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Ah! Beauty! The gift of the gods to their subjects, inspiration to literature, poetry and art of all forms and colors. Its canons may change from decade to decade,   but its essence remains the same, lifeblood of human creativity and  emotions.  And ugliness? Well, ugliness deserves some attention, too: if it’s true that every force needs an opposi...

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A corner of wild Sicily has been selected by CNN as one of the world’s top 20 best places for swimming.  Located between Avola, Noto and Syracuse, in south-eastern Sicily in the spectacular Cavagrande del Cassibile Natural Reserve, the spot is known locally as ‘Laghetti d’Avola’ (small lakes of Avola) for the pools of fresh water set among rocks de...

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Stuart Cantor’s latest photography series, Portofino Paradiso, captures the old-world glamour of Italy’s chicest seaside retreat as well as its beaches, hotels and neighbouring towns. His sun-dappled images of candy-striped sands, azure pools and colourfully painted houses evoke the charm of the Italian Riviera, which has counted Elizabeth Taylor,...

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Italy's fortes extend beyond its galleries, wardrobes and dining rooms. The country is one of nature's masterpieces, with extraordinary natural diversity matched by few. From the north's icy Alps and glacial lakes to the south's fiery craters and turquoise grottoes, this is a place for doing as well as seeing. Not bad for a country not much bigger...

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A territory that has always been rich in history. The first evidence of the existence of this beautiful village date back to the prehistoric era. As in the rest of northern Italy, Bobbio, has suffered during the centuries of Roman, Celtic and Lombard influences. The village of Bobbio owes its fame to San Colombano who, in 614, decided to build a mo...

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In a Sicilian song written in 2001, Aurelio Caliri related the well-known Homeric tale of Polyphemus, the one-eyed Cyclops who lived on the slopes of Mount Etna and the Greek hero Ulysses, from an unusual perspective. As you may recall from the Odyssey, Ulysses and his companions had been imprisoned by Polyphemus in his cave on Mt. Etna and were be...

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Planning an escape to the Aeolian Islands in Sicily may conjure up images of sailboats, skippers and yacht charters. But for those who prefer to explore the islands by day – and sleep on dry land by night – the archipelago offers an array of charming hotels, resorts and catered apartments that will entice even the most discerning seafarers. Andrea...

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L'Italia turistica sembra reagire al Covid. E in agosto lo fa meglio di altri paesi. Certo, il mese di mezza estate è quello della vacanza italiana ante litteram, in nessun'altra parte del mondo c'è una stagionalizzazione tanto spinta, e questo, sommato alla bassa propensione all'espatrio innescata in qualunque angolo del mondo dalla pandemia fa il...

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Picturesque villages, unexpected art treasures, incredible landscapes and gourmet stops: a road trip in Italy offers the best of the country. And because you’re driving, you can savor it at your own pace, stopping wherever you please and where curiosity leads you. This is part one of a multi-part series about road tripping in Italy, as we have many...

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Located in Puglia, Castel del Monte (Italian for "Castle of the Mountain") was built in the 13th century by Emperor Frederick II, who had inherited the lands from his mother Constance of Sicily. Frederick was responsible for the construction of many castles in Puglia, but Castel del Monte's geometric design was unique. The emperor imbued it with sy...

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