Few things capture the quintessential easy glamour of Italian culture more than the sight of Anita Ekberg taking a sultry swim in Rome’s Trevi Fountain, a pivotal scene in Federico Fellini’s 1960 Masterpiece La Dolce Vita. Indeed, Italians truly have discovered the sweet life, and in addition to inventing the Renaissance, the opera, Lavazzo espresso, pasta, and, arguably, contemporary haute fashion, Italy’s biggest global export might just be a luxe frame of mind.
Many of history’s greatest artists and art movements originated here, and today “Europe’s boot” continues to draw creatives in flocks as it is the home of both the Salone del Mobile and Venice Biennale, two of the world’s largest design fairs. With the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, it’s hard to find an area that isn’t rich with art, monuments, castles or even entire medieval villages in the wonderfully romantic Tuscany. Wander off the beaten tourist path and visit the north, which boasts the beautiful coastlines of the Italian Riviera, the colourful mountain architecture and turquoise waters of Portofino and the Cinque Terre. There you can bathe in crystal clear waters of Lake Garda, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore and ski down the mountain ranges of the Alps, over to South Tyrolean Dolomites and the Apennines.
The best thing is that there’s never a “right” time to visit: the climate is highly diverse, with conditions on the coastal areas cold and snowy in winter - except in Merano in South Tyrol where the micro Mediterranean climate cuddles the city from the snowy peaks - while the south stretching down to Puglia stays relatively dry and sunny all year.
Italy’s love letter to the world, the cobbled streets of Rome breathe with a heady mix of history, food, art and culture, so much so that since the first century BC – the beginning of time as we count it today - it has been known as the awe-inspiring, ‘Eternal City’.
read moreEast of Bolzano is the long heralded as Europe’s largest alpine plateau in the Dolomites of South Tyrol | Alto Adige, the pastures and ski region of Alpe di Siusi, or Seiser Alm in German, spans almost 60 km² has to be on your wander travel bucket-list for either summer adventures or winter ski and cross-country sports.
read moreLake Garda is the largest, and some say most beautiful, body of water in Northern Italy. Located halfway between Verona and Trento, this Alpine region brings together breathtaking heights with laid-back countryside glamour.
read moreA serene mountain hamlet perched above the spa town of Merano, at some 1300 m above sea level, Avelengo is one of South Tyrol’s ultimate hideaways.
read moreFrom its perch in northern Italy, South Tyrol, or Alto Adige as it is also known, is a jewel of ancient cultures set in the mighty crown of the Alps. Nestled among the Dolomite mountains (a UNESCO World Heritage site) a marriage of languages and cultures comes together in the area’s healing spa towns, medieval hamlets, fairytale castles, wine trails and foodie destinations.
The small picturesque town of Bolzano/Bozen is found scattered along a lush valley, snaking around terraces of verdant vineyards and the greenest hills of the Italian Dolomites.
read moreLocated between Central Europe and the Mediterranean, just a few hours from Venice, Borgo Eibn Mountain Lodge is located in Fruili Venezia Giulia, in Italy’s far northeast. Austria and Slovenia are bordering neighbours, and the region offers travellers alpine mountains courtesy of the Dolomites, the Carnic and the Julian Alps, windswept contours of the Carso plateau and pristine Adriatic coastlines.
read moreBrunico soars amongst the clouds and lies cocooned in nature, with the incredible Zillertaler Alpen Mountains on one side and the UNESCO World Heritage site Dolomites on the other. Brunico is content as one of Italy’s fairytale hidden gems – just step through the age-old town gates and look up at the castle and you’ll see what we mean.
read moreFamed for the Unesco Cinque Terre, this spot along the Italian Riviera is dotted with magnificent coastline and medieval villages tucked between the terraced vineyards and the lush mountains of the Ligurian coastline.
read moreNestled amid palm trees, ferns and sunshine in the south of Italy’s beautiful, distinct South Tyrol, lies the village of Kaltern am See, or Caldaro al Lago, as it is also known; one of the most beautiful wine villages in the world.
read moreThe Italian region of Tuscany is tailor-made for romance, so it’s no wonder it was the muse for films ranging from 'Under the Tuscan Sun' to 'Stealing Beauty'. A “nation within a nation”, its vibrant culture gave birth to the Italian Renaissance, the dazzling city of Florence, and museums such as the Uffizi and the Pitti Palace.
read moreLana has beauty, history, great food, wines and wondrous nature - located at the heart of the Val d'Adige | Etschtal Valley in South Tyrol Italy, this little market town of heritage is a picture perfect base for exploring, sitting between Bolzano and wonderful nearby Merano.
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