With more UNESCO World Heritage Sites than any other country ,it seems as if around every corner in Italy lies a beautiful Roman ruin, a breathtaking Renaissance church , or a timeless village view. But it is not just the buildings that are beautiful: Italy's landscapes-high mountains, rolling hills and valleys, and sun-washed coasts have inspired generations of writers and painters. Italians seem to have an innate feeling for color and design, and when you study their countryside it comes as no surprise that so many of the world's greatest artist,poets,and musicians came from or were drawn to this stunning land. Filled with wonderful photography, Italy: History and Landscape explores the country by regions. Each section gives a flavor of the area,its countryside and historic buildings,from the snowy Alps of the North,through the magical atmosphere of Venice and the Veneto, romantic Tuscany,and central Italy-Perugia and Umbria, Lazio and Emilia Romagna-to the hot Mediterranean island of Sicily and Sardinia