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Italy has wonderful representatives in the United States who tell its story, exalt its culture and language, narrate its traditions and innovations, its places and its beauties. To see them from Italy, where we are always ready to describe only our worst things, is exciting. One of the most competent people I have met in this field is also a person...

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Italy is the country with the most UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 58, of which only five are naturalistic: in addition to the ancient beech forests, there is the geology of Etna, the Dolomites, and Mount San Giorgio, as well as the volcanic territories of the Aeolian Islands. This uniqueness makes these woods a different heritage compared to others....

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A collection of bronzes sculpted by Renaissance master Donatello has been moved for the first time from the Italian churches where he installed them 600 years ago so that they can be displayed at a ground-breaking exhibition in Florence Three of the four pieces, a relief, a statue and two bronze doors, from Siena Cathedral and San Lorenzo baptister...

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Siena is one of our favourite cities in Italy. With a long history of battles against arch-enemy Florence, Siena rose to become one of the most powerful banking cities in medieval Europe. Vicious fighting between noble families caused them to build massive defensive buildings within the city walls. The result is a city that, in some ways, couldn’t...

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Turning the hands of the clock back a decade for Brunello di Montalcino but in a decidedly positive sense, since 11.4 million bottles had not been reached since 2010. The protection Consortium sees the end of a golden two-year period, which recorded increases of  12% and 27% respectively. While, compared to the three-year period, the 2021 vintage f...

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Have you ever wanted to visit Italy during Carnival? From North to South, let's discover together places and traditions not to be missed to celebrate. Masks, confetti, allegorical floats: Carnival is a much-loved festival in Italy, involving adults and children at the same time. Visiting Italy at Carnival time is a real journey through the history...

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Florence is famed for its contributions to Italian art, architecture and cuisine. But these days, local leaders in the city regarded as the birthplace of the Renaissance are concerned with more mundane matters: paying the bills. Amid soaring energy costs across Europe, officials at Palazzo Vecchio — the building that serves as Florence’s city hall...

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The delights of both Rome and Florence are reason enough for a trip to Italy. Each of these romantic cities figures prominently on the bucket lists of travelers worldwide. But if you only have time for one, which should you pick? A summary of each goes from strength to strength, but vital differences between the two cities will help you in your tri...

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Approaching San Gimignano, medieval towers rise above green fields and pointy cypresses. Set on a hill, encircled by walls and surrounded by beautiful Tuscan countryside, this is the Manhattan of the Middle Ages. At one time in its long history, there were over 70 towers in San Gimignano. Today only 14 remain; medieval reminders of the wealth that...

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Italy’s architecturally stunning Renaissance jewel of a city drips serious panache, history and cultural dolce vita from every last Renaissance stone and statue. The choice of things to see and do in Florence is overwhelming – as are the tourist crowds, despite the city’s modest size and reassuringly safe, prosperous vibe. Careful advance planning...

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