Merano is a spa town situated to the north-west of Bolzano, in the northern Trentino-Alto Adige region, located about 350 meters above sea level and among the Venosta, Passiria and Adige Valleys.

The town is more German-Austrian in feel than Italian, and is a pleasant place best known for it spa waters and treatments.

Montagnana is south of Vicenza (south-east of Verona), in the Venice-Veneto region of Italy and about 40 kilometres south-east of Verona.

In ancient times the territory of Metaponto occupied the vast plain that stretched along the Ionian coast between the rivers Lato, to the north, and Cavone, south, reaching into the first foothills, in what is now part of the basilicata region of southern Italy.

The Greek colony originally settled in a region already densely inhabited by indigenous peoples, such as the Enotri and Chones, which was later expanded by the entry of goods and people coming from the Greek-speaking Aegean.

Modena is a large and important town situated centrally in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, to the north-west of Bologna and south-east of Parma.

The history of Modena dates back to Ancient Roman times, and was again a wealthy regional center during much of the 16th-18th centuries. To this day it is one if the more affluent Italian towns.

Mirandola is not a very large town, having about 20,000 inhabitants, but it has played an important role across the centuries because of its position between Mantua and Veneto, to the north-east of Modena and north-west of Bologna.

The town of Mineo is in south-eastern Sicily, between Gela (on the coast to the south-west) and Catania (on the coast to the north-east) and north of Vizzini.

Melfi is a quiet town but the castle and medieval old town have a great deal of character and it is a pleasant town to visit. Already established before the time of the Ancient Romans, Melfi acquired importance in the Middle Ages as the capital of the Normans and it is this era that sets the character of the town we visit today.

The town and resort of Mattinata are situated at the foot of the “Monte Sacro”, a hill known in antiquity as 'Dodoneo' and on which there is an ancient temple.

Mattinata includes a popular seaside resort with a nice sandy beach as well as the original village, a short distance from the sea and with small narrow streets, old stone steps and historic buildings to explore. Be sure to drag yourself away from the coast for a while because Mattinata has a great deal of historical interest to discover.

Know in Italy as Monte Cervino, the Matterhorn is instantly recognisable by its pyramid shape - it is perhaps the most recognised mountain peak in the world - you have certainly seen photos of the Matterhorn even if you didn't know what you were seeing!

The mountain is in the form of a four-sided pyramid, with the sides conveniently facing the points of the compass.

The town of Mascali is situated to the east of Sicily. In the shadow of Mount Etna, the town has suffered over the centuries from both earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The picturesque town of Ivrea is in north-west Italy, near Turin and although it is not a major tourist destination there are several interesting sights - most notably the cathedral and Roman ruins.

The town also holds a traditional carnival and the Battle of the Oranges (see further down) which is a popular time to visit Ivrea.

Mantua (aka Mantova) is an important town to the south-east of the Lombardy region surrounded by three lakes: Lago Superiore, Lago di Mezzo and Lago Inferiore. The town has a fascinating and impressive historic centre with lots of renaissance style builings and palaces and many examples from other historical periods.

Aldous Huxley famously described the city as 'the most romantic city in the world' and while that is perhaps open to debate (with Paris, Rome and Venice among those cities that might disagree!) it is true that Mantua is a very lovely city with a great deal to discover and enjoy among its attractive squares, its historic monuments, and its picturesque setting.

Manfredonia is a town with medieval origins in the southern part of the Gargano region of Apulia in south-east Italy, near the Adriatic coast. It is the "daughter" town of the ancient Greek - Roman city of 'Sipontum'.

While it is true that Manfredonia itself isn't a major tourist destination, the nearby beaches and the resort of Siponto attract many holidaymakers each year, and a trip to Manfredonia is an interesting excursion.

In a location that it has occupied for at least 3,000 years, Macerata is a lively town, if slightly off the main 'tourist trail' for the region, with plenty to distract you if you are passing your visit on the nearby coast or enjoying the countryside of the Marches.

Lugnano in Teverina not only has a very ancient past, but also a history of art that is worthy of special consideration. The town is still surrounded by its medieval walls, largely rebuilt by Pope Pius II, while the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta is the most important monument in the town.

Loreto is an important hill town to the south of Ancona, and home to one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Italy. It is inland from the Adriatic coast in the Marches region of central Italy.

