This clean, classy region sees celestial Alps rising behind vine-striped hills cradling elegant little towns. Its gastronomy is legendary and its quality of life sky-high. With good prices and prospects, Piedmont makes a great choice for a home in Italy, says Fleur Kinson Nestled up against France and Switzerland in Italy’s northwest corner, Piedmont […]
The scenic village of Alassio on the Ligurian Riviera was once a magnet for Britons. They left when war broke out, and never came back. Mary Novakovich wonders why… (Photos by Adam Batterbee) Wintering on the Riviera… The phrase immediately conjures up images of well-to-do 19th-century British families promenading along seafronts on the northern Mediterranean […]
There are many ways to see Rome and learn about its history, each offering a new perspective. Adrian Mourby takes us on a walk through the city, tracing its history through the development of Rome’s hotels over 600 years… In 1855, when Cavalier Rufini took his census of Roman hotels for Pope Pius IX, he found that […]
This affluent and sophisticated swathe of Italy combines sublime countryside with gem-like cities and vibrant beach resorts. It’s a superb place to buy a rural home in the hills, and at roughly half the cost of neighbouring Tuscany, says Fleur Kinson. You might not be immediately familiar with this region’s name, but you’re sure to […]
Rachael Martin continues her story of what living in Italy has taught her about food, moving on from pasta and risotto to polenta… The days get colder, wild mushrooms are picked and chestnuts roasted. Pumpkins have made their way into shops and risottos. Then autumn is about to give way to winter and Christmas 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 […]
What could be more enjoyable than a week combining an Italian Language Course in the morning and visits to Bergamo in the afternoon? The Homestay Language Course gives you an ideal opportunity to experience life as a ‘local’ as well as the chance to practice conversational Italian in a friendly environment. Not only will you […]
Sally FitzGerald discovers Castello del Nero, the perfect Tuscan hideaway just off the road between Florence and Siena. When a hotel is voted as having ‘The Most Beautiful Bathroom in The World’ by Harper’s Bazaar, you head along with a certain level of expectation. The bathroom in question belongs to Castello del Nero, a 12th-century castello […]
This serenely beautiful region burst onto the foreign-buyer scene less than twenty years ago and swiftly became a favourite. It’s still one of the most coveted rural property spots in the country, says Fleur Kinson On the map, Le Marche forms the shapely calf muscle of the Italian leg. So it seems rather fitting that […]
When St George slayed the dragon and rescued the princess, he acted with fearlessness – but his brave horse was never quite so sure that the fight would be won. High in the Alps, in the far northwest of Italy, is the Valle d’Aosta, the smallest of Italy’s official regions, and the most lightly populated. […]