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Ciao a tutti!
 What I find truly amazing about Italy is how such a small country spans so many different landscapes. Over the last three days I travelled from the snowy wonderland of the Alps across the gently sloping vineyards of Monferrato and the sinuous coastline of the Ligurian Riviera to the kaleidoscopic explosion of Mediterranean blooms that is Southern Sardinia.
Spring was starting to make its mark everywhere - even at the foot of candid Alpine peaks you could see the first flowers pushing out of the ground, and hear birds chirping among verdant pine branches - but the difference in sounds, colours and scents between the cold mountains of the North and the near-African seascapes of the South was staggering. I have tried to capture it for you in a flower-filled slideshow.
 Talking of unusual Italian landscapes, little beats Le Balze, in Tuscany. Whimsical spires and majestic pinnacles soar above peaceful pasture fields, lush vineyards and ancient farmhouses. The sand and lime outcrops are so strange they caught the eye of Leonardo da Vinci, who painted them as a backdrop for his Virgin of the Rocks.
Christina Webb recommends following Leonardo's footsteps across the area all the way to Ponte Buriano, where an elegant medieval bridge spans across the Arno. The bridge too intrigued Leonardo - so much so that it is the background for his most famous painting, Mona Lisa.
 If art is your thing, you may also want to head north to Veneto where two great exhibitions are currently taking place. An extraordinary selection of works by sixteenth century painter Jacopo Bassano is on show in his hometown of Bassano del Grappa. It includes pieces that have never been exhibited to the public for half a century. Just over an hour's drive from Bassano, a great collection of paintings, wedding chests and altar pieces by Renaissance artist Giovanni Battista Cima is on display in Conegliano, his hometown.
Visiting it also offers the opportunity of taking in the architecture of Palazzo Sarcinelli, one of Conegliano's most important Renaissance buildings, which has just been restored. If you are lucky, you may also be able to catch a show of Giorgione's early work in nearby Castelfranco Veneto. The exhibition is sold out but the odd ticket may become available - and in any case, you can still admire Giorgione's work in the town's Cathedral.
Before you head to Italy, though, you may want to practise some common Italian courtesies. Our columnist, Pat Eggleton, gives you the lowdown on how to say please, thank you, pleased to meet you and goodbye - and pronounce them properly so you be understood!
Buona settimana
Carla Passino
Editor
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