Massimo Bottura’s restaurant: the world’s best

Who would have thought it?! Italian Resturant Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, is the first Italian restaurant ever to have won the title of world’s best restaurant! Congrats Massimo Bottura!     Recently Italian chef Massimo Bottura opened a soup kitchen called Refettorio Ambrosiano in Milan. On Monday, it was revealed that his Italian restaurant Osteria Francescana […]

5 Best Italian Breads

Some 350 varieties of bread originate from Italy, from crusty loaves to unleavened flat breads and the crispy breadstick. Tuck into five of the best as chosen by Italia! 1. Focaccia Of all the breads, this ancient Ligurian bread with a mottled appearance, is popular all over the world. Oven baked, its name comes from the […]

Grotesque Style

The term Grotesque derives from the caves, or grotte, where Renaissance builders unearthed this ancient form The Grotesque style was all the rage during the 1500s for both interiors and exteriors all over Italy. It continued to be so for the following two centuries. Nowadays, when the word is mentioned, negative images of unfortunate distorted […]

Chicken Marsala

Chicken Marsala may have originated with British residents of Sicily in the 19th century. Certainly its popularity extends beyond Italian shores. Serves 2 Preparation 10 minutes Cooking 35 minutes Ingredients 2 medium organic free-range chicken breast fillets, pounded seasoned Italian ‘00’ flour 15g unsalted butter 1 tbsp olive oil 90ml dry Marsala 2 tbsp chicken […]

Rome by Train

Sick of flight delays, luggage allowances and departure lounges? The Italian capital is easily accessible by train from the UK – Gemma Hall took to the tracks to try it out The 7pm sleeper from Paris to Rome was running an hour late. In normal circumstances – and by that I mean on a crowded […]

Unique Italian Gifts for Father’s Day

Father’s Day is looming and you’ve still not got a gift? Our top picks from the latest brands will give you plenty of ideas and wont break the bank either! For the Cyclist You just can’t go wrong with the classic hankerchief set! Every father needs one and to top it off the Cotton is made […]

Top 3 – Hit the Beach

Heading for the coast in Italy this summer? Go in style to the beach with these (vaguely) rock’n’roll-related accessories! 1. Cut across Shorty Never mind being on the beach – how about having the beach on you? These eye-catching Orlebar Brown swim shorts for men give you the opportunity to do just that, emblazoned as they […]

Frescoes of Tolentino – Past Italia

Although its origins are the subject of perpetual debate, the remarkable cycle of frescoes that adorns Tolentino’s Basilica di San Nicola holds enduring appeal for visitors to Le Marche Who painted the 14th-century masterpiece that dominates the chapel of Basilica di San Nicola? The artist’s identity remains shrouded in mystery, though the scenes are widely […]

48 Hours on The Venetian Islands

Venice native Sara Scarpa takes us out of town on a long cycle ride from Lido to Pellestrina, and then on a boat trip to Murano, Burano and Torcello. This is an introduction to the beautiful Venetian Islands… Visitors to Venice, especially those visiting for the first time, tend to associate the city with the […]