a town) that you'll ever see, mentioned by Dante in Inferno, canto XXXI.
2. Verona: Just incredible. Great cityscape, great food, incredibly well-preserved Roman architecture, prominent role in Renaissance Italy. Plays a big role in the last two hundred years of the western Roman empire. Awesome summer events in its colosseum / arena.
3. Bologna: Massively important role in the early middle ages, nominally the oldest university in the western world, laid down some of the longest living legal traditions. Distinctive identity with its city wide arcade architecture (not "arcades" like pinball stuff, sorry TNT). And the food. The food.
4. Gubbio: Placing it a bit higher here because it's so unexpected and so unique and no one ever talks about it and I'm reluctant to let some of you clowns in on it, but you'll thank me. More Etruscan stuff than you could dream up, complete with w approximately 300 BC Umbrian brass plates in which the Iguvium laws and traditions are transcribed.
5. Amalfi Coast: Everyone's heard of it, and it lives up to its expectations. I'm putting it ahead of...
6. Cinque Terre bc it has more history, though CT is its match in terms of natural beauty.
7. Cortona: One of a dozen epic, historic Italian hill towns that could go in this spot, but the only one overlooking the site of Hannibal's epic defeat of the Romans at Lake Trasimino, that is reported to have turned the entire lake red.
8: Spoleto: another unexpected Umbrian gem, loaded with Roman and medieval history. Umbria is the new Tuscany.
9. Naples: It's messy, chaotic, and incredibly fun. It has a case to be made to be in the same class with the Big Three in terms of its overall importance. Not for the faint of heart, but it's another mecca for great food and general fun.
10. Cremona: I throw this one on the end because it's a great illustration of how awesome Italian cities fly right under the radar. Amazing town square, great history, renowned for its role in global violin making.

Honorable mentions: San Gimignano (spectacular, worth the visit, overrun in recent years, Sting has a villa nearby and used to ride the public buses, leading to flocks of dumb tourists), Lucca (well worth it), Genoa (often thought to be overly industrial, I think it's awesome), Turin (not just for the shroud, incredible history and architecture, I'd take it over Milan every day), Montepulciano, Pavia (big role in the Lombard and Frankish history of post-Roman northern Italy, great for an afternoon or an overnight)... and like a hundred other places in Italy that you can practically trip over.

Always underrated: the Ligurian coast between Genoa and Menton in France. Tons of great places to stop for a view of the Mediterranean, lunch, and a walk in the sand.

Overrated: Pisa, Milan.