Pictures of Italy: Tyrol Castle

This picture perfect scene in the region of South Tyrol has been at the heart of territorial disputes between Italy and Austria – and who wouldn’t want to claim ownership over such beautiful land?… This spectacular vista in the northeastern tip of Italy has been appreciated by residents of Tyrol Castle and the surrounding hillside […]

Reader Competition: Pictures of Italy

Send us your favourite pictures from your travels in Italy, and each month the best photo will win a bottle of Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco and cooler!… THIS MONTH’S WINNER The Abbey of San Galgano by Sharene Hanlon “With the day having beautiful blue skies, we set out to find the Abbey of San Galgano. […]

Italian Red Wine: Puglia Region

The hot climate of the heel of Italy is perfect for crafting rich, robust red wines. Paul Pettengale heads south to discover some of Puglia’s finest… The wines made from grapes grown in the far south of Italy in the region of Puglia were once widely denigrated, and with good reason. Most of what was […]

Life in Italy: Fractional Ownership

Leicestershire-based Debora and Chris Everard own a one-tenth share of a large, luxurious farmhouse in Le Marche. They have the run of the whole property for five weeks a year, and have no complaints about their experience of fractional ownership… “We’d never heard of fractional ownership before we read an article in a lifestyle magazine,” […]

Scuola del Cuoio: Florence’s School of Leather

The Scuola del Cuoio shares the secrets of leather making with students from all over the world, turning them into skilled artisans… Picture a 13th-century Franciscan monastery right behind the basilica of Santa Croce in Florence. There, under imposing brick vaults, a small number of international students are learning the techniques of leather making. Welcome […]

Tales from Italy: Heritage Pigs

Jessica Haden lives in the idyllic countryside near Siena as Education Director for Spannocchia, a farm bringing the ancient breed of Cinta Senese pigs back to the market… How did you end up living on the Spannocchia farm? A few years ago, my love of Italy and food lead me to Slow Food’s University of […]

Italian Book Reviews: Fiction, Memoirs & Recipes

We review a book on learning how to make authentic Italian fodder, a new pasta cookbook by Gino D’Acampo and two new releases from young fiction writers… Pizza Pilgrims: Recipes from the Backstreets of Italy by James and Thom Elliot, HarperCollins, £20 (hardback) This is the story of James and Thom Elliot, two brothers who […]

Arabica versus Robusta: Coffee Beans Explained

The Marketing Manager of De’Longhi UK explains the difference between the main coffee beans, and which one is best… A ROBUST ARGUMENT Q. There has been much debate as to which type of coffee is the best; arabica or robusta. The general consensus seems to be that arabica is far superior. Can you tell us […]

Paintings of Italy: An Artist’s Impression

Artist Alan Reed talks about what particularly attracted him to Italy and why he chooses it more than any other country for his paintings… THE ARTIST’S ADVENTURE Q. You have chosen different settings around the world for your paintings. As an artist, what is it that particularly attracted you to Italy? A. It was my […]

Pesto Review: Italia!’s Top Picks

With such a multitude of classic pestos adorning the supermarket shelves, it’s important to choose the best for your store cupboard. Here are our favourites… Simple and versatile, the humble jar of pesto is a staple ingredient of Italian cooking. It originated in Genoa, the capital city of Liguria in northern Italy, and has since […]