Italy

Few countries can compete with Italy's art, architecture, musical and literary traditions, its scenery or food and wine. The sheer variety of the northeast corner of Italy makes it a fascinating area to explore. The Dolomites form the spectacular backdrop to many towns in this area, whilst on the plain, Verona, one of the loveliest cities in the Veneto, is noted for its outstanding architecture. The incomparable city of Venice, gateway to the orient, rises from the lagoon. Head northwest for the centre of fashion
The northwest of Italy is made up of three contrasting areas: the jagged Alps, the flat plain and the shoreline of the Mediterranean. Major towns in this area include Milan, centre of fashion, business and political scandal, and Turin, with its superb Baroque architecture, home of the famous shroud and Juventus football team. At the heart of Italy is a beautiful landscape
The regions of central Italy are popular with visitors as they offer a range of beautiful landscapes and towns rich in culture and history. Tuscany is dominated by Florence, made one of the world's greatest artistic capitals by the paintings and sculptures of artists such as Boticelli, Michelangelo, and Donatello. Pisa's famous Leaning Tower is now the best-known building in the Field of Miracles. The first settlements in the area of Rome and Lazio can be traced back to the early Etruscan civilisation in northern Lazio. Rome grew to rule a vast empire and, as the empire began to divide, the region became the centre of the Christian world. Today, visitors to this area can see sights such as St Peter's, the Pantheon and the Colosseum. The charismatic coastal regions of southern Italy
Visitors to southern Italy are faced with a rich array of archaeological remains. Although those of the Romans at Pompei are high on everyone's list, Greek ruins also litter Sicily and the southern coast, and mysterious ancient structures can be found in Sardinia. Naples and Sicily are admired for architecture. In this area, the cuisine alone is enough to keep you on the coast or in the rustic mountain villages.