Luxury Italy Holidays

La dolce vita

Italy

Holidays in Italy have it all. From the vibrant, historic Italian Cities to the serenity of the Italian Lakes there’s nothing this wonderful country can’t offer. Couples will love the romantic sense of history, as well as world famous cuisine and sleepy fishing villages. Families can head to beach resorts and make the most of the watersports and activities, as well as family friendly menus and hotels. If you prefer to explore, try hiking around Lake Garda, cycling in Tuscany or taking a gondola ride around the iconic canals of Venice.

Italy is home to a diverse and varied landscape, where you’ll find skiing in the mountains, beautiful golden beaches in Sardinia, world famous ancient ruins in Rome, and iconic architecture combined with crystal clear waters in Puglia. The country is famous for its cuisine, which consists of classic Italian dishes like pizza and pasta, as well as freshly baked breads, wonderful olive oils and succulent local seafood.

Luxury holidays in Italy

Luxury holidays in Italy are easy to find. Wherever you fancy visiting you can enjoy a fantastic range of hotels, with famously warm and friendly Italian hospitality available wherever you go. Explore exquisite cuisine, with each region boasting its own varieties, visit historic towns and villages, or art galleries where world renowned artists’ works are displayed.

Choose Sovereign for your luxury holiday in Italy and we’ll help you get the best from your trip here. From cosmopolitan cities to pristine beaches we’ve searched high and low to find you the most luxurious hotels. For a combination of beautiful Italian architecture and easy access to the beach stay at the Imperial Hotel Tramontano in Sorrento, while the Lefay Resort and Spa has modern architecture and spectacular views. When it comes to cities stay at the Hotel d’Inghilterra Roma or the Hotel Westin Europa Regina. To soak in the serenity of the lakes, choose the Hotel du Lac et du Parc in Lake Garda, or explore the Amalfi Coast and stay at the Hotel Santa Caterina.

Destinations in Italy

Italian Cities

From Rome's ancient ruins and Florence's art galleries, to Venice's canal-side wine bars and Verona's ancient amphitheatre, Italy's cities are perfect for a short break or long weekend.

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Italian Lakes

Head to the Italian Lakes for some of Europe's most spectacular scenery (think soaring mountains and shimmering waters), plus chic lakefront towns and palatial villas.

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Liguria

Liguria swerves along the dramatic north-west coast of Italy. The region ticks off historic Genoa, stylish Portofino and the Cinque Terre – plus a collection of award-winning beaches and vineyards.

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Neapolitan Riviera

Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Capri... the Neapolitan Riviera packs in plenty of big names. You'll find quieter gems too, like lush Ischia and lofty Ravello.

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Puglia

Puglia paints the south-east corner of Italy. Architecture ranges from the baroque treasure box of Lecce to whitewashed trulli villages, while the landscape swings between beaches and vast olive groves.

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Sardinia

Sardinia is the king of the Italian islands, featuring a landscape that ranges from exclusive port towns and ivory-white beaches to agriturismo farms and villages set beside megalithic ruins.

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Sicily

Sicily is the biggest island in the Mediterranean. Scenery-wise, it’s also one of the most dramatic islands, serving up cliffside cities, craggy beach-swept bays and soaring Mount Etna.

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Tuscany

Tuscany goes above and beyond the clichés, matching hilltop villages, vineyards and fairy-tale cities with a year-long line-up of fantastic food and wine festivals.

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Sovereign Recommends

Luxury family holidays in Italy

Italy is a land of history, culture, stunning natural attractions, beautiful clear seas and more. And family holidays here allow you to explore all of this, whether you prefer to immerse yourselves in the many sights of the cities or relax on the beach.

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Things to do in ItalyHead for the beachItaly’s cities might get the most attention, but the country also boasts a spectacular coastline. In Liguria, the sands are golden and often backed by brightly coloured houses, like in the Cinque Terre town of Monterosso. On the Neapolitan Riviera, the best sands can be found in the Amalfi Coast town of Maiori and on the island of Ischia, while over in Puglia, you’ll find countless white-sand beaches along the Adriatic coast.

Things to do in ItalyIndulge in aperitivoWhether you’ve been sightseeing or sunbathing, there’s still nothing better than indulging in aperitivo once the sun starts to set. The offering varies from bar to bar, but it traditionally involves drinks (go for Italian wine or perhaps a bitter cocktail such as a Negroni or Aperol spritz) and a mini-buffet of snacks and nibbles which you can help yourself to. Perfect to keep you going until a late dinner!

Things to do in ItalyJoin the locals in an evening passeggiataLa passeggiata, an early evening stroll with family or friends, is a quintessential part of Italian life. Whether you’re ambling along Rome’s Via del Corso, over the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, down Taormina’s Corso Umberto or through the Villa Comunale in Sorrento, just make sure you’re not in a hurry to get anywhere – the key to perfecting your passeggiata is to take it slow.

Italy multi-centre holidays

Take a look at our suggested itineraries for inspiration, or call our Trusted Advisers on 01293 762400* for a bespoke multi-centre holiday.

Florence & Tuscany

10 day suggested trip

At a glance

Combine a city break with a week in the countryside
Tour Florence’s art galleries and museums
Stay in the scenic Tuscan countryside
Go wine tasting and explore historic hill towns

From £2320 per person

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Rome & Amalfi Coast

11 day suggested trip

At a glance

Admire the Eternal City's ancient sights
Browse the boutiques of Via dei Condotti
Spend a week on the Amalfi Coast
Discover the chic island of Capri

From £2299 per person

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Flight Information

Depending on where you fly to, flights to Italy can take between two and four hours.

When to go

The weather across Italy varies dramatically from the north to the south. During the summer months, temperatures can reach 30 degrees, while winter temperatures can drop to around three degrees.

Visa Information

British citizens do not currently require a visa to visit Italy.

Tipping

When you dine out in Italy, you will generally be charged a coperto (cover charge), which is for the bread, tablecloth, cutlery, etc. Tipping in Italy is not customary, but is always appreciated.

Introduction to languages

The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.

Italian cuisine Italian is arguably one of the world’s best-loved cuisines. From pasta with rich sauces to light Mediterranean-style salads, delectable osso bucco to delightful, thin-crusted pizza, this delicious cuisine promotes simple cooking in a way that utilises the freshest seasonal ingredients. Prepare to sit down for an experience, rather than just a meal, with dinners often consisting of four or more courses.

Italian drinks As the world’s number one producer (and consumer) of wine, your choices are endless. Try Valpolicella in Veneto or Nobile di Montepulciano and Brunello in Tuscany. For something a bit fruitier, try limoncello, a strong but delightful lemon liqueur, in Sorrento or Amalfi. When it comes to Italian caffé (coffee), you're in for a treat. The espresso beans are roasted medium to medium dark, with a smooth but strong flavour.