Matt and Shirley Partridge from Leicestershire own a small country house in the far south of Puglia. They enjoy month-long visits there several times a year, and plan to retire there permanently later this year. What drew them to Puglia? “We’ve both had careers in catering and hospitality,” Shirley explains, “and this contributed to us […]
Chapter Two – Florence.. I gazed around the Piazza and sipped my cappuccino elegantly, copying the glamorous Italians on the next table. Trying not to get the milky froth all around my mouth. I love to people watch. The tourists racing to keep up with their flag bearing tour guides. The Nonna’s dressed in black, […]
Our experts are here to help with all your questions about Italy. This month, alternative Sorrento, travelling around the south, fractional ownership in Le Marche, and EU driving licences… Alternative sorrento Q: I’d love to visit Sorrento, but still want to have that ‘authentic Italy’ feel. Are there any smaller hotels that might fit the bill? […]
Our editor Amanda Robinson discovers authentic Italian flavours and new friends at a hands-on cookery course in the Veneto hills… Total immersion: it’s the best way to learn, right? Speak a second language like a native, pass your driving test, swim like a fish, become a chef… It’s a tried-and-tested route to success. So, how about […]
Rachael Martin descends from Milan into the Po Valley to discover the home town of her mother-in-law. Lodi, one of those quiet Lombardy towns so easily reached from Milan by car or by train, is often quoted in the Milan newspapers as the perfect day trip for the Milanese. It’s south of Milan in the […]
Spring is an ideal time for visiting Sicily. The town of Cefalù on the northern coast is particularly charming before the temperature soars and the hoards descend. Lorenza Bacino and her family enjoyed the April sunshine exploring this delightful town and the nearby Madonie Regional Park. A few hardy northern European visitors braved the calm, […]
We’ve got a four-night stay for two at the stunning Grotta Giusti Resort Golf & Spa in Tuscany to give away, thanks to our friends at Citalia. Nestled in the heart of Tuscan countryside is Grotta Giusti, a renovated 19th-century villa. Interiors are traditionally styled, with antique furnishings and paintings dotted throughout. But what makes […]
There’s a new spot to visit on your next trip to Sicily – perfectly placed near Syracuse, elegant Donna Coraly Resort is a peaceful bolthole for the weary traveller Echoing the white-topped slopes of Sicily’s majestic Etna, glimpsed as we sped away from the bustle of Catania, drifts of snowy white roses fringe the approach […]
The ruggedly beautiful Aspromonte National Park covers much of the bottom third of Calabria, the province that makes up the toe in Italy’s boot. Chris Allsop took a trip to this dramatic and often unfairly overlooked part of the country’s south. “They are like a net,” my guide in the city of Reggio Calabria told […]
If you’re hitting the Italian roads this summer, here are seven ways to ensure that you have a stress-free motoring experience. Paul Pettengale is your guide… Do hire a car that’s big enough for your party and all your luggage. It sounds obvious, but a family of four plus suitcases for a couple of weeks […]