Journal: TWUK Section: Title: Issue Date: 23/04/01 Author: Page Number: 42 Copyright: Other Italy Where:key areas include Lake Garda, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. ambience:northern Italy is still the number one lakes and mountains destination. Crystal pro

Italy

Where:key areas include Lake Garda, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore.

ambience:northern Italy is still the number one lakes and mountains destination. Crystal product director Dinah Holland highlighted the climate, scenery, friendly people, cuisine and sightseeing opportunities as the key selling points for an Italian break. The country is dominated by the 55-plus market who are more into sightseeing than adventure.

wild activities: Selva in the Dolomites is a good all-rounder. Thomson gives it a four-boot rating for strollers, ramblers and hikers; the resort also features in one of its walking weeks with the writer, photographer and climber Kev Reynolds. Aimed at keen and fit walkers, the seven-night tour, departing July 7, leads in at £534. Selva also offers summer skiing.

mild activities: mature visitors rate the lake resorts highly for sightseeing – taking in the gardens at Lake Como or Lake Maggiore for example, or the chic atmosphere of Riva del Garda.

sample product: seven nights' half-board in Riva on Lake Garda leads in at £499 with Airtours; Bellagio on Lake Como costs £359 with Inghams; Baveno and Pallanza on Lake Maggiore cost £415 with Crystal. Thomson and Crystal's product in Pescasseroli costs £345 and £339 respectively for one week half-board. Pescasseroli is a mountain resort located in Italy's oldest national park, Abruzzo, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. City add-ons, particularly Venice, Verona and Florence, are also popular. Inghams offers three nights in Verona during the opera festival from £147 per person.

Lake Garda: picturesque favourite with the older market