Southern Piedmont is the rich agricultural powerhouse of Italy. In part 1, we explored Turin, the Alps and Lake Maggiore. Part 2 of this Piedmont region guide focuses in on Asti and Alba where the truffle fairs attract a global audience. In the mountainous north, the climate is distinctly continental; the southern region is just […]
Piedmont lies in the far northwest of Italy and gets its name from its location at the ‘foot of the mountains’ It is bordered by Alpine ranges offering plenty of winter sports, making it a popular and long-established mecca for ski enthusiasts. The flat plains below the mountain ranges are an important centre for industry […]
Has the bewitching, world-famous destination lost its shine in recent years? Sarah Lane visits the northern Italian resort, Portofiono, to discover it has more to offer than ever… Portofino – the very name conjures up images from the 1950s of glamorous film stars rubbing shoulders with the world’s richest, most influential aristocrats and politicians. More […]
Some 350 varieties of bread originate from Italy, from crusty loaves to unleavened flat breads and the crispy breadstick. Tuck into five of the best as chosen by Italia! 1. Focaccia Of all the breads, this ancient Ligurian bread with a mottled appearance, is popular all over the world. Oven baked, its name comes from the […]
This A-Z of Florence will help you on your way if you’re going for a short break or if you’ve been hundreds of times and didn’t know that Florence used to be the capital city of Italy! A-Z Arno The river which snakes its way through central Florence is 241m long and flows from Monte […]
Contented and affluent, with rolling countryside and perfect cities, Emilia-Romagna remains a little-known region to non-Italians. But for inexpensive farmhouses in central Italy, ripe for renovation, this is the place to come, as Fleur Kinson explains For anyone who’s ever been to Emilia-Romagna, the unwieldy name is synonymous with quality. Snazzy sports cars, high-quality foodstuffs […]
Mario Matassa reveals his choice of the top ten holiday resorts in Italy. From the mountains to the sea, for food fans or culture vultures, there’s a destination for everyone… In a country synonymous with history, art, architecture, style, fashion, gastronomy – not to mention seemingly endless golden sands, striking and rugged landscapes, grand historical cities […]
With its dramatic geography, recent cultural renaissance and fascinating backstreets, Francesca Unsworth explains why it’s time to fall in love with this dynamic city Genova never quite seems to make it onto the traveller’s list of desirable places to visit in Italy. Tucked into the crease of Italy’s northwest coastline, the Ligurian capital struggles to […]
When it comes to store cupboard stand ins, they don’t come more handy than a trusty jar of green basil pesto. Italia! put a selection of the classic sauce to the test There are countless classic basil pestos available on our supermarket shelves, but there are many variations on the authentic recipe on offer too. The […]
One of Italy’s favourite vegetables, the artichoke is a delicious addition to an antipasto platter, or a tasty treat all by itself. Italia! samples a selection of the best on offer… Perfect for sprucing up pasta and transforming lettuce leaves into a delicious salad, jarred artichokes are undoubtedly the fanciest of all standbys, and no […]