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Central Italy

AS FLORENCE’S RENAISSANCE SKYLINE FADES INTO THE BACKGROUND THE OPEN ROAD BECKONS. Motoring through Tuscany’s voluptuous, wine-rich hills is one of Italy’s great driving experiences and one of the many on off er in this fascinating part of the country.

To the north of Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna is a mecca for foodies, its handsome medieval towns supplying many of Italy’s most revered delicacies. Travel to Italy’s green, rural heart where you’ll come across artistic treasures by Renaissance heroes, ancient Roman ruins and Etruscan tombs.

And all the while the road leads inexorably, often tortuously, towards , the Eternal City.

Val d’Orcia This Unesco-listed area boasts sublime landscapes (Trip 22, 23) DOUGLAS PEARSON/GETTY IMAGES © AUSTRIA

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re]# Verona /·A4 ^# Rijeka /·A4 ^# FG ^# Venice ^# Mincio 15 Padua CROATIA LOMBARDY B r Oglio en ]# Chioggia Adi ta ^# ge Rovigo Mantua #] Po /·A13 Kvarner Gulf /·A1 o ^# Ferrara Po Parma /·A22 Delta ^# Panar /·A15 \# ^# Comacchio ^# Modena FGR Valle di Reggio 24 eno Comacchio Enza Emilia /·E55 ^# Bologna Pietra di ^# Ravenna RBismantova Adriatic Sea (1047m) EMILIA- /·A14 ROMAGNA Parco Nazionale ^# Parco dell'Appennino /·A1 Forlì Regionale Tosco Emiliano delle Alpi Parco Nazionale delle Rimini Apuane Foreste Casentinesi, ^# R Monte Falterona E45 Monte Corchia e Campigna /· Pesaro (1677m) Pistoia ^# Monte SAN MARINO ^# Lucca Falterona R ^# FG15 A11 (1654m) /· o ^# Urbino Arn /·E45 \# Florence \# Ancona ^# ^# Bibbiena Parco Chianti \# Regionale ^# Livorno /·RA3 Sansepolcro del Monte Arezzo^#FG Cucco TUSCANY FG 21 Gubbio RMonte Cucco 22 #] (1566m) ^# Cortona Siena /·A1 \# Parco Ligurian Riserva Regionale Sea Naturale FG20 Perugia del Monte LE MARCHE Alto Merse ^# Subasio Lago #]R Parco \# \# Trasimeno Monte Nazionale Montalcino Pienza \# Assisi Subasio dei Monti Chiusi (1290m) Monte /·E45 Sibillini R Golfo di Amiata FG23 Parco UMBRIA /·A14 Elba Follonica (1736m) Regionale Parco ^# del Tevere Regionale Parco Nazionale Grosseto Orvieto \# del Coscerno del Gran Sasso e /·E80 Aspra Monti della Laga \# \# Bolsena Terni Parco Regionale Pitigliano ^# Corno Grande Pescara Lago di ^# della Maremma FG Bolsena (2912m) R ABRUZZO 19 \# \# Monte Fonte Cerreto ^# T ^# ^# Viterbo Orte Rieti ^# Chieti Argentario \# e Porto Lago v /·A25 er L'Aquila Giglio Ercole di Vico e Guardiagrele #] \# Lago di /·A1 Monte Amaro R Bracciano /·A25 (2795m) Parco #] Avezzano #] Nazionale FG15 Sulmona della \# Tivoli Majella #\ Subiaco Monte Calvario R ROME \# (1743m) Tyrrhenian /·A90 _# Sea FG16 #\ Pescasseroli \# FG Frascati #\ Palestrina Monte R 18 \# R Antica #\ Monte Tranquillo ‚ MOLISE Albano Cavo /·A1 (1841m) Parco Nazionale Laziale (949m) d'Abruzzo, Lazio e Molise 0100km e# 0 50 miles FG17 DON'T WorldWo Heritage Wonders 14 Days MISS f From Rome to Venice, discover the Unesco-listed treasures of Italy’s art cities. (p181 ) Roaming Around Rome 3 Days Necropolis g Trawl through ancient ruins and hilltop towns in Tarquinia Rome’s fascinating hinterland. (p193 ) The Etruscan tombs at Tarquinia’s Unesco- Castelli Romani 2–3 Days listed Necropolis are a h Escape to the verdant hills and volcanic lakes remarkable sight, yet south of Rome. (p201 ) they rarely attract big Abruzzo’s Wild Landscapes 6 Days crowds. Visit on Trip j i Immerse yourself in glorious, untamed nature in Abruzzo’s magnifi cent national parks. (p209 ) Santo Stefano di Etruscan Tuscany & Lazio 3–4 Days Sessanio j Explore Etruscan tombs and frescoed treasures. It’s a thrilling drive up (p 217 ) to this borgo (medieval Monasteries of Tuscany & Umbria 5 Days town) in Abruzzo’s k Remote sanctuaries, frescoed monasteries and Parco Nazionale del rugged forests. (p225 ) Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga on Trip i Piero della Francesca Trail 7 Days l This classic art trail reveals Renaissance masterpieces and unspoiled Apennine landscapes. Palazzo Ducale, (p 233) Urbino The palatial residence TuscanTus Wine Tour 4 Days of an art-loving m Red wine fuels this jaunt around historic Chianti Renaissance aristocrat vineyards and Tuscan cellars. (p 243 ) dominates Urbino’s charming historic Tuscan Landscapes 3–4 Days centre on Trip l n From Siena to Orvieto, this trip traverses Tuscany’s most scenic landscapes. (p253 ) Foodie Emilia-Romagna 7 Days o Enjoy local delicacies and elegant medieval Overshadowed by the architecture in Emilia-Romagna’s gastro cities. (p261 ) more famous ruins in Rome, one of central Italy’s most compelling archaeological sites is visited on Trip g

Montalcino Crowned by a 14th- century fort, this hilltop town is home to one of Italy’s top red wines. Indulge yourself on Trip m

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