The main attraction for visitors to Loreto - pilgrims or otherwise - is the imposing basilica and fortress complex which also includes the museum and the Holy House of the Virgin Mary.

You will find similarities at Loreto with Lourdes in France, with the combination of religious conviction, coachloads of sick people, important religious monuments and outright commercialism being rather unseemly if not outright troubling.

Locri is an ancient Greek settlement (and now also a resort and marina) at the far end of southern Italy, near Gerace and overlooking the Ionian Sea, one of the most beautiful and cleanest of the seas that surround Italy.

It is most visited for the important ancient remains from the Greek town of 'Locris'.

Lisciano Niccone is a small village and not traditionally part of the 'tourist trail', with agriculture the most important industry here, but if you are exploring the region you can visit to see the ruins of the castle in Lisciano Niccone.

The village is also part of the region designated as the Archaeological Park of Cortona.

Lodi is a substantial town that originally developed 2000 years ago as an important town on the Roman transport routes in the region. It is now an attractive medieval town to explore with a great deal of character.

The town of Magione is situated on Lake Trasimeno to the west of Perugia and towards the west of the Umbria region, in central Italy.

In ancient times Magione didn't have a a city wall but relied instead on a defense system based around the 'Torre dei Lombardi' (Lombardy Tower), located to the north of Magione.

Linosa is one of the Pelagian islands, a group of islands a long way south of Sicily. Linosa (and the other Pelagian islands) are above all visited for the beautiful coastline and the exceptional diving opportunities offered by the clear waters.

The island is only about five square kilometres in size, so won't take you very long to explore, with much of the island scenery away from the shore dominated by the extinct volcanoes and the areas of volcanic rock.

Licata is a town in a location that has been occupied for 2500 years on the coast of south-west Sicily, with Gela to the east and Agrigento to the west.

The seaside resort at Levanto is a short distance west of the famous Cinque Terre villages and a good base if you are exploring this beautiful region, as well as having a good quality beach and an interesting historic centre of its own to discover.

Jesi (also known as Iesi) is in the Le Marche region of central Italy, inland from Ancona. Set among the hills and vineyards of the region, Jesi is best known for it's medieval centre and the sturdy walls and towers that surround the town, with defensive fortifications dating from its 14th century heyday as centre of a small independent state.

The old town, laid out along a raised ridge, is well preserved and the most interesting part of the town for visitors with several interesting palaces and buildings to admire, and it is a very pleasant town to explore when visiting this region of Italy.

Kamarina is an ancient site at the Sicilian resort town of Santa Croce Camerina. For most visitors the nearby beaches and coast will be the priority of a visit but take time to also discover the historic site of Kamarina.

Kaukana, to use the ancient name for Kamarina, is a very important example of a settlement from late antiquity, and was an active town over various periods between 600 BC and 280 BC, then under the Romans until the 9th century AD. Although the remains here are rather sparse, the age and history of the settlement makes it an interesting site to visit.

Ispica is a town on a hill in the south-eastern corner of the island of Sicily, at about 200 meters above sea level and six kilometers from the coast. The immediate region around Ispica is most visited for its prehistoric caves, or of course the nearby coastal resorts such as Santa Maria del Focallo and Ciriga.

Eloro, also known nowadays as Helorus, is situated in south-east Sicily. It is closely related to the historic town of Noto and is found in the territory of that town.

It is for the archaeologic site and history that visitors come here - so bear with us if the Eloro guide is rather more historically detailed than most, but it will make your visit more interesting!

Lampedusa is a small island, just 13 kilometres long from east to west and with an average width of 3 kilometres situated about 200 km to the south-east of Sicily and 110 kilometres from Africa. It forms part of the Pelagian Islands. The natural environment of Lampedusa, that is the main attraction of Lampedusa, is as African in character as Italian.

Perhaps not surprisingly given its location, there are not too many tourists who come to enjoy the scenery and beautiful beaches on Lampedusa. The island is very popular with scuba divers, due to the exceptionally clear water and the diversity of fish and sealife to be found here.

Herculaneum (known in Italy as Ercolano) is an ancient Roman town situated on the outskirts of Naples - it was buried by ash falling and subsequent lava flows after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Less well known than Pompeii, Herculaneum is another important Roman town destroyed by the same eruption of Mount Vesuvius that has also been extensively excavated and is very revealing of the town 'frozen in time' 2000 years ago (although substantially smaller than the excavations at Pompeii).

