How does a Roman Emperor create the ultimate symbol of power? By building an ‘ideal city’ that still stands to this day. Unenthused by existing villas yet keen to follow in the tradition of Roman emperors’ having a rural retreat, Emperor Hadrian constructed his vast residential complex at the foot of the Tiburtine Hills in […]
Joe Gartman discovers that his morning coffee may require a little lift. Discover more about the history and process of making grappa today! Images by Patricia Gartman The swift Brenta River flows through Bassano del Grappa and is crossed by a venerable wooden bridge, the Ponte degli Alpini (which, incidentally, was designed by Andrea Palladio). At […]
Find some of the best places to stay, eat and visit while staying around San Marco, Venice with Adrian Mourby’s guide to the highlights of the area… Images by Kate Tadman-Mourby unless otherwise stated What to see and do Museo Correr Piazza San Marco 52 In 1830, the Correr family donated its collection of art […]
Find some of the best places to stay, eat and visit while staying around Procida with Kate Wickers guide to the highlights of the area… What to see and do Abbazia di San Michele Arcangelo Via Canalone The catacombs beneath this clifftop church are now a museum holding the books and artefacts of the […]
With her film star good looks, Italy’s Capital of Culture for 2022 gets her close up, writes Kate Wickers… Gosh, Procida is a beauty. I step off the ferry at Marina Grande, onto this small but perfectly formed island with an area of just 1.6 square miles – making it the third largest of […]
Its setting, history and architecture make Venice unique among the cities of the world! Elegance, romance, drama and mystery are abundant in this historic floating city and its lagoon… Think of Italy and you think of Venice: it seems impossible to have one without the other. The globally-adored city, and a UNESCO World Heritage site […]
In the far southeast of Rome is a park with a long and watery history, Joe Gartman writes… Images by Patricia Gartman There is a place, not far from the old Via Appia, where you can step outside of Rome without leaving the city. You can almost step outside of time too, into a landscape […]
The 16th-century Villa d’Este at Tivoli, a UNESCO World Heritage Site sits just outside Rome. The palace and gardens were created from a desire for status, yet a legacy that spans centuries has been left… How does a newly declared governor of Tivoli ensure that an old monastic building befits his new political status? He […]
Find some of the best places to stay, visit or eat while staying around Fiesole with Freya Middleton’s guide to the highlights of the area… Images by Freya Middleton unless otherwise stated What to see and do Estate Fieosolana Via Portigiani 1, Fiesole An annual theatre and music festival usually takes place at the Roman […]
Fiesole offers a day away from the bustle of Florence and is well worth exploring when you get there, writes Florence tour guide Freya Middleton. Images by Freya Middleton Going to Fiesole is something I have always loved, and I’m not alone. The place has been continuously inhabited and constantly visited by foreigners since the […]