For many people superb food, warm sunshine and a relaxed way of life are the key attractions of a visit to Italy. Our range of rural holidays will unlock this stress-free way of life.

Wonderful food and relaxed living
For food lovers Piedmont is a great place to start. Situated in the green Langhe Hills and surrounded by vineyard and hazel groves, the small village of Montelupo is a world away from the bustle of the city. On a Classic Walking holiday here you'll walk through this gentle landscape and see the local produce that makes it to your dinner table in the evening.

Umbria is also renowned for its food and at Norcia the local specialities are dried ham, sausages and salami which can be sampled whist staying at the Hotel Grotta Azzura at the heart of this fascinating medieval walled town. Guided walks on our Classic Walking holidays will head into the Appennine Hills to green ridges and charming traditional villages. For real foodies our Gourmet Cooking holidays enable you to learn more about this rich culinary heritage.

Exploring Tuscany
Tuscany is one of Italy's most famous regions, and with beautiful scenery and world-famous historic cities it is not hard to see why. At its heart is the city of Florence, centre of the Italian Renaissance which can be fully appreciated on a Guided City Break. The nearby cities of Pisa, Siena and Lucca have an equally impressive range of historic buildings, churches and galleries and can be visited as part of our walking holidays.

In Southern Tuscany you'll find the region's classic landscapes of undulating green fields dotted with cypress trees. On a self-guided trail following the Chianti Classico you can enjoy this at your leisure as you walk between the beautiful hilltop towns which characterise this part of Italy. Joining Tuscany's historic jewels: Florence and Siena, 'The Chianti' traverse time-forgotten trails across the famous Tuscan wine road. Alternatively stay in the walled town of San Quirico and join a programme of varied guided walks on one of our Classic Walking & Sightseeing holidays .

In Northern Tuscany you can stay in the small village of Bagni di Lucca. As well as guided walks through delightful countryside, our Classic Walking & Sightseeing holidays include visits to Pisa and Florence.

Discover the Italian coast
For a contrasting two-centre holiday why not combine a stay at Bagni di Lucca with a week at our resort of Bonassola on the Cinque Terre coast. As one of most dramatic stretches of coastline in Italy, the coast path linking the five fascinating fishing villages is justifiably popular with walkers. Either enjoy a selection of guided walks on a Classic Walking holiday or tackle this whole stretch of coast on the Cinque Terre Coast Path.

In the south of Italy the Sorrento Peninsula, and the nearby island of Capri have long been popular holiday destinations. Indeed the Roman emperor Tiberius spent much of his time here and the area's many ancient sights remain as an added attraction. Most famous of all is the Roman city of Pompei, buried in volcanic ash in AD79 and preserved as a remarkable time capsule of life nearly 2,000 years ago. With beautiful scenery and a mild climate, its not hard to see why our Classic Walking & Sightseeing holidays to Sorrento have captured the imagination of so many of our guests. If you prefer a guided trail holiday you can fully appreciate the superb coastal scenery following the Amalfi Coast Path which heads around the tip of the peninsula to Positano and the Monte Faito.

Outstanding City Sightseeing
Our guided City Breaks allow you to sample Florence, Rome and Venice in the company of a knowledgeable Leader. Rome's compact city centre makes it ideal for exploring on foot and visits could include the Colossuem, Roman Forum and the Vatican. Alternatively, Venice is quite unlike any other city on earth. With its wealth of historic buildings and miles of canals, you'll be captivated by this most enchanting of cities. Venice is also the highlight of our Veneto cycling tour. Available as either a guided or self-guided holiday you'll cycle through vineyards and bside canals and rivers through the Veneto countryside to the romantic cities of Padua and Vicenza.

Discover the rich and unique diversity of Sicily
Our guided and self-guided trail holidays soak up the delights of the Sicilian Archipelago. Surrounded by azure waters and renamed for their unique volcanic characteristics, each island boasts its own individual identity and will inspire only island lovers. Alternatively Sicily makes a fascinating base for a guided Classic Walking holiday. Stay in the village of Zafferona Etnea and enjoy a choice of guided walks on the slopes of Mount Etnea and in the surrounding countryside.

To see the best views from the water and the saddle, join the Waterways towards Venice bike and boat cycling holiday which takes you along the river Po, the largest river in Italy. Follow the course of the Po from the beautiful city of Montova to the Venetian Lagoon, passing unspoilt countryside and the cities of Ferrara, Chioggia and Padua.

Italy's Lakes & Mountains
In the far north of Italy the magnificent Dolomite mountains rank as some of Europe's most dramatic scenery. Here huge rock monoliths rise above the green valleys and high meadows. The area also has a different feel than most parts of Italy as until the First World War the South Tyrol region was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Today German remains most people's first language and the locals remain fiercely proud of their local identity. Situated amidst the high peaks of the Dolomites, Selva in the Val Gardena is one of our most popular destinations for a Classic Walking holiday. With superb scenery and a fantastic range of walks, its not hard to see why it is a favourite with many of our guests. For keen walkers with a head for heights we now offer opportunities to experience the thrill of the region's Via Ferrata; a thrilling mountain challenge.

If you enjoy the mountains in Winter then you could try Cross-country skiing at Cogne in the Aosta Valley. This easily-learned sport is a great way to this wonderful Winter landscape. Also in northern Italy is Dobbiaco, one of Europe's best resorts for cross-country skiing, that is ideally suited to complete beginners, as well as the more experienced.

Further south Lake Garda straddles the divide between the high mountains and the flat Italian plains. At its northern end the lake resembles a fjord with high peaks all around. A wide variety of walks can be enjoyed on a Classic Walking holiday at Nago.