The Gondola: Part 2

Mario Matassa reveals the inside story on the iconic Venetian gondola as he visits the workshops and discovers a tale of tradition, craftsmanship and politics Changing tides What a life it must be, meandering day after day through the waterways of the world’s most beautiful city, one man, his boat and not a care in […]

The Gondola: Part 1

Mario Matassa reveals the inside story on the gondola as he visits the workshops and discovers a tale of tradition, craftsmanship and politics… It’s as Italian as spaghetti al pomodoro. It’s an icon of our times. It’s a 10.87m long symbol of a city, a country and a people. It’s 900 years of history and […]

Italia! February Issue 147 is on sale now!

The latest issue of Italia! is on sale now, available to buy online and from stores across the UK! You can also download the digital edition for Apple devices or online /Android/ Windows 8 devices. February always feels like a bit of a watershed month to me: the post-Christmas slump has been and gone in the dull days of January, the new year is well and […]

Top Five: Italian Markets

There’s no better way of buying authentic Italian produce than by rubbing shoulders with the locals at one of Italy’s many bustling markets. Here are our favourites… The Rialto Markets/ Pescheria Venice, Veneto Among the multitude of architectural, historical and scenic ‘must-sees’ and ‘must-dos’ in this iconic city, here is a gastronomic imperative  to add […]

Masters of Disegno

Time to revisit Fra Angelico to Leonardo’ awe-inspiring exhibition from 2010 featuring Italian Renaissance drawings, but as Amanda Robinson finds out, there’s more to it than meets the eye…   With 100 works from the collections of both the British Museum and the Gabinetto Disengi e Stampi Uffizi in Florence, ‘Fra Angelico to Leonardo’ is the most […]

Top Five: Old masters

Choosing from Italy’s long list of Renaissance artists is not an easy task. Here are five old masters whose exquisite, timeless works of art continue to amaze… 1 – Michelangelo (1475-1564) Near Arezzo, Caprese, Tuscany Born Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, the legendary artist’s masterpieces are too numerous to mention, although his Statue of David, […]

Fast Art: The Duke and the Duchess

They are double-sided portraits, painted by Piero della Francesca, who was the court painter at the court of Urbino These portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Urbino are amongst the most famous portraits in 15th century Italian art. Why? Because they are revolutionary in their depiction and fascinating in their symbolism. They are double-sided […]

This month’s top picks: from stylish scents to beautiful getaways

From state-of-the-art Italian design, home accessories and a bubbly Prosecco tour and a sparkling celebration in November’s round-up…  From a grate light These stunning lights really are at the cutting (or should we say grating?) edge of design. Italian artist and designer Oçilunam has been mixing art and design with his home accessories company In-es.artdesign […]

Dare to visit the world’s most haunted location?

It’s Halloween, so it’s time to delve into ghoulish stories, if you dare… Between Venice and Lido in the Venetian Lagoon lies Poveglia, thought to be the most haunted place in Italy. For centuries this island has been a place of refuge, exile and a dumping ground for the diseased, dying and deceased. In 421, Poveglia took […]

Top Ten Cities for Apartments in Italy

Embrace the urban whirl! Italian cities are small, beautiful and eminently liveable. A city apartment has strong rental potential, and offers many advantages for your own holidaymaking.  Here are the top ten cities for apartments in Italy… #1 – Rome  (Population 2,850,000) Italy’s brash, loud, vibrant capital is a confident, thick-skinned place, secure in its achievements […]