Go independent
BA (0844 493 0787, www.ba.com) flies from Gatwick to Bologna, Catania (Sicily), Naples, Pisa, Rome, Turin, Venice and Verona from £98 return; to Bari and Cagliari (Sardinia) from £142; and to Milan from £130. Meridiana (0845 355 5588, www.meridiana.it) flies from Gatwick to Florence from £117. Ryanair (www.ryanair.com) flies from 12 airports in the UK and Ireland to 21 airports across Italy, including Milan, Bologna, Pisa, Pescara, Rome, Bari, Brindisi, Trapani (Sicily), Cagliari and Alghero (Sardinia). Jet2 (0871 226 1737, www.jet2.com) flies from Leeds Bradford to Milan from £40; from Belfast, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle to Pisa from £60; from Leeds Bradford and Manchester to Rome from £40; from Leeds Bradford and Edinburgh to Olbia (Sardinia) from £80; and from Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford and Manchester to Venice from £40. EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) flies from Liverpool, Gatwick and Stansted to Naples; from Bristol, Gatwick and Luton to Pisa; from Luton and Gatwick to Milan; and from Bristol and Gatwick to Rome. Thomson Fly (0871 231 4691, flights.thomson.co.uk) flies from Gatwick and Manchester to Venice from £124; from Gatwick and Manchester to Pisa from £129; from Gatwick and Manchester to Catania from £199; and from seven UK airports to Naples from £189. Flybe (0871 700 2000, www.flybe.com) flies from eight UK airports, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands to Milan from £62. Bmibaby (www.bmibaby.com) flies from East Midlands to Venice from £63 return, and to Alghero from £109.
Get around by plane
Air Italy (00 356 2364 5300, www.airitaly.eu) connects Catania, Naples, Rome, Turin, Milan, Genoa, Olbia and Palermo. Sample fares include Catania to Turin from £68 return; Naples to Palermo from £74; Milan to Olbia from £86. Meridiana (as before) serves 17 Italian airports, and has routes linking mainland cities with Sicily and Sardinia; expect to pay from around £50 each way. Ryanair (as before) has a significant presence within Italy; there are especially good connections from Milan, Pisa and Rome. EasyJet (as before) has flights from Venice to Rome and Naples, and from Milan to Rome, Naples, Bari, Brindisi, Lamezia, Catania, Palermo, Cagliari and Olbia.
By train
Trains connect every major town – you can even get to Sicily, via Rome and Naples (when the train reaches the sea, the carriages are rolled on to the boat). Book tickets at Trenitalia (www.ferroviedellostato.it).
By car
National (0871 384 1140, www.nationalcar.co.uk) has more than 100 pick-up locations; one week’s hire from Pisa costs from £212. Avis (0844 581 0147, www.avis.co.uk) has 161 pick-up locations; a week’s hire from Milan Malpensa airport starts at £151. Or try Holiday Autos (0871 472 5229, www.holidayautos.co.uk).
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Food and wine
Bellini Travel (020 7602 7602, www.bellinitravel.com) has a 10-day trip including four nights in Rome, five nights on the Amalfi Coast and a cooking class with local legend Mamma Agata, from £2,800pp, including Gatwick flights and rail transfers. For foodie tours of Piedmont, try Arblaster and Clarke (01730 263111, www.arblasterandclarke.com). Or try Flavours Holidays (0131 343 2500, www.flavoursholidays.co.uk).
Family
Explore (0844 499 0901, www.explore.co.uk) has a seven-night trip to the Amalfi Coast including mozzarella-making at a buffalo farm, time on Capri and a Pompeii visit, from £999pp, B&B, including Heathrow flights. Or try Families Worldwide (0845 051 4567, www.familiesworldwide.co.uk), or Responsible Travel (01273 600030, www.responsibletravel.co.uk).
Activities
Authentic Adventures (01453 823328, www.authenticadventures.co.uk) runs painting courses in Tuscany; seven nights costs from £1,389pp, including most meals, classes and transfers, but excluding flights. Or try Inntravel (01653 617918, www.inntravel.co.uk), or Wilderness Journeys (0131 625 6635, www.wildernessjourneys.com).
Villas
Real Holidays (020 7359 3938, www.realholidays.co.uk) has a week at L’Olivo, a six-person stone villa with pool inside a converted 11th-century hamlet, from £2,313 for six. Or try Ilios Travel (0845 675 2601, www.iliostravel.com), or Vintage Travel (01954 261431, www.vintagetravel.co.uk).
Cities
Great Rail Journeys (01904 521980, www.greatrail.com) has a 13-day trip taking in Rome, Florence and Venice from £2,160pp, B&B, including all travel (rail, coach and Eurostar), overnights en route, excursions, most meals and guiding. Or try Voyages Jules Verne (0845 166 7035, www.vjv.com), or The Traveller (020 7436 9343, www.the-traveller.co.uk).
Further information
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Italian State Tourist Board (020 7408 1254, www.italiantouristboard.co.uk).