• In Rome, wander around the district of Trastevere, the city's alternative focus which is home to numerous bars, restaurants and nightclubs.

• Go shopping in Milan (Milano), Italy's most sophisticated city.

• Learn a new skill: Italian language and art courses are available throughout Italy. Language courses are often complemented by subjects such as cooking or architecture. Art courses are offered by the Palazzo Spinelli (website: www.spinelli.it) and Università Internazionale dell'Arte (website: www.uiafirenze.com) in Florence.

• Rejuvenate at one of Italy's thermal spas, some famous since the Roman era. The best-equipped health resorts are Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme (Veneto); Acqui Terme (Piedmont); L'Andana, Tombolo Talassa Resort, Terme di Saturnia, Chianciano Terme and Montecatini Terme (Tuscany); Fiuggi (Lazio); and Porretta Terme and Salsomaggiore Terme (Emilia-Romagna).

• Do not miss the chance to wear an elaborate costume and mask at the Venice Carnival (website: www.carnivalofvenice.com).

• Head to the coast: all types of watersports are available. Popular spots include the Italian Riviera in Liguria, the Adriatic and Amalfi coasts. Less busy are the beaches in Sicily, which has large sandy stretches on the southern coast, and in Sardinia.

• Get wet: many of Italy's best dive sites are located in Sardinia.

• In Capri, one of Italy's most visited islands, take a boat trip from the Marina Grande to the Blue Grotto.

• Go skiing in the Italian Alps. To the west of Turin, in the Piedmont region, major resorts include Bardonechia, Sauze d'Oulx and Sestriere. Further north, the Aosta Valley's resorts include Cervinia, Courmayeur and La Thuile. Italy's most upmarket resort is Cortina D'Ampezzo in the Dolomites.

• In the Valle d'Aosta region, go hillwalking or climbing in the Gran Paradiso National Park and Mont Avic Regional Park, home to wildlife including the chamois and ibex. The Dolomites on the Swiss border are also ideal for hiking and climbing.

• Go wildlife watching. In the National Park of Abruzzo (www.regione.abruzzo.it), you might spot Marsican brown bears (unique to Italy), wolves, chamois and eagles In the Molise region, the Matese mountain range is still the haven of wolves and various birds of prey.

• Take a picture of the famous Leaning Tower (website: http://torre.duomo.pisa.it), a free-standing campanile or bell tower in Pisa.

• Go truffle hunting in Umbria, a spectacularly beautiful region noted for its highly prized truffles. Black truffles are celebrated each year with a festival in the town of Norcia. Rare white truffles can be found between October and December.

• Visit wine cellars in Tuscany. The landscape of Tuscany is, typically, one of vine-covered hills, cypress woods, fields of sunflowers and remote hilltop villages. Chianti, the best-known Italian wine, is made in the area north of Siena, and several wine cellars are open to the public.

See Contact Addresses for further tourist information.