For centuries Italy has drawn visitors in search of culture and romance with few countries comparing with its enormous Classical origins: its art, architecture, music, design, scenery, food or wine. Its contribution to art far surpasses that of any other nation being home to the most extensive ancient civilisation, the Renaissance, the Roman Catholic Church and the Vatican. Blend this with the striking natural beauty of the Tuscan countryside, the vitality of Rome, the effervescence inside every Italian and you have unbeatable ingredients for a tour. Firstly we visit Tuscany and its great cities of Florence, Siena and Arezzo, then Umbria and Assisi and finally, the Eternal City of Rome. Birthplace of Dante and the Renaissance, Florence has been described, since its ‘rediscovery’ early in the last century, as the most beautiful city in Italy. It owes its wealth to the explosion of commerce during the Middle Ages. Principally wool and other textile industries, backed by powerful banks turned Florence into one of the world’s richest cities. Political control moved to the nobility, especially the Medici who then married into the leading royal families of Europe. The city became the cultural and intellectual heart of Europe for 300 years. Artists and sculptors flocked to the city diverting some of this new wealth in their own direction by filling the palaces and churches to bursting point with some of the world’s most outstanding works. Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian amongst others, created many of the masterpieces now on display in the Uffizi gallery, an absolute must. Another struggling but brilliant thinker found finance here too: Galileo, inventor of the telescope who, on discovering the first four moons of Jupiter named one of them Medici in honour of his patron. We also visit Siena, the other great city of Tuscany. Beautifully medieval and enclosed behind vast defensive walls, it has rural parts even within the city creating a unique atmosphere. Indeed it is more a collection of cities being split into a series of parishes whose rivalries are still in evidence during the twice yearly Palio, the famous horse race where anything goes. However the city is quite outstanding and has arguably the most gracious square in the world, the Campo, and to be fair, when you see it, backed by the soaring Campanile, it is hard to disagree. Assisi is principally famous as the city of Francis, Patron Saint of animals and one of the most famous figures in Christian history. Every house seems to be adorned with window boxes crammed with geraniums adding a splash of colour to the centuries old walls. The basilica of St. Francis is, as you would expect, outstanding in all its breathtaking detail. Of all Italy’s historic cities, it is perhaps Rome which exerts the most compelling fascination. There is probably more to see here than in any other city on earth. Upwards of 2000 years of civilisation has given it a unique atmosphere. The grandeur of the Colosseum, scene of some of the cruellest acts ever committed, the Appian Way where Spartacus was crucified, the magnificence of St. Peter’s, the grandeur of the Vatican, the sheer brilliance of the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain and Baroque churches – the list is endless. Boasting one of the world’s great cuisines, far from being pizza and pasta, one of the first things which strikes you about visiting a restaurant, is how deeply embedded in the culture, food and drink really is. Fresh vegetables and salads, combined with succulent meats, seafood, a hint of garlic and the finest olive oil create simple, tasty, and healthy menus. One of the greatest joys of visiting Italy is of course, being amongst the Italians themselves. Stylish, always ready to help and, if there is a single national characteristic – it is living life to the full, which creates the fantastic atmosphere so much in evidence.