Gnocchi with spinach, Gorgonzola and pancetta

Gnocchi agli spinaci, Gorgonzola e pancetta You can, if you have time and patience, make your own gnocchi, but it is an ingredient that does not suffer from being pre-prepared by a supermarket. ➤Serves 2➤ Preparation 5 minutes ➤ Cooking 10 minutes 250g good-quality ready-made potato gnocchi 80g cubetti di pancetta 100g mascarpone 70g Gorgonzola cheese, cut […]

Botticelli’s Birth of Venus

Botticelli’s Birth of Venus is the beautiful depiction of an idea – the image of Renaissance beauty, where the ancient world merged with the Christian immortal soul… Why is Botticelli’s Birth of Venus one of the most famous paintings from the Renaissance? It depicts the birth of the goddess of love and beauty as a fully […]

Discover Cortina d’Ampezzo

Mark Nicholls visits the Dolomites and discovers an oft-forgotten aspect of World War One history… The peaks are sharp and jagged, forming a ruggedly stunning backdrop across the Dolomites. This is a landscape considered so impressive that it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With 18 peaks rising to above 3,000 metres and […]

48 Hours In Venice

Follow regular contributor Marina Spironetti as she heads off to the Lagoon and discovers the authentic pleasures of Italy’s most fairy-tale city with 48 Hours In Venice… We all seem to have some idea of Venice in our mind even before visiting. Once you arrive, you are able to find what you thought would be […]

Pasta and chickpea soup

Minestra di pasta e ceci If you like a meaty taste to your Pasta and chickpea soup, replace the anchovy fillets with a couple of tablespoons of cubed pancetta. ➤ Serves 2 ➤ Preparation 10 minutes  ➤ Cooking 30 minutes 200g canned chickpeas 1 small sprig fresh rosemary 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 2 large cloves garlic, peeled, chopped […]

Amalfi Drive

The restaurants and hotels of Naples and its environs have so much more to offer than pizza. Adrian Mourby and his wife took a tour by car, never hesitating to try some of the finest dining experiences on their route… There is always a warm welcome at il Ristorantino dell’Avvocato for anyone willing to brave […]

A Hedonistic Hiking in Tuscany

Question: what do you do if you wish to take a holiday during which you will be spoilt rotten by a series of delicious meals, but from which you nevertheless wish to return home leaner, stronger, healthier and happier than before? Answer: you go a gastronomic hiking in Tuscany. It was to cater for just such demands […]

Living La Dolce Vita with Flavia Cacace

James Miller met the Strictly Come Dancing star while she was preparing for Dance ‘Til Dawn and asked her about the essence of la bella figura and la dolce vita… Flavia Cacace is now one of the UK’s best known Brits of Italian descent. Performing on the hit TV show Strictly Come Dancing, she has […]

Fractional Ownership: “Heaven on Earth”

“Heaven on Earth, one of the best decisions we ever made.” Chris & Deb Everard – Owners Imagine a place where you can relax from the moment you arrive; everything is ready, all rooms are beautifully laid out for you and your guests, and welcome goodies are in the cupboard; it’s just like coming home. […]