48 Hours in Elba

With thousands of tourists paying for the privilege of a stay on this beautiful island, Sarah Lane ponders why the exiled Napoleon gave Elba the elbow Elba, Italy’s third largest island, is probably best known by English speakers for the palindrome credited to Napoleon: Able was I, ere I saw Elba. But there is much […]

Past Italia – Ravenna

Once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, Italia! discovers one of the many reasons to visit Emilia-Romagna’s artistically rich city Ravenna, which boasts eight UNESCO world heritage sites. Of the many attractions that draw visitors to Emilia-Romagna’s Ravenna, the over-whelming Byzantine heritage is among the most alluring. Ravenna was the capital of the Western […]

Courgette and Escarole Pie

A light and tasty snack that is easy to make and full of vitamins. Escarole is a form of chicory and has a gentle, but distinctive, bitter taste. The young leaves are also great in salads and soups Serves 4-6 Ingredients 250g filo pastry 1 head of escarole 2 courgettes, sliced 1 clove of garlic […]

2016 Celebration of Rome

To celebrate the founding of Rome and because we love to talk about this glorious city full of history, architecture and love, here are a few of our best articles about the place itself… Rome is full of places to see, restaurants to eat at activities for families and more. These features are sure to give […]

The Passion of the Christ, Location: Matera

Matera stands in for the Jerusalem of 2,000 years ago in this graphic depiction of the death of Jesus Christ… (2004, Matera. Directed by Mel Gibson. Starring Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci) Mel Gibson directed this highly controversial film that graphically traces the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ’s life leading up to his Crucifixion. It has […]

Pizza with Radicchio and Parmesan Cheese

Radicchio is a popular vegetable in Italian cooking and its intense flavour pairs well with traditional pizza ingredients such as cheese and pancetta. The bright red leaves also make a dish all the more attractive to look at… Ingredients SERVES 4-6 FOR THE DOUGH 300g plain wheat flour 100g strong wheat flour 20g Brewer’s yeast […]

6 Best Jarred Artichoke Hearts

One of Italy’s favourite vegetables, the artichoke is a delicious addition to an antipasto platter, or a tasty treat all by itself. Italia! samples a selection of the best on offer… Perfect for sprucing up pasta and transforming lettuce leaves into a delicious salad, jarred artichokes are undoubtedly the fanciest of all standbys, and no […]

Garden retreats, La Mortella

A great love story and an indomitable passion have shaped one of the most memorable garden landscapes in Italy. We re-visit the exotic retreat on the island of Ischia and remember the wonderful Lady Walton… All great gardens are love stories – the love of the gardener for his or her creation, but La Mortella is something special. […]

The Best Small Islands

With such a vast coastline Italy has plenty of beautiful, small islands dotted around its shores. Italia! selects five of the best diminutive destinations. Isola D’elba, Tuscany  Tuscany’s Elba was once home to Napoleon during his period of exile in 1814. It’s now hard to imagine how such an imposition could be deemed a punishment, […]

Italia! May Issue 138 on sale now!

Let us introduce Italia! May Issue 138 which is on sale now, this month we explore how Sardina has changed but the soul still remains… I’m pleased to announce that the latest issue of Italia! is on sale now and available to buy online and from stores across the UK! You can also download the digital edition […]