Whether it’s a short break, walking tour, special occasion, opera performance or music festival, you will find a wide variety of holidays and activities to suit. Tour in spring and autumn when the landscape is beautiful, the temperatures pleasant and cities and villages less crowded. It is the best time to walk or cycle in the Dolomites with its dramatic scenery and crystal clear lakes.

The ski season lasts from December to late March. Ski well-groomed pistes, enjoy lively après-ski in medieval villages and test your skills on the Dolomite Superski which passes through 40 resorts.

Summer is the festival season with everything on offer from elaborate opera and scintillating music to colourful dance and celebratory saints days. Relax over a good glass of Chianti in a village square and watch traditions unfold or tour the local markets and discover the secrets of freshly-grown produce and home-cooked food.

• Tickle your taste buds on a chocolate and cheese tour of Piedmont and discover how the creamy rich gorgonzola is made.
• Travel in style to Venice or Rome on the world's most celebrated train, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and enjoy sumptuous cuisine and personal service.
• Ski the famous Val Gardena World Cup downhill run in Selva and imagine yourself on tv’s Ski Sunday.
• Celebrate with champagne and flowers in the Hotel Danielli, a former14^th century palace and now one of Venice’s top hotels hotels.