The country's capital, Rome, is the perfect destination for lovers of culture. Sights to include on a must-visit list include the Colloseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. And these attractions only scratch the surface of what's on offer. There's also a dizzying array of places to eat including traditional family-run trattorias and upmarket restaurants as well as cafés where you can prop up the bar with an espresso.
Venice is a unique city which has to be experienced to be believed. Hopping on to a vaporetto (a water bus) to reach your next destination or travelling in a gondola are exciting ways to get around, and couples on special-occasion breaks can request an on-board singer or food to enjoy while travelling along the canals. Other Venetian highlights include St Mark's Square, the Rialto Bridge and the Accademia Gallery.
Italy's two largest islands, Sardinia and Sicily, are excellent family holiday locations with beautiful beaches and jaw-dropping landscape. No visit to Sicily would be complete without a trip to the island's active volcano Mount Etna, and the town of Taormina, with a Greek amphitheatre and stunning views down to the bay below, is a popular place to stay. On Sardinia, the Costa Smeralda is home to some of the most luxurious hotels in Italy and is the place to head for an exclusive break mingling with the stars. However, if you have a more modest budget, the port towns of Cagliari and Alghero are great options and children will enjoy the boat trips on offer from Alghero's harbour.
Holidays next to Italy's largest lake, Lake Garda, offer activities for all of the family. Children will love a family trip out on a pedalo and visiting the theme park Gardaland, while parents will enjoy admiring the beautiful mountainous landscape and relaxing in spas. For the more active traveller, there are watersports galore as well as rock climbing opportunities. Other lakes to consider for trips away include Como and Maggiore.
Other Italian highlights include escaping the hustle and bustle of modern life in one of Tuscany's smaller towns such as Siena or San Gimignano, seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa, admiring Michelangelo's David in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, food shopping in Bologna and skiing in the Italian Alps.
And, of course, you could visit the fabulous Amalfi Coast , staying in Sorrento and taking trips to Ischia or the home of pizza, Naples. Alternatively, enjoy posing in the fashionable city of Milan or visiting the fascinating historic city of Pompeii.
Depending where you fly from, flights to Italy from the UK take between 2-3 hours, with most flights arriving at Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) or Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumincino Airport (FCO) in Rome.
When to go
Weather
The weather varies across the whole of Italy, but even in winter you may be lucky and catch a cool day with beautiful blue skies. Temperatures in winter can reach a pleasant 14/15C in Sardinia and Sicily, and 5/6C in Milan. In summer, temperatures soar averaging 29/30C in July and August.
Events
Milan Fashion Week; February; Milan: The latest styles are shown off in Milano Fashion Center and glamorous guests arrive in the city to ogle and pose. You need tickets to see a show, but if you enjoy people-watching, this is the perfect time to visit.
Sardinia Carnival; January-Ash Wednesday; most regions of Sardinia: Masked rituals, dancing and horse racing shows are on during Sardinia's annual carnival where old traditions and beliefs are celebrated. The main parade takes place on Shrove Tuesday.
Venice Carnival: February; Venice: Masked and costumed revellers party in Venice during the 10 days leading up to Lent. There are masked balls, street performances, parades and activities for children.
Settimana della Cultura (Week of Culture); usually April; Rome: During the annual week of culture, most of the state-run museums are free to enter and have extended opening hours.
Venice Biennale; June-November, odd-numbered years; Venice: Held in Venice's public gardens, the Giardini and the Arsenale, this huge art show showcases art from around the world in different pavilions. Allow a few days if you want to see everything.
Siena Palio; July 2 and August 16; Siena: Thousands of spectators turn up to watch this horse race in Siena's public square - so book in advance for a chance to experience it. Bareback riders from the city's contrades (areas) compete in a 90-second race and the Siena is filled with revellers singing, drumming and celebrating.
Best of Italy holidays for...
- Grown-up families: Antiquity seeps from every bustling street corner in Rome. Start your time-travelling in the Colosseum amphitheatre and the giant columns of the Roman Forum. Then skip to the flamboyant Renaissance era in the Pope's own church, the Sistine Chapel.
- Kids & teens: Roman history lessons have a special twist in the real-life, AD79 city of Pompeii. Follow centurions' footsteps along ancient paving stones and pause at villa ruins preserved by piles of volcanic ash. The columns in the grand Forum frame the smoky culprit, Mount Vesuvius.
- Free & cheap: You don't have to pay for a gondola to take in Venice's Grand Canal. On a budget vaporetto waterbus, you'll chug past St Mark's Square and get a cheap nose at Baroque palaces lining the Grand Canal.
- Shopping: Keep pace with la moda in Italy's capital of high fashion, Milan, on holidays to Italy. By the time you have window-shopped past the porticoes on Via Montenapoleone, you'll be able to tell your Valentino from Versace.
- Romance: Star-crossed lovers can find passion-inspiring panoramas in Florence. You can see that Merchant Ivory rooftop view from Brunelleschi's rotund Duomo and the rambling Pitti Palace gardens.
- Active types: Outdoorsy types head to the Lakes to fill their lungs with alpine air. Bike between chocolate-box villages and classical villas on Lake Como's hilly tracks. Stylish skiers join the sophisticated set in the Dolomites resorts of Cortina d'Ampezzo and Val Gardena.
- Relaxing: Trips to the Amalfi Coast's island gem Capri require minimal effort. Ferries cross the cliff-lined Bay of Naples into Marina Grande, where you can catch a cable car straight to the main piazza.
