March is the month of spring and as nature awakens, so does our desire to travel again. The weather is milder, the days are longer and, whether it's a weekend or a short holiday, Italy and Europe offer precious possibilities for a trip with all the benefits of the off-season but full of unparalleled experiences (and without too many tourists). Here, then, are our tips if you still haven't decided where to go on holiday in March.
The impressive collection of pinnacles, ramparts and turrets of Mont Saint Michel ©canadastock
Mont Saint Michel, France
More than 13 centuries have passed since the Archangel Michael asked Bishop Aubert d'Avranches to erect his church on a rocky islet between Brittany and Normandy; the building soon became a well-known pilgrimage destination for devout Christians. Today, this impressive collection of pinnacles, ramparts and turrets built over a few centuries - like a giant wedding cake in a Peter Jackson film - attracts over 2.5 million visitors each year. Many, however, come in summer. Come during a weekend in March and you can admire this extraordinary Gothic-Romanesque church and its Merveille ('Marvel') in relative calm. What's more, if you coincide your visit with the days following the March full moon, you can admire the magnificent natural spectacle of the grande marée - Europe's highest sea tide (15 m), which crosses the bay 'with the swiftness of a galloping horse', in the words of Victor Hugo.
Northern and Central France
The programme
Many of the hotels and restaurants on the mountain itself are expensive and overpriced; it is better to stay near Genêts, a little further east, where you can find accommodation with views of the bay and the abbey in the middle.
Things to know
If the Grande Rue - the main street leading to the abbey - is too crowded, take the path that climbs along the medieval ramparts. However, always check the tides.
Mount Pen-y-Fan in the Brecon Beacons National Park ©stocker1970
Brecon Beacons, Wales
Spring in Wales: new-born lambs frolic on the green hillsides dotted with straw-yellow daffodils. In this case, reality and stereotypes coincide; although there's never a guarantee of sunshine here, the Welsh countryside really comes into its own in this month and a trip in March allows you to enjoy it to the full. Get rid of the winter dreariness and explore one of the least visited corners of the UK.
The Brecon Beacons National Park, popular with hikers, boasts miles and miles of semi-deserted paths over gentle fells. At 886 metres, the soaring Pen-y-Fan presents a good challenge, but Black Mountain to the west of the park, and Sugar Loaf to the east, are no less. If you're interested in history, walk to the fairytale castle of Carreg Cennen - it opens to the public on April 1, but its location atop a spur makes it spectacular at any time of year.
The programme
Crickhowell, Brecon or Abergavenny are all ideal bases, but Abergavenny also boasts spectacular restaurants. Connected by train with Cardiff and Newport, it is easy to reach from many English cities.
Things to know
After a busy outing, warm up with a bowl of cawl, a thick soup of vegetables and lamb.
Majorca, Spain
The 'snow of Majorca' covers the slopes of the Balearic island in March. It's not really snow, at least not the kind made of water and ice; instead, it's thousands and thousands of pinkish-white petals of almond holes that give Mallorca its peculiar white mantle at the beginning of each year. Since the snowfall occurs in early March, when temperatures rise, exploring the island will also be a delight - tourists have not yet arrived in droves, but there is already plenty of sunshine to warm the beaches and illuminate traditional honey-coloured villages such as Deià, Fornalutx and Sóller. Take advantage of this to climb the peaks of the Serra de Tramuntana.
Don't snub Palma; although it is sometimes associated with party destinations like neighbouring Magaluf, it has a charming and picturesque Old Town and boasts beautiful period buildings, museums, squares and a monumental cathedral.
The programme
Numerous national and international flights serve Palma, and reasonable car rental prices and efficient public transport make it easy to organise a weekend getaway or a longer island tour.
Things to know
Mallorca is a mecca for cyclists. Many competitive teams train on its excellent mountain trails in winter - bring a bike and join them.
