The best of Elba

Acclaimed author Emylia Hall set her novel, The Thousand Lights Hotel, on Elba. She tells us about the favourite places and characteristics of the island that inspired her. Elba, the largest of the islands in the Tuscan Archipelago, is a place that defies expectation. Once a mining centre, it was repurposed in the 1950s as […]

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 […]

A regional guide to Italy’s Islands

Italy’s Islands are very distinctive places where traditions, languages, and wildlife have evolved in their own way. Pick your next destination with this regional guide to Sardinia, Sicily and the rest… Featured photo © Feng Wei Photography Words by Fleur Kinson Italy, as a nation-state, has existed in its current form for about a century […]

NEW Italia! Guide to Lakes & Islands

Plan your perfect getaway with the new Italia! Guide to Italian Lakes & Islands 2023 – on sale now! Offering a breathtaking wealth of beauty and diversity, this new issue aims to bring you the best of every destination. Whatever type of trip you’re looking for – be it cultural city break, family beach getaway, […]

Portoferraio Travel Guide

Your guide to travelling in Portoferraio, Elba… What to see and do ACQUA DELL’ELBA Acqua dell’Elba, the island’s perfumer, creates fragrances based on Elba’s scents and colours, from deep blue to turquoise. The business does a lot to sponsor the arts and the environment in Elba. ELBA WINE ROAD The Costa degli Etruschi wine and […]

48 hours in Portoferraio

Spending a weekend in Elba’s capital Portoferraio is the best introduction to the island, says Jane Gifford Mythology has it that Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty and love, was visiting one of her many lovers on the Italian mainland when she accidentally broke her string of pearls, and in doing so formed the Tuscan […]

Tuscany Travel Guide

A travel guide to the Italian region of Tuscany… Tuscany remains the most popular of Italian regions and is loved by tourists and would-be property buyers for many reasons, not least because of its beautiful countryside and cities laden with Renaissance treasures and historic monuments. But while property prices remain high, the allure does not […]

Top 10 guide to the best of Italy’s coastal wildlife

The seas around Italy are teeming with life and its coastline boasts a thrilling array of natural wonders. Jenny Oldaker explores a few of its highlights… Images are Getty unless otherwise stated With a coastline of 7,600km (including islands), the sea has always been hugely important to Italy, helping the country maintain healthy trade links […]

Southern Belle: The L’Andana Resort

Head to Tuscany’s beautiful south and relax in style at L’Andana Resort, an historic and welcoming Medici villa overlooking the tranquil Maremma landscape. Image © L’Andana Under expansive, ever-changing skies, the Maremma in southern Tuscany is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty. From its woodlands and wide plains, where the butteri (cowboys) still drive […]