Valle di Gran San Bernardo travel guide

Rachael Martin explores the best places to eat and stay in this peaceful corner of northern Italy, tucked away among the mountains of the Valle d’Aosta… Photos by Rachael Martin unless otherwise stated Where to eat and stay Prosciutteria Sous Le Pont de Bosses An excellent bar, restaurant and prosciutteria – that is, a place […]

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, […]

Drive Italia: Alfa Romeo Montreal

Alfa Romeo Montreal

More exclusive than a Jag E-Type or Porsche 911 at the time, the Alfa Romeo Montreal remains an enigma even today… Photo by Getty Images The Alfa Romeo Montreal was introduced at the Montreal Expo ’67 without an official model name. The public and motoring press took to calling the car the ‘Montreal’ and the […]

Viewpoint: dawn in Tuscany

dawn in Tuscany

Dawn breaks over Tuscan countryside… mist-shrouded valleys gently yield views of their ripening vineyards and fertile terraces, and nary a dog dares to bark… Photo by Getty Images Tuscany has long held an appeal for dreamers seeking a happier life, particularly those from Great Britain. The poet Shelley was an early adopter, as was the […]

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 […]

Penne with mushrooms and peas

penne with mushrooms

Mario Matassa’s simple and satisfying mushroom pasta dish is the perfect solution for a tasty midweek meal. Try it tonight! In Italy porcini mushrooms reign supreme, but this pasta dish can also be made using other varieties, depending on what you have in store (just skip the soaking step if using fresh rather than dried). […]

Crispy chilli wild trout fillets

trout recipe

This ‘trota‘ dish has a spicy kick. Mario Matassa used wild trout here, but with the addition of more chilli pepper, farmed trout also works well In this trout recipe, which has been adapted from a method for cooking trout in the Apennine mountains above Parma, the fish is coated in flour and chilli pepper, then […]

Wild greens with garlic and chilli

wild greens

Wild greens (verdure selvatiche) is the name given to greens that grow in the wild. They’re popular in Italy and this recipe by Mario Matassa is a good way to use them Wild greens include a wide range of plants like borage leaves, nettles, dandelions, wild fennel, hops, rocket, garlic leaves, wild beets, wild chicory, asparagus and, of […]