If the French are not ‘Mediterranean’ enough for you, meet their outgoing neighbours. Great food, mind-blowing history, picturesque fishing villages, sandy beaches – you can make what you like of an Italian holiday. There are lots of packages available, but there are also direct flights to major cities if you’re touring by hire-car or rail. The French have a soft spot for Sicily, with its elegant ruins and jewel-like bays; combine it with trips to the surrounding Aeolian Islands if you can.