Fiesole, Faesulae in ancient times, is a city in Tuscany in central Italy. Fiesole overlooks the Arno valley and Florence. Some of the most notable architectural features of Fiesole are a Roman theater built in 80 BC, Roman bath ruins, and a Romanesque cathedral. In 1991, its population was ~15,096.

The Arno River is a river in Tuscany, Italy. It is 150 miles long, flowing south through the Northern Apennines mountains to Arezzo, at which point it flows northwest. The valley of the Arno River is comprised of fertile land, though its northern valley is prized for its scenery. Because the Arno River flooded in 1966, many of Florence’s great artistic treasured were damaged.

Como is a city in Lombardy in northern Italy. It borders Lake Como on its southwestern shores. One of Como’s most notable exports is silk, though it also manufactures clothing, paper, chemicals, and fabricated metals. Como was founded as a Roman colony, and was an independent commune until it came under Milan’s rule. Following Milan’s rule, Como was controlled by Spanish and Austrian forces until being liberated by Garibaldi in 1859.  Its population is ~78,680. Like Milan, one of Como’s most notable architectural features is a marble cathedral.

Milan, or Milano in Italian and Mediolanum in Latin, is a city in Lombardy in northern Italy. Milan is at the center of the Po river basin, and intersects with many important trade routes.  Of all cities in Italy, Milan’s per capita income is the highest; Milan’s main exports include textiles (silk in particular), chemicals, motor vehicles, and rubber goods.

The Villa Diodati, located in Switzerland, is a mansion that was rented out by Lord Byron in the summer of 1816. During that same year, Percy and Mary Shelley traveled to Switzerland near the same area and rented a nearby house. Already coleagues of Byron in romantic literature, the Shelleys visited often, even staying for close to three days during a period of very poor weather.

Pisa is a city in Tuscany (northern Italy) along the Arno River. It is approximately six miles from the Tyrrhenian Sea, though the city once bordered the sea. Pisa functions as a commercial and industrial center, and its main exports include transportation equipment, glass, pharmaceuticals, and food. Between the 9th and 11th centuries, Pisa was a strong maritime republic, but it was defeated by the Genoese at sea in the battle of Meloria in 1284. Its population is ~89,694. Pisa ultimately fell to Florence in 1406.

Florence, in Italian Firenze, is a city in Tuscany, Italy.  It is within the Firenze province, on the banks of the Arno River and at the base of the Apennine mountain range. Because of the city’s wealth, Florence grew into a gathering place of artists, intellectuals and authors toward the end of the 13th century.

Bellagio, also known as Bellaggio or "the Pearl of Lake Como", is a village located in Lombardy, Italy. It is within the Como province, and it is on the shores of Lake Como, dividing the lake into its two “arms”. The village is a popular vacation site, featuring many villas, many gardens, and a Romanesque church that was built during the 12th century. The village also has an artisanal olive wood-carving industry. As of 1991, its population was ~3,012.

Elba is an Italian island in the Tuscan Archipelago, within the Tyrrhenian Sea. The island is located in Tuscany, and occupies 86 square miles of land. It is six miles from the Italian mainland. Its main export is iron ore, though it also exports wine, olive oil, and fruit. The island has been under the rule of various countries, such as Syracuse, Pisa, Spain, and Naples, but is currently within the jurisdiction of Tuscany. The island is 21 miles southeast of Capraia.