Lampione is the smallest of the Pelagian islands, situated far off the southern coast of Sicily and closer to Africa than Italy. The ismand is uninhabited, and the only building on the island is a lighthouse.

The town of Gerace is situated at the southern end of Italy a few kilometres inland from the ancient Greek settlement of Locri on the Ionian coast - the two are usually explored as part of the same visit.

Gorizia is a town located at the eastern edge of the Veneto-Friuli region, on the border with Slovenia.

The town was divided in two as part of the settlement separating Italy and Yugoslavia at the end of WWII, although with Slovenia joining the EU the division has now become much less formal or restrictive - Nova Gorica is the name of the town on the Slovenian side of the border.

The small town of Grado is situated on a peninsula at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea between Trieste and Venice in north-eastern Italy and has become one of the most popular destinations with visitors to the region.

This popularity began due to the role of Grado as a spa town and has continued due to the pleasant environment and high level of facilities provided.

Glorenza is a charming fortified medieval town surrounded by the hills of the South Tyrol, and officially classed as one of the most beautiful villages of Italy. Glorenza is often called Glurns by those outside Italy.

Gela is located east of the river Gela and close to its outlet on the south-west coast of Sicily, island off the south-western part of Italy. The old town of Gela is rich in monuments to remind visitors of its long and ancient history.

"Grumentum" was an important city of Magna Graecia, in Lucania, towards the Gulf of Taranto, between Abellinum Marsicum and Heracle. Today it is called "Grumento Nova" and falls within the basilicata region of southern Italy.

It is the historical ruins from this early period in the Archaeological Park of Grumentum that are the main attraction for visitors (see below), but first we introduce the other highlights and monuments of interest in Grumento Nova itself.

The town of Gualdo Cattaneo is situated in central Umbria, and south-east of the region capital, Perugia.

Bassano del Grappa is located to the north-east of the Veneto region of north-east Italy, in the province of Vicenza. The town is best known for its medieval bridge.

Gaeta, as well as being an important art city, is also a popular tourist destination - the most popular in Latium, thanks both to its beaches and landscapes. The town is situated on the coast to the south of the Rome-Lazio region.

The ancient settlement of Gualdo Tadino was established on Sant'Angelo Hill and followed the layout of the land, developed with overlapping terracings, and this layout still gives the city its typical medieval appearance.

Although it is not the most interesting town in the region the small historic centre merits a visit when you are exploring the natural environment of the nearby Regional Park of Monte Cucco. Gualdo Tadino is also reputed for its mineral waters which are well-known for their therapeutic properties.

Fermo is a hill town to the east of the Marche region of Italy, near the Adriatic coast, well known for the very impressive views in all directions across the surrounding region.

Ferentino is a city very rich in ancient religious buildings and well worth a visit. It is situated in the eastern part of the Lazio region of central Italy.

Fano is a town and beach resort on the Adriatic Sea at the north of the Le Marche region, south-east of Pesaro.

Unusually for the resorts along this part of the coast, the history of Fano dates back 2,000 years - it was at one time the largest roman settlement on the Adriatic - and there are some interesting Roman and 16th century buildings and monuments to visit in the old part of the town.

The town of Fabriano is rather ignored by the tourist guides, but actually has quite a few places of interest and buildings of interest to see in its historic centre and is very pleasant to visit. Certainly if you are visiting the fascinating Frasassi caves nearby we suggest you take the time to explore Fabriano while you are here.

The surrounding region is also rich in natural beauty, with highlights including the gorges of the Gola di Rossa.

Faenza is a fascinating town best known as the centre for production of faience, a type of ceramic pottery that has been made here and exported worldwide for hundreds of years and is still produced and sold in the town, and the Ceramics Museum is the principal attraction.

The island of Isola del Giglio is off the coast of south-west Tuscany and reached by a 17 kilometre boat ride from Porto Santo Stefano on the Monte Argentario peninsula. On the island there are two important seaside resorts and you will also want to explore Giglio Castello, a lovely medieval village.

Tourism on Isola del Giglio was very disrupted in 2012 due to a major disaster when the Costa Concordia cruise ship ran aground here with significant loss of life. The wreckage of the boat was finally cleared away in 2014 allowing normal tourist activity to resume.

Near the coast to the north-west of Tuscany, the town of Carrara is best known for its proximity to the famous marble quarries that have supplied marble for many great works of art for the last 2000 years, including by the Romans and the Renaissance artists.

