Alberobello, Apulia Region

In a little-known but fascinating region of Apulia, the heel of the Italian "boot," is the trulli capital of the world, Alberobello, a town with a charm so peculiar that its difficult to remember which country you're in. The curious structures found in Alberobello, called trulli, were built at least as early as the 13th century. Their whitewashed limestone walls and conical fieldstone roofs utilize the materials available in the area in such a way that mortar isn't needed to keep the pieces together. There are over 1,000 of these buildings that line the streets of Alberobello and the rural area immediately surrounding it. They crop up like clusters of mushrooms among the abundant olive trees. Their primitive beehive structure shape gives one the impression that they are ancient, when in fact the oldest dates back to the 18th century. Today these trulli are used as homes, shops, storage space -- even the local church of Sant' Antonio is built in the form of a trullo. If you have the opportunity to visit here, and this town should be a must if you are visiting the region of Apulia, be sure to dine at Il Poeta Contadino, a formal centuries-old trullo offering one of the area's best renditions of cucina pugliese. The food and wine selection here is one of the finest in this area. Alberobello is located 37 miles southeast of Bari. The best times to visit Alberobello are from April to June and September to mid-October. Alberobello is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ravello, Campania Region

Perched over 1,100 feet above the tiny coastal town of Amalfi, Ravello has been described as closer to heaven than to the sea. It is without question the loveliest resort along the Amalfi Coast and has often attracted artists, writers and celebrities over the years. Gore Vidal recently purchased a villa here as a writing retreat. Two irresistibly romantic gardens -- the Villa Rufolo and the Villa Cimbrone -- justify its reputation as "the place where poets go to die." Catch the breathtaking views of the sea here from the Palazzo Sasso. This magnificent deluxe hotel was built in the 12th century for an aristocratic family and the views from here are dramatic. The Villa Rufolo, named for a patrician family who founded it in the 11th century, was once the residence of kings and popes, such as Hadrian IV. Boccacio was so moved by the spot that he included it as background in one of his tales. Be sure to walk through the flower gardens leading to lookout points over the memorable coastline. Another must-see is the Villa Cimbrone, one of the most historically evocative villas in Ravello. Amid its gardens dotted with statuary, ancient ruins and late 18th-century re-creations of Greek and Roman temples, it contains only a handful of rooms-high ceilings and is gracefully furnished with antiques and fine fabrics and deluxe bathrooms. The best dining in Ravello can be found at Cumpá Cosimo Trattoria. Here, you're likely to find everyone from a local to a movie star looking for fine Neapolitan cuisine. The restaurant was opened in 1929 and today still turns out well-flavored regional food in generous portions. There is usually a sampling of seven different pastas served with your choice of seven sauces. Follow this with a mixed grill of fish, roasted lamb, veal scalloppine or beefsteak with garlic and white wine sauce. A great time to go here is in the evening when the day-trippers have left the town. Ravello is located 3 miles from the village of Amalfi, 16 miles west of Salerno.

Bellagio, Lombardia Region

Sitting on a promontory at the point where Lake Como forks, Bellagio is one of the prettiest towns in Europe. It has attracted wealthy visitors, even royalty, for centuries. It is not so aristocratic anymore, but it is still a thriving and lovely resort town worth a 45-minute drive north of Como. Life has mellowed here, but the band still plays by the lake under the stars. To reach many of the places in Bellagio you must climb streets that are really stairways. From the town you can take tours of Lake Como, enjoy water sports and tennis, or just lounge at the Bellagio Lido beach. You'll enjoy its beautiful lakeside scenery. Be sure to check out the gardens of the Villa Serbelloni. The villa isn't open to the public, but you can visit the park on 1 ½-hour guided tours starting at 11 A.M. and 4 P.M. The Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni is the place to stay in Bellagio. It's a lavish old hotel that stands proud at the edge of the town against a backdrop of hills, surrounded by beautiful gardens. Every room has the same royal view of Lake Como whose natural beauty attracted Goethe, Shelley, Byron and many others. Bellagio is located 48 miles north of Milan and 18 miles northeast of Como.

Il Pelicano, Porto Ercole, Tuscany Region

Il Pelicano is one of the Mediterranean's most wonderful seaside resorts. While most think of rolling vineyards and lovely medieval hill towns of Tuscany's interior, the seaside savvy will yearn instead for this tiny peninsula in the southwest coastal corner of Tuscany that juts out into the beautiful waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The exclusive eight-acre compound is composed of stone cottages that are scattered down a dramatic cliff face of Monte Argentario, covered with pine and olive trees around the hotel's own private cove. Brilliant white umbrellas and deck chairs the color of the water line the stone seawall "beach." You can dive directly into the sea here. Despite its relaxed villa-like atmosphere, Il Pelicano matches the standards of a much larger world-class hotel. The service is excellent, as are its wine list and the fresh fish that is served straight out of the sea. The rooms are spacious and tasteful and most have private balconies. And everywhere you look you'll feel the gentle breeze and the vast expanse of the sea. Il Pelicano Hotel is located in Porto Ercole 100 miles north of Rome. It is open from late March to early November. The best times to visit Il Pelicano are May and September.

Taormina, Sicily Region

As Sicily's most fashionable resort, Taormina was described by Guy de Maupassant as "all that seems made on the earth to entice eyes, spirit and imagination." Taormina is a real gem unique in terms of its position and shape, the town is perched on a short terrace high above the sea, protected by Monte Tauro from which its name derives, but with breathtaking views to the south towards Mount Etna's snow-clad summit. Its ancient Greek amphitheater, the Teatro Greco, enjoys one of the loveliest sites anywhere. During the summer the theater is used for a festival or arts, film and music. Attending one of the Greek classics or a concert performed just before sunset is an experience without peer. The city's favorite pastime is a leisurely passeggiata along the Corso Umberto, the main thoroughfare lined with boutiques, curio, ceramic shops and interspersed with intimate piazzas and dramatic belvederes. Be sure to stop by one of the cafés and enjoy a traditional Sicilian dessert of granita (lemon shaved ice) while you watch the beautiful sunset over the Sicilian sky. My favorite place to stay in Taormina is the San Domenico Hotel, a luxurious hotel built in 1430 as a Dominican monastery. This is one of the grandest hotels in Italy. It has housed illustrious guests such as Francois Mitterand, Winston Churchill, Andrea Bocelli, Diana Krall and Elton John along with many other celebrities. It is located adjacent to the Teatro Greco in the heart of the resort's oldest neighborhood. Its rooms are the actual (albeit enlarged) cells of monks until the last century. Its vast garden is a serene jasmine-scented oasis with palms and lemon trees and a picture-perfect view of the azure Ionian Sea. Be sure to enjoy a cool pomegranate juice before dinner in the former chapel, now the atmospheric hotel bar. It has a swimming pool artfully carved into the slope of the hillside below the gardens. My favorite restaurant here is Il Ciclope on Corso Umberto. It is located in the heart of the old town center and boasts a lovely summer terrace, great service and has been family-owned since 1970. Il Ciclope is a good value for the money. Taormina is located 155 miles east of Palermo and 33 miles north of Catania. The best times to visit are from April until June and September until October. Also, enjoy arts, festival of music, ballet and opera from late June until mid-September.

Peter D'Attoma is president of DaVinci Custom Travel & Tours. He has over 25 years of planning and designing independent, custom and escorted tours of Italy for individuals, groups and incentive. For more information, visit davincicustomtravel.com, email him at peter@davincicustomtravel.com or call 330-633-2292.

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