My perfect honeymoon would be to stay at the Hotel Swiss Bellevue in Monterossa, one of the towns of Cinque Terre. You can visit all the other towns, and more, by train or by hiking the hills (part of the National Forest). Best views ever. Vernazza is particularly beuatiful. Monterossa is the biggest of the towns and has an old town and new town, so there is plenty to see.

We honeymooned in Italy Oct. 1 after an Aug. 23 wedding. Just an idea to hold out for a month.

When I was in Italy in August in my 20's, many stores were closed with a sign saying they're on holiday. It was dreadfully hot in Aug, but I am a hot-weather-wimp.

That said, we spent our first honeymoon days at Lake Como, with home base in Bellagio. Beautiful! We rented a car from the Milan airport and drove everywhere. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

Our second Italy trip as a married couple took us to Tuscany in May. We rented a car from the Rome airport and lavished in the Tuscan countryside. We stayed in Montilcino, smallish and awesome town carved into and atop a hill. Easy drives to Gregorian chants at monastery, Banfi vineyard, etc.

How long do you plan to be there? For me, more than two or three days around Lake Como would be long enough - it's beautiful and relaxing (well, I haven't been in August), but I was ready to move on after that. However, others here have stayed for a week or more and loved it, so it depends on your usual travel style.

The Sardinia beaches will be wall to wall.

I would consider Lago Como with a Swiss destination--perhaps Luzern.

I would recommend NOT going to Italy in August if you can avoid it at all. The entire country practically goes on vacation (I had this issue when I worked in London and couldn't get anything done with business in Italy). Hot, crowded. We are going and specifically going in late September and early October for this very reason.