Bewitching and beautiful – the landscapes we long for

From the hottest new hotels to the magical mosaics of Ravenna and the scenic splendours of the lakes, Italy is a country that has long stirred the passions. Let our experts guide you through what’s on offer in the year ahead, says Nick Trend

Italy has long been our readers’ favourite destination in Europe. So, whether you are more a fan of the placid blue lakes of the north, the curvaceous contours of Chianti or the craggy heights of inland Sicily, you probably don’t need persuading about the appeal of its bewitchingly beautiful landscapes.

You’ll know already that the sun shines pretty much all day from May to September. You’ll be entirely familiar with Italy’s deliciously fresh and family-friendly cuisine. And surely, if you’ve tried a glass of prosecco, or frascati, or nero d’avola, you will have been tempted to follow it up with another. And another.

Perhaps you’ve explored the ruins of Rome, or its baroque splendours. Maybe the astonishing art galleries of Venice and Florence are not new to you. You might even have discovered Siena, or Verona, or spent a few days in the boutiques of Milan. What more, in fact, is there to add?

Well, in this week’s eight-page special, we’ve done our best to whet your travelling appetites, starting, on page 11, with a reminder from long-term resident, Anne Hanley, that the extraordinary events of 2020 mean that Italy may have a slightly different feel this year – in a good way, mind you. Meanwhile, our hotels expert Kate Bolton Porciatti reviews the hottest new openings for 2021, from art nouveau villas on Lake Como and in Palermo, to a new five-star in Florence.

I offer a guide to the best villa holidays and operators and am knocked sideways by the brilliance of the early Christian mosaics in the chapels and cathedrals of Ravenna, some of which are 1,700 years old. And Julie Cook writes movingly of how she discovered the healing power of Venice on a visit shortly after her father’s death.

To counter the country’s one perceived holiday weak point – its beaches – we open with our experts’ guide to 10 of the best and most appealing places to plan a seaside escape, if, by any chance, once the current travel restrictions are lifted, you are tempted by an Italian break this year…