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And they're not very happy about it!

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Culture Discovery - Culinary Vacations in Europe

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Italians Taste American Junk Food Part 2

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Among others...

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10 So-called "Italian" foods that don't exist in Italy!

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10 So-called "Italian" foods that don't exist in Italy!

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So don't look for them there! Ew.

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10 "ITALIAN" FOODS THAT DON'T EXIST IN ITALY!

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A verrrry short list too!

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Summer colour: The multi-hued harbour in Vernazza

Georgous and captivating: Venice

Roman holidays...

The Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images

Sorrento, Italy. Photo: Deposit

Chic little island: Ischia

Meeting 'Juliet' in Verona

A Fiat 500 in Rome

The Amalfi Coast

A Food store showcase full of food in Bologna. Photo: Deposit

St. Peter's Basilica interior with light beam in Vatican City.

JW Marriott, Venice. Photo: Facebook.com/JWMarriottVeniceResportSpa

Pompeii

Mount Vesuvius looms over ruins of Pompeii

Rocca della Guaita, the most ancient fortress of San Marino, Italy

Capri

View of skiing resort in Livigno, Italy. Photo: Deposit

THAT selfie in Pisa. Photo: Deposit

The Palio di Siena, held twice a year. Ten horses and riders, bareback and dressed in the appropriate colours, represent ten of the seventeen contrade, or city wards. Photo by Mario Llorca/Corbis via Getty Images

Spot the visitors! Mount Etna, Sicily

Pontile Bar at the Hotel Cala di Volpe

Typical trulli houses with conical roof in the UNESCO world heritage site of Alberobello, Apulia.

Venice (Italy): The Lido, a 11 km long sandbar in the lagoon. Photo by: Andia/UIG via Getty Images

Naples - the home of pizza

Italy is more than a country. It's a state of mind. Sifting back over years of travel notes, that's the feeling washing over me.

I've buzzed past the Colosseum on a Vespa, witnessed the Palio in Siena, swum in crystal-clear water off Sardinia. But it was the passeggiata in Siracusa that really brought it home, that made the word 'Italy' one of the few that can instantly erase lines from my forehead.

It ain't perfect, of course. Driving in Italy is hairy; the difference between romance and real life in places like Naples and Sicily can be jarring, and tourist crowds are pushing Venice towards crisis.

But who wants perfection? That would be boring - one thing Italy could never be. From David to the Dolomites, the Aeolian Islands to the Amalfi Coast, we've tried to capture its essence in our travel pages.

Impossible? Absolutely. But it's the perfect excuse to go back...
Buon viaggio! - Pól Ó Conghaile
1. Take a Fiat 500 tour in Rome

Want to experience the iconic craziness of Italian driving while feeling like you're starring a 1950s Cinecittà Studios movie? Make those dreams come true with a tour in a candy-coloured vintage Fiat

Cinquecento. Once you've got to grips with the car's retro gearbox, you'll be whizzing round the Colosseum like a pro. Your guide will show you lesser-known spots of the city, like the romantic Orange Garden on the Aventine Hill and a unique, unforgettable view of St Peter's Basilica. - LM

Do it: rome500exp.com; 90-minute tour from €95pp.

While you're at it: Prefer the fast lane? Check out the Ferrari museums in Emilia-Romagna, where you can learn all about these sleek racing cars and their creator, Mr Enzo Ferrari, himself ( musei.ferrari.com/en).

2. See Cinque Terre - without the crowds

The beauty of these five colourful fishing villages is that they're connected by paths and sea rather than by road. A popular way to see them is to hike the coastal trail, but escape the crowds by travelling by water - you can rent your own boat and captain from one of the harbours. Cinque Terre gets busy in high season, so visit in shoulder or low season to avoid peak summer crowds and start your hike later in the afternoon for quieter times on the trails. - YG

While you're at it: Forgo the expensive gondolas of Venice and whizz up and down the city's canals by vaporetto waterbus - buy a day pass and get timetable info and apps at actv.avmspa.it/en.

More: Famous Five: Why Italy's Cinque Terre is worth braving the crowds

3. Climb a volcano in Sicily

If you like playing with fire, a walking tour of Sicily and her volcanic Aeolian Islands is just for you. Vulcano is named after the still-smoking crater in its centre; Stromboli is a cone-shaped island topped with a regularly erupting core, while Mount Etna is one of the biggest active volcanoes in the world. You can climb all three and see lava flows and explosive eruptions (at a safe distance, of course) before taking it easy in the historic beachside town of Taormina. - LM

Do it: See visitsicily.info and italia.it, or take a nine-day Islands of Sicily walk from £1,349/€1,509pp (headwater.com).

