Where to go in Italy, what to see and do

Italy is a diverse country with an enormous amount to offer the holidaymaker: adventure, relaxation, culture, sightseeing, sports, shopping… pretty well whatever you want you can find in Italy.

It is useful to be aware, however, that there is a strong north/south divide in Italy and you will find the pace of life different depending where you go. The north is prosperous, efficient and, in stereotype, perhaps more like Switzerland than the image of laid-back Mediterranean Italy so often associated with the country. Milan is a commercial and industrial city, renowned for high fashion and high achievement. In the north, timetables are more or less the same as we are used to in Britain - and it gets very cold in the winter. The south has a different climate and a different atmosphere - and this is where you will find things closing after lunch for the traditional siesta and then opening again in the evening.

Here are some ideas for where to go and what to see and do:

Milan is good for a long weekend. Look out particularly for:

• the Duomo (cathedral) - though you can't easily miss it
• the castle
• Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper.

Rome has to be seen. Look out particularly for:

• the Colosseo
• Piazza Navona
• the Vatican, especially the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica.

Venice really is as good as the hype. You have got to see it.

Firenze (Florence) is famous for wonderful art and architecture. Perugia, Siena and Assisi are also amazingly beautiful.

Napoli (Naples) is the birthplace of pizza and worth a visit for that reason alone.

Puglia is a region on the heel of Italy, where the sea is particularly lovely.

Sicily is an astonishing place for history, nature and landscape. Great food too!

You can find more information about travelling in Italy, as well as guide books for Italy, on the JMJ site.

Accommodation

Holidays hotels in Italy generally have high standards of cleanliness and efficiency and provide entertainment for both children and grown-ups.

Other hotels and bed-and-breakfast establishments (pensioni) tend not to be as sophisticated as those in the UK, so be prepared for quite basic accommodation.

Wherever you are staying, do not have high expectations of the breakfast. You may be lucky but, unless you are spending a lot of money, it will probably consist largely of dry biscuits and jam - though the coffee is good! Lunch and dinner will more than make up for the disappointing breakfast.

If you don't want to stay in a hotel, you can always opt for self-catering or a campsite. Both of these are plentiful and generally well organised.

Activity holidays

In the winter, of course, the skiing is great. In the summer, the sea offers endless possibilities for swimming, snorkelling, fishing, boating, windsurfing…

Italy is also wonderful for walking/hiking and biking.

Weddings and honeymoons

Italy is becoming increasingly popular as a place to get married, even for those with no Italian relatives. It is, of course, an extremely romantic country and a stunning location for a fairytale wedding.

Italy is ideal for honeymoons too. Venice is an obvious place to take in but practically any small Italian town or coastal village provides the right atmosphere.

Study holidays

Depending on your interests, you can study the Italian language, history of art, Italian cookery, painting, wine… all in beautiful surroundings. This type of holiday is a fantastic experience.