Exploring the Gran Paradiso National Park in Aosta

Mountain biking in Cogne Valley to Gran Paradiso National Park

Amy McPherson explores Italy’s oldest national park, Gran Paradiso National Park, and finds adventure, history and wildlife Words by Amy McPherson A high-pitched whistle penetrates the cool mountain air as I slowly ascend the slopes on a hiking path that was once part of King Victor Emmanuel II’s network of hunting trails. The whistle, I […]

Lecce: Puglia’s Baroque Lady

View of the Basilica of Santa Croce church in the historic center of Lecce, Puglia, Italy

Amy McPherson takes a tour around the baroque city of Lecce in Puglia and discovers that there is a lot more to the ‘Florence of the South’ than meets the eye It seems that I am eating all the time in Lecce, which I find makes it appropriate to use this simile: Lecce is like […]

The Perfect Italian Pandemic Pick-Me-Up

Julia Kolbert tells the little-known story of Tiramisù: The Perfect Italian Pandemic Pick-Me-Up   For all the extolling of their Mediterranean diet, the Italians do have a decidedly sweet tooth, especially at breakfast time. All those buttery brioches filled with jam, and their predilection for cake, Nutella and sugar-laden coffee are too much for this […]

Appassionata for American Owners

This week Dawn Cavanagh-Hobbs tells us all about Appassionata for American Owner and how to protect your assets and experience the magic of Le Marche. Appassionata is a boutique, family run, fractional ownership business set in the heart of Italy. We are finding more and more US based owners are seeing the benefits of buying into […]

Appassionata: Letters to Le Marche, chapter two

Chapter Two – Florence.. I gazed around the Piazza and sipped my cappuccino elegantly, copying the glamorous Italians on the next table. Trying not to get the milky froth all around my mouth. I love to people watch.  The tourists racing to keep up with their flag bearing tour guides. The Nonna’s dressed in black, […]