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The Basilica of Santa Sabina was built by one Peter of Illyria during the reigns of Popes Celestine I (422-432) and Sixtus III (432-440), as testified by the magnificent golden mosaic inscription opposite the apse. This is the only surviving mosaic, as many others would have decorated the space between the arcades and the clerestory. Upon entering...

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The Minor Basilica of the Holy Cross in Lecce has a whole century of history to tell – a century during which Baroque art flourished and triumphed on the pediment of this beautiful church, essentially built in two separate phases, one in the late 1500s and one in the 1600s. Indeed the church of the Celestine congregation (established in 1248 by her...

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Italy is a dream destination for tourists from all over the world. History, culture, nature and hospitality are interwoven in a combination to be found in few other places. Diverse landscapes, artistic treasures and incomparable food make Italy a feast for the soul. From the sun-soaked Mediterranean island of Sicily, to the snow-covered peaks of th...

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There's more to Como than ritzy villas and celebrities. Head off the beaten path and you'll find a lake for all budgets and all seasons. Lake Como – Liberty Style villas and gardens, pastel-coloured villages and mountains that plunge down into the lake. Pliny the Younger, Bryon, Stendhal, Goethe, Mark Twain, Gianni Versace and George Clooney all lo...

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As Italy wrestles with how to manage the effects of mass tourism on places like Venice and Florence, a clifftop village in the south of the country has caused controversy by charging visitors to enter its historic centre. Tourists have to pay €5 (£4.40) to enter the cobbled heart of Polignano a Mare, a spectacularly sited village of whitewashed hou...

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Nestled in the Dolomite foothills, a few kilometres north of Verona, Trentino is often overlooked by travellers as they race up to the ski resorts of Alto Adige. It’s a shame, because this small region has a lot to offer. The landscape here is gentler than the far north, and boasts a wild expanse of unspoilt forests and rivers. There are some wonde...

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Petralia Soprana, in provincia di Palermo, è il “Borgo dei Borghi autunno 2018“. Il paese madonita ha trionfato, battendo Subiaco, Lazio, l’abbruzzese Guardiagrele e il veneto Mel. Erano venti i borghi finalisti più votati online che si contendevano l’ambito trofeo in rappresentanza delle venti regioni italiane. Petralia, nel corso della trasmissio...

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Truffle fairs and truffle hunting tours have attracted some 120,000 visitors to Italy this year so far. Truffle hunting season is in full swing in Italy, and famous fairs and festivals dedicated to the unique flavour of the tartufo bianco, or white truffle, are held everywhere from Piedmont to Tuscany this month. Across Italy there are some 115 reg...

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As an Italian Enthusiast, my quest has always been to experience authentic Italian culture. If I had the choice to spend an evening at a well-known commercial vineyard in Tuscany for a fancy wine tasting, versus an evening at a local’s apartment in a small Pugliese city where homemade wine is served, I would choose the latter option (at least most...

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On 1-2 December 2018, Siena will return to its origins for a weekend, bringing medieval customs and traditions back to life with the historical re-enactment of the “mercato grande” – the Tuscan city’s main marketplace at the time. Immersed in this Medieval atmosphere, Siena’s excellent culture, food and wine and craftsmanship will take center stage...

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