Trento travel guide

Valentina Nicastro shares some of her favourite places to eat, stay and visit when in the gorgeous northern city of Trento. (Photos by Valentina Nicastro unless otherwise stated) What to see & do Castello del Buonconsiglio This splendid castle is the biggest and most important historic building not just in Trento but in the entire […]

48 hours in Trento

The delightful but overlooked alpine town of Trento should be on your radar all year round for a perfect weekend getaway. Words and photos by Valentina Nicastro (unless otherwise stated) It may not be the first place that comes to mind when you’re planning a weekend gateway to Italy, but Trento has all the ingredients […]

Homes in Lombardy

The stylish region of Lombardy combines romantic Alpine lakesides and elegant little cities. It’s long been loved by foreign property buyers, and with good reason, says Fleur Kinson Lombardy photos by Getty Images   With an annual GDP that’s double the size of Italy’s next most productive region, Lombardy has been rightly dubbed the ‘economic […]

Molise travel guide

Valentina Nicastro brings us some of her favourite places to stay, eat and visit in Molise – a little-known region of Italy that deserves to be better known… Where to eat Osteria Paradiso An institution in Isernia, serving excellent homemade food from the Molise area. Top dishes include sagne with fagioli (left) – hand-made pasta with […]

Molise: a voyage of discovery

Even here at Italia! we have rarely featured Molise, yet this unsung destination is deserving of your attention. Words and pictures by Valentina Nicastro You’re going where?” This is what friends kept asking me when I proudly announced my decision to visit Molise. Why? Because this small region overshadowed by neighbouring Puglia, Campania, Lazio and Abruzzo […]

Cuneo travel guide

Valentina Nicastra shares some top places to eat and stay in this province of Piedmont, around the villages where the region’s lovely lavender fields can be found Photos by Valentina Nicastro, unless otherwise stated Where to stay B&B Il Galletto An ancient farmstead that has been recently renovated and offers simple, cosy rooms with the […]

Piedmont’s Little Provence

Valentina Nicastro visits the little-known lavender fields of Piedmont for a spot of Nature’s own aromatherapy – it’s the perfect spot for a relaxing break Photos by Valentina Nicastro unless otherwise stated   Lavender is commonly associated with the region of Provence in France, but Italy has its own share of violet fields. There’s an […]

Euganean Hills house, Veneto

This lovely, completely restored two-storey country house is in the hamlet of Valnogaredo in the centre of the verdant Euganean Hills regional park, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. The property of half a hectare (more than an acre) includes a beautiful garden with charming views over the surroundings. The Euganean Hills are located in the […]

Homes in Abruzzo

Wild, unspoilt and uncrowded, Abruzzo holds huge appeal for lovers of the outdoors. As well as mountains and beaches, it offers astonishingly affordable properties, says Fleur Kinson Photos by Getty Images   Abruzzo entices visitors with the call of the wild, or at least the call of the great outdoors. Dominated by leafy highlands and […]