Alex Josephy and David Hornbrook had always thought that Tuscany was out of their reach, until they were introduced to a newly restored property that made their dreams come true… Alex Josephy and David Hornbrook bought their three-storey house in the wine-producing town of Montalcino, Tuscany, in 2008. The house is half of an old […]
Try this hearty, delicious staple from Tuscany, where peasant cooking – or la cucina povera – prevails, and satisfying bean-based dishes like this form the backbone of the region’s famous cuisine Mid-Week Meals: Arezzo-Style Bean Soup Ingredients ¾ cup (5.5oz or 150g) black-eyed peas 2 ripe tomatoes 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 bay leaf […]
Mario Matassa visits Volterra, a medieval hilltop town in Tuscany, where he discovers the alabaster caves and workshops for which the area is famous The chalky white alabaster from Volterra is considered the finest in Europe because of its characteristic compactness, transparency, veining, softness and smoothness. Although the etymology of the word remains disputed, the […]
A calling point for pilgrims from the north on their way to Rome, Lucca Cattedrale or Cathedral is the resting place of one of the most important holy images of the Middle Ages… Saint Martin’s Cathedral in Lucca is famed for housing the Holy Face of Lucca (Il Volto Santo di Lucca), a large wooden crucifix […]
Sick of flight delays, luggage allowances and departure lounges? The Italian capital is easily accessible by train from the UK – Gemma Hall took to the tracks to try it out The 7pm sleeper from Paris to Rome was running an hour late. In normal circumstances – and by that I mean on a crowded […]
Sipping a glass of Prosecco, relaxing in a Jacuzzi on your terrace in the hills high above the Tuscan coast, the world takes on a rosy glow… Even more so if you’re with your loved one and you’re their favourite person because you chose and organized this holiday. But how can you be sure that […]
Once upon a time, deep in the heart of Tuscany, the ancient hilltop town of Casole d’Elsa was filled with plastic objects in the name of art… The small 12th century town of Casole d’Elsa near Siena saw its main street completely transformed by this unusual work of art in 2001. The quirky and colourful […]
Have you ever wanted to combine a holiday in Italy with a real learning experience? Then a creative holiday is just what you are looking for… Life Holidays Experience a luxury Pilates holiday in Italy with Life Holidays, May to October every year Life Holidays is an experienced holiday specialist, unique to Italy and Sicily. […]
Thinking of renting a holiday home? Or buying one to rent? Villa in Umbria Umbria, also called the ‘Green Heart of Italy’, is the landlocked region next to Tuscany, a popular holiday destination. Rolling hills with vineyards and olive trees, the fourth largest lake in Italy and a serious mountain range combine to make for […]
Mario Matassa reveals his choice of the top ten holiday resorts in Italy. From the mountains to the sea, for food fans or culture vultures, there’s a destination for everyone… In a country synonymous with history, art, architecture, style, fashion, gastronomy – not to mention seemingly endless golden sands, striking and rugged landscapes, grand historical cities […]