While you're at it: Less strenuous, but no less picturesque, is a walking holiday between the iconic Cinque Terre cliffside villages (see No.2 above).

4. Make pasta in Bologna

Ever wanted to make your own pasta, but been put off by all the faff? Well, if you're ever going to learn, this is the place to do it. At the CIBO - Culinary Institute of Bologna, you'll learn how to roll out your pasta by hand (working those biceps in the process) and, afterwards, enjoy it with a glass of local wine. - NB

Do it: cookingclassesinbologna.com, from €95pp.

While you're at it: Eat a bowl of tagliatelle al ragù - this rich, earthy sauce is a world away from your mam's spag bol.

More: Forget Rome and Tuscany: Here's Italy's tastiest foodie break

5. Drive the Amalfi Coast

It has lots of twists and turns, but a drive along the Amalfi Coast Road, suspended between mountains and sea, is like no other. All along the way you'll experience the beautiful colours of the Mediterranean, with views down to secret coves (and peeks into grand villas) and up to lemon groves and mountain terraces. Drop into the seaside town of Positano or drive high up into the hills to Ravello for magnificent villa gardens and outdoor opera performances. - YG

Do it: amalficoast.com (not an official site).

While you're at it: Take to the hills above Amalfi and walk the Path of the Gods, passing vineyards and terraces with panoramic coastal views.

6. Marvel at Michelangelo

You can't visit Italy without paying homage to the country's artistic hero, Michelangelo. Head to the Sistine Chapel in Rome and breathe in the immense beauty of the ceiling - it's worth getting a crick in your neck. The sculpture of David is at the Accademia Gallery in Florence. Anyone who has seen the iconic work "has no need to see anything else by another sculptor, living or dead", as painter and author Giorgio Vasari's famous quote puts it. - NB

Do it: museivaticani.va, entry €16; galleriaaccademiafirenze.beniculturali.it, entry €8.

While you're at it: Peek through the keyhole at the Piazza of the Knights of Malta for an unbeatable view of Rome.

More: Rome: Skip the line with a private tour of the Sistine Chapel

7. Tour one of the world's smallest countries

San Marino is the fifth-smallest country in the world, measuring just 61 sq km. Still, it has its own flag, football team and even its own army. Take a trip up to its steep, UNESCO-listed capital (of the same name) to marvel at three impressive defence towers perching perilously on the peaks of Monte Titano, its fine palazzi and, bizarrely, its torture museum - which has a collection of over 100 grisly devices dating back to the 16th century. - LM

Do it: visitsanmarino.com

While you're at it: The Vatican, a country within Rome, is the smallest state in the world, with a population of just 1,000 - and its own postal service.

8. Rent a farmhouse in Umbria

Set in the green heart of Italy, and less busy or expensive than neighbouring Tuscany, Umbria has all the ingredients for the perfect holiday. Rent a quiet farmhouse with a pool for a relaxing week with good food and wine. If you can drag yourself away from the villa for outings and culture, the region is dotted with medieval villages to explore, and many have summer festivals. - YG
Do it: umbriatourism.it/en
While you're at it: Visit Assisi for its historical centre and Basilica di San Francesco, or Orvieto for its network of tiny streets, churches and museums.

9. Go to the opera in La Scala
Do it: teatroallascala.org
If you're only going to go to the opera once in your life, you need to do it right. La Scala in Milan is impressively grandiose, from the ornate carvings on the boxes to the impressive chandeliers. You'll need to book tickets in advance - they go on sale two months before the first performance of a show. There's an excellent museum, and you can also take a behind-the-scenes tour where you'll see the stage, the Royal Box and the backstage areas. - NB

While You're at it: Catch an outdoor opera at the Verona Arena, an impressive Roman amphitheatre, or in Ravello during the Chamber Music Festival.

10. Join the 'Juliet Club' in Verona

Star-crossed lovers can seek advice on all matters of the heart by writing to one of history's most celebrated romantics, Giulietta Capuleti, who was rendered immortal by William Shakespeare. After you've visited her home, stood on her balcony, and, er, rubbed the right-hand bosom of her bronze statue for luck, post your letter to the Juliet Club, who will reply with the best advice they can offer. - LM

While you're at it: They say if you toss a coin in the Trevi Fountain, you will always return to Rome - apparently around €3,000 is thrown in every day.

