Italy is a movable feast of endless courses. No matter how much you gorge yourself on its splendors, you always feel you haven't made it past the antipasti. Few countries offer such variety and few visitors leave without a fervent desire to return.

The country's checkered history has engendered an astonishing regional variety. The great citta d'arte (cities of art) are all intrinsically different. Rome bristles with reminders of its imperial past while Florence and Venice are compact but high-dosage shots of Renaissance art. Indeed, the entire country is strewn with artistic jewels, from the Arab-Norman and Byzantine wonders of Palermo in Sicily to the Baroque marvels of Lecce in Puglia.

Venture beyond the cities too. From the icy walls of the Alps to the turquoise coves of Sardinia, there is something for everyone. Ski with the chic in Cortina or get lost walking in Tuscany's Apuane Alps. Island-hop around the Aeolian and Egadi groups off Sicily, explore the coastal villages of the Cinque Terre or hang-glide above Umbria's Piano Grande plateau.

Your taste buds will demand equal attention. Hundreds of types of pasta are served up and down the country with a ceaseless variety of sauces. Regional specialities abound, such as basil-based pesto in the north, game-meat sauces and the truffles of Piedmont and Umbria in the center, and Sicily's Arab-inspired spices in the south. All washed down with some of the world's greatest wines.