When crossing the center of the Island, the traveler will be struck by steep towering mountains that open up into broad plains and unique mountaintop towns

With the tourist destinations of Capri, Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi along the coast, Campania is the perfect destination for tourists looking for fun in the sun. Inland, the area around the city of Avellino produces some of the best white wines in Italy not to mention a couple really excellent reds. 

Valle D’Aosta – this tiny northwestern corner of Italy contains Monte Bianco, the highest mountain in Europe. The Dora Baltea River, which finds its origins in these mountains, forms the only relatively flat land in Valle d’Aosta.

  Piemonte, which means foot hills, lies at the foot of the European Alps.  It is the largest region in the Italian mainland and shares a culinary history with the Valle d’Aosta.  The principle city of Piemonte is Torino, an industrial center and home of FIAT.  Victor Emmanuel II, the king of Piedmont, became the first king of modern Italy. The production of wine on Piemonte is extremely important as is the harvesting of the famous white truffle.

The principle city of Liguria is Genoa, a large industrial city and one of the most important ports in Europe tucked into the valleys and ravines of the Ligurian Apennines which drop sharply into the sea.

Liguria is also home to the Italian Riveria, Cinque Terra and La Spezia.

These three regions of Italy at the bottom of the peninsula are made up of about 15 million inhabitants.  The rugged terrain of Calabria and Basilicata have inhibited the commerical growth, but have allowed old traditions to stay strong.  Small isolated villages in this mountainous area haven’t changed much over the years.

Puglia, which is a bit more prosperous, has one of the most beautiful coast lines in Italy.  The town of San Giovanni Rotondo home of Padre Pio has become one of the most important religious pilgrimages in Italy.

Sardianian shepherds are famous throughout Italy and work extensively on the mainland.  The people of Sardegna maintain a very independent attitude and language from the mainland of Italy.  In the summer months, Italians, as well as tourists from around the world, travel to enjoy the beautiful coastal areas of the island.

Tuscany may be the most famous region of Italy.  The important cities of Florence, Siena, Luca and Pisa are all located in Tuscany.  The landscapes are diverse and include the beautiful coastal plains, the Appenine mountains and beautiful valleys of Southern Tuscany that surround Mount Amiatta.  The production of Chianti, Brunello and Vino Nobile, just to name a few, are the important wines produced here.  Hard durham wheat is produced here in abundance as well as cured meats, sheep’s milk cheeses, and the famous Chianina beef and Cintacinese pig.  The landscapes of Tuscany may be the most familiar in the world.  

The principal city of Umbria is the hilltop town of Perugia, famous for their Baci chocolates which were the predecessors of the Hershey Kiss.  It is an important educational center for Italian and international students.  Other important cities in Umbria include Assisi, Todi, Orvieto and Spoleto.  The handmade ceramics from Umbria are famous throughout the world.  Umbria is known for the production of the red wine Rubesco di Torgiano and Sagratino di Montefalco.  Umbria is also known as the green heart of Italy.  The olive oil from this region may very well be the best in the world.  This region was the center of the Etruscan civilization.

These rivers irrigate the fertile plain that runs from inland Venezia to the Dolomites supporting an important agricultural and wine producing area.