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 […]
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 […]
For so many who arrive at Pisa airport, it is the honeypots of Siena and Florence, and the juicy vineyards of Chianti that lure them southwards Not for me though. I was heading in the opposite direction to the Val di Lima in the lesser-travelled area of northern Tuscany known as the Garfagnana. Living and […]
Visiting Venice at this time of year will offer you an experience quite unlike the one you would have if you were to join the throngs of tourists in mid-summer Local woman Sara Scarpa describes the atmosphere of a Venetian winter and shares with us some secrets about what Venetians will be enjoying in their […]
The striking black and white cathedral of Orvieto in Umbria is well worth further investigation, enjoying a long and varied history and rare aesthetic appeal The remarkable medieval city of Orvieto in Umbria is home to one of Italy’s most spectacular cathedrals. This architectural treat sits majestically on a hill of golden volcanic tufa, standing […]
There’s no better way of buying authentic Italian produce than by rubbing shoulders with the locals at one of Italy’s many bustling markets. Here are our favourites… The Rialto Markets/ Pescheria Venice, Veneto Among the multitude of architectural, historical and scenic ‘must-sees’ and ‘must-dos’ in this iconic city, here is a gastronomic imperative to add […]
Head to Via Niccolò Piccolomini and if you reach the street coming from Villa Doria Pamphili, the dome looks huge, then ‘shrinks’ as you move towards it, thanks to a strange optical illusion. Also try the top of the Aventine Hill, next to one of the city’s most beautiful examples of early Christian architecture, Santa […]
If you’ve been to Rome once, then it’s time to go again. Marina Spironetti reveals ten things you should experience on your second visit to the Eternal City… You have been to Rome. You survived the 7km or so of exhibits through the rather opulent Papal Rooms of the Vatican museums before being rewarded with […]
The slender region of Puglia dips its heel into both the Adriatic and Ionian seas, as it is located at the bottom of the peninsula’s east coast, with Molise as its neighbour in the north, Campania to the northwest and Basilicata to the west. The climate is reliably sunny, and hot and dry in the […]
Located on the steps of the Basilica Santa Croce, the architectural jewel at the heart of the world famous Piazza Santa Croce, Florence’s annual Christmas market offers a shopping experience like no other. Just moments from the Temple of Italian Glories, the final resting place of Italian icons Michelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli amongst others, after exploring the […]