Palmanova

The symmetrical and precise layout of Palmanova makes it a completely unique town. It was designed with the idea of a     utopia in mind, but the reality has been far from perfect…The symmetrical and precise layout of Palmanova makes it a completely unique town. It was designed with the idea of a utopia in […]

Monte Lussari

A place of religious pilgrimage and a popular skiing destination, the beautiful Monte Lussari is in the unusual position of having a triple border – shared between Italy, Austria and Slovenia… Nestled high in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, Monte Lussari’s snow-capped buildings resemble the frosted scene inside a snow globe. As well as […]

Bergamo

In the heart of northern Italy, the rooftops of Bergamo capture the best of a city with both historical beauty and a distinctly modern resonance… A treasure of northern Italy, the city of Bergamo can be found in Lombardy. It has a wealth of medieval, Renaissance and baroque architecture making it an intriguing city with […]

The Bigo, Genoa

The Bigo will take you to dizzying heights for a breathless and panoramic view of the beautiful old port of Genoa and the city that waits beyond… The striking Bigo is located in Genoa and was designed by Renzo Piano for the 1992 Columbus celebrations. Inspired by an ancient derrick for the ships using the […]

Val Rendena

The Val Rendena is the valley of the Sarca River in Trentino, and forms part of the Brenta, or ‘Western’, Dolomites. Today, it is alive with the sound of music… The Brenta Dolomites, though west of the River Adige, and therefore often considered not to really be part of the Dolomites, are in fact very […]

Il Golfo di Lerici

Il Golfo di Lerici lies on the Ligurian coast, about halfway between Genoa and Livorno. Commonly, albeit unofficially, is also known as Il Golfo dei Poeti…. The Renaissance poet Francesco Petracco (aka Petrarch, to the English; Petrarca to the Italians) travelled extensively throughout Europe – indeed, as well as his more famous epithet: “The Father […]

Torre dei Quattro Canti, Noli

The Torre dei Quattro Canti in Noli stands as a reminder of the days when wealthy families were permitted to erect buildings as a record of their munificent benefactions to their town… The Tower of the Four Corners in Noli, in the Province of Savona, is perhaps the most striking building of several in this […]

The Umbria Jazz Winter festival

The funk marching band Funk Off – Italy’s premier funk marching band – liven up the atmosphere at the Umbria Jazz Winter Festival, which was held in Orvieto over Christmas… Umbria has once again shown itself to be the beating heart of Italian jazz. The Umbria Jazz Winter festival celebrated its 21st anniversary this year […]

Sacca di Scardovari

The Sacca di Scardovari is a great expanse of water in the Venetian Po Delta, and is a nature-lover’s dream, with wildlife in abundance everywhere you look… Some 20km around and up to 2km deep in places, the Sacca di Scardovari is one of the wildest areas in the Po Delta and is home to […]

Sestri Levante

While neighbouring Portofino and the Cinque Terre are arguably the best-known tourist destinations on the Italian Riviera, the town of Sestri Levante is becoming a favourite among Italians… Originally a small, secluded island, Sestri Levante is now connected to the mainland, and what used to be a small fishing village is slowly becoming a tourist […]