Marrara itself also has a pleasant town centre and there are a couple of beach resorts within easy reach on the coast to the west of here.

Feltre is a town situated on the southern edge of the Italian dolomites, 20 kilometres south of Belluno and to the north-east of Conegliano.

Ferrara is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its very well preserved centre and important monuments and buildings, with several of them among exceptionally attractive.

During the medieval and renaissance periods Ferrara attracted many of the leading artists and intellectuals of the period - in particular because of the influential and powerful Este family - and it was during this period that much of the heart of the town as we see it today was established.

The Este family were typical of the leading dynasties in Italy from the 13th to the 16th century, maintaining their position of power with force and brutality while also being great supporters of the leading artists and architects of the period and attracting them to create great works of art in the city.

Empoli is a town in Tuscany, in the plain of the River Arno Valley, north of Arno and west from the river Elsa. While often overlooked by tourists, there is an interesting medieval central square and old town to explore here.

The substantial town of Foligno is found in the Umbria region of central Italy, south-east of Perugia and north of Trevi. The town contains a good number of interesting monuments and artworks.

Lucera is a small city with a mixed history reflected in its architecture. Key sites to visit are the Roman ampitheatre and the medieval castle. Lucera is in the Puglia region of southern Italy.

Cuneo is a substantial town situated in the southern part of the Piedmont region of northern Italy. As well as exploring the town itself, Cuneo is often used as a base for exploring the picturesque surrounding countryside, in particular along the valleys of the rivers Stura di Demonte and Gesso which meet in the town.

The Old Town of Kroton

The old town of Crotone is situated on a hill, where the ancient acropolis once stood, surrounded by walls built in the mid-16th century by Don Pedro de Toledo (1484-1553), who undertook the works of fortification with the rebuilding of the city walls and part of the castle. The new walls are in polygonal form, consist of five bastions and two ramparts on the sides of the castle and creating a very admirable example of a fortress.

Cremona is set on the plains of southern Lombardy, to the south-east of Milan and on the left bank of the Po river, between the Adda and Oglio rivers.

The land has a rich soil, which has long made the region a first-class agricultural centre although Cremona is better known worldwide as the place where the best violins were produced, including the renowned violins by Stradivarius and Guarneri.

The town of Crema is situated in the centre of the Lombardy region of northern Italy, about 40 kilometres east of Milan. Although it is not a major Lombardy tourist destination it has several sights of interest so find the time to visit when you are nearby.

Domodossola is a small town in the Val d'Ossola, surrounded by picturesque mountains in the Alps of north-eastern Piedmont and close to the border with Switzerland.

Dozza is a small town of very ancient origins located on a hill near Imola and Bologna, between the village of Toscanella (which is rich in ancient remains) and the Sillaro river.

The Fortress: a true Renaissance Manor

The principal historic monument in Dozza is the fortress. According to experts the Fortress of Dozza dates from 1250. It was then destroyed during conflicts with Bologna and later restored by Romeo Pepoli in 1310, also at the command of Bologna.

Cortina d'Ampezzo is found to the north of the Veneto-Friuli region, in the Valle d'Ampezzo region of the dolomites. Like many ski resorts it started life as a cluster if small hamlets, now united by growth of the resort.

The town is renowned as being one of the best - and perhaps the very best - of the skiing resorts in the dolomites if not Italy. Set in fabulous, dramatic scenery surrounded by mountains it attracts the stylish and sophisticated young things from both Italy and elsewhere, and offers great skiing.

Correggio is a small town in Emilia Romagna with about 20,000 inhabitants and located between two streams, the Crostolo and the Tresinaro.

The origins of the name of the town are interesting. At one time Correggio was surrounded by marshes and canals and the only areas that could be explored on foot were the upper parts of the banks of these canals and ponds. These raised strips were called 'corrigiae', from the Latin 'corrigium' which means 'a strip of leather', - so 'Correggio' refers to 'strips of land in the midst of the waters'.

Comacchio is a beautiful town on the Po Delta, on the eastern coast of Emilia Romagna and north of Ravenna. The town has developed across a number of islands in the Po Delta, now joined by bridges, and an attractive place where tourists can admire impresive buildings and numerous churches.

