Ten reasons to visit Vigevano

di Vigevano_castle

Valentina Nicastro introduces us to the highlights of this città ideale of the Renaissance… Photos by Valentina Nicastro unless otherwise stated As a kid growing up in a small town in northern Italy, I couldn’t wait to go out and see the world, and the result was that for a while I totally ignored the […]

Standing at the crossroads in Gorizia

Medieval Borgo Castello

Amy McPherson steps into Gorizia’s multilayered culture to discover a charming fusion city… Photos by Amy McPherson unless otherwise stated   Gorizia is one of those border cities that doesn’t feel quite one or the other. On the one hand, it is characteristically Italian: emotions are thrown around in the wild gestures of hands. Yet […]

Cinque Terre hotel Abbadia San Giorgio

Abbadia

Which do you prefer? The five-star touches of a boutique hotel or the warm, welcoming embrace of a family-run B&B? You don’t have to choose at Abbadia San Giorgio on the Ligurian coast, says Sally FitzGerald.   Abbadia San Giorgio is an exclusive boutique hotel nestled in the heart of a peaceful town called Moneglia […]

What News on the Rialto?

With its iconic bridge and elegant architecture, the Rialto district of Venice is steeped in history. Joe Gartman tells the story of Fondaco dei Tedeschi with images by Patricia Gartman Sunset view over the Rialto Bridge to Grand Canal from the roof of Fondaco dei Tedeschi It may be on a spring day, when the […]

Winter in the Valle di Gran San Bernardo

san bernardo carnival

Rachael Martin arrives in Aosta’s ‘cold valley’ just in time for carnival, as well as taking advantage of the snowy weather to explore the region Photos by Rachael Martin unless otherwise stated   It’s carnival time on a cold February morning in the Great St Bernard Valley in northern Italy’s Aosta Valley region. I’m in […]

Private island paradise: Isola Santa Cristina

Isola Santa Cristina

In the heart of the Venetian lagoon lies a private island that has long been a mystery, but after years of renovation Isola Santa Caterina is now an eco-friendly luxury retreat Photos courtesy of Isola Santa Caterina   Settled in the fifth century as part of a group of garden islands known as Ammiana, Santa […]

Hidden depths: the Venetian lagoon

Camilla Purdon discovers the secret world of the Venetian lagoon with a culinary cruise on board one of the region’s last historic fishing vessels. Photos by Camilla Purdon unless otherwise stated   I’m standing on the deck of Eolo, one of Venice’s last historic fishing boats, looking out across the limpid green waters of the […]

Trento travel guide

MUSE building Trento

Valentina Nicastro shares some of her favourite places to eat, stay and visit when in the gorgeous northern city of Trento. (Photos by Valentina Nicastro unless otherwise stated) What to see & do Castello del Buonconsiglio This splendid castle is the biggest and most important historic building not just in Trento but in the entire […]

48 hours in Trento

Trento, Italy

The delightful but overlooked alpine town of Trento should be on your radar all year round for a perfect weekend getaway. Words and photos by Valentina Nicastro (unless otherwise stated) It may not be the first place that comes to mind when you’re planning a weekend gateway to Italy, but Trento has all the ingredients […]

A meeting of ways in Courmayeur

Courmayeur holiday

How would a father and son, skier and snowboarder team fare for five days on the slopes together? Jon Bickley took teenager Ben back to the Alps to find out… Courmayeur photos courtesy of Jon Bickley   After the second time I went skiing with my son Ben, on a school trip to Bormio eight […]