Italy

Italian festivals are a commemoration of tradition, religion, battles won and lost, and most of all they are a celebration of life. Every region you visit in this beautiful country you're sure to spot a poster advertising a festa – large festival – or a sagra – local festival. From jousting events in small country villages to the huge Venice Carnival, the Italians really know how to stage a street party.

Tuscany is the birthplace of the Renaissance, the crucible of modern philosophy, the home of some of the world's finest wines and provided the roots of the Italian language. Historians agree that it was Tuscany's brightest minds in centuries past that led to the unified Italy that we love to visit today.

As a citizen of the world, you're probably familiar with pizza. What began as a peasant's dish in Naples, scraped together from cheap ingredients and thrown in the oven, has since become one of the most popular meals in the world. We're celebrating our favourite pie by breaking down their ingredients and their very own humble beginnings.

In Italy, almost everywhere you look there's a beautiful monument or building, combining the old with the new, or the extraordinary with the mundane. As well as big cities like Rome and Milan that are world-renowned for their cultural scenes, many smaller towns have excellent art galleries and cultural gems to unearth. If you're not sure where to start on your search for art and culture in Italy, read on to find out.

Florence, called Firenze in Italian, is the capital city of Tuscany in northern Italy. It's a renowned centre of culture, with plenty of Renaissance art, opulent architecture, sculpture and monuments to take in. Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Florence has also been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Italy offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the whole of Europe, which varies hugely from north to south, and the coast to the mountains. It can be difficult to choose between a beach holiday or a lake holiday but here's our rundown of whether to go for the serenity and charm of the Italian Lakes or the beauty and rugged landscape of Italy's beaches.

Although to many, the whole of Italy feels like a luxury getaway, there are some unique places that make Italy stand out as one of the most stunning and exclusive places on earth. From the vineyards of Tuscany to the remarkable shores of Lake Maggiore, we're taking you on a little tour of the most luxurious retreats that Italy has to offer.

Lake Como is known for its many gorgeous lakeside villages and towns, with aristocratic villas tucked between. There is plenty to see and experience in this beautiful area, including cobbled streets, architectural wonders and eateries offering authentic delicacies.

A nation of proud heritage, effortless style, sensational food and spirited, charismatic people, Italy is one of the world's most visited countries, and with good reason. As much as we adore Italy for the winding streets of rustic Tuscany, the grand beauty of the Italian Lakes and the sunkissed culture of the Venetian Riviera, there is far more to this wonderful country than you could imagine.

Any region you travel to in Italy has its own distinctive cuisine. Most local restaurants will serve a mixture of national and local dishes and – international food chains aside – you're in for a genuine taste of this country. If you wash down your snack or meal with some local wine, you'll start to feel right at home in this foodie paradise of a country.