Located in Emilia-Romagna, the town of Comacchio is home to a number of architectural gems ? including the five-way Trepponti bridge… ? The town of Comacchio has origins stretching back to the Middle Ages, with many battles in the interim over borders and territory. It’s easy to see why, as Comacchio boasts unique, intact architectural […]
Donatello is often referred to as the first Renaissance sculptor. He is the artistic grandfather of Michelangelo, who probably learnt more by studying Donatello?s work from the century earlier than any contemporary masters of his time… Donatello was the first sculptor since antiquity to make paramount, in his artistic production, the aim of communicating the […]
The idyllic island of Sicily is renowned the world over for sand, sun and food ? but you may not have heard of its salt? On first glance you may think wheelbarrows seem rather out of place on a Sicilian beach ? however this is salt, not sand, and it really is collected in the […]
Sebastian Cresswell-Turner explores the differences between cultures, and most importantly how la bella figura features strongly as the Italian sense of pride and presentation in everyday life? La bella figura Per gli inglesi che abitano in Italia, ? quasi impossibile, dopo un po?, non affrontare la questione di identit? nazionale, per stabilire se veramente […]
Sebastian Cresswell-Turner explains how to embrace the more direct approach when ordering a cappuccino or eating at a restaurant… Il cappuccino che tradisce Verso la fine degli anni durante i quali fui residente a Roma, vedevo sempre pi? spesso la vita dal punto di vista italiano; ed era quindi abbastanza naturale, suppongo, che rimanessi sorpreso […]
February is carnival time across Italy, which means an array of celebrations to suit all tastes and ages. You can get messy in Ivrea, get romantic in Verona or get singing in Sanremo ? plus religious days and food festivals galore? Venice Carnival 26 January-12 February Venice, Veneto Embrace the elaborate masks of this dramatic […]
As spring tentatively arrives in Italy, the food and wine festivals also return to centre stage ? plus you can catch jazz music, new art exhibitions, religious days and sporting events in this month?s round-up of the best cultural highlights? CONSTANTINE EXHIBITION Until 17 March Milan, Lombardy Catch the end of this exhibition at the […]
With Easter falling early this year, our April selection is testament to the fact there is still plenty to do this month throughout Italy – we look at spring festivals, liberation day, art exhibitions and wine tastings in our selection of events… VENICE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW 5-7 & 12-14 April Venice, Veneto A great time […]
Marina Spironetti has travelled to the Alpine town of Castelrotto to attend a traditional wedding with a difference… It’s a winter Sunday morning and I have a wedding to attend. It’s not going to be the usual ceremony, though. First of all, it’s a traditional one. The wedding couple, as well as all their families […]
Fresco is one of the most fascinating and most diffused artistic techniques in central and southern Italy. The fresco technique was big in the classical period; the Minoans, Greeks and Romans decorated their grand homes with wall paintings in fresco… During the medieval period this technique, like bronze for artistic purposes, dropped out of use, […]