Whenever we visit my husband's family in Calabria, at the tippy toe of Italy's boot, we invariably take the train; it beats the six-hour drive down an autostrada (motorway) full of lorries. But this time, we're taking the car since we'll be making a detour to a national park. For us, and for many Italians, that means one thing: we're bringing back food.

Italy has so many renowned cities and coastlines that most visitors never think to explore its parchi nazionali (national parks), let alone know that these wild areas are some of the best food destinations in a nation famous for its cuisine.