Here's a popular song from the past, all about spring: Mattinata fiorentina (Florentine morning)

Permeating the song are images of a Sicilian beach in the hot summer and the waves that could carry you out to sea.

This song is one side of a phone call made to someone after meeting her at a party. But is there anyone on the other end?

L'Italiano (The Italian) was recorded by Toto Cutugno in 1983 and presented at the 33rd Sanremo Festival, where it didn't win. That didn't stop it from becoming a top hit and one of Italy's best-loved songs.

Massimo Ranieri has never stopped being popular in Italy. Here he sings a song about a man who thought he had found love, but then lost it.

This song is one guy's RSVP to a wedding invitation from his ex-girlfriend. He feels he should explain why he is not going to attend. The refrain uses the tricky verb dimenticare (to forget) in three different ways, first as an infinitive: dimenticare, then with a direct object pronoun attached to it: dimenticarti (to forget you), and finally, as a reflexive verb (to forget) with its pronoun attached: dimenticarmi di te (to forget you).

Lucio Dalla and Francesco De Gregori perform the song that was originally titled “Gesù Bambino” [Christ Child] but was changed to Dalla's date of birth after censure from the Sanremo music festival.

The pop band Zero Assoluto [Absolute Zero] is made up of two Rome musicians, Thomas De Gasperi and Matteo Maffucci. They have frequently performed at the annual Sanremo Festival.

This song by the Milanese band is about trying to keep a romantic relationship going. It has had huge success in Italy.

A song about cats that helps Italian school children remember that 6 x 7 = 42.

This post-WWII song tells of a romance between a duckling and a poppy. It is a children's ditty with lots of word play but also has political undertones.

Modugno appears in this vintage clip on the Ed Sullivan Show and sings what is probably the most popular Italian song ever. Franco Migliacci, the songwriter, was inspired to write the song by the paintings of Marc Chagall.

The amazing landscapes in this video were filmed on the volcanic island of Lanzarote, one of the Canary Islands off of Africa.

The video is filmed in Rome and shows some of the best-loved fountains and monuments.

The incomparable Mina sings a Lucio Battisti - Mogol love song.