48 Hours in Alghero

With its illustrious history and array of natural wonders, Alghero is certainly a place with plenty to explore. Marina Spironetti unlocks the secrets that belong to this sun-kissed Sardinian city. The light. The most special thing about Alghero, in my opinon, is the light. Especially in the evening, when the sea-facing walls seem to catch […]

48 Hours in Valle d’Aosta

Valle d’Aosta is now part of Italy, but it hasn’t always been. Chris Allsop travels to Italy’s smallest region and discovers a valley beloved of kings, popes, and – of course – skiers… There’s something of the hidden kingdom about the Valle D’Aosta, like an Italian Bhutan (but with a lot more ski lifts). Entering […]

48 Hours in Bologna

Renaissance towers, arcaded porticos and a cuisine to die for – Bologna is the perfect alternative to the north’s more famous destinations. Marina Spironetti reports… Bologna, a hedonistic city for connoisseurs, can be underestimated by the average tourist, who often sees it only from the train window on the journey from Venice or the lakes […]

48 Hours in Padua

Though it can be reached by train from Venice in 25 minutes, Padua is often overlooked by visitors to the northeast of Italy. Sara Scarpa seeks to redress the balance… When you arrive in Padua from Venice, the one thing that jumps out at you is the energetic buzz of the city. With nearly 60,000 […]

48 Hours in Genoa

Genoa might not be the first place you think of for a city break, but it has a special history with lots to see that you won’t find anywhere else, beyond all the boats. Jon Palmer sets sail… Genoa is the second busiest port in Italy, after Gioia Tauro, and the sixth busiest in the […]

48 Hours in Mantua

Follow Marina Spironetti as she unveils the treasures of the cobbled city of Mantua, one of the most atmospheric places to visit in northern Italy… A year ago yet another earthquake shook most of northern Italy, causing considerable damage. When I went back to Mantua a couple of months ago, I did not know what to […]

48 Hours in Capri

Fleur Kinson spends 48 hours in Capri and discovers the island’s best-kept secrets – its wonderful walking routes, far from the crowds, with stunning natural beauty in every direction… Towering out of the Bay of Naples, Capri has long seemed a distinctly enchanted island. It was from here that the sirens of Greek myth reputedly called […]

Top Tips for Capri

If you’re planning a trip to Capri, you may like to visit some of the below landmarks, hotels and restaurants. Read more about Capri in Fleur Kinson’s 48 Hours in Capri by clicking here. WHAT TO SEE AND DO THE BLUE GROTTO Via Grotta Azzurra, Anacapri This brilliantly illuminated sea cave mustn’t be missed. A […]

48 Hours In Venice

Follow regular contributor Marina Spironetti as she heads off to the Lagoon and discovers the authentic pleasures of Italy’s most fairy-tale city with 48 Hours In Venice… We all seem to have some idea of Venice in our mind even before visiting. Once you arrive, you are able to find what you thought would be […]

48 Hours in Brescia

Amanda Robinson takes a pitstop in a city with an outstanding heritage, great shopping and a relaxed ambience – a rich mix of old and new, just an hour from Milan… One of the delights about il bel paese is the abundance of beautiful vistas and outstanding locations waiting to be discovered off the beaten […]