James May is travelling the length and breadth of one of his favourite countries: Italy. Beginning in the Sicilian capital of Palermo and finishing in the Dolomites, it’s a trip that will take him to almost every region of Italy. There’ll be culture, food, industry, and even a bit of sport, all played out against some of the world’s most stunning urban and rural backdrops. For James, Italy has always seemed like a country that doesn’t seem to make sense; simultaneously at the cutting edge – of science, of fashion, of engineering – and yet its crumbling infrastructure, endemic corruption, and eye-watering public debt all describe, on paper, a country and society that seems on the cusp of failure. Somehow, though, Italy and the Italians always prevail. It’s a conundrum that leads James to ask a question: have the Italians sussed the secret to living a good life? And after spending eleven weeks in the country, might James actually discover la dolce vita?
Stars
James May
Yujiro Taniyama
Paolo Damiano
Makiko Kobayashi
Masayo Fujii
Guia Scognamiglio
Claudia Traina
Hacchan Hatanaka
Tom Whitter
