Gino's Italian Express

This week Gino leaves Verona on one of Italy's super fast trains and heads to the majestic Lake Garda, the biggest of the Italian lakes. Here he meets a team of rowers training for their annual regatta. The race stemmed from the lake's ancient fishing tradition, when the fishermen would race out on their longboats to reach the best fishing spots.

After trying his hand at rowing, Gino cooks up a hearty sausage and bean casserole before jumping on the train and heading North towards the Dolomites. Arriving in the city of Bolzano, Gino no longer

feels like he's in Italy, as the majority of people here actually speak German. Gino's bemused when he's met by local dancers wearing traditional lederhosen who insist on teaching him a step or two.

Taking the cable car further into the mountains, it's like a scene from the Sound of Music. Gino rides a very special train on the Renon line, which is over 100 years old and with spectacular views overlooking Bolzano, he cooks a deconstructed apple crumble.

Gino's train journey takes him on a star-studded line-up of Tuscan cities. He begins in Pisa, famous for its leaning tower, and also home of the Vespa scooter, which gives the chef the ideal way to explore the city, before he hops back on the train toward the medieval city of Lucca, the birthplace of composer Puccini. Here, he meets master violin-maker Fabio and rustles up a vegetarian asparagus dish. His final stop is Florence, where he meets Cecilia, one of a network of local cooks keeping traditional recipes alive by opening up her kitchen to guests from all over the world.

Gino D'Acampo's latest leg begins in the Italian fashion capital of Milan, where he visits an elegant cocktail bar who were the first to introduce the idea of the aperitivo in the city. Its train station is one of the busiest in Europe and it's from here he travels on to the town of Treviglio, the home of Bianchi bikes - the first mass-manufactured bicycle in the world. Gino gets a tour of the factory before test riding one of their latest electric bikes alongside a group of local cyclists. Moving on, he visits the medieval town of Bergamo, where he meets ice-cream maker Niccolo, and visits a co-operative restaurant.

The last episode of the series sees Gino taking a railway adventure to picturesque Lake Iseo. Often overshadowed by its big sisters, Garda and Como, Lake Iseo is a real hidden gem. After getting the train from Bergamo Gino starts his day out on the lake fishing for sardines, surrounded by the beautiful mountains.

He takes his catch and prepares a dish of grilled fish for passengers on a very special train - Treno dei Sapore. This is a tourist train, taking guests along the lake side and into the Franciacorta region and whilst they enjoy the views they also get a 7 course meal - with today's starter cooked by Gino.

Next Gino swaps the train for a handcrafted boat, made by Master Craftsman Andrea, who takes him across the lake to Monte Isola, the biggest lake island in Europe. Here Gino meets the island's Mayor and finds out what life is like on Monte Isola, before making poached pears in red wine and vanilla.