The italians seem to have a habit of either pointng runways at a hill (Pisa, Verona, Genoa) or not fitting ILS's to both ends (Bologna (may have changed). Generally you would follow the instrument approach to one end and break off for a circling, but as most aircraft can do 15kt tailwinds its quicker and easier where the runway isnt limiting to either land or take off downwind. From your description i think we might be talking about Pisa. The times i went there the wind was only too strong once.