pensando al futuro

I was eating a home-made pasta with a subtle creamy sauce, accompanied by a glass of the local red wine on a sunny terrace high above the harbour at Sorrento. I was feeling a million dollars, (OK, my nose might have been a bit sunburned) and this was my reward for a morning of walking. I had just completed one of the most famous hikes in Italy - the Path of the Gods. There is nothing more inspiring than shimmering light combined with an exhilarating landscape - and the Amalfi peninsula offers both, with paths that curve round sheer cliffs offering glorious views in all directions. The sea far below is a seductive, opal blue, with the beautiful island of Capri clearly visible offshore. Bisected by a dramatic spine of mountains rising to nearly 5,000ft, there are great places to stay in ancient hill towns, tiny ports and there's delicious local cuisine.

 The Foggia province in Northern Puglia separates into two distinctly different landscapes: There is the Tavoliere plain, also known as Magna Capitana, and the Gargano spur with its green hills, white cliffs and Forest Umbra. Considering the charms of Gargano with breathtaking views, eminent beaches, ample tourist facilities and two of the most popular European pilgrim sites, most visitors skip the Tavoliere. Yet beneath the endless monotony of wheat fields there are interesting sights and layers of history. Take for instance the village Ordona on the Via Traiana route, where you can see beautiful and virtually undiscovered remains of a Roman temple, shops, market, amfitheater and thermal baths. In ancient times the place was known as Herdonia, where Hannibal fought the Second Punic War (219-202 BC) that destroyed the town and left the area to sheep. The Roman poet Horace, who was born in the area in 65 BC, described the Tavoliere as a dry, thirsty, desert landscape. An arid...