From art to pizza, Italy has a lot to offer, writes Stephanie Holmes
Walk the Cinque Terre
It's become endlessly popular with tourists since it gained a place on the Unesco World Heritage list in 1997, but that's no reason to stay away from the five villages linked by coastal paths that make up the Cinque Terre. Cars were banned more than a decade ago, so exploring by foot is even more rewarding. You'll be wowed by the colourful houses perched on steep terraced cliffs, intersected by historic fields and gardens. You're never going to get the place to yourself, but try low season of April-May or September-October for cheaper accommodation and fewer people. Hotels are closed in November, but you might still find apartments for rent. If you're not too picky about weather, this might be the ideal time to go? The most popular route is Trail 2 - the Blue Trail (Sentiero Azzurro), which can be walked in about six hours or spread out over a few days, staying at different towns along the way. Serious hikers might want to try some lesser-known trails like The Trail of Sancturaries and the Mountain Trails.
parconazionale5terre.it/Eindex.php
Eat gelato in Florence
As pizza is to Naples, gelato is to Florence. There's some debate about its actual origins, but popular belief is that Bernardo Buontalenti first created the icy treat in the 16th century, serving it to the court of Catherina dei Medici. The word translates to "frozen" but traditionally it's served up to 15 degrees warmer than regular icecream. And you needn't feel too guilty about eating it - gelato is lower in fat than icecream . . . so that means you can eat twice as much, right? You'll find gelato on pretty much every street corner, not only in Florence, but throughout Italy. Look out for the word "artigianale" - this means the gelato is home-made in the shop with fresh, natural ingredients.
