Italy –
La Dolce Vita.

Why Italy?

Art, Food, Coast and History in One Country.

Italy is the country that invented western civilisation as we know it – and it has been exporting beauty, culture and culinary technique ever since. No other destination combines so much: Roman amphitheatres and Renaissance palaces, baroque churches and modernist architecture, Alpine skiing and Mediterranean beach resorts, all within a single country's borders. For German and British visitors it is perfectly sized for a driving holiday – a week spent moving from one extraordinary place to the next.

Tuscany is the spiritual heart of Italian tourism. The hill towns of Siena, San Gimignano and Montepulciano sit above vine-covered valleys that look exactly as they do in Renaissance paintings. Florence needs at least four days: the Uffizi alone could absorb two of them. The Chianti region in between produces some of Italy's finest red wine, and the farmhouse agriturismo accommodation that dots the hills offers an authenticity that no hotel chain can replicate.

The Amalfi Coast is one of Europe's great scenic drives, but it rewards those who slow down. Positano clings to the cliff face in improbable stacks of pastel-coloured buildings. Ravello, high above the sea, has gardens with views that have inspired composers and writers for centuries. Capri, accessible by ferry, offers the Blue Grotto and a glamour that dates back to the Roman emperors who built their villas here.

Sicily is Italy's largest island and arguably its most underrated destination. Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, is accessible by jeep and cable car. The Valley of the Temples at Agrigento contains some of the best-preserved Greek ruins in the world – better preserved, in many cases, than those in Greece itself. And the food: arancini, cannoli, swordfish pasta, Marsala wine – Sicily eats differently from the mainland and it eats very well.

Tips for Your Italy Trip

• 01Best season: May to June and September to October – fewer crowds, moderate temperatures, best light for photography.
• 02Book ahead: The major museums – Uffizi, Vatican, Colosseum – sell out weeks in advance. Pre-book online to avoid queuing for hours.
• 03Dress code: Modest dress (covered shoulders and knees) is required to enter churches. Keep a light scarf in your bag.
• 04Coffee rule: Italians drink their espresso standing at the bar. Sitting down at a café table costs two to three times more – both are valid choices.