We present to you the first in a series of eight of the most memorable starring roles, we begin with Roman Holiday starring style icon Audrey Hepburn… Roman Holiday (1953, Rome, directed by William Wyler. Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck) Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck star in this timeless 50s classic, a worthy tribute to the Eternal […]
We love wine here at Italia! and so it is only natural that this exhibition caught our eye. Held in Verona, Italy’s largest wine and spirit exhibition is coming up soon; Vinitaly. The opportunity to taste some of the best wines awaits – how can any budding connoisseur resist? Italian wines have – finally – become accepted […]
The smuggling of the mortal remains of St Mark to Venice from Alexandria in 828 satisfied a Divine Will – according to the Venetian version of the story, anyway… When, in the 4th Century AD, St Mark the Evangelist allegedly visited the then uninhabited lagoon, an angel appeared unto him saying: “Pax tibi Marce, Evangelista […]
Florence is the perfect venue for a weekend away if you simply want to be a tourist: there’s so much to see, read about and photograph, and it’s one of those rare places where there’s really no point in trying to blend in with the natives – try to and you’ll be spotted a mile […]
Umbria is one of these less explored regions of Italy where time seems to have come to a standstill in the small medieval villages that offer a tranquil life to its inhabitants. Coming from a hectic city these quiet little towns will inspire anyone. Many traditions are kept alive and Umbria has a number of […]
Like a rainbow of painted plaster, the village of Portovenere hangs onto the cliffs above the swirling seas of the Gulf of La Spezia on the coast of Liguria – the home of fine wines and a one-time haunt of Byron’s. We know it’s a tough decision, trying to decide between the Amalfi coast and […]
Relax in style, here’s a quick break down of the very best… If you want a relaxing holiday, then what better than staying at a spa? Take your pick from four of the best spas in Italy. Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni E. Vitali 24, Bellagio (Como) www.villaserbelloni.it Adored by kings, queens, politicians and celebrities, the […]
Rolling hills, beautiful coastline and gothic architecture, we discover what more Tuscany has to offer… Tuscany was one of the first destinations to attract large numbers of travellers from the UK – and with very good reason: the region offers a rich combination of culture, historic cities, antiquities, agreeable climate and friendly locals; it encapsulates everything that is beautiful about […]
Chris Allsop last visited Tuscany as a young boy. Thirty years later he decided to go back… The last time I was in Tuscany, I mostly chased pigeons. I was six, on a family holiday, and the astounding art heritage of Florence was no match for the challenge of putting the wind up every pigeon […]
If this image looks familiar it is because we visited Padua’s ’meadow without grass’ in June. Unfortunately, we barely had time to stop then, so this month we return, under cover of darkness, to see it at its most splendid… We visited Il Prato della Valle when we spent 48 Hours in Padua earlier this […]