Matera, a rare jewel of Basilicata, is an enchanting miracle of time. Visiting this Lucanian city is like reliving a glorious past. It resembles a small and delightful nativity scene, which is why it is known as 'the second Bethlehem', providing a backdrop for films such as Pier Paolo Pasolini's The Gospel according to St. Matthew and Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ.

Aosta has earned the nickname “little Rome of the Alps” due to the extraordinary wealth of its archaeological sites from Roman times that can be visited like an open-air museum. Conquered by Rome in the days of Augustus, the city was renamed Augusta Praetoria and was enriched with important monuments due to its strategic position on the Roman Via delle Gallie. It is worth visiting during the day and revisiting again in the evening, when the illuminated Roman remains have an even greater charm.

Departures for winter holidays in Italy, an unforgettable time, lost in the scents and flavours of tradition. Get inspired by the magical Christmas atmosphere

Dog sledding is an increasingly popular winter sport in Italy, but also an original and fun way to discover the snowy landscapes: an excursion in the snow on a sled pulled by dogs. What’s needed? Winter trekking clothing or ski clothing, trekking boots and a great desire to have fun and be in close contact with the dogs. If you’re eager to discover beautiful winter landscapes on a dog sled: here are the best destinations for dog sled lovers to enjoy the experience, obviously, in winter time in Italy.

Do you know Milan, but not its surroundings? We have selected 7 places worth discovering, Italian treasures no more than an hour away from Lombardy's capital.

A sustainable journey to discover the most intimate and secret side of one of Italy's greenest regions can now be made using a new concept: Bus and Bike, are ideal for sports enthusiasts and nature lovers. The service provides journeys in suburban buses, some of which are also equipped with special trolleys for transporting bicycles, alternating with routes along cycle paths, surrounded by magnificent landscapes The most intriguing itinerary to explore the most unusual places to visit in Umbria? From Spoleto to Norcia, with various cultural and naturalistic stops. And at the end, tantalising treats for the palate.

Pizzerias, trattorias, farmhouses, taverns and wine bars: Italian cuisine satisfies every palate, even the most difficult.

Bologna is one of the capitals of Italian gastronomy, here some of the country’s dishes of excellence were created here: fresh pasta, ragout, mortadella... Here are the food and wine experiences that the Bologna area offers its visitors.

It is the season of citrus fruits which play a fundamental role in the Mediterranean diet and in Italian olfactory traditions. Winter scents par excellence based on orange blossom and bergamot are intense and evocative. In actuality, these scents are also present in the most summery fragrances too: they are universal notes, capable of adapting to different backgrounds, both intense and reflective, or sparkling and extroverted. For winter, they blend with woody notes, amber, pepper and patchouli giving freshness in perfect harmony. Citrus scents are highly appreciated because they evoke happy memories, are relaxing and provide a sense of well-being. Orange blossom and bergamot are gems gifted from nature, and true made in Italy delights.

Spice enriching dishes with an aromatic, enveloping and refined note: this is Saffron, one of the most precious “gems” of Umbrian food and wine.

From the delicious fish delicacies of the seashore to the mozzarella and other dairy products of the coastal plains, to the meats and mature cheeses of the high hills and mountains, via vegetables, fruit and forest products: Campania is a cornucopia of flavours. Pizza, an intangible heritage of humankind and the best known Campanian dish around the world, is an international star and can be eaten throughout the entire region, especially in Naples. If you are curious to know how to bake the "Verace Pizza Napoletana", you must know that since 1984 an international Disciplinary has been in operation to promote and protect this iconic dish in Italy and around the world. First courses include spaghetti al pomodoro (spaghetti with tomato sauce), maccheroni al ragù (with meat and San Marzano tomatoes), soups with pasta and beans, minestra maritata (with vegetables and meat), gnocchi alla sorrentina, and macaroni fritters. Meat dishes include braciole (meat rolls with grated pecorino cheese, pine nuts and sultanas cooked in fresh tomatoes), potato gattò, and rabbit alla cacciatora, from an ancient Ischian tradition. On the coast, treat your palate to drowned octopus, mussel stew or a mixed fry of potato croquettes, rice croquettes, panzerotti, pasta cresti, and seasonal vegetables. Still a hole in your stomach? There's the buffalo mozzarella, in the Casertana and Salernitana variants. On the dessert front, roccocò, mostaccioli, struffoli speak of Christmas, while Easter time is marked by the pastiera and the sweet casatiello. Babà and sfogliatella take pride of place, with a special mention for torta Caprese, while quality wines play on all fronts: from Falanghina to Greco di Tufo, from Falerno del Massico to Fiano di Avellino, to name but a few.

In total, the region is home to more than 43,000 hectares of vineyards, producing 19 types of Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin (DOCG) and 41 of Controlled Designation of Origin (DOC). This area of northern Italy boasts a significant wine heritage rich in history and winemaking traditions that have been handed down the generations and that today have reached a very high level of production that has been refined over recent decades. So, what are the best wines Piedmont has to offer?