Italy has more Unesco World Heritage cultural sites than any other country on Earth. Should you walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans in Pompeii, revel in Ravenna's glittering Byzantine treasures or get breathless over Giotto's revolutionary frescoes in Padua?

It's a cultural conundrum as thrilling as it is overwhelming. But another consideration is the best time to visit the country – do you go in summer when the sun is high, but so too are the prices, or wait until low season for cheaper rates, but run the risk of many attractions not being open?