Capri

A mere mention of Capri is usually enough to stir images of cerulean seas, soaring cliffs, pretty marina towns, and stone pines clutching the rocks. Few isles on the globe are as good-looking as this one; few places so effortlessly suave yet steeped in history.

Washed by the Tyrrhenian Sea, some 3.5 miles off the tip of the slender Sorrentine Peninsula of Italy, Capri has always been synonymous with good times. Roman emperors came here to indulge and delight in the sea breezes and good climate. Later, the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and prosperous European aristocrats followed suit. Today, there's been no let-up in the steady flow of A-listers, and summer days see grand yachts bobbing in the harbours. Above, the luxury villas of Capri ooze style and class from their clifftop locations.

With much of the island closed to traffic, a funicular will whisk you up from the marina to the La Piazzetta. Officially known as Piazza Umberto I, it is Capri's bustling main square, famed for its quaint alleyways and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Come here to sip a bellini under the shaded arcades or clink a negroni whilst people-watching on a balmy evening. Stroll away from there, and you'll hit the winding, wiggling walking paths that crisscross the isle, happening upon grand villas like the Villa San Michele – the onetime home of Swedish physician Axel Munthe – or the remains of Villa Jovis – the ancient palace of the Emperor Tiberius.

For a quieter day out, trade Capri's bustling piazzas and ports for charming cobblestoned paths and breathtaking vistas of Anacapri in the island's west.

Be sure to take Via Krupp at some point. Carved into the island's southern coast, this historic switchback pathway offers panoramic views of the sea and the famous Faraglioni rock formations jutting out from the blue expanse.

A luxury villa holiday to Capri would not be complete without at least one day at sea. The pièce de résistance of the island is the Blue Grotto, a mesmerising sea cave where sunlight, entering through an underwater cavity, illuminates the cavern in ethereal shades of blue. The interiors can only be reached by wooden rowboats, making it a journey as exclusive as it is unforgettable.

The island offers two main ports: Marina Grande and Marina Piccola. The former is lined with brightly-coloured houses and is home to the island's largest beach. The latter is a harbour protected by the island's imposing cliffs, providing an idyllic sunbathing location practically year-round.