Luna Hotel

For the ultimate in style and indulgence in Venice, you can’t do much better than the Luna Hotel Baglioni. Sally FitzGerald enjoys a weekend at La Serenissima’s oldest hotel… Leaning out over the padded velvet balcony, watching the sun set over the still waters of the lagoon, I think I may be as close to […]

Montepulciano D’Abruzzo Red Wine

Montepulciano D’Abruzzo: Reliable, mass produced and very drinkable, Hannah Bellis says there is life beyond house red for this southern grape… Anyone who has had more than a few glasses of red in their lifetime will have drunk Montepulciano d’Abruzzo. It is a famous name in that it is so widely available – it is […]

Gourmet Guide to Terra dei Messapi

This lesser-know region in idyllic central Puglia is fast becoming a foodie paradise, as Rachel Beckwith discovers as she visits the producers… Just a light lunch, they said. The heaving table in front of me suggests otherwise – it gives an audible creak every time our hostess balances yet another plate of food at the […]

Baked mushrooms stuffed with spinach, Brie and walnuts

Funghi al forno ripieno di spinaci, brie e noci  ➤ Serves 4  ➤Preparation 10 minutes   ➤ Cooking 20 minutes 3 tbsp olive oil 4 field or Portobello mushrooms, wiped and stalks removed 225g baby leaf spinach 40g walnuts, chopped 100g Brie (or Blue Stilton), cut into small pieces salt and freshly ground black pepper mixed salad leaves and cherry tomatoes […]

Crateri Silvestri

If you’re looking for panoramic views of Etna’s landscape and would like to visit the window ‘kissed by lava’, then you might find yourself heading for the Crateri Silvestri – the Silvestri Craters… The Crateri Silvestri of Mount Etna were created by the volcanic eruption of 1892 and are, compared to the 459 square-mile volcano, […]

Interview with the Crown Prince of Italy

James Miller is granted an audience with the heir to what would have been the Italian throne, a man who grew up in exile and is now an Italian personality. Read the full interview with the Crown Prince of Italy here… We are sitting and waiting in the grand lobby of the Hotel Regina Baglioni, […]

Ten Best Reasons to buy Property on Lake Como

We asked Beverley Rosen, Lake Como Expert from Lake Como Properties and Advisor to Channel 4’s A place in the Sun 2015 what she thinks are the Ten Best Reasons and Tips to Buy on Lake Como. This is what she told us… 1. All day sunshine This is an essential consideration both for your own enjoyment […]

Italian Weddings

Regular Italia! contributor Freya Middleton got married in Italy, and is therefore well placed to advise any who might be thinking of doing likewise. Here she tells all about Italian Weddings… Italian weddings are fun, beautiful and elegant, and they always have excellent food and wine. Have I just stated the obvious? Don’t all weddings […]

Family Values at Appassionata

Appassionata is a family run fractional ownership business, offering 1/10th (5 weeks) shares in luxury properties in Le Marche, Italy. This inspiring venture was created by entrepreneur, Michael Hobbs, and his wife, interior designer, Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs, in 2007. Along with help from their daughter, India and husband Charlie they have found the perfect balance, a […]

Southern Italian layered potato pie

Patate al forno  New potatoes are abundant at this time of year and as well as being great boiled, they also bake very well – use them in this Southern Italian layered potato pie…. ➤ Serves 2 ➤ Preparation 15 minutes ➤ Cooking 35 minutes 450g new potatoes, scrubbed salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 onions, peeled, finely chopped […]