Inspired by Sicily – Part 2

In the second part of this series, Mark Nicholls journeys across the hilltops of Sicily and discovers more about Europes most active Volcano… Read Part 1 here Olives and vines Journeying across Sicily takes you through a landscape of rolling hillsides lined with olives and vines, distant red patches of poppies with isolated hilltop castles visible in the […]

Inspired by Sicily – Part 1

Mark Nicholls delves into Sicily’s striking architectural heritage and discovers an island of medieval hilltop towns, cathedrals and artistic inspiration… Sicily is an island that has been stamped by the indelible imprint of all those who have conquered, settled and passed through over thousands of years. It finally became part of Italy in 1860, but […]

48 Hours in Tuscia – Part 1

This historical region of Italy, which today coincides with the province of Viterbo, was once a mighty kingdom. Heather Crombie ventures into the Land of the Etruscans… “Here be dragons” might be written across the map of Tuscia, undiscovered as it seems to be. Strange and beautiful, with sights straight out of mythology, you may […]

Things to do – Italian Events in April

There are some important dates in Italy this month, with Easter Sunday falling on the 26th, Liberation Day on the 25th, Rome’s birthday on the 21st, as well as St George’s Day, St Mark’s Day, and not-to-be-missed Fermignano Frog Palio… Easter Sunday 16 April Nationwide Many Italians head out of town for family picnics on […]

Love in Venice

For some people, there has only ever been one ‘City of Romance’ Many towns are called the ‘City of Love’ – Rome, Verona and Paris, to name but three. For Sara Scarpa, however, none can match the claims of her native Venice, home to Casanova, Byron, Carnival, and countless secret little places where lovers have […]

Ski in Vintage Style

Alta Badia marks the end of the winter season in a retro style in the heart of the South Tyrolean Dolomites. Taking place on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd April is Alta Badia’s third vintage event on the snow. Beautiful long days with sunshine galore and perfect snow – especially during the early hours of […]

La dolce vita in Sicily

Join us for a tour around the Donna Coraly Resort: a glorious Sicilian country escape… Drifts of snowy white roses fringe the approach to Donna Coraly Resort, where the sleek lines of the wide verandah offer shelter from the glorious Sicilian sun. And there’s an even warmer welcome from charismatic Lucia Pascarelli, owner of this […]

When in Florence, don’t miss out on these

There are so many fascinating sights in Florence, so many it could become overwhelming! Use this advice… Opera Di Santa Maria Del Fiore di Firenze A statue by Michelangelo, Brunelleschi’s death mask, a Magdalen by Donatello and the Baptistery’s original bronze-gilded panels are just some of the treasures in this dramatic new museum that displays everything that didn’t […]

Veneto Regional Guide: Part 2

The Veneto is tucked in the northeast of Italy, romantic and prosperous in equal measure Home to 4.5 million inhabitants, it stretches up to Austria in the north and to the flats of Italy’s Po Valley in the south, encompassing a variety of terrains along the way. The region’s capital is Venice – obviously. This […]

Ski in Abruzzo

Jon Bickley makes his way to the slopes of mid-Italy, where he discovers the area offers a surprisingly satisfying ski break to rival its northern counterparts As we entered the final few miles of our transfer from Rome Ciampino to Roccaraso in the L’Aquila province of Abruzzo, my slight concern turned to mild panic. We […]