A meeting of ways in Courmayeur

Courmayeur holiday

How would a father and son, skier and snowboarder team fare for five days on the slopes together? Jon Bickley took teenager Ben back to the Alps to find out… Courmayeur photos courtesy of Jon Bickley   After the second time I went skiing with my son Ben, on a school trip to Bormio eight […]

Seasonal Sorrento

Free of the summer’s foreign tourists, but no less lively, Sorrento is a beautiful place to be at Christmas – here’s why it’s a perfect festive destination… Words and photos by Fleur Kinson   The Christmas period seems to come earlier and earlier in Britain, with shops piled high with gifts, tinsel and crackers long […]

Molise travel guide

Valentina Nicastro brings us some of her favourite places to stay, eat and visit in Molise – a little-known region of Italy that deserves to be better known… Where to eat Osteria Paradiso An institution in Isernia, serving excellent homemade food from the Molise area. Top dishes include sagne with fagioli (left) – hand-made pasta with […]

Molise: a voyage of discovery

Molise

Even here at Italia! we have rarely featured Molise, yet this unsung destination is deserving of your attention. Words and pictures by Valentina Nicastro You’re going where?” This is what friends kept asking me when I proudly announced my decision to visit Molise. Why? Because this small region overshadowed by neighbouring Puglia, Campania, Lazio and Abruzzo […]

10 Christmas highlights of Milan

For a Christmas break with a difference, join Rachael Martin as she heads to Milan and nearby Lake Como to soak up the festive atmosphere…  Milan photos by Comune di Milano unless otherwise stated 1. Christmas starts early in Milan with the Sant’Ambrogio festival On 7 December it is the feast day of Milan’s patron […]

Ostuni dining guide (and beyond!)

Jon Bickley shares his guide to the best places to eat in Ostuni in Puglia – with a few highlights from the nearby area too… Photos by Jon Bickley Ristorante Antiche Mura Cosy little restaurant (left) specialising in fresh fish (closed on Tuesdays). Via Roma, 11 – 70044 Polignano a Mare Ristorante Trullo d’Oro A […]

Return to Puglia

Fifteen years since he lasted visited, Jon Bickley returns to Puglia for a short stay with his wife and friends. Photos by Jon Bickley, unless otherwise stated   I’ve been privileged to have been involved with Italia! magazine for some 15 years, since we first launched in 2004. During that time I’ve visited a variety […]

Avoiding Bernini in Rome

The sculptor and architect created many of Rome’s most iconic sights – you can hardly take a selfie without him bombing you. Words by Joe Gartman, photos by Patricia Gartman   Let us imagine that you are standing in Piazza Barberini, in Rome, gazing at the famous Triton fountain. Triton, the giant son of Poseidon […]

Right down the line: Sumona to Isernia

trans-siberian train

Join us as we head off the beaten track on the little-known Italian Trans-Siberian vintage railway. Words and photos by Valentina Nicastro   For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been fascinated by rail tracks and roaring engines, so you can imagine my excitement when the search for unexplored trails and off-the-beaten-path places […]

Valle di Gran San Bernardo travel guide

Rachael Martin explores the best places to eat and stay in this peaceful corner of northern Italy, tucked away among the mountains of the Valle d’Aosta… Photos by Rachael Martin unless otherwise stated Where to eat and stay Prosciutteria Sous Le Pont de Bosses An excellent bar, restaurant and prosciutteria – that is, a place […]