Laura Thayer went to experience the life, history and culture in southern Italy last Christmas One day I awoke to find a cold north wind blowing down from the mountains. Day by day, the last signs of autumn blow away as winter descends on the Amalfi Coast. Despite the cooler temperatures, November is the time […]
Choosing from Italy’s long list of Renaissance artists is not an easy task. Here are five old masters whose exquisite, timeless works of art continue to amaze… 1 – Michelangelo (1475-1564) Near Arezzo, Caprese, Tuscany Born Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, the legendary artist’s masterpieces are too numerous to mention, although his Statue of David, […]
This 16th-century windmill is a striking but silent sentry in the tranquil Laguna di Orbetello, and just one spectacular sight in an area of breathtaking beauty and scenery… This lone windmill in Orbetello lagoon is an evocative reminder of earlier times, when Spanish military power presided over the territory. Orbetello, in the enchanting countryside of […]
Located on the steps of the Basilica Santa Croce, the architectural jewel at the heart of the world famous Piazza Santa Croce, Florence’s annual Christmas market offers a shopping experience like no other. Just moments from the Temple of Italian Glories, the final resting place of Italian icons Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli amongst others, after exploring the […]
They are double-sided portraits, painted by Piero della Francesca, who was the court painter at the court of Urbino These portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Urbino are amongst the most famous portraits in 15th century Italian art. Why? Because they are revolutionary in their depiction and fascinating in their symbolism. They are double-sided […]
There’s more than a morsel to enjoy in beautiful Biella, as Hannah Bellis discovers as she samples the nature, history and flavours of this spectacular province I’m sure every traveller puts on a few pounds during a trip to Italy, such is the delicious array of cheese, wines and local specialities that are on offer […]
What, you may well ask, are 400 or so classical sculptures, as well as mosaic panels, stone funerary monuments and sarcophagi, doing in a power plant? Just off Via Ostiense, in Rome, about halfway between the Pyramid of Cestius and the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, you can visit the first public electrical […]
From state-of-the-art Italian design, home accessories and a bubbly Prosecco tour and a sparkling celebration in November’s round-up… From a grate light These stunning lights really are at the cutting (or should we say grating?) edge of design. Italian artist and designer Oçilunam has been mixing art and design with his home accessories company In-es.artdesign […]
Italy’s liqueurs, aperitivi and digestivi are as diverse as the abundant variety of regional food and wine… Averna Amaro Perhaps the least well-known of our trio, this little gem deserves a wider audience. To look at, Averna is like a super-concentrated Campari and almost the same colour as Coca Cola. To taste, however, it’s nowhere […]
Fresh or frozen, peas bring a refreshing lightness to any dish and are therefore often used to lift the spirits of what might otherwise be overly-hearty winter warmers… Vegetable soup with mint, coriander and parsley SERVES 4 – Preparation 5 minutes – Cooking 15 minutes Ingredients 150g frozen peas 150g frozen green beans, sliced into 2cm lengths 150g frozen […]