Italia! August Issue 141 on sale now!

I’m pleased to announce that 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. In our August Issue 141, we focus on a major change since the last issue. The UK’s referendum on Europe has taken place and we provide some expert financial and legal advice […]

Italia June Issue 139, on sale now!

Italia! June Issue 139 on sale now! I’m pleased to announce that 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. In our June Issue, 139, the romantic operatic delights of Puccini are re-explored by Adrian Mourby in Tuscany, we meet with archaeologist Dr Estelle Laser who harbours an enduring passion for Pompeii and what’s more Emiko […]

48 Hours in Mantua

Sarah Lane takes a relaxing stroll around the lakeside oasis in Lombardy to find out more about nesting storks, Latin poets and the singularly rampant Gonzaga dynasty Approaching Mantua from the east you’re presented with the captivating sight of the city’s fairy-tale skyline, seemingly afloat on its watery foundations. Mantua is built in the middle […]

Top Five Chocolatiers

Look out France, Switzerland and Belgium. A new contender is shaking up the world of luxury chocolates. Italia! looks at the dark gold rivalling Europe’s most established chocolatiers 1. Amedei Since the early 1990s, when Cecilia and Alessio Tessieri (the brother and sister team behind Amedei) set up their Tuscan chocolate factory, they have been […]

Great Italian Films: Under the Tuscan Sun

Under the Tuscan Sun captures the allure of this region, this is what we had to observe about this popular, romantic american comedy… Under the Tuscan Sun  (2003, Florence, Cortona & Positano. Directed by Audrey Wells. Starring Diane Lane, Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan) Under the Tuscan Sun is the film adaptation of Frances Mayer’s popular autobiographical novel set […]

48 Hours in Elba

With thousands of tourists paying for the privilege of a stay on this beautiful island, Sarah Lane ponders why the exiled Napoleon gave Elba the elbow Elba, Italy’s third largest island, is probably best known by English speakers for the palindrome credited to Napoleon: Able was I, ere I saw Elba. But there is much […]

Past Italia – Ravenna

Once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, Italia! discovers one of the many reasons to visit Emilia-Romagna’s artistically rich city Ravenna, which boasts eight UNESCO world heritage sites. Of the many attractions that draw visitors to Emilia-Romagna’s Ravenna, the over-whelming Byzantine heritage is among the most alluring. Ravenna was the capital of the Western […]

Courgette and Escarole Pie

A light and tasty snack that is easy to make and full of vitamins. Escarole is a form of chicory and has a gentle, but distinctive, bitter taste. The young leaves are also great in salads and soups Serves 4-6 Ingredients 250g filo pastry 1 head of escarole 2 courgettes, sliced 1 clove of garlic […]

The Passion of the Christ, Location: Matera

Matera stands in for the Jerusalem of 2,000 years ago in this graphic depiction of the death of Jesus Christ… (2004, Matera. Directed by Mel Gibson. Starring Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci) Mel Gibson directed this highly controversial film that graphically traces the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ’s life leading up to his Crucifixion. It has […]

Pizza with Radicchio and Parmesan Cheese

Radicchio is a popular vegetable in Italian cooking and its intense flavour pairs well with traditional pizza ingredients such as cheese and pancetta. The bright red leaves also make a dish all the more attractive to look at… Ingredients SERVES 4-6 FOR THE DOUGH 300g plain wheat flour 100g strong wheat flour 20g Brewer’s yeast […]