Area Guides Italy

RIVIERA DI LEVANTE

The Riviera di Levante, the most beautiful part of the exceptional Riviera Ligure coast, lies between the Portofino promontory and Rapallo: pine forests tumbling down to the water's edge; Roman villas nestling in the trees; medieval, hilltop villages; elegant ports, tranquil coves and beaches; stunning Belle Epoque architecture; museums and art galleries; sensational boutiques, antique shops and a diversity of cafés and restaurants; rococo casinos and a vibrant nightlife.

TUSCANY - LUCCA AND FORTE DEI MARMI

Lucca – the undiscovered jewel in the Tuscan crown – is a circular Roman city with splendid, rose coloured-brick ramparts bordered by a miniature green belt: well preserved Romanesque churches, medieval towers, ancient piazza, an arena and noble houses; many pedestrian walkways; wonderful cafés, restaurants, food shops and boutiques; and pristine countryside flanked by wooded Appenine hills and mountains. Nearby Forte dei Marmi is a very elegant resort on the chic Versilian Riviera.

TUSCANY - FLORENCE

Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, is an extraordinary, partially-walled city set in the heart of serenely beautiful countryside: the river Arno with its spectacular Ponto Vecchio bridge; the world-famous Duomo and Campanile; palaces, piazzas, museums and noble houses; fine restaurants, grand old cafés, antiques, bookshops and the world's pre-eminent boutiques.

TUSCANY - CHIANTI

Chianti is glorious in all seasons: thickly-wooded escarpments, dramatic valleys, and majestic hills offering breathtakingly beautiful views of ordered vineyards; hilltop farmhouses, castles and medieval villages; lines and almost artistic clusters of cypresses; high, staked vines, grassy olive groves, vermillion poppies and wild flowers dancing by the roadsides; great wine estates and historic wine centres; thriving markets and good restaurants.

TUSCANY - THE MAREMMA REGION

This very beautiful, unspoilt and sometimes slightly desolate part of coastal Tuscany really belongs to the Italy's south and has a distinct Spanish feeling: pine forests, olive groves and vineyards coming right down to natural beaches; simple fishing villages, fortified ports and chichi marinas; farmland and marshy pastures; a nature park rich in flora and fauna; pristine offshore islands; water sports and inland excursions; the spectacular Monte Argentario promontory; some of Italy's finest seafood.

TUSCANY - VAL D'ORCIA

The Val d'Orcia is widely considered to be among the most beautiful and unspoilt parts of Tuscany: sweetly-shaped, rolling hills and valleys with the massive Mount Amiata to the west: hilltop lines of sentient cypresses; vines and stretches of silvery olive trees; powerful medieval forts; eroded chalk cliffs and hills; pure water sources, hot springs and spas; extraordinary flora and fauna; simple but wonderful natural food.

UMBRIA

Umbria – the soft, green, tranquil heart of Italy – is one of the few landlocked provinces, but its proximity to the Adriatic gives it a Mediterranean climate: numerous spectacular medieval hill towns rich in architecture; rolling countryside covered with field of sunflowers, poppies, and corn, vineyards, olive groves, poplars and cypresses; nature parks; rivers, waterfalls, lakes and lush valleys; vast forests and mountains; exceptional sports opportunities and summer festivals; imaginative Etruscan cuisine.

CAMPANIA - COSTA AMALFITANA AND COSTA CILENTANA

On the south side of the Sorrento peninsula, the Amalfi coast on the Bay of Salerno is an exquisite stretch of coastline embracing jewels like Capri, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello as well as colourful villages perched high above sapphire-coloured waters: south of Salerno, the lesser-known Cilentana coast is characterised by small villages, breathtaking cliffs, and unspoilt, golden beaches, Greek and Roman remains amid citrus orchards, vineyards and olive groves; outstanding sea food restaurants, wonderful cafés, boutiques and food shops.

SARDINIA

Sardinia – like its closest neighbour Corsica – offers pristine beaches on spectacular, azure-green bays and coves as well as sophisticated marinas: beautiful, small islands offshore; inland, an almost primeval landscape of rocks sculpted by wind and sea; forests of cork and holm oaks as well as oleander, aromatic plants and shrubs; mysterious Neolithic buildings; a unique cuisine and a reserved but friendly people.

VENICE AND VENETO

Venice, the richest of all the Renaissance cities, remains a world apart – almost a work of art in itself – with a special magic that enchants all who visit: dove-flocked piazzi reflected in dancing water vying with painted palazzi, and the world's highest density of cultural and architectural wealth; a unique cuisine; wonderful food and antique markets; great restaurants, elegant cafés and stunning bars; extraordinary boutiques; tranquil hideaways and, above all, an incomparable mystique.