villages, nestled against steep terraced slopes above the blue sea and still connected by old cobbled mule trails, take the visitor back to the days when the Italian coast was still unspoilt by modern civilisation. That's why this small area has been designated as an Italian national park and a UNESCO world heritage site. Further inland, the sparsely inhabited Apennines present a totally different landscape - a remote area of high pastures, mixed forests and barren ridges. This area has plenty of hiking trails too, but it does not satisfy the expectations of visitors seeking the charm of the Mediterranean.