Italia! August Issue 141 on sale now!

I’m pleased to announce that the latest issue of Italia! is on sale now, available to buy online and from stores across the UK! You can also download the digital edition for Apple devices or online /Android/ Windows 8 devices. In our August Issue 141, we focus on a major change since the last issue. The UK’s referendum on Europe has taken place and we provide some expert financial and legal advice […]

Best Green Pesto

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 […]

Top Five ‘Supercar’ Manafacturers

Aside from the masterpieces of the past, Italy boasts a number of mechanical works of art. Italia! selects five of the best exponents of Italian ‘supercar’ engineering. 1. Ferrari It is safe to say that the Ferrari is considered the quintessential icon of Italian style and design. With its scarlet finish, impeccable engineering, and distinctive […]

48 Hours in Elba

With thousands of tourists paying for the privilege of a stay on this beautiful island, Sarah Lane ponders why the exiled Napoleon gave Elba the elbow Elba, Italy’s third largest island, is probably best known by English speakers for the palindrome credited to Napoleon: Able was I, ere I saw Elba. But there is much […]

Past Italia – Ravenna

Once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, Italia! discovers one of the many reasons to visit Emilia-Romagna’s artistically rich city Ravenna, which boasts eight UNESCO world heritage sites. Of the many attractions that draw visitors to Emilia-Romagna’s Ravenna, the over-whelming Byzantine heritage is among the most alluring. Ravenna was the capital of the Western […]

The Passion of the Christ, Location: Matera

Matera stands in for the Jerusalem of 2,000 years ago in this graphic depiction of the death of Jesus Christ… (2004, Matera. Directed by Mel Gibson. Starring Jim Caviezel, Monica Bellucci) Mel Gibson directed this highly controversial film that graphically traces the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ’s life leading up to his Crucifixion. It has […]

Pizza with Radicchio and Parmesan Cheese

Radicchio is a popular vegetable in Italian cooking and its intense flavour pairs well with traditional pizza ingredients such as cheese and pancetta. The bright red leaves also make a dish all the more attractive to look at… Ingredients SERVES 4-6 FOR THE DOUGH 300g plain wheat flour 100g strong wheat flour 20g Brewer’s yeast […]

Viewpoint: Underwater Caves

Beneath Sardinia’s beautiful surface exists a world ripe for discovery. Underwater caves and strange creatures await those who dare to dive. The beauty of Sardinia’s landscape is much documented, but there’s a whole other side to this paradise in the Mediterranean. Deep underwater lurks a very different sort of holidaymaker to the typical beach-dwelling tourist. […]

Garden retreats, La Mortella

A great love story and an indomitable passion have shaped one of the most memorable garden landscapes in Italy. We re-visit the exotic retreat on the island of Ischia and remember the wonderful Lady Walton… All great gardens are love stories – the love of the gardener for his or her creation, but La Mortella is something special. […]

The Best Small Islands

With such a vast coastline Italy has plenty of beautiful, small islands dotted around its shores. Italia! selects five of the best diminutive destinations. Isola D’elba, Tuscany  Tuscany’s Elba was once home to Napoleon during his period of exile in 1814. It’s now hard to imagine how such an imposition could be deemed a punishment, […]