Must visit places in Italy

There's more to Italy than the museums of Florence and gondola rides in Venice. Here are destinations that make for a perfect driving holiday Our group of eight had stepped out of Milan's Malpensa airport and driven to Lake Como in Lombardy where the first sight we'd seen was an array of lovely long legs crossed over each other and bare tanned shoulders flaunting designer tattoos. Yes, summer had well and truly arrived in Italy. So when we were told that the next day we'd be visiting Courmayeur in the Valle d'Aosta where the temperature would hover around the 10 degrees C mark, the desperate scavenging for articles to protect against the cold began. A tablecloth, a blanket 'borrowed' from the previous hotel and big fluffy towel were all requisitioned to fight the cold in sunny Italy. At Courmayeur, we were adequately cold-proof even though we might have been making a very bold fashion statement - especially with a chequered table cloth worn like a cape. Courmayeur Ski resort Set against the backdrop of the Mont Blanc mountain - which straddles the Franco-Italian border - Courmyeur is one of Valle d'Aosta's prettiest ski resorts. We rode the cable car from La Palud at 1370 meters above sea level to Pavilion du Mont at 2173 m. Here the cold was very noticeable and the little authentic log hut restaurant where we had lunch was deliciously warm and cozy. After lunch, another cable car whisked us away to Punta Helbronner at 3462 mts and on the Mont Blanc. It was a clear day and that 20-minute ride was like floating in a box in the sky ringed by snowcapped peaks. At Punta Helbronner, a white line marks the border between France and Italy. Stand with each leg on either side and you could say that you were in two places at once. If you have the time, another cable car from here takes you on a 5-km transglacial ride across the border into France to Aiguille du Midi from where the world's highest cable car transports you into the French ski resort of Chamonix. Like good children we rode the cable car back down to La Palud and got on the bus and after the head count, drove towards the region of Piedmont. Sorrento and Tropea On our rapid blitz down the Tyrrhenian Coast of Italy, we stopped at Sorrento on the Amalfi coast where the summer was in such full swing that a woman wearing anything more than a bikini was considered overdressed. But my favourite remains the little village of Tropea in the region of Calabria right down near where the mainland ends and Sicily starts. The area around called Promontorio di Tropea boasts of some of the best beaches in Italy and we promptly coerced Franco our driver to head towards one. Hardly had he stopped at the parking lot, we were out stripping down to bathers on the run and rushing into the cold blue sea that was crashing onto the smooth beach in frothy waves. Tropea itself is an old perched town and with its delightful crumbly stone buildings and cobbled streets, it's a downright hopping place. The kind of place where you can eat well at a street side cafe and then party till daybreak. You can go pub-hopping for a week and yet not have covered all the little bars that Tropea has. Turin This city is famous for the shroud which is Christendom's holiest relic. It is also famous for its Roman ruins and for the Museo Nazionale del Cinema. The magic of the movies and the sex appeal of the silverscreen are all personified within. The interactive displays take the visitor on a cinematic timeline trip that starts with the earliest magic lanterns and stereoscopes to present day incredible animation. Outside there are candid black-and-white posters of Audrey Hepburn practising ballet and of a very young Arnold Schwarzenegger having his muscles admired by two women. Not surprising - as recent events have shown that old Arnie always liked one and then one more. Santa margherita We headed out towards the region of Liguria and arrived in the little town of Santa Margherita sitting pretty by a lovely beach. The sight of the sea led us to rush past the stunned receptionist into our respective rooms, change into our swimming togs and rush past her again on our way out before she'd recovered from our first onslaught. The sea was lovely and lukewarm; soaking in it set just the right mood for an aperitif - Prosecco - that crisp sparkling dry Italian white wine. Portofino We were approaching this glamorous seaside resort frequented by the swish set when I thought I saw a familiar face on speedboat nearby and shoutedout loudly, "Oh my god. Is that George Clooney?" The womenfolk amongst the passengers rushed to my side of the boat with such swift synchronicity that the captain at the helm had to rapidly deploy counter measures because he found his boat listing dangerously to one side thanks to this rapid relocation of hyperventilating women. Unfortunately, it was actually a fisherman who looked a bit like Clooney and normalcy returned but not before a few dirty glances were thrown in my direction. Portofino attracts tourists like bees to honey because it is such an inviting place. The cluster of brightly coloured houses offset by the deep blue sea on which there are flashy yachts and boats parked make for a postcard likepicture. Along the waterfront are scattered numerous cafes. And from each of these tempting aromas of hot bread and molten cheese waft out and attract hungry tourists.