Past Italia: La Villa Donn’Anna
This historic but dilapidated residence sits on the Posillipo coast in Naples, west of the Mergellina harbour, some way beyond the Castel dell’Ovo… Photo by Getty Images The Villa Donn’Anna takes its name More...
Temples, goats and almond blossom
On a hilltop in Sicily stand the ruins of what was once part of a great city – Joe Gartman explores the Valley of the Temples… Photos by Patricia Gartman The Temple of Hera It’s called the Valley of More...
Past Italia: Marcus Aurelius on horseback
The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius stands centre stage in Rome’s Piazza del Campidoglio… Photo by Getty Images One of the few stipulations that the Pope made when he commissioned Michelangelo to redesign More...
A poet at the world’s edge
Ovid was born in Sulmona, in the province of L’Aquila, but was destined to die far from home. Joe Gartman tells his story… Photos by Patricia Gartman unless otherwise stated Statue of Ovid in Sulmona. By Getty More...
Past Italia: The Railways of Italy
The development of a national rail network in Italy coincided with the unification of the country The first railway line in Italy ran (and indeed still does) between Naples and Portici in what was then the Kingdom More...
Past Italia! Catacombs of San Gennaro
In Naples, where history is told through layers of earth, an ancient tomb offers a window to the distant past… Deep beneath the streets of northern Naples, on the slopes leading up to Capodimonte, in the area More...
Past Italia: Santa Maria del Monte
La Scalinata di Santa Maria del Monte climbs to the church of St Mary of the Mount in Caltagirone, Sicily The Church of Saint Mary of the Mount in Caltagirone dates back to the 12th-century; its staircase More...
Insider’s Rome: The Trevi Fountain
You can go and see the Trevi Fountain for free, it’s just there, but it will cost you money if you ever want to see it again… Words and image by Jon Palmer There are actually lots of things you can do for free More...
Past Italia: La Chiesa di San Pietro
St Peter‘s (La Chiesa di San Pietro) in Portovenere stands on a promontory overlooking the Gulf of Poets Saint Peter’s at Portovenere is built on the site of a 5th-century church, and before that an earlier, More...
Past Italia: Il Castello di Santa Severa
The medieval castle of Santa Severa faces out to sea on the Lazio coast, just 40 minutes north of Rome The Castle of Saint Severa is named after a young girl whose entire family was martyred. Her father was a More...