Would you like to discover the real Italy? Well there is only one way to do it.

Chose a little known and little explored, yet stunningly beautiful region.

My two favorites are Piedmont and Le Marche.

The best though is Piedmont for a number of reasons:

1) The best food in Italy comes from Piedmont - nothing you have ever eaten can prepare you for the culinary paradise that awaits you in Piedmont. Some of the best restaurants at reasonable prices are to be found here. Visit the link at the bottom of this page for my personal selection.

2) Piedmont, despite offering the most beautiful scenery, is never overrun with tourists. You will often have the vineyard covered hills and ancient medieval villages and towns all to yourself - except for the locals of course. Piedmont is home to some of the highest mountains peaks in Europe, the most beautiful lake in Italy, Castles and Monasteries unequaled in Italy and much more.

3) When to go - I love the autumn/fall when the vineyards are russet coloured , the market stalls are weighed down with mushrooms and truffles and festivals abound. If not autumn then May or June are good times.

4) How to visit? Fly drive is ideal. Rent a holiday cottage or farmhouse in the heart of the wine route or on the magnificent lake shores and use it as a base to explore.

For some great books on Piedmont, the restaurant picks I mention above and where to stay check out my secret discoveries here -