It's Tuesday night and you're exhausted after your day at work. You dread the thought of cooking dinner and consider going back into London. You do an online search for hotels London and start reading about their restaurants. Then you think of the journey, look at your tired feet and decide against it. You pop the kettle on, boil some pasta, throw some Dolmio sauce on it and call it a day. When you hold up your limp, overcooked spaghetti, which flops lazily on your fork, you can't help thinking: "There must be more to Italian food than this". You would be right.

Before the 19th century, Italy was divided into regions and small city states, each with its own distinctive identity. Much of these individual identities persist today, most notably in the food. Italy's regional diversity creates strong dividing lines between types of pasta, the use of risotto, couscous and polenta. Some regions will have strong leanings towards certain types of meat and vegetables. Others favour vegetarian over meat dishes.

Obviously, an exhaustive list of all the amazing food that comes from Italy would require a multi-volume cookery book, probably penned by a famous Italian chef such as, say, Lidia Matticchio Bastianich. In the meantime, here are some of the regions' most famous dishes, tested and approved by Italians and tourists alike. These meals may just inspire you to ditch the Dolmio and go on a tour of Italy this summer, learning about real Italian food.

Tuscany: Located in the centre of Italy and known for its beauty, made popular by Diane Lane and her time Under the Tuscan Sun, Tuscany is home to some great dishes. Below are some listed by city.

Piemonte is located in the north-west. Its name is derived from the Latin "pedem montium", meaning "at the foot of a mountain".

Veneto was, for a thousand years, the independent Venetian Republic and a centre for international maritime trade in the Medieval and Early Modern period.

Emilia Romagna's famous capital, Bologna, was the centre of intellectuals and scholars and is home to one of the oldest universities in the world.

After eating all this rich food, you will no doubt be sleepy. For hotels Rome and other cities offer a wide variety of choices for accommodation, from bed and breakfasts to traditional hotels, all boasting delicious, traditional dishes. Nothing says a full night's sleep like a 5-course meal. Viva l'Italia!