It turns out, three days in Italy can pack a punch – there is so much to see and experience about Italian life and culture.

One evening, we visited the opera at the Arena di Verona – a magnificent Roman amphitheatre in Piazza Bra where you’re seated in the open air (and in the very same space that was used to host music and celebrations during the time of the Roman Empire).

We saw Aida 1913, a three-hour long production created by Italian director Gianfranco Bosio, which was part of the 101st Arena di Verona Opera Festival, which happens annually in Verona, and is simply awe-inspiring.

Food and drink were also a huge part of my time there – particularly wine. We visited the Signorvino vineyard in Valpolicella, where we learned about the fermentation process and tasted a range of wines produced at the vineyard.

While in Venice, soaking up the history of the place is a must (its population has dropped below 50,000 for the first time in over 300 years, and learning how to be an ethical tourist while you’re there is necessary).

Try a gorgeous gondola trip to get around as opposed to a speed boat (as this is better for the environment), and take in everything the brilliant Biennale has to offer if you’re visiting at this time of year.

A magical place, it’s no wonder that so much of Italy – particularly lingerie – is infused with romance, it’s literally everywhere. La dolce vita, indeed.

“I travelled to Verona to discover more about the art of Italian lingerie – here’s what I learned…”