MY FAMILY AND I ARE SPENDING SIX WEEKS IN ITALY AND FRANCE IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT FOR NON-SKIERS? WE'VE BEEN SEVERAL TIMES BUT THIS IS OUR FIRST EUROPEAN WINTER.
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L. BUNBURY, GREENWICH
There's a lot to like about France's Alsace region bordering Switzerland and Germany, and in the pre-Christmas period especially. Strasbourg, the Alsatian capital, marries the best traditions of France and Germany to put together a Christmas straight out of the children's book of wonders. Set against the fairytale backdrop of the city's half-timbered houses, canals and churches, there's a sparkly, 30-metre Christmas tree in Place Kleber, an ice-skating rink in Place Dauphine, nativity pageants, carols and concerts. The city hosts the oldest Christmas market in France with 300-plus stalls scattered throughout its historic squares, transforming it into a visual and gastronomic wonderland. Don't miss nearby Colmar, which looks like something out of Hansel and Gretel, threaded with canals and lined with merchants' houses built in the 1600s.
In Italy, my first thought would be Venice. Deep winter is the only chance you have of experiencing Venice without crowds, and winter casts the city in a soft focus mist that adds a sublime element to its beauty. As well as crowds, there are a few more things missing from the Venetian tapestry at this time. No gondolas for one, but you'll find it easy to get a restaurant table.
For the same reasons winter is also a great time to take in the museums, churches and galleries of Florence and Rome if you haven't already experienced these.
I'd also put Naples on my itinerary. Feisty, unloved but fascinating, the city has been put under the spotlight thanks to the novels of Elena Ferrante. Naples is a rough diamond and not everyone's cup of vino but it's grandiose, edgy, spirited and another kind of Italy.
Sicily shines in winter. The climate is mild and the island reveals another side to the winter visitor. Sicily is one of the most surprising places I've ever been because it's so unexpectedly rich in history and architectural treasures dating back to Greek days, with a taste for art and a culinary legacy all its own, yet wrongly overshadowed by its reputation for violence. Hire a car and make a 10-day drive around the island – you'll love it.
