Florence: Home of Poets

casa guidi florence

Jane Keightley stays at atmospheric Casa Guidi, the Florence apartment that Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett called home Photos by Jane Keightley Ever since my first trip to Florence I had always wanted to look around Casa Guidi, the home of the poets Elizabeth Barrett Browning and her husband Robert. I was now getting the chance […]

Learning to Row in Venice

Venice rowing lesson Italy

Mark Nicholls visits Venice, where he goes beyond the usual tourist sites to take lessons in rowing like a real gondolier… Photos by Sharon Nicholls unless otherwise stated Nan McElroy is patiently attempting to teach me the technique. The words grip, twist, lunge, push and return are in the instructions, chanted like a coded mantra, but […]

Back to Life in Umbria

Trevi

We join Penny Wainwright to explore the tourist initiatives that are encouraging visitors back to Umbria, after the devastating earthquakes of 2016… Photos by Penny Wainwright and iStock After the serious earthquakes that hit central Italy in 2016, I was keen to see how the region was recovering from the devastation, so I jumped at the […]

Three Highlights of Umbria

Spoleto, Umbria, Italy

Penny Wainwright visits three Umbrian destinations – Spoleto, Trevi and Bevagna – to see how tourism initiatives are breathing life back into Italy’s heartland Photos by Penny Wainwright Following the earthquakes in central Italy in 2016, I was keen to see how the region of Umbria was recovering from the devastation. Most of Umbria is […]

Four hidden highlights of Rome

Trastevere Rome

Real Rome Tours runs guided tours of Italy’s capital, and they have some fantastic expert tips for hidden Roman gems that you can visit in just one day… Rome is simply iconic – full of amazing sights, sounds and tastes to discover and enjoy. The only downside tends to be the huge number of tourists! […]

Ravello Travel Guide

Ravello view, Italy

Laura Thayer explores the best places to eat, stay and visit while you’re staying in Ravello – one of the Amalfi Coast’s most popular and beautiful destinations…   What to see & do Duomo di Ravello Ravello is dotted with churches, but the town’s most impressive is the Duomo located in the central piazza. Inside […]

48 Hours in Ravello

Villa Cimbrone Ravello Italy

Ravello is a joy for all ages, and Laura Thayer always finds something new to discover in this spectacular Amalfi Coast tourist destination Photos by Laura Thayer   On a coastline famous for its rugged beaches and pretty harbours, there’s one remarkable town on the Amalfi Coast that sprawls across a promontory jutting out of […]

Italy’s Best Undiscovered Islands

favignana

Planning a trip off the beaten track in Italy? Set your compass for one of these secret islands – perfect destinations to discover tranquility and beauty away from the bustle of the Italian mainland… Ponza Isola di Ponza is the largest of the six Italian Pontine Islands, sitting off the Lazio coast in the Tyrrhenian […]

Siena: what to see and do

Jane Keightley brings us six highlights of this magical Tuscan city… the things not to be missed when you visit Siena… Photos by iStock Piazza del Campo The shell-shaped piazza that is the centre of Siena was completed in 1340 and all manner of activities have taken place here, including boxing matches, bullfights and even […]

Siena’s Palio: the Thrill of the Race

Siena Palio, Tuscany Siena

Having failed on previous occasions to see the actual races, Jane Keightley finally experiences all the pride and pageantry of Palio week in Siena… Photos by Jane Keightley This was far from the first time I had visited Siena, but never before had I actually been there to experience the Palio. On one occasion I […]