Travel

Italy's most beguiling towns and villages

Italy is a land of exceptional beauty. Blessed with an astonishingly varied landscape that encompasses snow-capped mountains, rolling pastureland, crystalline lakes, and a vast salt-laced coastline, Italy really is a land of contrast. Lending the country character is a collection of towns and villages noted for their singular locations and architectural splendor. And they are yours to explore! However, be wary of the issue of overcrowding. The city of Venice has recently announced that they will be charging an entry fee to tourists starting in 2023 to combat this very problem. The small city is interlaced with canals and narrow streets, beautiful to behold but easily overwhelmed by the millions of tourists that visit each year. Venice is the first city in the world to take this controversial step: “We are pioneers, the first city in the world to apply a measure that could be revolutionary,” said Simone Venturini, the Venice tourism chief. He hopes that the entry fee for tourists will help to offset the over-tourism that has been negatively impacting the city for years. Why not visit one of Italy's many other towns and villages instead? Click through and discover the country's most beguiling destinations.

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Documentary recalls one of the worst plane crashes ever

WestJet cancels flights after mechanics strike

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Retro Paris: stepping back into the 70s

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Southwest plane in terrifying near-miss at Maine airport

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Explorer ‘who named Australia’ to be reburied in Lincolnshire village where he was born

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Mexico celebrates Pride as Costa Rica fires minister

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Charge foreign British Museum visitors and share Elgin Marbles, former boss says

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Brits face holiday chaos as major airline cancels hundreds of flights to and from UK

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Plaque to remember two famous visitors to house

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Campaign begins to protect beach-nesting birds

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Top 8 Fil-Am books to read for the Fourth of July

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Is it possible to have a holiday abroad for just £100 - in TOTAL? Yes it is! And here's how I did it... from a £9.99 flight to Europe's 'most underrated' city to 68p beer

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Multiple crews fight derelict hotel fire in Newquay

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America's most unlikely boom town: Wiped off the map by wildfire

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Travelodge seeks to recruit more than 300 new staff

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Hotel Inspector star slammed over scathing 1-word description of hotel workers

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Museum makes family tree offer to England goalkeeper

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Paris Hilton's battle against boarding schools

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At 192 Jonathan the tortoise is the world's oldest living land animal

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My husband and I went to an all-inclusive resort. He drinks, and I'm sober, but I didn't feel like I was missing out.

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The dark history of the Pride March in photos

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Imagine scattering clusters of emeralds and sapphires across a vast carpet of turquoise and you begin to get an idea of the visual splendor that is French Polynesia. Composed of 118 geographically dispersed islands and atolls stretching over an expanse of more than 1,200 mi (2,000 km) in the South Pacific Ocean, this overseas collectivity of France spans the size of Europe. A globally renowned destination, French Polynesia is divided into five island groups: the Society Islands archipelago, composed of the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands; the Tuamotu Archipelago; the Gambier Islands; the Marquesas Islands; and the Austral Islands. Soaring moss-green peaks and idyllic beaches define these islands, which are lapped by warm sparkling waters filled with abundant marine life. Adding texture to the ocean are numerous atolls—rings of living coral embracing shallow, crystal-clear lagoons. The Society Islands, believed to have been named by British explorer Captain James Cook during his first voyage in 1769, attract the majority of the region's visitors. The archipelago includes Tahiti, Mo'orea, Bora Bora, Raiatea, and Taha’a—islands that between them feature world-class luxury resorts, compelling cultural sites, and provide adrenaline-fueled watersports options. French Polynesia is full of surprises: the most photographed isle in the South Pacific, Motu Tapu, is here; wine, (yes, wine) is produced on one of the remote atolls; and the beautiful Tahitian pearl makes up over 50% of French Polynesia's exports. A vivid undersea world of fish, rays, sharks, and turtles greets those exploring below the blue lagoons that circle the islands. Deeper waters reveal gracious whales and playful dolphins. On land, mysterious stone carved statues stare blankly onwards, their weathered features testament to the many gods in Polynesian mythology worshiped by an ancient indigenous population. Sultry French Polynesia is a place to relax and soak in a laid-back vibe on some of the most enchanting islands on the planet. Browse through this gallery for an inspiring island-hopping excursion and some great ideas on where to go and what to see.

The inland harbour of the real ships of the Fens

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Coastline of beaches forced to close over stomach-churning discovery

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Wealthy coastal town dubbed 'stinkiest beach in America'

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