| Italy is known as the archetypal landscape of Western | | | | Segesta or Syracuse? Away from the cultural |
| artistic tradition and culture. It is a major reason why | | | | honey-pots, there are ample opportunities to tour the |
| holidaymakers flock to the great galleries of Rome and | | | | rolling green landscapes and medieval hill-top villages of |
| Florence, and the ageless and unique beauty of | | | | Tuscany, Umbria and Puglia. And of course for those |
| Venice. For those looking for landscapes and beaches, | | | | looking for a bit of adventure, there is always the idea |
| the environs of Naples and the isle of Capri come to | | | | of climbing Mount Etna - Europe's tallest volcano at |
| mind, and have their share of the traditional visitor each | | | | 3,320m, and still active. For health and wellness |
| season. Amongst all this, there are many hidden gems | | | | holidays, a great idea is 'Take the cure' in a sulphur |
| - the 'real' Italy, where you can choose from all kinds of | | | | pool on the Aeolian island of Vulcano. Or for example |
| accommodation styles - from city centre and small | | | | in Tuscany, try a new spa at Villa Lucia. Surrounded by |
| family-run hotels, to restored farm houses and | | | | hills, four miles south of Lucca, in the tiny village of |
| luxurious resort accommodation in the most beautiful | | | | Vorno, this is a fine example of a spa hotel in a region |
| parts of this culturally-rich country. A tailor-made | | | | suffused with fine thermal resort hotels of all sizes. For |
| itinerary in both Italy and Sicily will yield many treasures, | | | | shopping fanatics, you can 'Shop 'til you drop' in the |
| to allow you to get to know the country intimately - not | | | | famous fashion houses of Armani, Versace and Dolce |
| just its hotels and obvious attractions, but its people, its | | | | e Gabbana And of course, there is the food. Dine out |
| cuisine, its culture and its not-so-obvious characteristics. | | | | on the gastronomic delights of Italian cuisine from |
| Rich in culture and history, there is a seemingly endless | | | | homemade pastas and pastries to mouth-watering |
| list of attractions to suit all tastes, budgets and | | | | Neapolitan ice cream. From cities to lakes, lakes to |
| interests. Yes, there is Rome, Florence and Venice - all | | | | mountains, mountains to spectacular coastal resorts |
| UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and home to some of | | | | and rural landscapes, a holiday in Italy has it all, and |
| the world's best known works of art from Botticelli's | | | | there are great choices to be had to access it all: low |
| painting of the 'Birth of Venus' to Michelangelo's | | | | cost flights, flexible fly-drives, train and multi-centre |
| awe-inspiring paintings adorning the roof of the Sistine | | | | itineraries to the lesser known areas of Italy and Sicily |
| chapel. But how many travellers have visited the | | | | as well as the popular must-see locations for your |
| spectacular Greek temples at Paestum, Agrigento, | | | | holiday. |