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Remember the halcyon days of your last holiday in Tuscany; enjoying a long
alfresco lunch, the exuberant flow of good wine and conversation followed by
a siesta, when the cypresses cast long shadows over the hillside'' This
sense of conviviality, which is part of La Dolce Vita, is as much of a draw
and a source of inspiration as the country’s rich cultural and artistic
heritage. Moreover, here are some of the most romantic places to stay in
Europe, be it a seventeenth century villa hotel on the shores of one of the
northern lakes, the luxurious cocoon of your quarters on the Orient-Express
or the cool exoticism of a converted monastery hotel in the country’s deep
south.
Italy is the country of great diversity. With a landscape that includes, the
rumbling volcano of Mount Etna in Sicily, the mist-hazed hills and lush
valleys in Tuscany, a breathtaking coast that is Amalfi and sun-baked
beaches of Sardinia. A chic culture of designer boutiques, restaurants and
cafes can easily be found in every city but it is the islands of Capri,
Sicily and Sardinia, which have the reputation as a playground for the rich
and famous thanks to their sophistication and style.
The country’s immense history can be seen at every turn, from world famous
architectural attractions to inspiring Roman ruins. From the Amalfi coast
visit the site of Pompeii, a whole town buried beneath the lava of Mount
Vesuvius in the first century or Taormina’s Greek Theatre – which hosts the
annual Arts and Film Festival, while majestic and hypnotic ruins litter the
island of Sardinia. |
