For many, the most beautiful city in the world. Venice has an eternal and poignant charm, and is today among the world capitals of contemporary art. Timeless, magical and decadent, the soul of Venice is made up of 118 islands united together by more than 400 bridges, separated by canals that act as waterways, forever bustling with gondolas and boats in a never-ending back-and-forth. Saying that it is brimming with art treasures is even disrespectful: romantic charm and history are absolutely unique.

One of the oldest cities in the world, nature, history and culture come together in Matera A place rich in scenery, unique architectural works, views of incomparable charm, Matera has captivated many artists, including Carlo Levi and Giovanni Pascoli, and continues to enchant with its Sassi, a World Heritage Site. Worthy of a long visit, it enraptures the heart.

Milan, the metropolis that finds a perfect and dynamic balance between history and modernity. While it is considered one of the world's fashion and design capitals, as well as a financial hub, Milan is also a city of culture and thought. While always looking towards the future, this Lombard capital lovingly preserves its prominent history, boasting spectacular museums and some of the most monumental churches in Italy.

The beating heart of Salento, Lecce enchants visitors with its stunning Baroque historic centre and the splendid sea right on its doorstep. Lecce has an unmistakable style, with monuments dating back to Roman times and, most notably, its extraordinary 17th-century buildings that proudly bare the characteristic blonde colour of the local stone. The atmosphere is vibrant and bustling. During the day, you can while away the hours sunbathing on its beaches, only a few kilometres from the city. In the evening, the city centre will entice you with its elegant, timeless alleyways and delicious local delicacies.

For over a millennium, Florence has been a global icon of beauty. Even its lesser-known neighbourhoods are a delight. The cradle of the Renaissance and the world capital of art in the 15th century, it boasts one of the oldest historic centres and some of the most famous museums in the world, as well as one of the most iconic and distinctive landscapes as far as the eye can see. Everything in Florence is spectacular: from the shops to the streets that lead to the hills overlooking the most touristy areas, from the most authentic and popular neighbourhoods, just outside the historic centre, to the monuments that exhibit its soul.

Explore Lucca and its treasures: from walls to towers, along with fine dining. One of Tuscany regional seats, Lucca is a city with a long history, but also a bustling cultural centre full of major events. Famous for its perfectly preserved 16th century city walls, it is characterised by many precious monuments that reveal its past as the most important city of the Italian Middle Ages.

Scattered across Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia, these UNESCO World Heritage Sites are valuable evidence of the pile-dwelling settlements of prehistoric communities. There are 19 in Italy, located in the immediate vicinity of lakes or the wetlands in Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Trentino Alto Adige.

With one of the largest and best-preserved medieval city centres in Europe, Bologna is world-famous for its porticoes, which in 2021 were recognised by UNESCO for their artistic and socio-cultural value.

Thanks to its strategic position, Genoa established close relations with the Greek, Etruscan and Punic worlds, but the city's great expansion began after the year 1000. As a powerful maritime republic, Genoa was the protagonist of a public aristocratic residential project to build a system of new streets and palaces.

Florence is a city that amazes, seduces and stays in your heart. The Tuscan capital is an open-air museum full of architectural masterpieces and unique works of art. At every turn a marvel, so much so that its historic centre enclosed within the ancient medieval walls has been UNESCO World Heritage since 1982.

Amidst the vineyards, wheat fields and ancient villages, it is a worthy representative of the Tuscany of Chianti and Val D'Orcia, where unmistakable flavours and good, traditional cuisine reign supreme. Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1990, San Gimignano lovingly preserves the atmosphere of a fourteenth-century village and the appearance of one of the best examples of urban organisation since the age of the communes, or city-states. Its unmistakable towers dominate a landscape that deserves more than a visit to discover it.

It is a jewel of Umbria, in the province of Perugia, perched on the slopes of Mount Subasio. Assisi is the city of saints – Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Chiara of Assisi – its peaceful spirit is palpable with every step through its beautiful streets. It is a jewel of Umbria, in the province of Perugia, perched on the slopes of Mount Subasio.

At Castelmola, the eye gets lost in a palette of colours that makes it one of the most distinctive corners of Sicily. It is no coincidence that it is considered among the most beautiful villages in Italy, with breathtaking views, thanks to its altitude of over 500 metres. To complete the picture, several artistic, historical and urban treasures not least the castle and medieval monuments. If you plan a stay in this area, bring comfortable shoes and layered clothing.

Between the Metauro valley and the Foglia valley, in the hills of the Marche region facing the Adriatic Sea, lies the city of Urbino, one of the most important centres of the Italian Renaissance, whose artistic charm and architectural heritage are still preserved today. Embellished with sandstone buildings and surrounded by a long wall of brickwork, Urbino is a city of vast historical and artistic wealth. From a simple village, it became the “cradle of the Renaissance” and, even today, walking through its historical centre you can breathe in the 15th-century air. In 1998, Urbino was honourably included in the UNESCO World Heritage List for being a point of attraction for the most illustrious Renaissance scholars and artists from all over Italy and the world, and for having influenced cultural progress in the rest of Europe, while managing to keep its exceptional urban complex almost intact.

The date is from 2 to 18 September 2022. And the location? In the streets and squares of 100 Marche villages. The villages of the Marche, amidst sea and mountains Every village, from the smallest one perched on the Apennines to the busiest along the coast, is the keeper of a fragment of the identity of the Marche region. This is why the villages have been chosen to tell the heritage of stories, myths and legends of a land that goes from the sea to the mountains, among stone towns, mediaeval fortresses, hilltop villages, churches full of mystery, and palaces brimming with stories. The travelling festival: where and when Promoted by the Marche Region and the Marche Cultura Foundation, the second edition of the festival involves 100 villages with a full calendar of events spanning three weekends, from Friday to Sunday, from 6pm to midnight. The dates to remember are: 2 to 4 September, 9 to 11 September and 16 to 18 September. Each weekend, in each of the participating villages, you can attend a performance that recounts a tradition, a historical event, a legend or a character that belongs to the locality and is part of its identity of the past and present. Museums, libraries, churches, palaces and shops will also be open for the occasion, and there will be displays, exhibitions, handicrafts, costumed re-enactments, guided tours and tastings in the village streets. MArCHESTORIE is an opportunity not to be missed and an opportunity to discover the secret stories of the villages and the many facets of the Marche region. The festival performances Each village tells a local story taken from historical documents or oral tradition and reworked in different ways: through theatre, music, video or contemporary language, stories are told of the Sibyl of the Apennines, or of St George defeating the dragon that dwells in the lake, the spirits of fire or the battles between the lords of the castles, characters from the remote or more recent past, saints and popes, witches and warriors. Storytelling is at the very heart of the festival, and you will once again feel like children listening to their grandparents' fairy tales. So many stories to discover Among the stories to be discovered are the legend of the Angel of Fire in Sarnano, the Brunforte fairy tales in the castle of Massa Fermana, the vicissitudes of the 'tough pope' Sixtus V born in the Marche, the arcane voice of the Sibyl that echoes in the caves of the Apennines, the adventures of the heroes of the Risorgimento, the mystery of a castle that disappeared, and one that was destroyed by demons. Amidst a stroll through the Borgo degli Amanti and the discovery of the brigand-infested Costa dei Guai, there will be time to meet the condottiere Rinaldo da Monteverde, to explore the volcano of Montappone and the Montagna Incantata di Fiastra, to learn about the "battle of the pig" in Offagna and the Insurgents of Falerone. These are almost always stories that you can only discover here and nowhere else. The beauty of the villages Each tale comes to life in the place to which it belongs, and provides an opportunity to walk through the stone streets of the most fascinating villages in the Marche region, enchanted by the hospitality of the communities that reveal all their secrets, knowledge and beauty to visitors. Wander among the crenellated walls of a fortress, walk along the steep streets of a village clinging to the mountain, or enjoy a break in a Renaissance square. While you're there, hunt for artistic and architectural beauties by taking advantage of the special openings of places that are not always accessible. And perhaps treat yourself to a nature walk in the surrounding area to discover peaks, caves, forests and waterfalls.

