My husband and I are planning on visiting southern Italy next year. We are in our late 20's, love the sun, italian food, beaches and breath taking views. What regions/cities are a must --- we are thinking of making the trip from 10-12 days. Also, what month is ideal for travel with temperatures in the 25-28 range and lots of sun?? Thanks!

-<BR>Fly into Naples, and start with a couple days in Sorrento. Than on to Amalfi Coast region/Capri. Also may consider including Sicily in your itinerary. <BR><BR>Time to travel? Either mid-May thru mid-June or mid-Sept thru October. My preference for visiting any part of Italy is during October.<BR>

So many places, so little time!! I'll leave the Amalfi coast ideas to others (wonderful as it is). But here's one suggestion:<BR>look at: www.grottapalazzese.it<BR>amazing little hotel and restaurant in the delightful town of Polignano di Mare on the Adriatic coast just below Bari. We stayed three nights and could have stayed more. Perfect base for exploring the region. Highlights: <BR>Castellano Grotte (a wonderful cavern)<BR>Alberbello and the trulli houses.<BR>Castel del Monte -- a Norman Octagonal castle on a hill.<BR>Town of Trani with an amazing little church.<BR>Seeing Santa Claus's bones (OK, but it is St. Nicholas) at the basillica of St. Nicholas in Bari.<BR>And most of all the hotel and restaurant itself. Dining in the grotto everynight as the sea comes in under the rocks and splashed in the caves behind you. Ask for room 134, a vaulted room with a tiny balcony cantilevered out over the sea and looking down to the grotto.<BR><BR>MEMORABLE!!!!

I would go in late May or late Sep and include 3 destinations. Based on your criteria, start in Positano as your base for the Amalfi coast, then down to Maratea on the coast about 2 hours south of Salerno as a transitional stop, and then on to fabulous Taormina in Sicily. The car logistics will depend on your arrival/departure location. If you like scenery, this is it. Find my trip report on www.slowtrav.com under spring 2000--called&quot; Navigating with Bob &amp; Ed in southern Italy&quot; Buona fortuna !

If you take Bob's advice - don't miss the ruins at Paestum. It's not far south of Salerno. Best preserved Greek temples outside of Greece. Awesome.