Hundreds of fascinating, historic castles decorate the Italian landscape from the tip to the top of the peninsula. We’ve chosen five of our favourites… Castel del Monte Bari, Puglia Emperor Frederick II built this immaculately planned castle near Bari in the 13th century. A masterpiece of architectural achievement, the castle’s octagonal theme is intrinsic to […]
This sea bream recipe with a fresh, zesty flavour, is perfect for a quick meal but looks impressive enough to ‘wow’ a few friends! Sea Bream baked in foil Serves 4 Preparation 15 minutes Cooking 30 minutes Ingredients 2 sea bream, gutted and scaled but with head and skin on olive oil 2 garlic cloves 3 sprigs of […]
It is perhaps the most famous statue in the world and a preeminent icon of the Renaissance, and of the city that produced the Renaissance… Michelangelo’s David was first commissioned in 1466, though not to the artist who completed it. (He wasn’t even born until 1475). The commission originally went to one Agostino di Duccio, […]
This week we’ve been sent photos of beautiful italian sunsets, idyllic settings to holiday abroad in and to be completely honest, we are jealous of all our lovely fans and photographers who are where’d we love to be… Sunrise in Marina Grande-Capri by Annik Susemihl Last evenings most wonderful sunset over Lake Garda by Tony Dye Rome […]
Conditions for some creatures in Italy are far from ideal, but the Anglo-Italian Society for the Protection of Animals (AISPA) is helping to change things… Domestic and wild animals the length and breadth of Italy have ample reason to be flapping their wings and clapping their paws in thanks to the late Leonard Hawksley. It […]
With a new collection for Spring/Summer 2016, Appassionata Boutique has the handbag for you… Combining our love for Italy and handbags, Appassionata Boutique designs and creates luxury handmade Italian leather handbags for a global market. Like most women, our love for handbags started at a young age. We set up Appassionata Boutique so women […]
With its red tomatoes, white mozzarella cheese and green basil, the margherita is so much more than just a pizza – it is a symbol of Italian identity… Ask anyone who has been on a culinary tour of Naples where the pizza margherita comes from and they will be able to tell you that it […]
As an exhibition of some of his surviving works is shown in London, Carolyn Lyons explains why this Venetian artist was so influential, and how little we know about what he actually painted… Giorgione – ‘Big George’, he was born Giorgio Barbarelli – lived in Venice at the turn of the 16th century and is […]
Gnudi di peperoncini e spinaci Serves 2 – Preparation 30 minutes – Cooking 30 minutes – Resting 30 minutes For the gnudi 300g raw young spinach 125g ricotta, preferably ricotta di bufala, drained 25g grated Parmesan 2 pinches dried chilli 1 egg yolk grated, fresh nutmeg 2 tbsp plain flour, plus extra for the work surface salt and pepper For the […]
After seeing this, we feel like jumping in a helicopter and being whisked away somewhere like this… Photo by : Costa (Gus) Matsos, Burlington, Ontario, Canada “View from the mountain town of Erice on the northwest coast of Sicily, taken during a two-week holiday and capturing the rugged beauty of this island” June 2016 Readers Photo Competition Runner […]