The 17^th March is Saint Patrick’s Day, the patron saint of Ireland who, according to tradition, was inspired by a clover leaf when illustrating the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. From St Patrick's tomb at Downpatrick to the carnival-like atmosphere of the big parades in Dublin and Belfast, the whole country is in jubilant mood. Visit and be “Irish for a day”!

Sparkling white houses and dramatic little squares epitomise the island’s capital, but once you move away from the centre, on long roads lined with villas and lush gardens, there are fewer tourists and the place works its magic. Capri is also a great base for trips to Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast...

Don’t miss the From Matisse to Malevitch atAmsterdam Hermitage Museum. This is an opportunity to discover the museum, which is the first European branch of the famous Russian museum in St Petersburg, opened in June 2009 in a converted 17^th century hospice. It is also a chance to (re)discover this Venice of the North by wandering along its canals and historic districts.