Discover Orto Botanico Padua
A glorious day of exploration among the flora of 3,500 species of plants awaits in this botanical oasis in Padua Established in 1545 as a medicinal plants teaching garden, and considered to be the origin of botanical gardens, the Orto Botanico Padua has evolved into a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a leading authority on the world’s plant kingdom. Affiliated More...
Live like a film star on the shores of Lake Como
Discover Lake Como and you’ll see why Michelle Jackson, The Novel Traveller, felt like a celebrity when exploring one of the most popular destinations in Italy with Travel Department. Before we start… Now More...
Ciao Italia! – Travel Department’s favourite snippets of Italian history
Few countries in the world have such a variable, diverse and colourful history as Italy. Every time we visit, we learn new facts about Italy’s wonderful past. We’ve put together 10 Interesting Facts about Italian More...
Discover Villa Adriana
How does a Roman Emperor create the ultimate symbol of power? By building an ‘ideal city’ that still stands to this day. Image © iStock Unenthused by existing villas yet keen to follow in the tradition of Roman More...
A guide to Naples fashion
Zoey Goto visited Naples on a dapper mini-break, after receiving a rare invitation to take a look behind the scenes at two of the world’s most exclusive and historic tailoring houses. Image © Boutique Rubinacci Until More...
The real San Marco
Adrian Mourby ventures deep into San Marco, Venice’s oldest sestiere, which is known the world over for its piazza and yet is otherwise relatively rarely explored. Images by Kate Tadman-Mourby unless otherwise More...
Discover Villa d’Este
The 16th-century Villa d’Este at Tivoli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site sits just outside Rome. The palace and gardens were created from a desire for status, yet a legacy that spans centuries has been left… © More...
Discover Aquileia’s mosaic floor
This once great Roman city fell to barbarians but, though much of Aquileia was razed, a freshly lain colourful mosaic floor was left perfectly intact… © iStock Getty images This 4th-century mosaic floor, More...
Amalfi Amore
Adrian Mourby takes a road trip along the awe-inspiring Amalfi Coast from Sorrento to Salerno… Images by Kate Tadman-Mourby unless otherwise stated There was a seagull on our balcony, a very large one, enjoying More...
Pilgrimage to Possagno
You could travel the world’s museums to see the works of Antonio Canova, or you could go to Possagno, Joe Gartman writes… Images by Patricia Gartman There’s an elegantly mirrored and frescoed room in More...