Lonely Planet Knows Italy Scale the literally breathtaking Dolomites, peer into brooding Sicillian volcanoes, explore medieval villages along the pilgrim routes of Tuscany or saunter along the sparkling coastline of the Cinque Terre: we've selected the best 'sentieri' (walking trails) in the country for every interst and ability level. Whether you're looking for easy day strolls among vineyards and olive groves, multi-day adventures in the Alps, or the thrill of the challenging 'vie ferrate' (iron ways), this guide will walk you through Italy's wealth of natural beauty, history and culture. In This Guide: Everything you need to know to get preparedListings for sleeping, eating and facilities along the wayAdvice on equipment, health and safety

Brendan Sainsbury's profile page

Hailing originally from Andover in Hampshire, Brendan Sainsbury left England in the mid 1990s and never really went home. In between penning travel anecdotes, he has hitch-hiked across Africa, taught English in Thailand, dug latrines in Angola, and worked as an itinerant tour guide in Spain, Morocco, Cuba and Greece. A one-time health club manager and marathon runner, Brendan finally waved goodbye to the burgeoning fitness industry in early 2000 to go off to work as a volunteer teacher in war-torn Angola. Unfazed by life in the African bush, he did his bit for Anglo-Angolan relations by rebuilding a shot-up library, surveying a local refugee camp, and directing a Portuguese version of Shakespeare's A Comedy of Errors to an audience of bemused local villagers. Stumped for career options on his return to Europe, Brendan spent three months wandering around South America before laying tentative roots in France where he bought a rundown rural house in between making regular forays to and from the local patisserie. In January 2004 he resurfaced once again in Vancouver, Canada after marrying a Canuck he had impressed with his Flamenco guitar-playing whilst guiding in Spain.Confident in Spanish and slightly less confident in Portuguese, Brendan remains forever fascinated by Latin America. Aside from traveling, his main passions include running up steep hills, playing Flamenco guitar, re-evaluating old Clash records and following the trials and tribulations of Southampton football club.Credits in a precarious freelance writing career include The Australian, Africa Geographic, The Ecologist, The Boston Herald and The Vancouver Sun. Although modest by some yardsticks, it was enough to attract the interest of Lonely Planet.Travel Tip: Always travel with a musical instrument. Favourite Place in the World: Havana, Cuba.