If colour is your cup of tea, look no further than Burano. As an island that sits within the Venetian Lagoon, the petite town can only be reached by boat alone. Every building on this island is painted an unapologetically bright shade – think everything from vibrant jade to tangerine. It’s believed the island’s fisherman were the first to take up the painting of houses in bright colours so they could guide them back home. Today things are taken a little more seriously – if you wish to paint your house the government decrees just what colours are available to you. If the rainbow appeal of Burano is not enough for you, it’s specialities of lace and glass-making (as well as a plethora of seafood-based dishes) may just be up your alley.

It’s not every day that you can enjoy an opulent feast amidst the setting of a grotto illuminated by moonlight, but it is exactly the experience you can enjoy at the Ristorante Grotta Palazzese. The definition of romantic, the intimate restaurant sits looking out onto the Adriatic sea in a naturally formed cave. The novelty (and beauty) of the experience was even a favourite among our recent ancestors, who often used the cave to host banquets in the 1700s.

As the second-largest island in the Mediterranean, Sardinia is gaining ground as a hotspot for visitors, and that’s no shock considering its scenery is dominated by dramatic white cliffs, crystal clear waters and some of the best beaches in Italy. Perhaps the most stunning is the southern district, the Gulf of Orosei. It’s a stretch of 10km of beaches and grottos, steep cliffs and a nature reserve that is typically visited by those on boat, but it is well worth the hike. The region also hosts the popular Sardinian beach, Cala Marilou, in its midst – a rose-hued strip of white and pink pebbles mixed with sand.

Famed as the host to many a destination wedding, as well home to a certain Mr George Clooney, Lake Como has long been on the tourist trail. The well-heeled town has been a playground to the rich and famous since early Roman times, but there is more to the district than its ample number of luxury villas and resorts, and that’s its natural beauty. Sitting at the base of the Alps, Lake Como is a dramatic natural landmark. The vast body of water was formed by a glacier and is the third-largest lake in Italy, as well as one of the deepest at a depth of 400m.

Perhaps Capri’s most Instagrammed sensation. The beach club and restaurant are nestled at the base of a cliff of rocks, surrounded by pristine waters and has been a favourite sunning spot for jet-setters (Brigitte Bardot included) since 1959. The journey itself may be hazardous as you find yourself following a winding path through brush and scrub if you choose to walk (there is a shuttle for those feeling lazy) but it will be worth it for the snaps. An army of blue and white striped beach umbrella and lounges line the rocks, from which you can swim. Or, of course, enjoy a spritz.

Ravenna isn’t called ‘the City of Mosaic’ for nothing. A colourful collection of Roman and Byzantine architecture, the Northern Italian city was the capital of the Western Roman Empire (in 402AD). Thanks to its former political importance to the Byzantines, today Ravenna is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, with opulent mosaic murals covering the majority of public buildings that sit amidst the city’s borders.

To describe Modica as historic is an understatement for this district, which was decreed a UNESCO world heritage site in 2002. The city was rebuilt after a disastrous earthquake in 1693 and is now home to a plethora of opulent Baroque-style architecture, as well as a medieval town. Sitting in the Hyblaean Mountains, the district is a hilly stretch covered with a collection of churches (including two impressive cathedrals, the Duomo di San Giorgio and the Duomo di San Pietro), homes, town squares and villages, as well as a cave-based church, the Chiesa Rupestre di San Nicolò Inferiore.

One of the world’s most famous paintings lies in Milan. The Last Supper is the 15th-century mural masterpiece by Leonardo Da Vinci that was crafted within the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria Delle Grazie. Measuring at 460cm x 880cm, the mural covers the end wall of a dining hall and took Da Vinci four years, on and off, to complete. The religious artefact has been restored (and damaged) countless times over the years but remains a drawing card to tourists from all over the world.

When the European summer rolls around, Instagram tends to be flooded with images of Positano. Considered to be the most photogenic town on the Amalfi Coast, Positano is a series of steep cliffs dotted with terracotta-hued homes, vine-covered churches, famous beach clubs and rock-lined coves. Originally Positano was host to a handful of luxurious villas built by the ancient Romans, and today the village remains an homage to the Italian summer in all its (spritz-laden) glory.

Florence is not only the capital of Tuscany, but may be the cultural capital of the Italian nation. The birthplace of the renaissance, Florence was a city that flourished in wealth in the middle ages. The city houses such a multitude of artistic and architectural sights that it was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and claimed by Forbes Magazine to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. This gallery was brought to you by Peroni. For more see here: peroniitaly.com