What’s not to like? Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jude Law all feature in one of our favourite of the Great Italian films! The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999, Rome, Venice, Procida & Ischia. Directed by Anthony Minghella. Starring Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law) Anthony Minghella directs this star-studded young cast in the stylish recreation […]
Who could forget the image of Mario ascending the dusty roads of the wild, but picturesque, little island on his vintage bicycle? This is our fifth review of Great Italian films… Il Postino (1994, Procida & Salina islands. Directed by Michael Radford. Starring Philippe Noiret, Massimo Troisi) This Oscar-winning film – adapted from the novel […]
One thousand miles of open-road racing launched some of the greatest car manufacturers in the world. Italia! explores the turbulent history of the legendary car race The legend of the Mille Miglia is remembered to this day, but what lead to the demise of the great thousand mile car race? In 1927, the race was […]
The River Cafe’s Rose Gray and Ruth Rogers apply their ethos for fresh, seasonal and regional ingredients to Italian cookery and prove wonderful fish dishes don’t have to be complicated… The fish recipes we love to cook in the River Cafe come from all of the regions of Italy we have visited over the last […]
The Ponte Vecchio was the setting for these locks of love, symbolising an eternal bond. But young couples didn’t reckon with the might of bolt cutters. The Ponte Vecchio in Florence; an emblem of the great city since 1345. But for a brief period in its illustrious reign it also became the site of a […]
Historically a trailblazer in garden design, Italy still wows with its gorgeous giardini. Fleur Kinson finds variety in all its splendour on the shores of the northern lakes. Italy, like England, is one of the great gardening nations of Europe and was hugely influential in the evolution of ideas about green spaces arranged for pleasure […]
Ciabatta was given its name because the bread resembles a well-worn slipper. Prolonged rising and plenty of liquid produce a very light bread with a uniquely open and porous texture. Ingredients FOR THE STARTER ½ tsp dried yeast 150ml water 3 tbsp tepid milk ¼ tsp honey or granulated sugar 150g strong white flour FOR […]
Most months consist of some kind of festival in Italy – some celebrations more peculiar than others. Italia! discovers some of the weird, but mostly wonderful carnivals. 1. Carnevale di Venezia Venice’s internationally famed carnival attracts thousands of visitors every year. When you consider the scale of the event and number of passionate participants, it is […]
Aside from a carnival of epic proportions, Venice is also home to the oldest film festival in the world. Italia! explores the illustrious history of this very glamorous affair. Coming into its 73rd year, the annual Venice Film Festival is the oldest and most prestigious in the world. In its long-running history the festival has come to […]
Famous worldwide for its white wine and extraordinarily beautiful cathedral, there is much more to the Umbrian town of Orvieto than meets the eye… Any mention of Orvieto will probably bring to mind the popular white wine produced in the area – either that or the magnificence of the cathedral. Before my visit, that was […]