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Italy
Neapolitan Riviera
OK, so you probably don't need us to extol the virtues of the Neapolitan Riviera. Chances are you already know it's pretty special. But we're going to anyway. Because no matter how much praise has been heaped upon this spellbinding slither of Italy, it still deserves more. Lots more. So what is it that makes it so special? First off, there's the location. It's impressive to say the least. Jaw-dropping some might say. Set in the sunny south of Italy, around the Bay of Naples, the Neapolitan Riviera gazes out across sparkling blue seas. In the distance, the brooding slopes of Mount Vesuvius make for an impressive backdrop. On top of that, honey-coloured cliffs drop sheer into the sea. Vineyards shimmer with the promise of the crisp wine to come. Lemon trees loaded with blossom give off the sweet scent of summer. And oleanders and bougainvillea colour the landscape like an impressionist's palette. We could stop there and you'd probably be itching to book. But that's only half the story. Dotted along this coast, like twinkling charms on Mother Nature's bracelet, you'll find pure holiday gold. There's the sophisticated town of Sorrento, with its bevy of designer boutiques and achingly chic pavement cafés. The jet-set hangout of Capri. And the oh-so-pretty Amalfi Coast, where villages cascade down mountainsides in showers of pastel houses. And when it comes to days out, you can take your pick from a list of places that need no introduction. Places like Pompeii. Naples. Even Rome. But still, it doesn't end there. The Neapolitan Riviera comes out all guns blazing on the wining and dining front, too. We're talking wood-fired pizzas, lightly grilled fish and cappuccinos as smooth as silk. You've got the picture. Bewitching. Enchanting. Utterly irresistible. The Neapolitan Riviera is all this. And then some.
Thomson Destinations
Venetian Riviera
It's the stuff of fairytales - a handsome sweep of sand meets the grand dame of cities and the pair get along famously. On the Venetian Riviera, not only do you get a goodlooking coastline but one of the finest cities on earth, too - Venice. Granted, the pair live separately - just under an hour's boat ride from each other - but the relationship works. In this part of Italy, you can have your torta' and eat it, too. Taking care of the beach side of things is bright and breezy Lido di Jesolo. Think sands that disappear into the distance, plenty of places to eat, and added extras like a waterpark. As bucket-and-spade breaks go, Jesolo can do no wrong. But when you're ready to swap sand for city, head to nearby Punta Sabbione. Every half an hour a boat comes to whisk you off to Venice. For firsttimers it's an introduction like no other. We're talking no-holds-barred beautiful shimmering canals, dinky bridges and grand old palazzos, all set to the sound of operatic gondoliers. The great lover and libertine, Casanova, was born here and it's no wonder he turned out the way he did. This city is romantic to the point of ridiculous. You half expect to see him comparing notes with Romeo in a canal-front coffee house. When you're not sighing over sights like St Mark's Square and, well, the Bridge of Sighs, buy a cone of fruit-flavoured gelato and get as lost as possible. All Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance flourishes, this city was made for wandering. Factor into this heart-stealing equation places like Verona and Lake Garda - both of which are in easy reach from Jesolo - and you'll see this could be the start of a beautiful love affair. Casanova eat your heart out
Tuscan Riviera
Tuscany. What does the word mean to you? Big stodgy meals cooked by mama? Meadows filled with poppies? A terracotta sea of higgledy-piggledy rooftops? Well you'd be right, on all counts. But it's not all about rustic cottages and rolling hills. What if we told you it's home to some of Italy's most impressive coastal resorts. Resorts like Forte dei Marmi, the preferred party playground of the Italian jetset. And achingly stylish Viareggio, whose silky sands attract a smart tanning crowd. Surprised? You're not the only one. Very few people associate Tuscany with beaches and sea views. Along with the recipe for lip-smacking ragu sauce, it's the region's best-kept secret. Understandably so. With long ribbons of sand, turquoise waters and slick seaside towns, you can see why those in the know want to keep it under their sunhats. However, as the cat creeps further out the bag, more and more people are starting to see the appeal. You see, a holiday on the Tuscan Riviera lets you have the best of both worlds - a beach holiday with world class sights to boot. One day you're lazing on sun-drenched shores. The next, losing time in the twisted streets of Florence. Floating in the Med one morning. Admiring the Leaning Tower another. It's all there on your doorstep. What's more, this piece of the great Italian puzzle has a great vibe going on, too - classy but never aloof, traditional but with its finger very much on the pulse. So, if you're bored of the usual Mediterranean haunts, give this Italian gem a whirl. La vita just doesn't get any more dolce than this.
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