The use of stone as a medium for Western art dates back at least as far as Imperial Rome, yet it has not always found favour. Joe Gartman discovers, however, that it is alive and well in Florence… You might be tempted to pass by. It’s just a bright little storefront in the grey façades […]
Cocoa and chocolate have influenced the culture and of Piedmont for over 300 years and café society flourished here around the time of Italy’s unification. Catherine Sidwell explains why Turin is known as the chocolate capital of Italy. She shares her experiences of some of the historic cafés, chocolate shops, gelaterie and the festival ‘CioccolaTO’… The […]
Following our article on Turin for Chocolate lovers, here’s a list of must-visit cafés to experience the very best chocolates in Turin! INFORMATION ➤ Turin Tourist Office For information on and opening times of cafés and shops, seasonal city walking tours and chocolate factory visits. www.turismotorino.org ➤ Palazzo Madama www.palazzomadamatorino.it (Closed on Mondays.) ➤ CioccolaTO www.cioccola-to.it TURIN’S […]
Living in Italy, restoring houses, rescuing horses and selling handbags, Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs considers herself to be very lucky… WHERE IN ITALY IS YOUR HOME? I live in Le Marche with my husband and two of my four children, experiencing things I never thought I would. I have always loved life, adventures, challenge and hard work, […]
Some women will argue that you can never have enough handbags, but maybe they’d change their mind if they owned one of Appassionata Boutique’s beautiful pieces, handmade using leather sourced from Florence. Appassionata Boutique combines the creative vision of owner and interior designer Dawn Cavanagh- Hobbs with the exquisite workmanship of the Ribichini family, who’ve been […]
WHAT TO SEE AND DO ➤ Palazzo Ducale & Galleria Nazionale delle Marche Entrance on Piazza Duca Federico +39 0722 32262 www.palazzoducaleurbino.it Hours: Mon, 8:30am-2:00pm; Tue-Sun, 8:30am-7:30pm ➤ Casa Natale di Raffaello< Via Raffaello, 57 +39 0722 320105 www.accademiaraffaello.it Hours: Sun, 10:00am-1:00pm, Mon-Sat, 9:00am-1:00pm and 3:00pm-7:00pm ➤ Oratorio San Giovanni< Via Barocci, 31 +39 0722 910259 >Hours: […]
The busy university town of Urbino is often called ‘the perfect Renaissance city’ – and indeed the birthplace of Raphael rivalled Florence and Siena in its day. Joe Gartman returns to find out if they have got any of their loaned out paintings back yet… Standing at the Punto Panoramico, near the walls of the forbidding […]
With his old homes turned into museums and an annual festival to celebrate his work, Lucca is the perfect place to delve deeper the history of the great Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, as Charlie Lyon discovers… Tonight, the usual tranquility of the banks of Lake Massaciuccoli is broken. On the open-air stage of the Gran Teatro all’Aperto, which […]
Marina Spironetti visits the intriguing city state of Seborga in western Liguria. Fiercely independent, it still boasts its own currency, its own passport and, yes, its own prince… Small countries have always fascinated me. From Andorra to Liechtenstein, from Monaco to San Marino – tiny states with their own history, proud to be different. I […]
Planning a trip to the Eternal city? See below for the best places to eat, what to see and do, where to stay and how to get there to ensure you have the best time in Rome… WHERE TO STAY ➤ Atlante Star Hotel Via Vitalleschi, 34 +39 0668 73233 www.atlantehotels.com Comfortable rooms with friendly […]