Lauren emailed from Playa Del Rey California: I’m going back to Venice and Sicily this spring and I wanted to combine some classic spots with new places. What do you recommend?

Peter replied: First, it depends on when you’re going.The spring is a good time to go. If anybody goes to Venice in July or August, you’re an idiot. It’s outrageously humid and smelly–there’s nothing romantic about Venice in July and August. Even the people from Venice go on vacation from Venice in August and July. If you go anywhere else in Italy, you’ll be fine. Go in September, the magic month October, or November. November and February are my two favorite months, because it’s Venice in winter. How cool and romantic is that?

Whenever you go, there are great restaurants that are in Venice. In the Bauer Hotel, there’s De Pisis run by chef Giovanni Ciresa. The food is really creative, but the service is a little slow so just sit outside, watch the canal and relax. I like Caffe Quadri. It’s right there in the Piazza San Marco. It’s one of the oldest cafes in the square. It’s been there since the 1700s, and it’s another Venetian institution. Go for the people watching. Also, in the square is Osteria San Marco (in a hotel called La Locanda di Orsaria), which is a cool little wine bar. It’s got a limited menu, but it has occasional live music.

In Marsala and Sicily, I’m a big fan of Taormina and the San Domenico Palace Hotel. As to restaurants, in Marsala there’s a place called Sapori di Sole. It’s a mom and pops place in the heart of the old town. There’s excellent local wines, classic Sicilian dishes and sea food. The other one that I love is Osteria Il Gallo e L’Innamorata, which means, “Just go there.” The menu changes daily, which is really nice, and they’re known for their fresh pastas and the sea food, which is simply prepared. At the end of the day, simple is better.

For more Italian travel, learn more about Italy’s Aeolian Islands.

By Peter Greenberg for Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio