Italy provides endless inspiration for armchair travelers and jetsetters alike. And, let's not forget the writers who fuel our wanderlust with their odes to Italia's many charms. Lest you think that every possible angle has been exhausted, The Best Gardens in Italy: A Traveller's Guide and The Wine Trails of Italy (Michelin), are two essential additions to your collection.
Stop to smell the roses of Lazio, the tulips of Piedmont, and more of Italy's flora by flipping through the glossy pages of The Best Gardens in Italy: A Traveller's Guide ($40). No, this impressive coffee table book isn't a scratch and sniff, but the color photographs by Primrose Bell are so vivid that you may start to feel that you're actually in Italy. Written by historian and biographer Kirsty McLeod, this 256 page beauty showcases more than 100 of Italy's gardens from Genoa and Sicily, from the Renaissance to the present. Best of all, every garden featured is open to the public. Although The Best Gardens in Italy is a bit bulky to actually tote on your trip to Italy, it is certainly a wonderful resource for planning your garden getaway. And, it makes a great gift for the Italophiles in your life!
Barolo, Amarone, Montepulciano - no trip to Italy would be complete without savoring the country's stellar portfolio of wines. Let the travel experts from Michelin assist you in your vino quest with their new guide Wine Trails of Italy ($21.99). This compact guide flows with useful information and includes listings of vineyards and wineries, colorful maps, suggested Michelin driving tours for wine routes, and suggestions on where to eat and stay.
Vineyards in the countryside around Imola