Comiso is a town in southern Sicily, north-west of Ragusa and south-east of Gela. It is a town rich in monuments, some of which are important and worthy of special mention as you prepare a visit.

Civita Castellana is located on the slopes of Mount Soratte, in northern Latium in the Lazio region of central Italy to the north of Rome.

Cittadella stands as a fortified outpost of Padua in the area between the River Brenta and Musone, north of Padua and Vicenza.

Citta di Castello is a town that is rich in history and art and has a small historic centre that is pleasant to explore. Much of the artistic heritage in the town dates from the rule of the Vitelli in the 15th century, with the palaces and churches having a Tuscan influence, a result of the close bonds between the Vitelli family and the Medici of Florence.

Great artists of the 15th-16th century such as Signorelli, Raffaello, Rosso Fiorentino and Raffaellino del Colle have enriched the city with prestigious works of art and it is these that are the highlight of your visit.

The Conero peninsula is on the coast to the south-east of Ancona, in the Le Marche region of Italy, and consists of attractive coastline and beaches on the Adriatic Sea set around the Natural Park of Mount Conero and the mountain itself as well as beaches and resorts.

The coastal region here is sometimes referred to as the Conero Riviera. Not surprisingly given the beaches, scenery and resorts it can be rather busy in summer!

The town of Cefalà Diana has always had a focus on agriculture but recently, thanks to a better appreciation of its artistic and architectural heritage, it has become an attractive tourist destination. It is set in a landscape of considerable charm which is now part of the "Natural Reserve of Cefalà Diana", created in 1997.

The coastal village of Atrani is squeezed between the sea and high cliffs, at the entrance of Dragon Valley on the Amalfi coast. Close to Amalfi itself - so close it is almost a part of that town - it has been classified as one of the 'most beautiful villages in Italy'.

With its medieval centre, its landscape and its beach Atrani offers many attractions to tourists. Although Atrani is a small village there are lots of places to visit, in part because at the time of the Republic in Italy it was the favourite residence of the most noble families of Amalfi. See also history of Atrani.

Certaldo is a small Tuscany town of medieval origin, which developed in the Val d'Elsa in a location that has been settled since ancient times. Today Certaldo is a popular tourist destination both for its historical buildings, perfectly preserved in the upper part of the city, and for the landscapes around the town.

The name comes from the Latin "Cerrus Altus", a reminder that at the time the town was founded the area was surounded by woodland.

Cetica is a small village on the slopes of the mountains of the Casentino, and one of several villages located in the Pratomagno region that includes the three old towns of St. Michael (or St. Angelo), St. Mary and St. Pancrazio, surrounded by small villages scattered among terraced fields.

It falls within the same district as Castel San Niccolo.

The hilltop town of Chiaramonte Gulfi has faced considerable challenges over the centuries - most notably the terrible earthquake that struck this part of Sicily in 1693 - but is still well preserved and today you can appreciate the typical medieval town centre, characterized by its steep staircases.

The central Italian town of Città della Pieve is situated on a hill to the west of the Umbria region of central Italy and near the border with Tuscany.

The old town in Chiavenna (in Lombardy) has preserved a significant part of its medieval character, with narrow streets, palazzos and squares with fountains, towers and historic churches and also has some interesting bars and restaurants that occupy ancient caves called crotti and carved in the soft rock.

Chiusi (full name Chiusi-della-Verna) is in the eastern part of the Tuscany region of Italy, about 60 km to the east of Florence. Traditionally this region was known as Casentino.

Situated in the Val di Chiana at about 400 metres above sea level, it is also among the most ancient Italian cities as evidenced by the Etruscan labyrinth and Roman era catacombs in Chiusi.

Cingoli is centrally placed in the rolling countryside of the Marche region of eastern Italy, and is classified as one of the 'most beautiful villages in Italy'.

Boasting an artistic heritage of great interest and value, and set on a hill at a height of 600 meters, while also only a short distance from the Adriatic Sea, Cingoli offers history, charming landscapes and easy access to coastal resorts, making it a popular summer destination.

Chioggia is located in the Po River Delta, close to Padua and about 25 kilometres by boat from Venice. Chioggia is located on two islands about 900 metres long and 200 metres wide, separated by the so-called 'Channel Vena'.

Chioggia retains its traditional role as a fishing and port city, with tourism now also an important part of the local economy.