11. Ski the Italian Alps

With good food and wine, prices a little lower than its neighbours, thousands of kilometres of slopes and hundreds of different ski areas across the Alps and Dolomites, what's not to love about skiing in Italy? Livigno is a good beginner resort, with plenty of ski runs on the two different mountains, plus a choice of schools and even night skiing for those who can't tear themselves away from the slopes, while advanced skiers might head for the Dolomiti Superski area to the Val Gardena resorts. - YG

Do it: For Livigno, see topflight.ie for ski packages; for Val Gardena, see crystalski.ie.

While you're at it: This area is beautiful in summer too: take to the hiking trails for fresh air and natural beauty.
Do it: veneziaeilsuolido.it/en
12. Sunbathe in style at the Venice lido

Venice is a gorgeous and captivating city - but it's no secret that it can be packed to the rafters, particularly in the summer. Your escape? A quick little vaporetto ride to the Lido di Venezia, where you'll find a 10km stretch of sand (and the all important beach bars). Come September, the island is filled with stars, as it plays host to the Venice Film Festival. - NB

While you're at it: Take a cicchetti tour in Venice - these little bar snacks were invented here and match perfectly with a glass of Prosecco.

More: Venice: Here's the real secret to skipping the tourist crowds

13. Be gobsmacked by vintage Gucci in Florence

The creation of humble Florentine porter Guccio Gucci, this label started life as a purveyor of fine luggage and evolved into one of world's most coveted brands. The fascinating museum, Gucci Museo, takes you through nearly 100 years of heritage, with exhibits from bicycle bags and zebra-skin suitcases to surfboards, watches and even a Cadillac emblazoned with the famous entwined 'G's. You can also drool over some fabulous couture dresses, worn by some of the world's most beautiful women, from Sophia Loren to Hilary Swank. - LM

Do it: guccimuseo.com, €6pp.

While you're at it: For some truly stylish window shopping, take a sartorial stroll through Milan's stunning Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade, stocked with famous stores ranging from Prada to Versace ( ingalleria.com).

More: Dan Brown's Italy - A blockbuster trip through Venice and Florence

14. Eat the world's best pizza in Naples

Naples may have had a reputation that was far from salubrious, but it's undergoing something of a transformation. Even in days gone by, there was always something that attracted the crowds - the world's best pizza. You might know it as the place Julia Roberts visits in Eat, Pray, Love, but L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele has long been regarded as the best of the best. Join the queue, order a bubbling Margherita and then die a little with that first glorious bite. - NB

While you're at it: Neapolitan coffee has its own reputation too, dating back to the 17th century - the stove-top coffee maker makes a killer brew.

More: Naples: 24 hours in Italy's most surprising city

15. Have a Roman Holiday

The Vatican City and Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and the Forum, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps - you'll have a big list of must-sees if it's your first time in the Italian capital, but one of the best things to do is just explore by foot. Get lost while wandering the ancient cobbles and soak up all the grandeur and architecture - best of all, you'll stumble into hidden piazzas and discover some hideaways for the best Italian pizza too. Buon appetito! - YG

While you're at it: Head north and check out Lake Garda, Italy's largest lake, for its balmy climate, mountain views, watersports and peaceful villages ( visitgarda.com).

More: 24 hours in Rome: How to get your romance on in the Eternal City

16. Sleep in a trullo in Puglia

Channel your inner hobbit and spend a night (or two) in a trullo - Puglia's archetypal dwellings are charming, circular stone houses with cone-shaped roofs. Dating from the 16th century, they were built to be easily dismantled, in case the taxman came knocking (back then, all permanent structures were liable for levies). Today, the biggest concentration of these structures can be found in the pretty town of Alberobello. - LM

Do it: See thethinkingtraveller.com/thinkpuglia, prices vary.

While you're at it: Have something grander in mind? How about a pastel-walled, terracotta-roofed villa set among the rolling hills, pine trees and vineyards of Tuscany? Don't mind if we do!

17. Escape the crowds in Ischia

Remember The Talented Mr Ripley? And the gorgeous little beach they visited, just before everything turned a little... sour? Well, that's Ischia. This gorgeous, chic little island is filled with ramshackle towns, luscious peaks and, of course, charming beaches. - NB

Do it: Topflight has a 14-night trip, including Ischia, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, from €1,499pp ( topflight.ie).

