The Venice Lagoon contains more than a hundred islands – some small, some large; some natural, some man-made. Sara Scarpa invites us on an island-hopping expedition… Photos by Iain Reid Often, on a sunny summer morning when we are in my home town of Venice, my husband and I will cycle from the centre […]
Sara Scarpa explores a few of Salento’s top things to see and do, plus great places to eat and accommodation to suit all budgets… Photos by Iain Reid What to see and do Basilica di Santa Croce, Lecce The Basilica di Santa Croce is one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Salento. The […]
Sara Scarpa travels to Salento in Puglia and discovers a timeless land ‘beyond the sea’ Photos by Iain Reid Puglia, the iconic and much loved ‘boot heel’ of Italy, is a large and varied region that has been a crossroads for several civilisations and cultures over the centuries. Salento, possibly the best known area […]
Sara Scarpa explores some of the best things to see and do – plus top places to eat and stay – in the atmospheric southern city of Matera in Basilicata Photos by Iain Reid What to see and do Discover Matera Underground at Ipogeo Materasum Book a guided tour at Ipogeo Materasum, an underground environment […]
Sara Scarpa flies south to visit a unique town in Basilicata that lives in the imagination of all Italians… Photos by Iain Reid unless otherwise stated Lots has been written about this mystical and historic town in the otherwise little-known and rarely visited region of Basilicata. Part grotto, part subterranean wonderland (it is known […]
Despite its origins in a terrible period of Venetian history, Il Redentore is a spectacular celebration that takes place in the city each July Words by Sara Scarpa. Images by Iain Reid Most years, on the afternoon of the third Saturday of July, my friends and I prepare for a fantastic event. We set up […]
Following her own wedding in Venice, Sara Scarpa offers some advice on the dos and don’ts of tying the knot in the City of Love. Photos by Iain Reid For me there is no better place to take your vows than in beautiful Venice. A wedding in the magical atmosphere of this captivating city is […]
If you ever find yourself in Emilia-Romagna, Ravenna is an absolute must. It really is a treasure trove of art and culture, writes Sara Scarpa. Above me is depicted a dark blue sky full of golden stars.The many thousands of tiny mosaic tiles set in various inclinations seem to capture and cascade light onto anyone […]
Explore the much-loved region of Tuscany and discover its many quiet corners in the new issue of Italia! Also in this issue we take a look at the historic hotels of Rome that have been part of 600 years of hospitality in Rome and our writer Sara Scarpa fills us in on the do’s and dont’s […]
Ferrara was Europe’s first modern city, and plans laid here have been copied across the continent. Sara Scarpa visits the often overlooked city of the Este family… One evening earlier this year, I watched a television programme about the Signorie, the governing bodies of old Italy, and was fascinated by the stories of these famous […]