Molise: a voyage of discovery

Molise

Even here at Italia! we have rarely featured Molise, yet this unsung destination is deserving of your attention. Words and pictures by Valentina Nicastro You’re going where?” This is what friends kept asking me when I proudly announced my decision to visit Molise. Why? Because this small region overshadowed by neighbouring Puglia, Campania, Lazio and Abruzzo […]

Ostuni dining guide (and beyond!)

Jon Bickley shares his guide to the best places to eat in Ostuni in Puglia – with a few highlights from the nearby area too… Photos by Jon Bickley Ristorante Antiche Mura Cosy little restaurant (left) specialising in fresh fish (closed on Tuesdays). Via Roma, 11 – 70044 Polignano a Mare Ristorante Trullo d’Oro A […]

Return to Puglia

Fifteen years since he lasted visited, Jon Bickley returns to Puglia for a short stay with his wife and friends. Photos by Jon Bickley, unless otherwise stated   I’ve been privileged to have been involved with Italia! magazine for some 15 years, since we first launched in 2004. During that time I’ve visited a variety […]

Five foodie reasons to visit Rome

We could give you 100 reasons to visit Italy’s capital, but here we’re focusing on just the gastronomic highlights – here are our foodie tips for Rome! Images by iStock and iStockfood       1 One of the best ways to start the day in Rome, as it is in the rest of Italy, is […]

Right down the line: Sumona to Isernia

trans-siberian train

Join us as we head off the beaten track on the little-known Italian Trans-Siberian vintage railway. Words and photos by Valentina Nicastro   For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been fascinated by rail tracks and roaring engines, so you can imagine my excitement when the search for unexplored trails and off-the-beaten-path places […]

Slow travel in the Valle d’Aosta

Valle D'Aosta

The Great St Bernard Valley in the Valle d’Aosta links Italy with Switzerland. Rachael Martin discovers why it’s the ideal place to unwind… Photos by Rachael Martin unless otherwise stated   The Valle di Gran San Bernardo, or Great St Bernard Valley, with its high mountain peaks and characteristic villages such as Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses and Étroubles, […]

Cuneo travel guide

sale san Giovanni, Cuneo

Valentina Nicastra shares some top places to eat and stay in this province of Piedmont, around the villages where the region’s lovely lavender fields can be found Photos by Valentina Nicastro, unless otherwise stated Where to stay B&B Il Galletto An ancient farmstead that has been recently renovated and offers simple, cosy rooms with the […]

Piedmont’s Little Provence

lavender fields in Piedmont

Valentina Nicastro visits the little-known lavender fields of Piedmont for a spot of Nature’s own aromatherapy – it’s the perfect spot for a relaxing break Photos by Valentina Nicastro unless otherwise stated   Lavender is commonly associated with the region of Provence in France, but Italy has its own share of violet fields. There’s an […]

Italy’s five best small islands

Italian islands - Elba

Surrounded by sapphire seas and fringed with golden sand, Italy’s small islands make perfect holiday destinations – here are five of our favourites Photos by Getty Images and iStock 1 With the Tyrrhenian Sea lapping its shores and a mountainous inland terrain, Elba in Tuscany offers both the pleasures of lazy beach life and the challenges of […]

The Amiata effect

Cycling, Monte Amiata Italy

Tuscany isn’t all about sipping wine and watching the sun set, as Amy McPherson discovers on an e-bike tour around Monte Amiata, in the region’s south Photos by Ciclica Foto, Mario Llorca   Giant moss-covered boulders rise in vertical stacks, as if someone was attempting to build a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It […]