The Villa of the Papyri, Herculaneum

Mosaic of Neptune and Amphitrite in Herculaneum

We are still making discoveries at Herculaneum, and computer technology may be about to reveal something very special, says Joe Gartman… Photos by Patricia Gartman   It’s been ten years or more since I saw the little, old-fashioned wooden display cases sitting in a deserted room of the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. When I […]

Drive Italia: Lamborghini Miura

Lamborghini Miura SV

Take a look at this stunning creation from Bertone – the car from which the ‘supercar’ phrase was originally coined… Photo by National Motor Museum/Heritage Images/Getty Images The Lamborghini Miura was originally conceived in 1965 by Lamborghini’s young engineering team, Gian Paolo Dallara, Paolo Stanzani and Bob Wallace as a project during their spare time.  […]

Bowled over… at the Vatican!

vatican cricket team

Cathy Heald finds out about the most exclusive cricket club you’ll ever see: St Peter’s at the Vatican… Photos by Cathy Heald unless otherwise stated   There are a multitude of things that we all associate with the Vatican: the Pope, the Swiss Guard, St Peter’s Square and stunning architecture to name a few. What […]

Italy’s five best fountains

Trevi fountain, Rome, Italy

Italy’s public fountains speak of the nation’s history, culture and art. We’ve picked five of our favourites. What do you think? Have we missed any? Photos by iStock 1 The Trevi Fountain is the largest Baroque fountain in Rome and attracts millions of tourists every year. Clemens XII commissioned it in 1732, and it was christened […]

Meet the makers

Fernando Falcone at his wheel, Puglia, Italy

Penny Wainwright explores the villages at the southern tip of Puglia, in search of traditional artisan crafts, underground tunnels and ancient local festivals… Photos by Penny Wainwright   The sunshine welcomed me as I arrived in Ruffano to join the Fiesta and Fiera di San Marco, to celebrate St Mark the Evangelist’s feast day on […]

Drive Italia: Fiat Barchetta

Fiat Barchetta

Originally coach-built by the Turinese manufacturer Maggiora, until their demise in 2003, FIAT’s Barchetta is pretty, peppy and very Italian! Photo by Getty Images In the 1990s, the choice for a small, cheap, two-seat roadster was limited to the Mazda MX5 and this little left-field beauty from FIAT. Developed between 1990 and 1994, the ‘Barchetta’, […]

Past Italia: La Villa Donn’Anna

Palazzo Donn'Anna, Italy

This historic but dilapidated residence sits on the Posillipo coast in Naples, west of the Mergellina harbour, some way beyond the Castel dell’Ovo… Photo by Getty Images The Villa Donn’Anna takes its name from Anna Carafa, the wife of a Spanish viceroy of Naples who inherited the property in 1630 and had it rebuilt to […]

Italy on a T-shirt

Shabby Sheep Design gelato T-shirt

The innovative clothes and accessories from Shabby Sheep Design are just perfect for anyone who loves Italy… Originally from the UK, Shabby Sheep Design owners Eva and Chris Lock arrived in Lunigiana, northern Tuscany, with three cats and a dog in 2005. A fine artist by profession, Eva now pours her creativity into the online […]

Drive Italia: Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider

Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider

Where Enzo Ferrari first started – Alfa Romeo, the achingly beautiful connoisseurs’ choice… Alfa Romeo of Milan originally launched the Giulietta coupé in 1954. The gorgeous Spider was added to the Giulietta line-up during the following year. The Pininfarina-designed convertible remained fairly similar to Bertone’s coupé, but from the rakish windscreen rearwards the bodywork was […]

Five of Italy’s top art archives

Uffizi, Florence, Italy

Here are a few of the very best places to get your fix of world-class art next time you’re in Italy… Photos by iStock 1. Uffizi Gallery The experience always involves long queues – which are even longer if you go in high summer and haven’t booked in advance – but there are plenty of […]