James May: Our Man In Italy
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?
