Ever fancied taking a 'Thelma and Louise' style trip across the states? Or joining the Cannon-ball Run' drving coast-to-coast?

holiday autos surveyed 3,500 customers asking them to name the world's greatest drive. The USA came top with 28% of the overall votes.

But what about the rest of the globe? The remaining 72% had other ideas, naming routes and destinations in every corner of the world.

From Ireland to southern France, there seems to be something magical and romantic about a road-trip adventure. Taking a voyage of discovery, against one of the world's many beatiful backdrops, just seems a prospect few can resist!

From its roads, monuments, cities and theatres, Italy has a history that can still be seen to this very day, around every street corner in every town.

The Renaissance provided much of Italy's splendrorous paintings, statues, churches and fountains, many of which can be found in great cities like Florence, Rome, Venice and Naples. Theatres dating back to Greek and Roman times, Gothic cathedrals, 18 National Parks, and the Vatican, all topped off with mouth watering cuisine, make Italy an unmissable country.

Few countries can boast such cultural and gastronomic treasures, and with the Roma Europe Festival 2004 (16th Sept - 28 Nov) now is the time to become immersed in a country like no other on Earth.