Wandering around the countryside anywhere in Italy can be a wonderful experience given the incredible variety of scenery and landscapes encountered throughout the many Italian regions. From the majestic Alps to the dry, sun-soaked lands of Sicily, so much is there to enjoy, away from the lure of the history-filled glorious cities.

The images shared with you this month are primarily from Tuscany, Lazio and Umbria, clearly demonstrating the natural beauty of these territories, filled with dense forests (figs. 1,2), unexpected small lakes (figs. 3,4) and lush extensive fields often the site of vineyards and of century-old olive trees (figs. 5,6). Small villages are at times found in remote parts of the countryside (fig. 7), where time seems to have stopped and life runs on much slower rhythms following seasonal changes and local habits.

Dirt roads where anyone from far away is rarely seen (fig. 8) can be a challenge, yet potentially a source of breathtaking discoveries (fig. 9). A wrong turn while trying to reach an Umbrian location suddenly led to the unexpected appearance of the lake of Turano (figs. 10,11). The historic Abbey of Farfa (figs. 12,13) is in this general area, with laborious monks still producing medicinal herb extracts and lotions based on their centennial-old recipes.

As always, when travelling the countryside, finding the perfect trattoria (fig. 14) for a mid-day lunch "al fresco" is the ultimate pleasure, since the local flavors, the wine and the olive oils will be unmistakably perfect!

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