Whether its Grand Tours or terracotta-coloured villas, Italy has always been a travel A-Lister. The challenge comes in picking a particular brand of la dolce vita. Italy’s cities offer time-proven fodder for culture-lovers: Florence’s art, Pisa’s wonky tower, Venice’s canals and Rome’s, well, everything all contenders. Seaside Puglia and hilltown-happy Tuscany represent rental hotspots, while nowhere’s more chic than an Amalfi Coast hotel. Further south, the quasi-autonomous, sun-scorched isle of Sicily scores for sandy shores, still-standing Greek temples and superb food.
What keeps me coming back? The climate and lovely language help, as do those moreish Baci chocolates. But, ultimately, its Italy’s apparently never-ending supply of secret spots which have me hooked: the Pian Grande’s extraordinary poppy blooms, which once made me cry, the trabacchi: rickety wooden fishing piers turned hopelessly romantic fish restaurants in Abruzzo, or up-your-sleeve beaches like Sardinia’s incredible Cala Biriola, rewarding a two-hour trek with near-heaven.
Behind Closed Doors: Connoisseur's Rome from CICERONI Travel. Exceptional level of private access. Rare opportunity to visit the Sistine Chapel, privately, at night & with no others present. Explore the unprecedented riches of Villa Borghese with its six Caravaggios & the finest collection of Bernini sculptures.
A self-guided hike along the Amalfi Coast from Amalfi to Sorrento, taking in Ravello, Praiano, Positano and the Sentiero degli Dei (Footpath of the Gods). Our own version allows you to walk the whole way without using a single bus or taxi - the only company that offers this!
Hotel based one week Alpine walking holiday around Mont Blanc
From elegant Turin to incomparable Venice, and from gastronomic Bologna to Rome’s eternal splendour, this Grand Tour by first-class rail is an absolute treat.
Have you always loved the idea of going on a wine-tasting holiday in rustic Italy, but felt that the kids wouldn't enjoy it quite as much as you? We thought so!
That's why we work with guides that know how to make it an interactive and fun experience for all ages. So while you learn about the famous wines, the kids can explore the wineries!
Elaborate architecture and exceptional cuisine, legendary landscapes and live history on the streets – western and central Europe is a place well worth its accolades
• Enjoy a rare performance of I Lombardi alla prima crociata alongside celebrated classics Rigoletto and Macbeth
• Visit locations associated with Verdi’s life and work, including his villa in Sant’Agata
• Make an excursion to Cremona, home of the violin, where master violinmaker Antonio Stradivari established his workshop in the early 1700s
Pay a visit to glorious Sicily and discover the wealth of history, archaeology and culture it harbours. Visit Arab-Norman churches with their intoxicating blend of Byzantine and Arabic art, see Monreale's cathedral with its opulent mosaics, discover Agrigento's Valley of the Temples, and pay a private visit to the glittering Cappella Palatina.
A journey on the elegant Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train should be on every discerning traveller’s wish list - there is simply no better way to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary in style.
Climb to the summit of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in western Europe and climb to the summit of Gran Paradiso, the highest peak in Italy
