Italian olive oils

Olive oil is an essential ingredient in every Italian kitchen, so this month we put seven golden samples of extra-virgin olive oil under the Italia! taste team spotlight… Extra-virgin olive oil is one of the most important ingredients in the Mediterranean diet. It is renowned for its health-giving properties, being low in unsaturated fat and […]

Cheese and Parma ham twists

These cheese and parma ham twists from Lakeland are the perfect snack!  Ingredients: 225g plain flour Pinch salt 50g butter, cubed 50g lard, cubed 150g Parmesan cheese, grated 30ml cold water 1 egg, beaten 8 slices Parma ham Method: Preheat the oven to 180°C/Gas 4 and line 2 baking sheets with non-stick liner. Combine the flour […]

Drink Italia: Tuscan reds

From ‘Super Tuscan’ to Brunello, there are plenty of fine Tuscan non-Chianti reds, and they’re not all super-expensive either. Here’s a selection of Tuscan reds your wallet will love… Traditionally in Tuscany, if you were making red wine, you used indigenous Italian grape varieties like Sangiovese and that was that. During the late 1960s and […]

Southern Belle: the Donna Coraly Resort

There’s a new spot to visit on your next trip to Sicily – perfectly placed near Syracuse, elegant Donna Coraly Resort is a peaceful bolthole for the weary traveller Echoing the white-topped slopes of Sicily’s majestic Etna, glimpsed as we sped away from the bustle of Catania, drifts of snowy white roses fringe the approach […]

Italia! top picks: July

Here are our favourite products for you this month! Plenty of summertime inspiration, from al fresco essentials and personalised gifts to travel accessories and ideas for the home… Fishy on a dishy  This Italian ceramic platter is the perfect picnic accessory, £52, www.creativando.nu Discover calabria    Michelle Fabio’s snappy e-guide is crammed with essential info and tips, […]

The Lakes regional property guide

The renowned lakes in the north represent an unwaveringly popular region to buy a home. As a result, property here doesn’t come cheap, but you can still find value for money, and holiday rental potential is strong. But Italy has more places to consider for lakeside living. Look to the central lakes, and to Sardinia, […]

Elderflower fritters

These Frittelle di fiori di sambuco are a delicious summery snack!  Ingredients: 10 elderflower flower heads 100g plain flour a pinch of salt 150ml light beer or lager 1 medium free-range egg groundnut or sunflower oil, for frying a few spoonfuls of runny honey Method: Be sure you know the difference between elderflower and cow parsley… […]

Giotto: the Arena Chapel

Giotto shows the representation of human emotion, injects individuality once again in the people depicted and is interested in conveying a sense of realism. Back in the very early 1300s Padua was a very wealthy merchant city and the Scrovegni family was one of the most wealthy families in the city. Reginaldo Scrovegni had made […]

The Princess Brides

In Ravenna, a Queen gives birth to a daughter whose actions precipitate the founding of Venice. By the early 5th century AD, the Roman Empire was in two parts, ruled by two different emperors in two different capital cities. The eastern half was administered from Constantinople, in Thrace. The western capital was in Ravenna, in […]