A Speciality from Montefeltro: 'fossa' or 'pit' cheese This precious cheese is a speciality of Talamello and Sant'Agata Feltria in Montefeltro. Find out why this cheese is compared to gold and how it is used by the Italians in their cooking. by JOANNE BIRNBAUM

Food and wine specialities of Montefeltro Montefeltro still remains undiscovered by much of the outside world. Its food and wine culture is savoured by the local people and those who are adventurous enough to stray from the traditional tourist path. The food culture here in the region, thanks to the local people and initiatives such as ‘Slow Food’, remains untouched by globalisation. by JOANNE BIRNBAUM

The hunt for truffles begins Discover the secrets of gathering truffles on a Sunday morning in Lunano by JOANNE BIRNBAUM

Viareggio On the Tuscan coast, also known as the Versilian Riviera, Viareggio is well connected with direct train services to and from Pisa (Centrale), Firenze, Livorno and La Spezia. by DAVID WALKER

Gorgeous Giglio One of the hidden treasures of the Mediterranean, the Isle of Giglio is just an hour from Tuscany's Porto Santo Stefano yet in many respects it could be part of a very different time scale. Join us as we discover the delights of this island in the sun . . . by ELENA GUARNERI

Dino burgers on the Adda Spend a relaxing day with your family and friends at the Adda Prehistoric Park near Lodi. by ANTONIO AIZZA

Stelvio and Bormio - lest we forget. We visit the Dolomites in the International Year of Mountains and remember those who laid down their lives on these peaks during the First World War. by VENTRIX

A feast of flowers Treat yourself to a feast of courgette - or zucchini - flowers. Their delicate taste and elegant appearance will impress your guests and have them coming back for more. by MARIA CLEARY

Matera and the Sassi There's nowhere in the world quite like Matera. It's Sassi - the ancient cave dwellings which are now a UNESCO heritage site - were, up until just 50 years ago, hellish slums where the people lived in poverty and disease and, in the near future, could become holiday chalets for people like me and you . . . by M. CARLA GLOTIER

A tourist train in Val d'Orcia We step back in time and take an unforgettable journey by steam train through Tuscany's Val d'Orcia by ANTONIO AIZZA

Padua, the Scrovegni chapel and a boat trip We go to Padua to see Giotto's restored frescoes and find time for a boat trip through the city's canals by M. CARLA GLOTIER

Splash out in Lipari Who can resist the crystal-clear waters of Lipari? And who can resist a mouth-watering meal after their swim. Join us as we sample the seas and specialities of one of the jewels of the Mediterranean . . . by VENTRIX

Driving in Italy Driving is undoubtedly one of the best - and most adventurous - ways of discovering Italy. However, before you hop into the driver's seat and head for the fast lane here are some things you should know. by MARIA CLEARY

Artful artichokes There's nothing quite as delicious as Italian-style artichokes. Impress your friends by learning how to cook them as the Romans do . . . by MARIA LINARDI

Museums for the blind and visually impaired When we enter an art museum we take our sight for granted. Now thanks to two revolutionary museums in Ancona and Bologna the visually impaired and blind are no longer excluded from the world of art by M. CARLA GLOTIER

The Ducati Story As Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi limber up for another season of motorcycle magic we pay homage to one of the greatest manufacturers of all time. Join us as we visit Bologna's Ducati Museum by M. PARMEGGIANI

Pedal through Parma's parks As Parma's Parco Ducale opens its gates once more we wheel out our bicycles and go for a springtime cycle through Parma's magnificent parks by ELENA GUARNERI

Reclaiming culture from Naples to Milan Disused factories and abandoned warehouses are opening their doors to an eclectic series of cultural initiatives. Let's take a look... By ELENA GUARNERI

A green heart in the city Often neglected by the tour guides, botanical gardens offer a much needed refuge from the overload of sights and sounds of many Italian cities. Here are three to whet your appetite . . . by ANTONIO AIZZA

Passion on the streets At Easter all over Italy people take to the streets for a series of evocative re-enactments of Christ's passion. Let's take the via crucis . . . by M. PARMEGGIANI

Botticelli's Primavera Would you buy a painting from someone called Sandro Filipepi? What if you weren't even sure what it meant? If your answer is (understandably) no, then you've just turned down Botticelli'smasterpiece Primavera. by MARCELLO PARMEGGIANI

Parks and gardens As the evenings begin to stretch and we shed our winter layers what better way to herald the arrival of Spring than an afternoon in one of Italy's ornamental gardens. Here are three to whet your appetite... by M.CARLA GLOTIER

Hanbury Gardens, Ventimiglia Garden enthusiasts and budding botanists should head for Ventimiglia, just before the French Riviera for an amazingly overgrown garden teeming with tropical plants and handed down to us by a genuine English lord by MARCELLO PARMEGGIANI

Cross-country skiing in Madonna di Campiglio We put on our show-shoes and take a leisurely stroll through the snow fields of Madonna di Campiglio. Join us . . . by VENTRIX

Taste some of Tuscany's secret caviar - bottarga from Orbetello. We go to Orbetello in the south of Tuscany and discover a local luxury that is in risk of dying out by M. CARLA GLOTIER

Pesto made perfect We taste one of Italy's most famous - and best-loved - exports and uncover some royal roots . . . by ELENA GUARNERI

Aut. Tribunale Modena n. 1683 del 21.04.2001
• Editor-in-chief - Marcello Parmeggiani • Editor - Giovanni Sonego
Published by - Pianeta srl