Chiavari is situated on the Gulf of Tigullio, an area between the promontory of Portofino and Moneglia. It is best known as one of the busy resorts on the Liguria coast, with the seafront and pebble beach attracting lots of summer visitors.

Away from the beach Chiavari has a fascinating mix of architecture (note the three different architectural styles in the photo of Chiavari above) and is well known for its medieval streets known as the 'carrugi'.

The town of Castrovillari has a remarkable artistic heritage, highlighted in particular by the imposing Aragonese Castle, located in the city centre. It is also on the edge of the Pollino National Park with its mountains, gorges and scenic landscapes.

The Sicilian town of Castroreale is best known for the important works of art to be seen in the Civic Museum and the Pinacoteca, the churches in the town and the surrounding countryside.

The town itself extends along the brow of a hill so has far-reaching views across the surrounding landscape.

Castiglione Cosentino is a small town in the countryside of the Calabria region of southern Italy.

We have to recall when visiting Castiglione Cosentino that it was subject to several severe earthquakes during the 18th - 20th centuries, so a substantial part of the architectural heritage has been lost. However, this heritage is still well represented by the religious buildings in the town.

The Sardinian village of Castelsardo retains its ancient medieval layout, with the ramparts still surrounding the oldest part of Castelsardo - known as Pianedda this part of the town is an ancient fishing village.

The town is on and around a large rocky promontory that juts into the Mediterranean Sea. Although there is rather too much modern development on the slopes below ancient Castelsardo, the historic centre is rewarding to visit and pedestrianised.

Castelnuovo di Garfagnana is a pleasant market town in the pretty Garfagnana area of northern Tuscany. It is located at the confluence of two rivers, the Serchio and the Turrite Secca and close to roads crossing both the Apennine mountains and the Apuane Alps leading it to grow as a trading centre from the 13th century onwards.

Cassano allo Ionio: a famous seaside resort with a distinguished Heritage

Cassano allo Ionio is a medium sized town - now best known as a coastal resort - in the Calabria region of southern Italy near the ancient city of Sybaris.

In recent years Cassano Ionio has attracted the attention of historians and scholars. The town has an urban plan that is crossed by roads that intersect at right angles and branch out into narrow alleys, enclosed by walls that are ancient and of which virtually nothing remains.

Cascia is a small town about 20 kilometres from Norcia in the south-east of the Umbria region of central Italy.

Casale Monferrato is a substantial town, located on the plain between the extreme eastern slopes of the hills of the Po and the right bank of the river, in the Piedmont region of north-east Italy.

Despite more recent development the historic area of Casale Monferrato has kept the perimeter that was established by the town's ancient fortified walls.

The origins of Carpi, an important and beautiful town in the Emilia-Romagna region of central Italy and with about 70,000 inhabitants, date back to the 6th century AD.

It is very probable that the name Carpi derives from Carpinus, a type of tree, which suggests that in ancient times, the area was wooded with this type of tree.

The town of Caserta is situated about 25 kilometres north of Naples, in south-western Italy. It is well known for the immense baroque style Royal Palace.

The Royal Palace at Caserta is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Caronia is a medieval hill town standing below a Norman castle near the coast of north-eastern Sicily, .

The structure of the medieval town is clearly visible even today in the old town of Caronia which, in spite of the inevitable modernization over the centuries, still retains the original layout in some small alleys and narrow winding streets.

Capri is an exceptionally beautiful island best known for its dramatic coastal scenery that has been appreciated for at least 2000 years: Emperor Augustus and Emperor Tiberius both had homes here, Odysseus sailed past in Homer's the Odyssey and Capri has attracted 'modern' tourists for at least 200 years.

Capri's well known attractions mean that most visitors to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast will also come here, at least for a day trip, so the island can get quite busy, although never to the point that we would suggest you don't bother coming! It is one of those exceptional places that will stay in your memories, and make you wish you could come again, for long after you have returned home and long after you have forgotten the queues or crowds...

Caprarola is a small town in the lazio region of central Italy, north-west of Rome.

The town of Capolona and the surrounding Casentino region of Tuscany has an ancient history that is very interesting to visitors. Although other historic monuments including castles can be seen here the history is best seen in the parish churches and a small knowledge of the history of these churches makes a visit even more enjoyable.

Campofelice di Roccella is on the northern coast of Sicily, between Termini Imerese and Cefalu. Because of its proximity to the sea and a very long beach, it has many amenities for tourists and is a popular summer destination.