Tuscany

"Lake Garda isn’t exactly short of breathtaking sights, yet the 13th century Scaligero Castle still stands out, sitting serenely on the edge of the lake and jutting out into its turquoise waters..."

"Think of this sun-drenched Italian region and you will picture rolling hills and patchwork fields hemmed in by stately cypress trees, and ivy-engulfed farmhouses swimming in golden light..."

"From South Tyrol and the shores of Lake Garda, to the soft beauty of Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast, ancient routes (once used by Romans, shepherds and pilgrims) weave through Italy..."

"Round off your holiday with an included excursion to 'The Sound of Music' mecca Salzburg, one of Europe's best preserved historic cities, and hardly changed since the days of Mozart..."

"The cradle of the Renaissance, Florence is home to countless artistic treasures and beautiful buildings, so it makes an extraordinarily atmospheric setting for a mystery novel like Inferno..."

"Florence may be mostly renowned as an exquisite repository of priceless art, but as hungry travellers already know, this Tuscan city is just as pleasing to the stomach as it is to the eyes..."

"There are legions of other alluring Tuscan towns, hilltop hamlets, coast-hugging villages and rural estates to be explored and experienced, each with its own unique identity and flavour..."

"While Livorno is far less famous, and far more industrial, than its Tuscan neighbours, its lack of pretentions is an asset. Start at the 17th-century canals of Piccola Venezia (Little Venice)..."