Wine, women & song

Mary Novakovich and friends enjoy a long-awaited reunion – and where better to do it than Tuscany? Better late than never. Covid had put the kibosh on so many celebrations during lockdown, but there was no way my friend Tracey wasn’t going to make a big splash for her 50th birthday – even if it […]

Life and property in Puglia

Great weather, endless seaside and fabulous food make property in Puglia a perennial favourite for buyers in Italy. Fleur Kinson guides you through this wonderful, affordable southern region Distinctive on the map as the ‘high heel’ of the Italian boot, Puglia sticks out from the bottom of the Italian mainland to be embraced by the […]

Travel through the natural wonders of Italy

From tracking Italy’s ‘big five’ to honing your photography skills or wild volunteering, Italy offers a wealth of travel opportunities to bring you closer to the natural world, says Jenny Oldaker… You’ve seen the treasures of the Renaissance in Florence, marvelled at Rome’s ancient history and been awestruck by Amalfi’s glittering coastline. What next? Italy […]

Portoferraio Travel Guide

Your guide to travelling in Portoferraio, Elba… What to see and do ACQUA DELL’ELBA Acqua dell’Elba, the island’s perfumer, creates fragrances based on Elba’s scents and colours, from deep blue to turquoise. The business does a lot to sponsor the arts and the environment in Elba. ELBA WINE ROAD The Costa degli Etruschi wine and […]

48 hours in Portoferraio

Spending a weekend in Elba’s capital Portoferraio is the best introduction to the island, says Jane Gifford Mythology has it that Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty and love, was visiting one of her many lovers on the Italian mainland when she accidentally broke her string of pearls, and in doing so formed the Tuscan […]

Over the bridge to San Polo

Adrian Mourby takes us on another of his guided walks around Venice with a visit to San Polo, the cradle of the city   San Polo can claim to be where the modern archipelago of Venice began in the 9th century. While the administration of this great trading empire developed in the lower-lying sestiere of […]

Our life in Tuscany

Cambridge-based Judith and Michael Portman bought a one-bedroom flat in Florence in 2015. They spend three weeks there every summer and two weeks at Christmas. The rest of the year they rent the flat to international students – often visiting students who are just spending one academic year in the city.   What drew them […]

Living in Tuscany

Dreamily perfect countryside and gem-like cities stuffed with art make Tuscany a perennial favourite for visitors and homebuyers in Italy. Properties here make a rock-solid investment, says Fleur Kinson At a glance… The Region: When we think of Tuscany we think of verdant rolling hills dotted with centuries-old farmhouses radiating late afternoon sunshine – much […]

New Italia! City Guide out now!

The new Italia! City Guide: City Breaks & Weekend Escapes is on sale now Our brand new issue of Italia! City Guide is here! This 116-page Italian travel guide is crammed with inspiration, tips and advice from our expert travel writers for your next trip to il bel paese.  The cities and towns of Italy are ideal destinations […]