ONE of the most exciting international travel options this year are Qantas’ new flights to Rome. Starting in the third week of June, there will be three return flights - Sydney - Perth - Rome - per week during the Northern Hemisphere summer until October. The route will allow travellers to combine the Rome flights with the airline’s double-daily direct flights between Australia and London and also access 16 other destinations in Europe and 15 in Italy, including Milan and Venice.
From Milan, it’s only a 144-kilometre drive to Genoa, the port city that gave birth to pesto, focaccia and Christopher Columbus. Often by-passed in favour of the Cinque Terre, the rugged Italian Riviera coastline, and Portofino, this year marks the 530th anniversary
