On Foot in the Sabine Hills

There isn’t much of Italy you could describe as ‘undiscovered’, but Rebecca Ford finds something close – and just an hour from Rome. The Sabine Hills… We had been walking for a couple of hours when we came to the little meadow. It was early summer and the poppies were in bloom. Some farmers were […]

48 Hours in Genoa

Genoa might not be the first place you think of for a city break, but it has a special history with lots to see that you won’t find anywhere else, beyond all the boats. Jon Palmer sets sail… Genoa is the second busiest port in Italy, after Gioia Tauro, and the sixth busiest in the […]

Alta Badia – The Ladin Shangri La

Having previously visited the Dolomites on an adventure holiday with a friend, Jon Bickley returns with his family to see how his two young teenagers would take to mountain views and ‘nothing to do’… Two years ago I was privileged to have an adventurous weekend in the Dolomite region of Alta Badia – the principal […]

Riva Lofts, Florence

Staying in Florence doesn’t mean you have to be right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle. Sarah Lindsay discovers some alternative comforts at Riva Lofts in Florence… Built in 1880 and set on the banks of the Arno river, this former old Florentine leather factory was acquired in 1999 by the renowned architect Claudio Nardi, who […]

Santarcangelo by Jove!

Local legends maintain that Sangiovese, one of Italy’s best loved red wines, can trace its origins to Santarcangelo di Romagna, and many experts agree. The position of Santarcangelo’s medieval centre is 10km inland from Rimini on the Colle Giove hill – named after the ancient god Jove. This led, it seems, to the wine being […]

Venice for Kids

Liz Harper takes her eight-year-old daughter to Venice for her first experience of the Serenissima and finds plenty for kids to enjoy in the city… “Wow mum, look at that!” my daughter giggled, pointing at a large wooden boat that had arrived alongside our kayak on the Grand Canal. A well-dressed couple, sipping espressos, were […]

48 Hours in Mantua

Follow Marina Spironetti as she unveils the treasures of the cobbled city of Mantua, one of the most atmospheric places to visit in northern Italy… A year ago yet another earthquake shook most of northern Italy, causing considerable damage. When I went back to Mantua a couple of months ago, I did not know what to […]

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 […]

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 […]

Venice Lido

While the crowds flock to Venice, Adrian Mourby finds a much more relaxing way of life on the Lido, where tourists of the past would stay and spend much of their time, away from the stifling air of the city… You can hear the silence of the Adriatic from up here. It doesn’t so much […]