Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Naples 1598 - Rome 1680) is the leading figure of seventeenth-century European Baroque figurative culture. In his artistic career he distinguished himself among Roman artists, earning a prestigious reputation with the popes and leading figures of his time. As a great interpreter of the culture of the period, Bernini was able t...

Famed for its blue seas, breathtaking views and cove-studded coastline, the Mediterranean island of Capri has been a tourist haven since the early years of the Roman empire. Unlike in the imperial heyday, when emperors made it their exclusive playground, Capri now attracts visitors from around the world, clogging its narrow alleys, packing the piaz...

A house purchase is often one of the trickiest life experiences to negotiate, requiring huge deliberations on location before spending weeks searching for the right property. Finding somewhere in another country is even more fraught with difficult decisions. Unless, of course, you’re Paul Millet. In which case, you land in Italy for the first time,...

Venice is a city that has fascinated many for centuries, a city completely man made, transformed into one of the most beautiful in Italy. Visitors come to wonder at the beautiful architecture and churches, to delight in a little spritz and cicchetti, to gaze at the stunning views over the Adriatic and perhaps take part in a tour of Venice to see th...

Orvieto is a charming town located in the Umbria region of central Italy, built atop a volcanic tuff cliff overlooking the countryside. Its strategic position along the ancient Via Cassia, one of the main roads of the Roman Empire, made it a significant cultural and historical hub for centuries. Orvieto‘s roots can be traced back to Etruscan times,...

When winter’s chill was thawed by the blossoming of spring, our family would set off for the long drive from the Oxfordshire downs to our holiday house in Le Marche, central Italy. Cruising through the arable heartlands of Europe, my heart would skip a beat as we neared the totemic slate gradients of the Italian Alps. Snaking over the Brenner Pass,...

Neat rows of vines cascade down the slope in front of the large swimming pool where my two daughters are splashing about with new friends. Beyond, hills stretch out like gentle waves, the dense cover hiding the first buds of hazelnuts and the promise of the coming truffle season. My husband and I shelter from the sun under a wide, shaded verandah t...

Modena is a beautiful and ancient city, located near one of the most famous Roman roads, the Via Emilia. Its Historic City Center is a real gem, characterized by the soaring architecture, typical of Italian Gothic. Streets and alleys invite tourists to discover every corner and admire every glimpse. Here is what to do and where to go to explore lik...

A model has gone viral on social media after sharing the "other side" of staying in a medieval-looking village in the north of Italy. In a post recently shared on TikTok, under the username l1sa9s, the poster shows what the town of Apricale, where she's staying on holiday, looks like during the day, a bright idyllic village overlooking green mounta...

“The most vivid memory of my childhood was watching my grandmother prepare bread. She would knead the dough twice a week using ancient flours and would personally oversee the leavening process,” Maria Grazia Di Lauro, owner of Masseria Potenti, tells me.  “Once kneaded, the dough was placed under wool blankets to rise, and throughout the night, my...