Italy’s forte extend beyond its galleries, plates and wardrobes. The country is one of Mother Nature’s masterpieces, its geography offering extraordinary natural diversity. From the north’s icy Alps and glacial lakes to the south’s volcanic craters and turquoise grottoes, this is a place for doing as well as seeing. Its capital, Rome, is home to the Vatican as well as landmark art and ancient ruins. Naples centro storico(historic centre )is a Unesco World Heritage site , its archaeological treasures are among the world’s most impressive . Sorrento makes a good base for exploring the region’s highlights , to the south is the best of the peninsula’s unspoilt countryside , to the east is the Amalfi Coast , to the north lie Pompeii and offshore is the fabled island of Capri.