The name Pantheon means dedicated to all gods, ‘pan’ means all and ‘theos’ means gods. This most spectacular ancient temple, located in the centre of Rome, inspires awe now, but it would have been truly worthy as a gift to all gods if seen during the classical period… The emperor Hadrian (76-138AD) rebuilt the almost […]
Heather Crombie shares her selection of ‘don’t miss’ tips for eating, staying and sight-seeing in Pavia… UNIVERSITY MUSEUMS The museums associated with the university are scattered throughout the city and are all packed with fascinating exhibits and information. If you’re pressed for time simply focus on the Museo per la Storia dell’Università. This amazing collection […]
Heather Crombie visits the historic university city of Pavia and discovers a rich tradition of art, history and a timeless appeal that has inspired some of history’s greatest minds… Having a river running along the edges of a city always gives it a head start in terms of aesthetic appeal, and it is the river […]
Hannah Bellis discovers that you don’t have to leave the country to eat like you are in Italy as she cooks up a feast at the Bertinet kitchen… Give a girl a hearty Italian meal and she will happily feed herself for a day. But give her a day of learning to cook that meal, […]
Umbria is known as the ‘green heart of Italy’, thanks to the fact that more than 30 per cent of the region is made up of woodland… This is a tranquil and historically rich region, landlocked on all sides by Tuscany, Lazio and Le Marche and situated right in the middle of Italy, although the […]
BERENICE ANDERSON, based in Oxford, bought and restored a 400-year-old house on a hillside in Umbria…. Set amidst terraced olive groves overlooking the Vale of Spoleto, Casa del Cinguietto (‘birdsong house’) provides a peaceful retreat for Berenice and her family several times a year. The rest of the time, it pays for itself through holiday […]
Tuscany’s tranquil neighbour Umbria is an exquisite place of rounded hills, forested heights, and jewel-like ancient towns, says Fleur Kinson… Set in the very middle of the Italian peninsula, Umbria is a dreamily serene region of wide rural vistas and captivating old hilltop towns. Spacious and leafy, it rightly calls itself ‘the green heart of […]
A very musical month awaits you if happen to take your trip during July, with jazz and blues festivals around the country, but there is also the infamous Palio. Take a look at our monthly highlights to see what Italy has in store for you this summer… PALIO DI SIENA 2 July Siena, Tuscany This […]
These are our pick of the very best quality and value Italian set lunch menus from restaurants in the capital… Nestled in a picturesque street in Marylebone you find the Caldesi cookery school and restaurant, the heart of the empire for Tuscan chef Giancarlo Caldesi. Lunch upstairs costs £15.50 for two or £19.50 for three […]
Take a look at the latest Italian products that have caught our eye… For food lovers who want to take their passion to the next level, designers have come up with this unusual Parmesan cheese lamp. Yes, that would be a hanging ceiling lamp that looks exactly like a wheel of Parmesan. It is […]