Discovering Courmayeur: A gem at the foot of Mont Blanc
Explore skiing, dining, and vibrant nightlife in this Italian alpine village
Discover the charm of boutique hotels in Manchester
Uncover the best boutique hotels that reflect Manchester’s creative spirit
Exploring the charm of country inns in the Peak District
Discover characterful accommodations and local brews in the Peak District.
Discovering Rome: the Rione Monti district
The Rione Monti district has always been a world apart from the other areas of Rome; even its dialect was slightly different from the one spoken in the city. In order to make room for the famous Via dei Fori,…
Italy's biggest photographic exhibition: Italian world heritage sites on show
The beautiful Villa d’Este in Tivoli is hosting a photographic exhibition celebrating Italy’s treasures included on the UNESCO world heritage list. It makes a fantastic day trip from Rome to escape the city and see both a wonderful photo exhibition…
Saint Lawrence not a Caravaggio original
After news of a possible discover of a new Caravaggio painting - “San Lorenzo” - the painting has been determined not to be of Caravaggio origin. The ‘Martirio di San Lorenzo’ was originally reported by the Vatican newspaper, Osservatore Romano,…
Luxury New Year breaks in the Alps: San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge, Val Pusteria
Spend New Year’s Eve in Italy at the San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge in Val Pusteria. Surrounded by beautiful woods and majestic mountains, the lodge offers guest luxury accommodation (four rooms and a lovely kitchen) and state of the art facilities;…
Discovering the less well known places of Rome: the Pigneto district
When in Rome, tourists tend to follow the same old path and end up visiting the same old places; places we already know from tv documentaries or postcards we got from friends or relatives. Maybe the Pigneto district will not…
Roma Pass tourist card launched
This better-late-than-never news is great for anyone on their way to Rome this year. The Italian capital has finally followed suit from many European cities and has a tourism card that includes various discounts on public transport and entrance to…
Luxury holidays in Italy: Palazzo Sasso Hotel, Ravello
Nestled above the Amalfi coast, the beautiful town of Ravello has always been a great favourite with the glitterati and Anglo-American expatriates (writer Gore Vidal lived here for years). So if you want to mix with the rich and famous…
Summer holidays in Italy: Eden Village Colostrai, Sardinia
If you are planning your summer holidays, Eden Viaggi offers a really interesting package which includes 7 nights’ accommodation at the Eden Village Colostrai with full board (beverages included) for only 1074 euros per person and if you have a…
Italy's lakes: Monte Isola on the Lago d'Iseo in Lombardy
The Lago d’Iseo is a beautiful and relatively unknown Italian lake in the Lombardy region, near Brescia. Here we give you a beautiful photo gallery of the Italian town Monte Isola.The town is actually an island, with about 1800 residents,…
Italian Festivals: Sagra dei osei at Cisano di Bardolino, Verona
One of the oldest festivals around the city of Verona is dedicated to a local delicacy: bird roast. The festival takes place on 8th September in the small town of Cisano di Bardolino on Lake Garda where hunters have been…
Italian craft fair: Sant'Orso fair in Aosta
The town of Aosta will host an Italian craft fair on January 30th and 31st, which should have an alpine flavour. The Fiera di Sant’Orso has more than 1000 exhibitors displaying the creations of the Val d’Aosta’s artists and artisans.…
The world's most expensive and sexiest cities: Rome vs Milan
Rome has made it to the world’s sexiest cities list, and the list of the world’s most expensive cities, meaning there’s plenty of romance in Italy to be had in the capital, but at a price. The first international cities…
Italian ski resorts open for night skiing in Italy
In some Italian ski resorts, you actually don’t get the opportunity to be the last on the slopes, hiking down the hill in your ski boots because the chair lift closed early. In some alpine Italian ski locations, the slopes…
Autumn in Italy: health and wellness at Fantini beach, Cervia
Despite the cold which has descended over the country, people seem unable to leave the summer behind, so the small town of Cervia in the Romagna region, in collaboration with Fantini Wave Spa, has organised a weekend ( from 17…
Italian health spas with vinotherapy: what is vinoterapia and where can I get it?
After my recent trip to Relais Borgo Scopeto as part of the Florence wine tourism awards, I was curious to know more about what they call “vinoterapia” or wine therapy (also known as vinotherapy). The four-star Relais finished renovating their…
Val di Fassa ski resorts open for season
Val di Fassa has just opened its slopes and Passa San Pellegrino/ Passo Costalunga ski tracks are now available. The season has started with a series of international skiing competitions and concerts (a tradition that Val di Fassa continues every…
Giorgio Armani's cruise through the Aeolian islands
Italian fashion designers seem to have a soft spot for the Aeolian islands off the coast of Sicily; after Roberto Cavalli and Dolce & Gabbana who spent part of their summer holidays in the archipelago, it’s now the turn of…
Chianti wine: Villa Petriolo wine tasting in Tuscany
The grand finale for me of the Best of Wine Tourism Awards was our Chianti wine tasting at the Villa Petriolo, Cerreto Guidi, not far from Florence. I realise that “beautiful” is in no way a technical term to describe…
Dinner at Italian Palladio's Villas: a visit to Veneto
If you want the ultimate Italian holiday, we can recommend a stay in one of the villas below. We’ve already looked at some of the masterpieces, in the form of Venetian villas, of the architect Palladio. From June to October…
What to see in Rome: old Roman (Jewish) Ghetto
Many tourists fall in love with Trastevere and buy a house there. In fact nowadays tourists seem to outnumber the natives. Backstreets still evocative of Belli’s and Trilussa’ s bitter-sweet poetry. A small, cosy world which still has that romantic…
Spring in Italy: flower festival, Bolzano
In order to celebrate the arrival of spring, the city of Bolzano every year organises a flower festival which never fails to attract thousands of people from all over the world. The 122nd edition will take place in Piazza Walther…
Skiing in Italy: health spa deals in Piedmont
Skiing can be hard work, but skiing in Italy is nothing but easy with plenty of health spa offerings to relax. After a day of chair lifts and black run skiing with some ice, there’s nothing better than to unwind…