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 […]
Famous for making some of the world’s best cars, Modena is also at the heart of Italy’s Food Valley and can boast one of the nation’s most beautiful cathedrals. Sarah Lane explores… The city of Modena has numerous claims to fame. It’s where the legendary Ferrari racing cars are made, it was the hometown of […]
Sarah Lane heads to Abruzzo to explore the noble city of L’Aquila and the surrounding Gran Sasso National Park, an area of stunning natural beauty, wildlife and good-tempered sheep. The medieval city of L’Aquila has a remarkable setting amid the high mountains of the Apennines in inland Abruzzo. With a self-sufficient character and persistent links […]
Sarah Lane takes a relaxing stroll around the lakeside oasis in Lombardy to find out more about nesting storks, Latin poets and the singularly rampant Gonzaga dynasty Approaching Mantua from the east you’re presented with the captivating sight of the city’s fairy-tale skyline, seemingly afloat on its watery foundations. Mantua is built in the middle […]
A tiny island off Italy’s west coast hides in the shadows cast by its more popular neighbours, Ischia and Ponza. Sarah Lane finds out why Ventotene deserves a visit. The island of Ventotene is one of Italy’s best kept secrets. It is officially part of the Ponza archipelago off the coast of southern Lazio, but in […]
Inspiring walks, stunning scenery and delicious food are just a few of the pleasures the Cinque Terre has to offer. Sarah Lane revisits one of her favourite locations in Italy The northwest coast is home to five idyllic villages – Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso. Collectively known as the Cinque Terre, the cluster of […]
Famous worldwide for its white wine and extraordinarily beautiful cathedral, there is much more to the Umbrian town of Orvieto than meets the eye… Any mention of Orvieto will probably bring to mind the popular white wine produced in the area – either that or the magnificence of the cathedral. Before my visit, that was […]
Florence is the perfect venue for a weekend away if you simply want to be a tourist: there’s so much to see, read about and photograph, and it’s one of those rare places where there’s really no point in trying to blend in with the natives – try to and you’ll be spotted a mile […]
With a tangible history dating back to Etruscan times, Perugia, the capital city of Umbria, had more than enough to keep Lorenza Bacino busy for a long weekend… Sitting on the marble steps of the centrally located San Lorenzo Cathedral, soaking up the sun and the atmosphere while enjoying a traditional piadina with prosciutto, was […]
James Miller travels the east coast of Sicily to discover two cities rich in ancient history and vibrant with modern life… The Roman statesman and scholar Cicero described Siracusa as “The greatest Greek city and the most beautiful of them all.” In ancient times Sicily was once part of Magna Graecia, or Greater Greece, and […]