Florence

If you had to pick a city to represent all that human kind has achieved, it would be hard not to pick Florence. Europe’s greatest Renaissance paintings and sculptures crowd Florence’s churches and galleries. The Uffizi is one of the world’s finest art galleries, and not only does it features all the great names of the Florentine Renaissance, but masterpieces from Germany, Holland and Spain.

Cinque Terre

Lying northwest of La Spezia, the magnificent Cinque Terre (five lands) is still and isolated but popular region best reached by train or boat. The rugged coastline is wild but hospitable with its enchanting vineyards and quaint fishing villages. These five picturesque towns were included in Unesco’s World Heritage list in 1997, and after a visit to Cinque Terre you will understand why. A coastal path links all five villages: Vernazza, Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia and Monterosso. Each village is unique and all offer absolutely breathtaking views.

Lake Maggiore

The second largest lake after Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore is nestled right against the mountains and stretches into Switzerland. The entire Lake Maggiore area is rich in beautiful buildings and colourful gardens. The Borromean Islands at the centre of the lake near Stresa are small jewels of natural beauty augmented by artificial grottoes, architectural follies and landscaped parks. The four islands are Isola Bella, Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori and the islets of San Giovanni. On Isola Bella you will find the 17th century Palazzo Borromeo which houses a picture gallery and outside you will find the most magnificent gardens laid on ten terraces that trail down to the lake. Isola Madre is a botanical garden on the water, with rare plants, exotic flowers and free-roaming animals. Isola Pescatori is a picturesque village, inhabited by a small community that still makes a living from fishing.

Amalfi Coast

Little remains in Amalfi of its illustrious past. Most historians will tell you that it lies buried beneath the sea. Powerful storms in 1013 and 1343 destroyed most buildings along the seafront. The ruins of the Arsenal including two halls with Gothic arches can still be seen on Via Camera near the bay side Piazza Flavio Gioia. The town’s great architectural treasure, the Cathedral of St. Andrew, was first built in the ninth century, reconstructed in 1203 and then again in 1701. It partially collapsed in 1861 and was then heavily restored from 1875-94. The relics of St. Andrew, which were brought from Constantinople in 1208, are buried beneath the high altar. A type of oily liquid is said to have oozed from his body in the 14th century, called the ‘manna’ of St. Andrew. Amalfi’s Cathedral was a place of pilgrimage and up until the 1500’s, miracle health cures were attributed to the manna of St. Andrew.

Island of Sicily

There are few places in the Mediterranean that can equal Sicily’s striking landscape and colourful history. Every village and town in Sicily has its own unique story. It is not that unusual to see Greek, Arab, Norman and Baroque influences on the same site, sometimes in the same building. Sicily is a voyage through antiquity, with its Greek Theatre of Syracuse, the splendid Roman villa of Piazza Amerina, the Valley of Temples of Agrigento and many other archaeological sites throughout the island.

Reggio Calabria

The beautiful region of Calabria offers a splendid sea and enchanting places rich with history. Calabria, the “toe” of the Italian boot, was rebuilt after the earthquake of 1908. It is surrounded by rich groves of olives, grape vines, orange and lemon trees and fields of flowers used for making perfume. Calabria offers a wealth of exploration opportunities including beautiful beaches, museums, churches and historical buildings. Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia houses a fine collection of artefacts. Among its treasures are the Greek bronzes – larger-than-life statues of warriors dredged from the sea off Riace Marina in 1972.