Exclusive ideas for your summer holidays in Italy

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Positano is one of the most beautiful places on earth. This small town on the Amalfi Coast awes visitors with its pastel-colored houses perched on mountains that rise above the sea.

Ponza is the largest of the Pontine Islands, an attractive archipelago off the Italian coast between Rome and Naples. With blue water and a striking hilly landscape, the island is loved by regular visitors who attempt to keep its charms a secret. Ponza is frequented by the rich and famous who like to keep a lower profile on holiday.

The island of Lampedusa is the southernmost part of Italy and the largest of the Italian Pelagie islands in the Mediterranean Sea. Though the island belongs to Italy, it is actually closer to Africa, just 70 miles from Tunisia. On the south coast, Rabbit Beach is a nature reserve where visitors can swim with tropical fish and dolphins in crystal clear water. Lampedusa is a remote destination—perfect if you want to get away and be close to nature, but not great if you’re looking for culture.

The Venice Lido became the first European bathing resort in the 1800s when Lord Byron, Lido’s first famous foreign tourist, arrived. He certainly wasn’t the last. The Lido is a seven-mile strip of beach in Venice that became known as a luxury destination for the likes of Serge Diaghilev, Coco Chanel and Thomas Mann, author of Death in Venice. As if Venice wasn’t already beautiful enough, the Lido only increases La Serenissima’s charm.

Cinque Terre means "five lands". Italy's famous Cinque Terre are five perilously-perched villages strung along a short stretch of cliffs in Liguria, Manarola is pleasant and peaceful more modern than its nearest neighbours. There's a rocky cove which is popular with swimmers bars and restaurants overlooking the sea. There's also a tiny but pretty park at the beginning of the footpath to Corniglia where you can sit and relax.

Out of bounds to tourists until recently, the Maddalena archipelago off the coast of Sardinia's Costa Smeralda is a quiet place of turquoise seas and sandy coves, La Maddalena is the largest and most appealing among the islands. People usually come here for the breathtaking beaches and waters that remind of the Caribbean shores, but there’s much more to see and do on the island of La Maddalena. Roman ruins, ideal sailing, and beautiful atmosphere combine majestically to make this unsung Italian island an excellent summer destination. The thriving Maddalena town is brimming with elegant boutique shops, lovely cafes, and great restaurants serving delightful local specialities.