Italy

Food, history, art, fashion, culture – mamma mia! You’re talking about one of our all-time favourite European countries. In Italy, there is something for every type of traveller to love.

For the mountain lovers, it’s the Dolomites that call. Sharp, jagged mountains dusted with snow loom over open, grassy fields. Pine forests shield smooth lakes which mirror clouds in the sky. Hiking trails invite intrepid explorers to breathe in the crisp mountain air.

The coastline is spotted with tetris blocks of candy, coloured houses where visitors flock in the summertime to swim and sunbathe in the pebbly coves. Spend a few days in Cinque Terre hiking between the former fishing villages or if your dollars can stretch a bit further, you’ll want to hang with the rich and famous in Positano.

Fling yourself into the romantic Renaissance era with a visit to Florence, where you can wile away hours admiring the glorious cathedral, the smooth curves of David and knock back a glorious bottle of red wine while watching the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo. To continue the development of your wine palette, a wine tour of Tuscany is a must. Be sure to hand over the car keys to a responsible designated driver!

If you enjoy wandering aimlessly, go north and make your way to Venice. With luck, you’ll have the chance to soak up some of the local charm and culture amongst the canals. Nothing says romance more than a sunset gondola ride with your other half.

Fashionistas must make their way to Milan where you’ll need to make sure you don’t commit a sartorial faux pas, whilst some of the best gelato we ate was certainly in Bologna. There is so much of Italy that we’d love to return to and our Italian bucket list grows longer and longer (our top picks are currently Puglia and Sicily).

There’s no denying it. Italy calls us like an opera singer who mourns for a lost love. Bella Italia, one day we will return!