ITALIAN food is hugely diverse in its regionality. Campania is the birthplace of the pizza; Liguria of pesto; Lombardy of risotto; Tuscany of panforte. Food in Italy is one of the highlights of holidaying here, but given the seductive scenery and culture it's still a top spot for romance too.

Good Taste recommends combining both for the most memorable experience.

Plan your trip with two essential guides: Italy for the Gourmet Traveller by Fred Plotkin (Kyle Cathie, 23) and Room for Romance Italy (Riva Publishing, 23.95, www. room4romance. com).

Containing all the knowledge you'll ever need for a hedonistic escape, you're guaranteed to return home with a large smile on your face.

Food heaven Gourmet travellers need little convincing off the joys of holidaying in Italy. Less enthusiastic companions might prefer a more structured kind of foray, and Limone, on the northern shores of Lake Garda, has the perfect solution.

This pretty cobblestoned village, renowned for its olive and lemon groves, holds a fantastic food festival on three separate occasions during the summer.

Called Serata di Suoni e Sapori nell'uliveto . . . Ancient Sounds and Flavours in the Olive Grove . . . the weeklong sessions see visitors following a tasty trail through the village.

En route you'll make 17 stops, each allowing you to sample the authentic food and wines from this fertile region. If Parmesan, trout, sardines, lemon sorbet, watermelon and sausages get you excited you'll be in heaven.

Considering each food is matched with a glass of something different . . .

from Cabernet to Prosecco to limoncello . . . 15 for the whole night seems like the cheapest 17course meal in history.

They even supply your own plate, glass and fork in a bag that you can keep! The festival runs for a week each from Sunday 27 May, Sunday 1 July and Sunday 5 August.

Topflight offers weeklong packages for all three dates, from 689 half board.

www. topflight. ie.

Gluten for pasta Imagine life without your favourite pizza. Or wedge of lasagne. Or garlic bread. Or bowl of Bolognese.

Most of us enjoy pizza or pasta as part of our regular diet. But spare a thought for coeliacs, whose gluten-free diet necessitates cutting out these Italian staples. One in 100 Europeans is coeliac, with the disease more common in Ireland than anywhere else in the world.

Many others suffer from a gluten-intolerance, which means all wheat-based products are off limits.

Now Superquinn has launched a Gluten-Free Living Nutrition Guide.

Created in association with the Coeliac Society of Ireland, this free guide contains information, tips and recipes for coeliacs and people following a glutenfree diet.

In Superquinn, Italophiles will be delighted to find gluten-free lasagne sheets, pasta shapes and pizza bases. Perfecto!