 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
||
Italy
Art & traditionsTuscany is, of course, the greatest art region, with its famous cities and a Renaissance masterpiece seemingly in every village church. Each area has its riches, though - many of them surprising. Along the Amalfi Coast, Saracen watchtowers stand on the terraced mountainsides looking out over the Mediterranean. In Liguria, brightly coloured fishing villages nestle on the wooded slopes, while Umbria is renowned for its Romanesque churches. Like the ancient buildings, traditions live on too, in the form of country fairs, processions and superstitions. Regional specialities & wines Our walking holidays & destinations> The Heart of Italy - Tuscany, Umbria & Emilia Romagna > Riches of the North - Piemonte, Liguria, Lakes & Dolomites > The Vibrant South - Amalfi Coast, Basilicata, Sicily & Sardinia
 |
|
||
The regions of Italy are astonishingly varied, each with its distinctive culture and gastronomy. Throughout the country, you meet friendly and open people, particularly in areas such as the Apennines, and the Madonie Mountains in Sicily, where foreign visitors are still rare. The scenery, too, ranges from the lace-like Dolomites, surely the most beautiful of all the Alpine mountains, to the rolling, vineyard-coated hills of Piedmont, and to the glittering waters of Lake Garda and Lake Iseo, set like jewels amid green landscapes. Wherever you go, history and great art are always close, from Greek ruins in the mountains of Basilicata, to the ancient ‘route of the gods’ linking Bologna and Florence. 
Unlike France, Italy has few national dishes, no classic gastronomy. Instead, its richness comes from its regional traditions. In Tuscany, a simple pasta with beans can seem the perfect accompaniment to a glass or two of Chianti. In the Apennines, chestnut specialities abound, while Sicily is renowned for its ice creams, sorbets and pastries. Liguria, the birthplace of pesto, and the Amalfi Coast offer excellent seafood. Wines vary, too, from the great reds of Piedmont and Tuscany, to the lesser-known varietals such as the robust Aglianico del Vulture from Basilicata, and the Cinque Terre’s white Sciacchetrà.