What springs to mind when you think of Italy? No doubt it’s the thing you enjoy most about holidaying. Bit of a foodie? Perhaps it’s bubbling cheese on crisp-as-can-be pizzas. Love the great outdoors? Maybe it’s vast lakes and grape-draped vineyards. Can’t resist culture? It might be a gondola gliding its way through a city canal (striped-shirted sailor and all). Whatever captures your imagination in this magnificent Mediterranean marvel, we’ve got the resort that’ll make your getaway dreams a reality. So, without further ado, let’s find the slice of Italy that’s right for you…

Sicily

For sippers and snackers

Sicily has a kick in more ways than one! Not only is it at the end of boot-shaped Italy on the map, it’s also a proud grower of the zesty lemons that give limoncello its sweet yet sharp taste. But it’s not all citrus liqueur-sipping round these parts. Sicily also holds the crown as the queen of arancini – oozy, gooey risotto balls that are breaded, deep fried and, quite frankly, divine. You’ll find these irresistible spherical snacks come in all shapes and sizes and can be stuffed with anything from ricotta to ragù.

For an insight into local life, head to Taormina and make the chequered-tiled Piazza IX Aprile your first stop. Here, you can settle down outside a dinky coffee shop and watch the world go by, book in one hand, cappuccino in the other.

Sorrento

For seaside chic

If you’re going to spill a town down a hillside, you might as well do it in style, right? A pretty palette of lipstick-pinks, sunset-ambers and captivating corals work in symphony to create her majesty, Sorrento, a resort so colourful it gives even rainbows a run for their money. Bag a bed on one of the vintage-feel bathing platforms and soak up the scenery in all its Italian glory.

Massa Lubrense, with its postcard-perfect fishing boats, is a peaceful plot to plonk down on for an afternoon, while Sant'Agnello is all impressive piazzas and palm-speckled gardens. On the hunt for some sand? Cava Grado Beach will be happy to help.

Sardinia

For outdoor adventures

From the seven unspoilt islands of La Maddalena Archipelago National Park to the amazing Asinara National Park with its wild sheep, flamingos and falcons, Sardinia is an al fresco adventure waiting to happen. Go on an organised hiking tour of Gola di Gorropu, the island’s answer to the Grand Canyon with its rocky vistas, flowing rivers and some cool flora and fauna... We’re talking hares and foxes, to name just two. This natural wonder lies around 35km south of Orosei and is well worth a visit if you’re feeling energetic. Just be sure to pack comfy shoes and plenty of drinking water.

Tuscany

For rustic charm

Wining in tucked-away vineyards and dining in traditional trattorias are how things roll in Tuscany. Speaking of rolling, the countryside does a lot of it, with far-reaching fields in every shade of green growing olives, herbs, veggies, the works… Step away from the well-trodden cosmopolitan cities and escape to the hilltop towns that crown this rural region. Take Volterra, for example, with its Renaissance architecture, 13th-century cathedral and web of sloping stone streets – it’s fairytale material, alright. And then there’s San Gimignano’s skyline-piercing towers and farmhouse-freckled fields. If authenticity steals your heart, this pair’s just the start.

Lake Garda

For waterfront wonder

Whether you choose sporty days in the north or village-hopping in the south, there’s no doubt about it, Lake Garda’s dazzling backdrop is going to be pretty hard to beat. Hire a bike and trace the lakeside trails on two wheels, through lemon-scented Limone and the mountain-backed village of Riva. The latter is home to a 14th-century castle, the lively Piazza 3 Novembre and the pebbled plot, Pini Beach, but its real draws are the ochre-painted townhouses and twisting Old Town alleys brimming with Italian charm. If walking’s more your thing, this region is your oyster with its hiking trails and inner-village adventures.

Lido di Jesolo

For historic twists

Oh, we do like to be beside the seaside, and Lido di Jesolo is one of Italy’s finest. A whopping 15km of sand spans this candy-striped town – it’s gold dust, almost literally. Take in the old-school glamour of the funfair and Wheel of Venice or simply don your fedora and bring the glamour yourself outside a swanky marina side wine bar.

Curb your appetite for history with a visit to none other than Venice, the floating city herself. ‘Magical’ doesn’t even begin to describe the canals, Gothic architecture and blink-and-you’ll-miss-it bookshops, which all ooze romance so effortlessly that you won’t realise you’re smitten until your heart’s already stolen. Our must-see trio? St. Mark's Square, Doge's Palace and the Bridge of Sighs… Ahh, dreamy!

Think you might have uncovered your ideal part of Italy? We hope our guide came in handy! Now it’s time to get a date in the diary, so whizz on over to our website to browse of our flights and holidays today.