Walking on the peaceful beaches of Normandy, it's hard to imagine the violence and valor of June 6, 1944. But D-Day—and so many other crucial moments of World War II—come into focus when you set foot in war rooms, battlefields, and memorials that altered the course of history. From London to Paris to Berlin, consider the significance and remember the sacrifice of the Allied victory. 

What is it like to live in a country where classical mythology and ancient history still have a presence in everyday life? In the capital of Athens, namesake of the goddess Athena, walk in the footsteps of ancient Greeks at the Acropolis - and in the footsteps of current residents in the Plaka district. In Delphi, Epidaurus and Cape Sounion, learn how an old belief in mythological figures still influences medicine, politics and philosophy. 

At one time or another, each of these cities was among the most important in the world.Venice was a major naval power, and it still has a firm grip on the world’s romantic imagination. Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance, and that artistic tradition still thrives. In Rome, majestic sights like the Colosseum recall its long imperial reign.