The canals of Venice. The art and architecture of Rome. All that delicious food and wine! Italy can be an incredibly romantic vacation destination, as long as you avoid the crowds.

Last year more than 68 million people visited Italy, and Rome was the second-most visited city in Europe after Paris. During peak season in Venice, the number of tourists can reach 100 times the number of local residents.

After more than a dozen trips to Italy, we’ve learned to avoid the crowds by visiting the country’s “second cities”, where the art, culture, food, and architecture are just as wonderful. Because they see fewer visitors, you can also find better deals at many hotels and restaurants, and if you visit during the off season, the prices can be even lower.

Click to see our romantic Italian getaway on our latest segment for ABC Television’s The Daily Refresh, then visit the links below for details on some of our favorite stops in each city.

Milan

• Santa Maria della Grazie — The location of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper
• Arco della Pace — Grand arch at the entrance to the Piazza Sempione
• Castello Sforzesco — Medieval fortress built in the 15th century
• Teatro alla Scala — Milan’s opera house, built in 1778
• Duomo di Milano — Milan’s cathedral, which is Italy’s largest church and took 600 years to build
• Terrazza Aperol — Rooftop bar with views of the duomo and surrounding piazza
• Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II — Luxury shopping center featuring Belle Époque architecture
• Biblioteca Ambrosiana — Historic library and art museum
• I Navigli — Milan’s historic canal district
• BackDoor 43 — One of the world’s smallest bars and available to reserve by the hour

Mantua (Mantova)

• Historic Mantua — A UNESCO World Heritage Site for architecture and Renaissance culture
• Palazzo Ducale di Mantova — Sixth-largest palace in Europe built from 14th to 17th centuries
• Piazza Sordello — Plaza featuring cafes and shops located near a beautiful lake
• Palazzo del Te — Sixteenth-century palace with famous frescoes
• Piazza Castello — Museum where you’ll find the 6,000-year-old “Lovers of Valdaro”
• Grand Hotel San Lorenzo — Lovely boutique hotel with rooftop bar and champagne breakfast

Padua (Padova)

• Orto Botanico — Botanical garden of the University of Padua, founded in 1222; oldest botanical garden in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Scrovegni Chapel — Location of the masterpiece fresco of Giotti completed in 1305, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Battistero del Duomo di Padova — UNESCO World Heritage Site of the city’s famous 14th century frescoes
• Prato della Valle — Largest public square in Italy; grand elliptical fountain is surrounded by statues
• Palazzo della Ragione — Medieval market hall with food stalls and cafes
• Padua Astronomical Clock — One of the oldest working clocks in the world
• Massimago Wine Tower — Twelfth-century defensive structure turned boutique hotel located in a private gated park near the center of town