While You're at it: Hop over to the dreamy Aeolian Islands, with their talcum-powder sands, dazzling waters and smouldering volcanoes.

18. Explore the ancient wonder of Pompeii

This Roman city was buried under ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79AD and was frozen in time for thousands of years until excavated in the 1700s. It's fascinating to wander the streets and see the remains of buildings like the city's aqueduct, gymnasium and amphitheatre. Details like frescoes on the walls and ancient wine jars give an idea of everyday life in Roman times - and there is even ancient graffiti. - YG

Do it: pompeiisites.org; admission from €13pp.

While you're at it: Take a walking trail up Mount Vesuvius and visit the crater - constantly monitored for the threat of eruptions - for panoramic Bay of Naples views; €10, vesuvioinrete.it/visiting-mt-vesuvius.htm.

More: Pompeii city: What lies beneath

19. Go perfume shopping in Capri

The craggy little island of Capri is best known for its towering rock formations, its Piazzetta (or main square, home to overpriced coffee) and the remains of a Roman palace, Villa Jovis. But it's also home to a fragrance house established in 1948 by a monastery on the island called Carthusia, which uses local Mediterranean flowers and herbs, from lily of the valley to wild mint, to create a series of stunning scents. - LM

While you're at it: That advertisement for Dolce & Gabbana perfume, featuring David Gandy in a skimpy pair of white budgie smugglers, was filmed at Capri's beautiful Blue Grotto, a sea cave filled with water so azure, it doesn't seem real. Take a boat trip to check it out (Gandy not included). See capri.com for more.

20. See the Palio in Siena

Taking place on two days each year, July 2 and August 16, the Palio di Siena is a historic (and extraordinarily competitive) horse race around Siena's Piazza del Campo. Riding bareback, 10 jockeys represent their city district, flying through the thick dirt as thousands gather to watch. It's high octane, suitably dangerous and probably the closest thing we have to modern-day jousting tournaments. - NB

While you're at it: Keep the medieval theme going at Torrechiara Castle in Parma, with gorgeous countryside views and an excellent taverna on site.

More: Siena: 24 hours in Italy's sweetest city

21. Take a passegiatta in Siracusa's old town

When the afternoon light starts to dwindle, Italy's old town squares come to life with folks ambling around, chatting with their neighbours and catching up as kids run around their legs. This social evening stroll is known as a passeggiata, and there's no better place to join in than the old town of Syracuse (Siracusa in Italian) in Sicily, where the buildings and squares seem to glow in the fading sunlight. - NB

While you're at it: Catch a sunset from the hilltop town of Taormina, keeping an eye on the peak of neighbouring Mount Etna.

More: Sicily's best kept secret revealed - and it's not Taormina

22. Toast The Spy Who Loved Me bar in Sardinia

The setting for the scene where Roger Moore's James Bond romances Russian spy Anya Amasova (played by Barbara Bach) isn't actually a suite, but the Pontile Bar at the luxurious Hotel Cala di Volpe on Italy's chic Costa Smeralda. Dating from the '60s, it's firmly aimed at the rich and famous (as the room prices will attest) but you don't have to stay; come here for a pink, peachy Bellini and sit and gaze at the beautiful people. - LM

While you're at it: Another movie location worth checking out is the beautiful beach of Cala Luna, on the less glitzy side of the island; its crescent shape formed the backdrop for scenes from Madonna's turkey Swept Away.

23. Take THAT selfie in Pisa

You might tell yourself that you're going to resist, that you'll be different from the legions of tourists who have come here before you... but you won't. You'll stand dozens of feet away from this magnificent, turreted, 14,500-tonne edifice - which started to lean in 1178, due to the soft land it was built on - and pose to look as if your hands are propping it up. The tower took 344 years to build, and in 1964 a team of engineers came together to stabilise it with a counterweight. Now it still leans, but it's totally safe to climb to the top. - LM

Do it: towerofpisa.org (tickets from €30pp).

While you're at it: Get more thrills via a Harley-Davidson tour of Tuscany; feel the wind through your hair as you whizz past some of the country's most compelling scenery ( edelweissbike.com).

More: Italian Insider: Six ways to do Venice like a Venetian

24. Take a cooking class in Le Marche

Spend a few days in La Tavola's 300-year-old farmhouse to soak up the Italian countryside and take a cooking class - using produce from the organic garden. There's mushroom foraging, truffle hunting and hiking trails in the area, plus local villages to explore. Or just relax by the pool and tuck into pizza from the wood-fired oven. - YG

Do it: Three nights with cooking class, market tour and pizza night, from €720 per couple ( latavolamarche.com).

While you're at it: Visit the walled city of Urbino for Renaissance art and architecture and the magnificent Palazzo Ducale, palace of the Duke of Montefeltro ( turismo.pesarourbino.it/en).

25. Drink Limoncello on the Amalfi Coast

Italy's jaw-dropping Amalfi Coast, which takes in the seaside fishing villages and cliff-set towns of Sorrento, Positano and Ravello, is famous for its Sfusato lemon trees, which are harvested between February and October. Try an icy shot of the liqueur they're used to make - limoncello - at any restaurant or bar with a view of the sea; one of the most breathtaking is at the terraced Vittoria Bar in Sorrento's Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. - LM

While you're at it: Grappa is one of Italy's most popular alcoholic drinks, a (very) strong spirit distilled from the grape skins, seeds and stalks left over from making wine. Sample some in the town which invented it, Bassano del Grappa ( venetoinside.com).

NB: All prices subject to change/availabilty.

The Spanish Bucket List: 30 things to do in Spain before you die

Weekend Magazine

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The Italian Bucket List: 25 things to do in Italy before you die! - Independent.ie

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Italy is more than a country. It's a state of mind. Sifting back over years of travel notes, that's the feeling washing over me. I've buzzed past the Colosseum on a Vespa, witnessed the Palio in Siena, swum in crystal-clear water off Sardinia.

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A verrrrry short list!

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Italy has been a crucial center of discovery in art and culture, whether it be the many phases of the Renaissance or the exploration of new lands by Columbus and Vespucci. Rome itself, as Western civilization's political and religious capital, contains both the history of the Roman Empire and Christianity, earning the name "The Eternal City" by poets and writers. It's clear that we owe more to Italy than Vespas and pasta, as the country hosts some of the most stunning architecture ever built, from the Colosseum to Brunelleschi's Duomo to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Beyond the over 100,000 monuments and museums that exist in Italy, art lovers find themselves at "The Floating City's" Venice Biennale every two years, traversing islands to see the best in contemporary art during each edition. Enjoy the fascinating, endlessly influential History of Italian Art in a nutshell.

Giotto di Bondone: Giotto has long been considered the first great artist of the Italian Renaissance, which began in the 14th-century. He is known for going against the Byzantine style of painting, giving weight, personality, and dimension to his subjects. His realistic work famously spans churches like the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua and the Florence Cathedral, influencing nearly every painter who came after him.

Masaccio: One such artist influenced by Giotto was Massacio, particularly with his work at the Brancacci Chapel, where the famous fresco,The Tribute Money, resides. Known as the first great painter of the Italian Renaissance's Quattrocento period (15th-century), he innovated using linear perspective, vanishing points, and chiaroscuro to take realism even further than Giotto did.

Donatello: Trained as a goldsmith, Donatello is another Early Renaissance artist who realistically portrayed the body to express its pride and dignity in the 15th-century. He's more known for his youthful sculpture of David than he is for the brass pulpits at Old Sacristy of San Lorenzo, yet both show the impressive drama he was uniquely able to capture using perspectival illusionism.

Michelangelo Buonarroti: The term "Renaissance man" comes from one of the leading figures of the High Renaissance (1490s-1527), Michelangelo, who was a sculptor, painter, architect, and poet. Unlike many of his Renaissance predecessors, Michelangelo's life was long and well documented. Before he was even 30 years old, he made the iconicPietà and David sculptures, followed by his best-known pieces, including The Creation of Adam, part of his masterful Sistine Chapel in Rome. At 74 years old, he became the architect of St. Peter's Basilica. It's no wonder he was called Il Divino, Italian for "the divine one," due to how prolific, influential, and accomplished he was in all the mediums he chose to pursue.

Leonardo da Vinci: As a key figure in the High Renaissance, and another true "Renaissance man," Leonardo da Vinci is remembered as a technical master who took his time to complete the best work possible. His job description is longer than Michelangelo's, adding musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, geologist, cartographer, botanist, writer, and anatomist to his résumé. Art historians and philosophers still ponder hisVitruvian Mandrawing, and Mona Lisaand The Last Supper are some of the most iconic, recognizable art pieces of all time. The combination of his designs, theories, and groundbreaking paintings have formed the consensus that he was truly ahead of his time.

