Pasta con crema di zucchine e ricotta This creamy courgette and ricotta pasta is full of fresh Italian flavour with a vibrant green courgette sauce and plenty of ricotta, of course! Courgettes are a wonderfully versatile vegetable. They’re also very forgiving for the novice gardener and require minimal attention. Pick them small and they can […]
Bologna’s historic porticoes, a pervading symbol of the city’s hospitality, have been granted UNESCO World Heritage status. We join novelist and Bologna resident Tom Benjamin for a guided tour of his highlights. (1) The heart and soul of Bologna is Piazza Maggiore, Bologna’s main square, and the porticoes of Renaissance ‘PAVAGLIONE’ prettify what might otherwise […]
Get the family together and bring the flavours of Italy right to your table with Mario Matassa In a country that loves and lives to eat well and, as a general rule, adheres to the principle of eating seasonally, it should come as no surprise that for many Italians spring is the most anticipated time […]
We’ve rounded up some of our favourite Italian castles, so if you’re looking for a memorable day out or a place to stay that’s oozing with history, you’ll find the perfect destination here, says Jenny Oldaker. Italy is so liberally sprinkled with castles, it’s difficult to choose just a few favourites. From solid medieval stone […]
The Palazzi dei Rolli are a living showcase for the wealth and power of certain 17th-century Genoese families The lavish Palaces of the Rolli were the ultimate display of familial affluence, influence and splendour during Genoa’s Renaissance and Baroque periods. To see one such building survive to this day is remarkable, yet this port city […]
Find some of the best places to stay, visit or eat while staying around Majella with Val Nicastro’s guide to the highlights of the area… What to see and do Hike the spiritual trail The Majella National Park offers visitors a vast network of fantastic hiking routes, including the fascinating Spiritual Trail, which runs for […]
Dreaming of Italy? Rachael Martin looks at how you can bring the country closer to you with online experiences, from live-streamed art history and cookery classes, wine tastings and more. There’s no doubt that the past two years have clipped our wings somewhat – and while travel appears to be opening up again, for many, […]
Officially listed in the UNESCO Geopark network, Majella in Abruzzo is a dream for nature lovers, as Val Nicastro discovers. Images by Val Nicastro About an hour’s drive inland from Pescara and the beaches of the Adriatic coast, the Majella National Park is one of those hidden gems of Italy that impress with their simplicity […]
Ancient craft traditions are an integral part of Italy’s heritage, but today’s artisans face fierce competition from a world of mass-produced convenience and the preservation of these crafts is more important than ever, says Jenny Oldaker. From exquisite glass creations in Murano to handcrafted Florentine footwear, each part of Italy has its own unique heritage […]
This is the city to which Romeo was banished, and it is also home to a palace entirely dedicated to love. Little wonder, then, that one English author considered it to be the world’s most romantic city, writes Jane Keightley Images by Jane Keightley unless otherwise stated Aldous Huxley once called Mantua “the most romantic […]