Italy a Top Holiday Destination for 2011

Holidaymakers are being encouraged to head to Italy this year, with The Telegraph website listing a host of reasons why the Mediterranean country should be at the top of every traveller's list for 2011.

Travel writer Gill Charlton highlights Sicily as a choice destination, thanks to extensive recent modernisation and a great choice of hotels and villas. Many boutique hotels and villas have been renovated on the island and there is also a selection of larger hotels to choose from.

The Grand Hotel Piazza Borsa has recently opened in Palermo, providing an atmospheric and historic environment thanks to being built in a former bank, convent and church in the city centre.

Other outstanding hotel options picked out by Ms Charlton include the newly-reopened Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina, which is part of the Orient-Express chain of hotels. This hotel overlooks the historic Greek theatre in Taormina and also boasts a heated outdoor pool, making it a good choice year-round.

Travellers to Sicily looking for a more active break might be tempted by the Donnafugata Golf Resort, a five-star facility close to Catania airport. The resort features two championship golf courses, a training school and its own spa facility.

Other factors likely to entice visitors on holidays to Italy include the reopening in Rome of the Colosseum's top tier and underground chambers, which have been closed to the public for the past 30 years. Visitors can now see chambers dating back to the fifth century, where gladiators would have prepared for their fights in the arena.

Ms Gill also points out the increased number of flights available to Lamezia, in the toe of the 'boot' of Italy. This area has benefitted from EU investment in recent times, and offers great beaches, mountain scenery and masses of interesting historical sites.

Jan 21, 2011

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