For sheer drama, few courses in the world match Golf Il Picciolo in Sicily. On the slopes of Mount Etna—one of the most active volcanoes in Europe—these 18-holes are laid out in an austerely beautiful landscape, in view of the imposing volcanic peak.

On Sardinia, near the bay of Cala di Volpe, we find Golf Pevero, designed by Robert Trent Jones.

Here the vibrant greens of the well-tended course blend with the emerald backdrop of the Sardinian Sea. Two other laudable courses on the island—Golf Is Arenas and Golf Is Molas—join Pevero in the hallowed ranks of the top 20 golf courses in Italy.

Below is a map from Il Mondo Golf Magazine showing Sicily and Sardinia’s finest courses: