Italy is one of the world's great cultural centres which is preeminent in art, fashion and fine cuisine among other attributes.

Italy is also home to more UNESCO world heritage sights than anywhere else of the planet. Every year thousands of visitors flock there to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum in Rome and many more besides.

Italy produced some of the greatest artists, painters, architects and sculptors the world has ever known, among them Michelangelo, Filippo Brunelleschi and Leonardo Da Vinci.

Rome is the capital of Italy and quite breath taking in the amount of sights there are for the visitor to see. In Old Rome you will see the incredible Pantheon, one of the best preserved of the Roman buildings. When driving in Rome you will not find it difficult to get around. The old saying really is true - all roads lead to Rome.

Fashionistas should go to the city of Milan which is known for its Haute Couture and runway shows. Milan is in the north west of Italy along with the cities of Turin, Genoa and Lake Como. Situated in the Lombardy district, Lake Como is a popular destination with Italian holiday makers.

Those travellers who are going to Italy to take advantage of its sunny Mediterranean summer climate can also go to the beautiful islands of Sardinia and Sicily.

Sardinia has fabulous beaches and a variety of water sports such as windsurfing and scuba diving can be enjoyed there as well as various archaeological sites.

Sicily also has some fascinating remains, none more so that the Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi) which is a world heritage site in the city of Agrigento. As well as a number of tourist resorts, Sicily has some charming old fishing villages and numerous quiet spots where you can avoid the crowds.

No visit to Sicily would be complete without taking a look at the active Volcano of Mount Etna which is more than 3,000 metres high. Those who love Italian food should also make the trip to Sicily where the sea food is exquisite.

The other part of Italy which must be visited by foodies is Naples, where making Pizza originally became an art form. From Naples it is a short drive to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii or the Vesuvius volcano.

The stunning region of Tuscany in Italy should not be missed as the city of Florence is the gem of the Italian Renaissance. Florence is filled with stunning buildings and interesting museums and one of the most rewarding cities to visit in Italy.

Venice is unlike any other city in the world with its maze of canals, and houses so spectacular that it feels as though you are on a film set. Venice may be the world's only completely pedestrianised city but you will certainly not get to enjoy it in complete silence as it is absolutely packed with visitors all year around.

Italy is also a popular skiing destination as there are two major mountain ranges running through the country - the Alps and the Apennies.

It is worth knowing that within the Italian borders are two small states which are independent of the country itself. One is the Vatican city which is the centre of Catholicism and home to the Pope and the other is San Marino. Famously san Marino's football team was so underfunded that the goal keeper used to drive the team bus to matches.  Giacomo Benetti