This is Val d'Orcia, included in 2004 in the UNESCO World Heritage List. A unique encounter of art and nature, rich in evidence of the past, with a natural landscape redesigned during the Renaissance to reflect the ideals of 'good government' in the Italian city-state.

If you think that relaxation and physical activity are an impossible combination, you should take a trip to Emilia Romagna: here you can follow an itinerary that combines nature and sport. 4 stages that mix thermal spas, a place of well-being par excellence, and cycling, to regenerate not only the body but also the mind.

From Murlo to Terni, pedaling across blooming fields and sleepy villages. This is the green heart of Italy: oasis of silence, good food and two wheels. The itinerary of the third stage of Tirreno-Adriatico – starting from Murlo, the Etruscan town, and ending in the city of Terni – implies two paces. High tempo in your saddle, given the slightly undulated course, and a leisurely pace after the shower. After all, here the name of the game is “get lost” in nature, in the art cities or while reading menus that celebrate the local produces, such as truffles, cheese and cold cuts. Ready to set off?

People travel to the Costa Smeralda because they are attracted by the high-society lifestyle of its jet-set habitués or because they want to get to know the coves and promontories of one of the most fascinating and characteristic parts of the island. The real discovery of these places goes far beyond simple stereotypes.

An important ski tourism draw the world over, Courmayeur, in Valle d'Aosta, is known for both its beauty and hospitality. This ancient village weaves that authentic Alpine atmosphere into its entire being: the visitor can feel it whether walking through its main streets – such as the central Via Roma – or getting lost in its most hidden corners. Courmayeur stands at the 4,016 feet-marker of Mont Blanc, within a verdant basin surrounded by firs, spruces and larches, and of course mountain peaks, glaciers and other gorgeous and traditional towns along the Dora Baltea River that traverses the entirety of Valle d'Aosta. The welcome that locals give to their visitors and their care for and attention to the details are evident in the numerous lodging structures – from luxury hotels to typical Alpine baitas, from the historic cafes in the town center to the mountain huts in the vicinity of the slopes.

Many know it as the Riviera of Fun, given its expansive and well-maintained beaches and innumerable attractions the Adriatic Riviera (in Emilia Romagna) is one of Italy’s best-known beach resort localities, and no doubt that the Riviera of Fun is a definition that suits this coast very well.

Miles and miles of untamed coastline that alternate with stretches of sand, suggestive villages facing the pristine sea, and lively, buzzing beach establishments are – in a nutshell – the elements of littoral Calabria on the Tyrhennian Sea. Ideal for every type of vacation, the shores of Calabria offer ways to relax, have fun, and a multitude of other opportunities, even for the most exacting of travelers.

Imposing, beguiling and unexpected: Lake Garda has so many different aspects when looking out over its waters from Gardone Riviera or Sirmione, Peschiera or Riva del Garda. Peaks and valleys define its perimeter, small towns on its shores interrupt the expanse of lush vegetation characterizing the area. In short, staying at Lake Garda will certainly ensure inspiration, relaxation and well-being. You will come across echoes of history, magnificent castles and delightful villas in perfect symbiosis with the contemporary world, interpreted in a thousand ways and even celebrated at table serving excellent local produce. Oil, wine and citrus fruit: here are some of the treasures of this part of Italy. It's up to you to discover all the others...

When one thinks of Sardinia, summer, the sea, celebrations and dream destinations oft-frequented by the international jet-set come to mind. But if we try to abandon this narrow image for just a moment, we can discover what the rest of Sardinia is truly about. The largest island in the Mediterranean, after Sicily, it is much more than just the Emerald Coast.