It would take Titian the generation following Giovanni Bellini to really exploit the full potential of oil. He digested the expertise of Bellini and then took it to another level. Titian (Tiziano in Italian) was one of the greatest painters Venice ever produced – perhaps the greatest painter Venice ever produced. He was the […]
James Miller travels the east coast of Sicily to discover two cities rich in ancient history and vibrant with modern life… The Roman statesman and scholar Cicero described Siracusa as “The greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all.” In ancient times Sicily was once part of Magna Graecia, or Greater Greece, and […]
Phil Bremner “Despite seeing Venice in endless movies nothing really prepares you for the exquisite timeless beauty of this astonishing city.”
This picture perfect scene in the region of South Tyrol has been at the heart of territorial disputes between Italy and Austria – and who wouldn’t want to claim ownership over such beautiful land? This spectacular vista in the northeastern tip of Italy has been appreciated by residents of Tyrol Castle and the surrounding […]
With its illustrious history and array of natural wonders, Alghero is certainly a place with plenty to explore. Marina Spironetti unlocks the secrets that belong to this sun-kissed Sardinian city. The light. The most special thing about Alghero, in my opinon, is the light. Especially in the evening, when the sea-facing walls seem to catch […]
Captivating Favignana island in the Egadi archipelago is known as ‘the butterfly of the sea’ and boasts an array of natural wonders… Favignana is part of the Egadi Islands, located west of Sicily in the province of Trapani. In ancient times it was referred to as Aegusa, meaning ‘goat’s island’, adopting its modern name from […]
Think Prosecco and you may think of Bellinis and Spritzers, but there is so much more to the wine than that, as its producers are keen to point out. Kevin Pilley treads the Prosecco Road in Italy’s far northeast… One for the shade,” said Francesco, handing me an ombra of fizzy San Giuseppe Superiore […]
Known as the Gateway to the Dolomites, the Luson Valley is a hiker’s paradise with a number of trails leading from here into the mountains that surround it… The Germans call it Lüsen, as do its inhabitants. Though we are well inside the modern Italian border here, some 40km northeast of Bolzano, roughly the same […]
Italy’s Cinque Terre is the stuff of postcards, and its colourful coastal railway is as pretty as a picture. Tristan Rutherford takes a train journey of discovery along the Ligurian coast. Central Italy is snowbound, so it is a shock to see La Spezia Station in radiant green. Palm trees run alongside the tracks in […]
Florence’s River Arno is in tranquil mood as it flows through the arches of the Ponte Santa Trinità, but these sleek still waters have borne witness to a more tempestuous history… What could be more restful than the River Arno at dusk with Santa Maria del Carmine and the Florence skyline in the background. Rising […]