THE sparkling attractions of Switzerland, skiing, boating, mountaineering and culture make it difficult to choose a single reason to visit.

An enormously varied country with contrasts in language and scenery, every resort is unique in its own way.

Since the Swiss Travel System is arguably the best in the world with train, bus and boat routes covering thousands of miles, you could see a little of many places in one or two weeks.

Switching resorts each time is probably more relaxing and, if you haven't tried Ticino in the south, this lovely region will add a further dimension.

Totally different from the rest, with a sunny and balmy climate, this is where Switzerland meets the Med and becomes Italian: a mix of language, culture, architecture and food, blended with generous Swiss hospitality.

Lugano, Ticino's largest town, sits on the shores of the lake of the same name and is a walker's delight with 30 different itineraries for serious walkers across country and over mountains.

There's a concentration of piazzas and colonnaded streets, narrow alleyways and cheerful cafes, with enticing food.

With a strong babble of Italian at every turn, you might wonder if you've left Swiss territory behind.

Flower filled gardens and parks stretch for miles along the lakeside and the mild weather brings on the Camellias and Magnolias as early as February.

The main square, the Piazza della Riforma, flanked with cafe terraces, is the people-watching place which becomes a throbbing area in high season with jazz concerts and mass crowds; also varied classical concerts offering a wide choice for all tastes.

Lugano prides itself on its cultural life, with the Villa Favorita, home of the Thyssen Bornemista industrial Baron, housing some priceless works of art, open to the public.

The town also features constantly-changing exhibitions at museums showing works by famous artists such as Soutine and Kandinsky.

Grand old buildings and churches are everywhere including St Lawrence's Cathedral, noted for its Renaissance facade and three fine doorways which overlook the lake. Inside there are 16th Century frescoes and the tabernacle which dates from the same era.

Along with the food and scenery, there's a lively wine festival here every October with generous samples.

Daily boat trips chug out to picturesque villages across the bay to pretty Gandria, a village tumbling downhill into the sea, with arm-width streets and small houses weighted down with geranium pots.

Morcote, has a peaceful charm with houses and elegant shops tucked into archways along the front, but you need good legs to get around as there aremuseum with display of guns and cannon.

The four mile promenade, lined with restaurants, is fun for an evening stroll and at different times becomes the venue for hectic carnivals and merengue festivals. Don't miss the Brugal rum factory visit to sample all you can.

At the Taino Arts Museum, you can see the culture of the Amerindians who lived peacefully on the island for 1,500 years, before the Spanish Conquistadors arrived and annihilated most of them. Three miles away, Playa Dorada offers fine hotels with casinos, the Columbus Aquapark with five Olympic-standard swimming pools and a diving tower.

Sosua, a sleepy fishing village ten years ago, has swelled into a huge resort with a golden crescent beach and colourful street market ablaze with vivid Haitian paintings, sarongs and souvenirs.

Cabarete, a short drive away, is the windsurfing capital where the trade winds create tremendous waves. If you're there in the winter, go to the tropical resort of Samana, where the Bacardi advert was filmed, and watch the humped-back whales.

For a different landscape, take the country roads to the Jarabacoa Valley, 500 metres above sea level, with pine forests and fields of strawberries and flowers. With its year long temperate climate, and alpine setting, you can swim in waterfalls and paraglide from the heights.

Eating is a fusion of Spanish and African cooking. There are 230 ways of cooking rice, which take more than one holiday to enjoy. Try fish cooked in coconut sauce, and goat stewed in rum and red wine.

Down south on the Caribbean coast, there are more glorious resorts and the historic capital, Santa Domingo, the oldest city in the New World and a Unesco Heritage Site. The ancient colonial zone is full of architectural gems.

Fact File:

Sylvia travelled with Eclipse Worldwide Holidays (bookings, 08705 010 203; brochures 08702 432 432) and stayed at the five-star IberostarHotel. She stayed overnight at the Hilton Gatwick for an early flight (01293 518080). Dominican Republic Tourist Board: 020 7242 7778.

Reading: Insight Guides to Dominican Republic: compact pocket guide and large handbook. Caribbean and Bahamas Guide, Cadogen Publications.