Italy

Italy has an embarrassment of riches. There’s natural beauty in abundance: Alpine mountains capped in ice that melt into vast lakes, the craggy cliffs of the Amalfi Coast fringed by fertile Campanian countryside, in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius. Its history and culture takes in the ancient Etruscans, the glory of Rome, the Renaissance, the Age of Enlightenment; you could go on and on. Its cuisine is imitated and approximated all over the world; its fashion designers – Armani, Versace, Prada – taught the world how to dress.

It’s also somewhere that appreciates finer things; la dolce vita is the phrase often repeated about Italy, and it has luxury holidays down to an art form. From urban boutique to lakeside retreats, and Mediterranean beaches to world-famous art galleries, with Lightfoot Travel you’ll receive a highly-personalised itinerary for the perfect Italian escape.

In most smallish countries, you’re lucky if you have one – maybe two – really standout magnificent cities. Italy has numerous. In the north, there’s cosmopolitan Milan, known for its catwalk-couture and cathedral – the world’s largest Gothic church. A-list fashion designers base their flagship stores at the Quadrilatero d’Oro (Golden Quad), while its art offerings include da Vinci’s The Last Supper.

East lies crumbling Venice: Italy’s most romantic holiday destination. It’s an incomparable city – strung across 116 islands, an interlinking lattice of canals and narrow, winding alleys – that everyone should visit at least once. Here, we’ll have you staying in luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Venice Island, close to St Mark’s Square and the Grand Canal.

South is beautiful Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance and arguably the world’s greatest city for art. Surrounding Florence, the lush countryside of Tuscany has long provided an idyllic retreat for luxury holidays in Italy. The cuisine is exquisite, and a wine tour of the Chianti vineyards is essential.

Farther south is Rome, Italy’s masterpiece, once lauded as caput mundi (capital of the world). A living, breathing alfresco museum that harbours the treasures of an empire lost to time.

However, the cities only paint one side of Italy’s portrait. For unrivalled Mediterranean bliss, the Amalfi Coast is synonymous with luxury holidays. Famously photogenic, old whitewashed towns cling to steep, rocky cliffs framed between sweet-smelling lemon groves and the emerald-blue sea. Exclusive seaside towns like chic Positano are luxury retreats par excellence with an idyllic lifestyle – and enviable style – designer hotels overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, boutiques and gourmet dining. On the horizon lies the mountainous island of Capri, encircled by golden sandy beaches.

With a lot of hype to live up to, it’s a testament to Italy that it never fails to charm, surprise or reward you.

When booking a luxury Italy holiday with Lightfoot Travel, our specialists will design a tailor-made itinerary specific to your requirements.