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The imposing Basilica of St Francis in Assisi ©Valery Rokhin
Assisi, Italy
St Francis is known for renouncing his earthly riches. The town where he was born, Assisi, has not. Well-prepared to welcome the hordes of tourists who flock there to pray in the medieval basilica that bears the famous saint's name, Assisi is packed with masterpieces of 13th and 14th century art. There is no denying that the evocative atmosphere of the place, especially in this quiet month when there are (relatively) few tourists, seems to invite (along with several facilities in the surrounding area offering meditation courses) spiritual reflection and rest.
Don't forget its historical wonders, though: the imposing Basilica of San Francesco hides magnificent frescoes by Giotto in the Upper Basilica, and by Cimabue, Simone Martini and Pietro Lorenzetti in the Lower Basilica. Don't miss the Roman amphitheatre and the Church of San Damiano, where St Francis is said to have heard the voice of God in the early 13th century. And, of course, treat yourself to a glass or two of the excellent local white wines, Orvieto or Grechetto: Francis, in his young and wild days, would have approved.
The programme
Book accommodation several months in advance or stay in nearby Spello. Alternatively, give yourself a week or two to explore the Umbrian hills, touching on Gubbio, Trevi, Todi.
Things to know
Assisi is packed with tourists all year round, but Easter, Calendimaggio and the Feast of St Francis (3-4 Oct), are the busiest times.
Views of the Mani peninsula, Peloponnese © Giulia Grimaldi/Lonely Planet Italy
Peloponnese, Greece
Inexplicably, although it boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Greece and superb archaeological sites and monuments from the medieval period, fascinating mountains and the Arcadia region, this hand-shaped peninsula welcomes only a small portion of the tourists entering the country. March guarantees few crowds and mild temperatures, perfect for beautiful walks, as well as great availability of cheap accommodation. Not only that, the Peloponnese is perfect for beach holidays in March. Don't miss Olympia, the city that hosted the Olympic Games for over 1,000 years; the citadel of Mycenae, shrouded in Homeric legends; the 14,000-seat Epidaurus Theatre; and the Byzantine port of Monemvasiá.
The Mani peninsula offers beautiful hiking trails, especially around the Výros Gorge, as well as charming villages, while the west coast has some of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the country. The local cuisine, based on the freshest ingredients, is fabulous: Kalamáta is famous for its olives, while aubergines, fish and honey appear in many local specialities; also try the Agiorgitiko red wine.
The Programme
Set off from Athens and arrive in the Peloponnese via ancient Corinth, and pop into Mycenae, Epidaurus and the pretty seaside town of Nafplio: a tour that can be done in a few days. If you have more time, head south to Monemvasiá and the Mani, then head north again via the west coast and Olympia.
Worth knowing
Athens is an 85 km drive from Corinth; buses, trains and ferries connect it to the Peloponnese. Buses operate a reduced service in the low season.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik, a crescent of terracotta-coloured roofs that curves to embrace a blue corner of the Adriatic, is beautiful, and has also been stormed several times over the centuries: besieged by Saracens, conquered by Venetians, devastated by the 1667 earthquake, destroyed by Napoleon and then by the 1991-92 war, it is now invaded by hordes of cruise passengers every year. But if you travel there in March, when spring is in full swing, you'll be ahead of the hit-and-run tourists and can probably enjoy its superb beauty with the locals. Start by taking a tour of the Old Town walls and visiting the medieval forts built to defend the city, then dive into the maze of whitewashed streets in the timeless heart of the city. If you want to enjoy a different perspective, take a cable car ride to the top of Mount Srd, or go around the bay to peaceful Cavtat, founded by the same Greeks who fled from the Slavs and later, in 614, built the more famous Dubrovnik.
The programme
The Old Town offers a limited amount of cheap accommodation; you'll find more in Lapad, just over a kilometre to the west.
Worth knowing
The cable car to Mount Srd operates year-round except in February. During certain months of the year it has reduced evening hours. Ferries to Cavtat operate from April to October, and in March some businesses may be closed.
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