Portofino, made famous in several films, including the Michael Caine film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, is a draw for the jetset.  It is one of Liguria’s most exclusive seaside resorts, situated east of Genoa.

The harbour is full of elegant yachts and the yellow and orange houses that ring the water make the setting perfect.  Hollywood stars such as Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor and Greta Garbo have stayed here, scriptwriters wrote here, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor honeymooned here and you never know who you might spot hiding behind their sunglasses or taking a trip on their yacht.  Private villas, home to celebrities, are situated in the hills behind the town.

There are plenty of flights to the area and you can take a bus or train from Santa Margherita.  Be sure to see the five villages of Cinque Terra, see the views from the lighthouse, take a boat trip out into the waters or visit the eleventh century Abbazia di San Fruttuoso in the middle of the olive groves and pine trees.

Out in the sea, there is a bronze statue of Christ.  The statue was put on the seabed back in 1954 to protect sailors.  You can either take a boat trip out to see it or for a really close look you can go for a dive nearby.  There are plenty of boutiques in the town and cafes to sit and sip a cappuccino whilst you soak up the relaxing atmosphere.

Bologna is a city in Italy, famous for its character, history and sightseeing and ideal for a family holiday.  It also has a wealth of events throughout the year, with which you may not be so familiar.

The year kicks off with the Carnevale dei Bambini in February or March time.  This carnival, as the name implies, is the ‘carnival of the children’ and really is a carnival dedicated to children, so it’s an ideal time for a family holiday.

The whole of the first half of the year is the Teatro Comunale Season, running from January to June, there are concerts and opera galore at the city’s famous theatre and nobody does opera like Italy.

From July to September, you can see the Bologna Est, the annual summer festival of music and dance, theatre and street entertainment wherever you go.

In October, children are celebrated yet again.  This time with the Children’s Song Festival, an annual celebration of the music of youth.

From the end of October until November is their antiques fair, called La Mostra Belle.

That leaves December for traditional Christmas celebrations and then it’s back to the start again.  Bologna truly is a city of celebrations.

Flights take just 2 hours from London to Bologna airport, which is only 4 miles outside the city.

After Paris, Venice may be considered the most romantic city in Europe with its sterotypical image of romantic gondola rides and is the perfect destination for a cheap city weekend break.

Venice is a ‘floating city’ built on wooden piles on mud islets so it appears to float on the water. The Grand Canal makes an S shape through the centre of Venice with more than 300 palaces on either side.

Must-see places include the Doge’s Palace, home to the government for over 700 years, the Basilica of St Mark and La Fenice Opera House. (more…)