Italy has so much to offer holiday-makers, from artistic masterpieces to amazing hilltowns to some of Europe's best beaches.

Somehow, DK has squeezed this charming (and sometimes infuriating) country into 672 pages of words and pictures, always highlighting what is best about every province and city.

All along the way, the Eyewitness guide summarizes just what you need to know about the history, the architecture, the art - and still manages to recommend which wine goes best with the risi e bisi or the maccheroni con le sarde.