In a country which boasts some of the world’s most visited sights, you can still find relatively undiscovered territory: place-names which may not trip off the tongue of the average traveller, yet which harbour real gems. The rustic hills of Tuscany’s winelands and the lovely quilted landscape of Valdelsa with its fleece of olive groves are perfect walking terrain and full of small villages of great charm. The towns of Montespertoli, Montaione and San Casciano in Val di Pesa may be less well known but still encapsulate the essence of Tuscany’s appeal. And, deep in the woods, the 15 tiny chapels of San Vivaldo are a secret treasure barely visited even by Tuscans.

Umbria has the quiet shores of Lake Trasimeno, wonderful rugged patches of forest in which to ramble and picnic by a waterfall, and numerous stunning hilltop towns like Spello, Spoleto, Todi, Orvieto and Gubbio (famous for its truffles), in addition to the well-known towns of Assisi and Perugia.

Tuscany and Umbria – nowhere will you find a more authentic Italy.