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 […]

Italy’s five best small islands

Italian islands - Elba

Surrounded by sapphire seas and fringed with golden sand, Italy’s small islands make perfect holiday destinations – here are five of our favourites Photos by Getty Images and iStock 1 With the Tyrrhenian Sea lapping its shores and a mountainous inland terrain, Elba in Tuscany offers both the pleasures of lazy beach life and the challenges of […]

The Amiata effect

Cycling, Monte Amiata Italy

Tuscany isn’t all about sipping wine and watching the sun set, as Amy McPherson discovers on an e-bike tour around Monte Amiata, in the region’s south Photos by Ciclica Foto, Mario Llorca   Giant moss-covered boulders rise in vertical stacks, as if someone was attempting to build a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It […]

Alto Adige: the right altitude…

Sonwies Alto Adige

For Chris Allsop, holidays in the mountains of Alto Adige have previously been adventurous sojourns with ski-safaris, Michelin-starred huts, daring hikes and near misses with ice climbing. So how would it be with the kids in tow? Photos by Chris Allsop   The path was narrowing. As I sweated on how the pushchair’s wheel was shaving […]

Five foodie reasons to visit Brindisi

Urchins in Brindisi

Puglia boasts a multitude of delights for foodies, and the town of Brindisi is an ideal destination from which to explore them! Here’s why… Photos by iStock and Fleur Kinson 1 If you’re in Puglia, the vibrant food culture of Brindisi is one to savour. With its natural harbour, Brindisi has long been an important stop […]

Lake Como travel guide

gravedona palazzo

Find some of the best places to stay or eat while staying around Lake Como, with Rosalind Ormiston’s guide to the highlights of the area… Photos by Provincia di Como Servizio Turismo unless otherwise stated Lake Como was colonised by the Romans in the 2nd century BC and has been a haven for relaxation and vacationing […]

Ten reasons to love Lake Como

mount grona

Ros Ormiston reveals ten of the best reasons to visit captivating Lake Como in Lombardy – there’s something to appeal to absolutely everyone… Lake Como photos by Provincia di Como Servizio Turismo unless otherwise stated   1 The Villa Melzi botanical gardens at Bellagio Bellagio is picture perfect with vibrant cafés and restaurants and busy shops, […]

Ten top Italian beaches

marina di alberese, Italian beaches, Tuscany

Join us for a trip around some of the best Italian beaches, from the impossibly iconic to some that are right off the beaten track. Which is your favourite? Photos by Getty Images Though Italy attracts visitors throughout the year, many of us also like to spend summer holidays there, enjoying the country’s coastline and […]

Pavia & Oltrepò Pavese travel guide

pavia cathedral

Valentina Nicastro shares some of the best attractions and sights around Pavia and its surrounding countryside – plus top spots to eat and stay. Photos by Valentina Nicastro What to see & do Certosa di Pavia This beautiful monastery complex (left) is a masterpiece of the Lombard Renaissance. It’s about 10 km from the city […]