How does one begin to attempt a description of this Country?

No matter how much well-written literature one reads about Italy, there is really only one way to understand why Italy has inspired so many artists through the ages: one must come here! The atmosphere, the colours, the climate, the breathtaking landscapes, the spontaneously hospitable people, the culture, the delicious food and generous wines will capture your soul and you will want to retum to Italy over and over again!

Italy is a small country but with an enormous variety of possible destinations, each completely different from the next. This is in fact the dilemma which faces the first time visitor: where to go in Italy?

If you love the sea, you could choose from any of the following places: the Riviera with Santa Margherita, Portofino, San Fruttuoso and Rapallo; the sandy beaches of Forte dei Marmi and the Adriatic Coast; the wildly beautiful Costa Smeralda in Sardinia; the fascinating Bay of Naples with Sorrento, Capri and Ischia; jewels like Positano on the Amalfi coastline, or further south in Sicily, Taormina and the splendid Aeolian islands of Lipari, Panarea and Stromboli. On the other hand, you may seek the majestic peace of the mountains either for the crisp, pure air or to enjoy the sports which, because of the diversity of the Alpine terrain and climate, are available in all season. In this case you have a wide range of attractive and extremely efficient resorts across the northern part of Italy, from the Aosta valley to the Dolomites, with peaks reaching altitudes of up to 4000 metres; places such as Courmayer, Cervinia, Cortina, Madonna di Campiglio to name but a few. Whether you are an expert skier or just a beginner, the organization and expert guidance in these resorts will make your trip most enjoyable.