Raphael: Another leader of the High Renaissance, Raphael doubled as a painter and architect. While his influence wasn't as widespread as Michelangelo's, he was in high demand during his lifetime, especially by Popes, who commissioned him to design their apartments. He created masterful pieces at the Vatican Palace, including The School of Athens, which was a tribute to the artists and philosophers who inspired and defined the Renaissance, such as Leonardo da Vinci and Plato. Raphael may have been a nomadic character, but his impact on and place in the High Renaissance are definite.

Giorgio Vasari: Another "Renaissance man," Vasari penned one of the most important art historical documents in 1550, a series of artist biographies, titled Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, Architects. He was more successful as an architect than as a painter and is best known for designing the structure of the Uffizi in Florence. Considered a Mannerist, he used less color in his work and was criticized for it at the time.

Caravaggio: One of the leaders of the Baroque movement (17th-century), Caravaggio was the king of drama and boldness. He advanced the usage of chiaroscuro into what would be called "Tenebrism," or rather, the dominance of darkness using dramatic illumination, in pieces such asThe Calling of St Matthew. The drama in his painterly style was also apparent in the scenes he depicted, from Goliath's severed head to overflowing still lifes.

Umberto Boccioni: Boccioni was a leading figure in the Futurist movement (early 20th-century), using painting and sculpture to express the excitement of the machine age. Futurism broke up subjects to re-examine them, like in Boccioni'sUnique forms of continuity in spacesculpture. By breaking down solid mass, Boccioni and his contemporaries departed from the realistic images of the past, using the body as a language to discuss technology, electricity, and innovation.

Lucio Fontana:Following movements that explored the future, metaphysics, and the representational Italian art of the past, Spatialism began to dominate the conversation. Founded by Lucio Fontana, the works in this movement, which took place in the 1940s and early '50s, examined the relationship between surface and dimensionality, later influencing performance art and environmental art. Fontana slashed his paintings, includingConcetto Spaziale, Attese, in order to reject the process of formal easel painting and embrace new art forms.

Francesco Vezzoli: Following Arte Povera's conceptual, minimalist, and performance movement in the '60s and Transavantgarde in the '70s and '80s, contemporary Italian artists have found ways to reference the past while also looking forward. Francesco Vezzoli incorporates the Renaissance and Christianity into works with contemporary celebrities, whether it be Michelle Williams and Natalie Portman in a fake perfume advertisement or a portrait of Laura Bush and her dog. In 2010, he remade 15th- and 16th-century Madonna and Child paintings with Claudia Schiffer, Cindy Crawford, Truman Capote, and others.

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Italy has been a crucial center of discovery in art and culture, whether it be the many phases of the Renaissance or the exploration of new lands by Columbus and Vespucci. Rome itself, as Western civilization's political and religious capital, contains both the history of the Roman Empire and Christianity, earning the name "The Eternal City" by poets and writers.

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Italy is made up of regions, much like the U.S. is made up of various states. Here's an interactive map!

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Italy is the world's most celebrated tourist destination. Its magnificent cities - Rome, Florence, Venice and Naples - are full of iconic sights, while its scenery, from the snow-clad Dolomites to the glorious beaches of Sardinia, is simply breathtaking and its cuisine beyond compare. Whether you want to take a Renaissance art tour of Tuscany, feast in Bologna's finest trattorias, find the best gelato in town or shop with the smart set in Milan, use our map of Italy below to start planning your trip.

Italy boasts arguably the greatest art collection in the world, as well as an enthralling cultural legacy; admire renaissance masterpieces, including Michelangelo's David, or marvel at the frescoes in Orvieto's stunning cathedral before going underground in the extraordinary atmospheric cave-town of Matera. Visit the fascinating ancient Roman city of Pompeii, and view the cause of its destruction and preservation, Mount Vesuvius, Europe's only active volcano.

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Italy is the world's most celebrated tourist destination. Its magnificent cities - Rome, Florence, Venice and Naples - are full of iconic sights, while its scenery, from the snow-clad Dolomites to the glorious beaches of Sardinia, is simply breathtaking and its cuisine beyond compare.

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Way back when - an animated history of Italy, Part 1

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Way back when - an animated history of Italy, Part 1

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Starting with the legend of Romulus and Remus to the Rise of Rome

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From the Lombards to present day.

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Trying to write a brief history of Italy is difficult! Evidence of civilizations in Italy date back 8,000 years! Read on for "highlights."

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A hilarious 13 min of the geography of the peninsula of Italia and some lesser known interesting places!