Museo e Biblioteca della Musica (International Museum and Library of Music), Bologna

Just a conductor's toss away from the legendary Gioachino Rossini's abode, lies the Sanguinetti Palace, housing the whimsically delightful International Museum and Library of Music, celebrating Bologna's melodious reputation. Spanning nine rooms, it takes you on a time-traveling journey through six centuries of European melodies through more than 80 rare and antique musical instruments, alongside scores, historical documents, and quirky portraits. Even if classical tunes aren't your jam, prepare to be spellbound by the trompe-l’œil courtyard and the frescoed interiors, offering a sneak peek into the fancy-schmancy lifestyle of Bologna's aristocracy. The salon-esque vibe, complete with mythological friezes and pastoral scenes, makes this palace the cat's meow. And let's not forget the music library, popping its shelves with over 100,000 volumes since its grand opening in 2014, including the very first music handbook printed in Venice back in 1501.