Tyrol, Italy holiday options: food, architecture, scenery

OUR MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE ENDS IN TRIESTE IN AUGUST 2017. CAN YOU RECOMMEND WHERE A COUPLE COULD SPEND THE LAST WEEK OF OUR HOLIDAY? WE HAVE NEVER BEEN TO CROATIA, ARE HAPPILY INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS AND ITALY IS A FAVOURITE BUT APART FROM VENICE WE HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THAT CORNER OF EUROPE.

T. MOLLER, CHATSWOOD

Croatia has plenty to offer but the main attraction is the islands off the Dalmatian coast, and they're going to be busy and crowded in August. Since you've already had a maritime adventure you might be in the mood for something completely different and the place I'd be headed is the Dolomites. Just to the north of Venice and easily accessible, this is some of the most glorious mountain scenery on the planet, a series of deep green valleys separated by jagged grey peaks that erupt into the clouds. Although firmly in Italy, this is a region that likes to pretend its still part of Austria, and the food, architecture, language and culture are powerfully suggestive of that country's Tyrolean region.

There's lots to do here, a couple of wonderful cities, markets, mountain villages, museums and funicular railways, and pack your walking shoes, for my money this is the finest alpine walking terrain on the planet. The walking trails can be as easy or as challenging as you like and most walks have rifuigi, mountain huts that dole out substantial meals of pasta, soups, sausages and dumplings. Along with wines from the Alto Adige region, which are fantastic.

As a base I'd choose a few nights somewhere close to Bolzano, a really lovely pocket-sized city, don't miss it, and then a few more days in a more remote mountain town. A vehicle will make all the difference, this is one area where you're limited if you have to rely on public transport, and the mountain roads are fine as long as you take it easy.

The Sudtirol website sudtirol.com/en has everything you need to plan your time there.