Italy Highlights
Rome
Italy's capital includes the Roman Forum, with its stupendous array of ruined temples; the spatial harmony of the Colosseum, symbol of the Eternal City; the eloquent Pantheon; and St Peter's Basilica, stuffed with artistic delights ranging from Michelangelo's inspirational Pietà to Bernini's Chair of St Peter.
Venice
The great architectural showpiece of Venice is undoubtedly St Mark's Square. Other highlights include the treasure-filled Basilica di San Marco; the Doge's Palace - the Palazzo Ducale is the grandest and most conspicuous example of Venetian Gothic in the city; and the splendid Grand Canal, flanked by pastel-coloured palaces.
South Tyrol
The limestone peaks of the Dolomites frame an area of castles, lakes and ancient spas, with its own distinctive mix of Italian and German culture. Today, Trentino-Alto Adige (also known as the South Tyrol) is a popular holiday retreat for hikers, skiers and water sports enthusiasts. Here it is possible to hike around a secluded alpine lake in the morning, sample wine in an Italian vineyard at noon, stroll along the palm-lined promenade of a Continental spa in the afternoon and then slip into bed in a medieval castle at the end of the day.
Milan
The Via Monte Napoleone is a fashionista's dream, lined with top Italian fashion houses and slick household design emporia. The city is also home to Leonardo's superlative Last Supper; La Scala, the world's premier opera house; and the gargantuan Gothic Duomo.
The Italian Lakes
The Italian lake district juts into the heart of a steep mountain range, offset by fertile farmlands and fields of gently swaying poplars. The region is ideal for hikers, windsurfers, or anyone who enjoys magnificent landscapes. There are five major lakes - from west to east: Lakes Maggiore, Lugano, Como, Iseo and Garda. All run roughly north to south and all enjoy sheltered microclimates that make them warm and mild in winter, especially on the southern shores which benefit from winter sunshine and are not overshadowed by Alpine peaks.
Florence
One of the world's great artistic centres, Florence is packed with aesthetic masterpieces including the Piazza del Duomo; the Uffizi with its unmissable collection of art; the Palazzo Vecchio, former Medici seat of government; the Palazzo Pitti, stuffed with artistic treasures; and Michelangelo's David, his most famous work, which is exhibited in the Galleria dell Accademia along with his unfinished Four Slaves.
Tuscany
As glorious as its historic cities and artistic treasures may be, Tuscany's timeless landscape has long been a draw to visitors. After a hectic, sticky visit to Florence, Siena, Pisa or any of the other major towns, the relative coolness and freshness of a rural ride out is a welcome treat. Small medieval towns, perched on hills to benefit from cooling breezes, overlook a rolling landscape which embraces both controlled agriculture and nature at its wildest. Terraces of vines and silvery groves of olives vie for attention with Tuscany's own peculiar landmark - tall, slender cypresses, often planted in rows as windbreaks.
Naples
Noisy, crowded and thrilling, Naples' highlights include the Teatro San Carlo, the largest opera house in Italy; the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, housing the most spectacular finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum and fine examples of Greek sculpture; and the Duomo, a magnificent Gothic warehouse of relics from every period of the city's history.
The Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast
An endless succession of jewel-like coves ripples down the Naples coast, with Pompeii and Herculaneum just inland, lying in the shadow of Vesuvius, their slayer. The Bay of Naples is closed from the south by the Sorrento peninsula, beyond which lies the Amalfi coast. Among the prettiest towns along this breathtaking coastal stretch are Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, at their best in the spring and autumn. Sorrento itself makes a good base from which to visit the islands of the Bay of Naples. Capri, Ischia and Procida all have fragrant hills, plunging views and lush Mediterranean vegetation, but each island has its own distinctive feel and charm. For this reason, if you are not pressed for time, you should visit them all.
Sicily
Nature and history have made Sicily a land of considerable and striking contrasts. Sicilian scenery is gruff but seldom graceless. The granary of the ancient world contains citrus groves, pastureland and vineyards as well as endless wheatfields. Away from the accessible coast, an intriguing volcanic hinterland unfolds in mountains, gorges and the scars of abandoned sulphur mines. Like a dragon in its lair, Etna's smoking breath threatens vineyards and lava-stone castles. Sicily is also a meeting-place of Mediterranean civilisations, a bridge between East and West. Once the centre of the known world, it has the finest array of Classical and Moorish sites in Italy.
Sardinia
Sardinia has little in common with the rest of Italy. The Mediterranean's second-largest island offers a restricted diet of art and architecture; rather, its appeal lies in its beaches and rugged landscape. Much of its 1,600-km coastline is given over to duney sands and romantic coves nestling in pine and juniper woods. Much of its interior, where sheep outnumber humans, is wild and mountainous, and covered in a knotty carpet of herby, shrubby macchia. Such a combination makes Sardinia the perfect place to get away from it all.