Penne with Porcini Mushrooms and Peas

Penne with mushrooms and peas

This simple and satisfying penne and mushroom dish is the perfect solution for a tasty midweek meal. Try it tonight! In Italy, porcini mushrooms reign supreme, but this pasta dish can also be made with other varieties, depending on what you have on hand (skip the soaking step if using fresh rather than dried). Penne […]

Love in Venice: Italy’s ‘City of Romance’

A couple in bridal wear on a Venetian street

Many towns are called the ‘City of Love’ – Rome, Verona and Paris, to name but three. For Sara Scarpa, however, none can match the claims of her native Venice, home to Casanova, Byron, Carnival, and countless secret little places where lovers have found the privacy they seek… Often during a brisk walk through the […]

The art of using leftovers: An Italian tradition

Italian food

Don’t throw away that stale bread or cold pasta! Explore simple, economical Italian recipes like Frittata and Polpette that transform leftovers into comfort food. For Italians, using up leftover food is a virtue, and one that has been transformed into an artform. The Tuscans in particular are a shining example of this tradition. It’s often […]

5 most romantic places in Italy (that aren’t Venice)

Romantic view of sunset behind Mount Etna, Taormina, Italy

Heralded as one of the most romantic countries in the world, Italy has no end of date-worthy spots to choose from. So move over Venice, these are truly the most romantic destinations in Italy… 1. Florence It sometimes seems as though Florence’s magnificent architecture and piazze were designed to please enamoured couples. Not only does […]

Top 10 things to do in Liguria

Things to do in Liguria: Monterosso Al Mare

Looking for things to do in Liguria? You’ll be spoilt for choice with ten good reasons why it is a favourite destination for all the family Home to the ancient Liguri and, later, the maritime Republic of Genoa, Liguria’s spectacular coastline, pastel-coloured villages, well-equipped beaches and mild climate have been loved by many. In 1866, […]

Winter in the Valle di Gran San Bernardo

costumes at the winter carnival in san bernardo

Experience the magic of winter in the Valle di Gran San Bernardo. Join Rachael Martin at the vibrant Coumba Freida Carnival in the Aosta Valley, and explore the snow-covered slopes of the Great St Bernard Pass. It was carnival time on a cold February morning in the Great St Bernard Valley in northern Italy’s Aosta […]

From Here to There: Autumn in Amalfi

Autumn on Amalfi coast Vietri sul mare

It’s clear why this is a popular time for travellers to visit: The Amalfi coast is an array of colour as the first sign of autumn reaches Italy… The first signs of autumn arrive quietly on the Amalfi Coast. I try to hold onto the last warmth of the summer days, which seemed as if […]