Sweeping across northeastern Italy, the Dolomites form an ancient and mesmerising landscape. They set the ambience of this fabulous outdoor playground; an eternal lure for skiers and winter sports enthusiasts in the colder months and for hikers, mountain bikers and nature lovers in the summer. With delicious cuisine and wines, the region offers all...

Cremona may not be as well known as other cities in Lombardia like Milan or Pavia, but it has a lot to offer to an attentive visitor. Never mind if you are into history, folklore, architecture, or food, the town has something for you.  It was founded by the Romans in 218 BC and played a significant role during the Empire as a military and trading p...

Rome may be the heart of the Jubilee Year celebrations, but just 90 minutes away lies a hidden gem steeped in religious history: Viterbo. Known as the “City of Popes,” this charming town in northern Lazio served as a papal refuge during turbulent times and played a pivotal role in shaping church traditions, including the papal conclave. With the ma...

“Location, location, location” is a timeless reminder of how crucial a property’s setting is to its value. Having lived in New York City, I’ve seen this principle in action. The view of the Hudson River would have added $1,000 to the cost of rent for my apartment, which had a view of a wall—even though both apartments were the same size and both on...

Each summer, the remote Italian island of Alicudi attracts a slow drip of tourists looking to escape the trappings of modernity. There are no cars or even roads on the two-square-mile volcanic outcrop, though footpaths are traversable by donkey. And while cellphone coverage is now available in most places, many houses lack electricity and water. Fo...

A wall of rocks, a crown of not-so-snowy peaks piercing the sky, sometimes puncturing the clouds. This is what the Alps look like when you look at them from the plains: half menacing, half protective, definitely immovable and unbreakable. A clear border behind which, in my case, lies France. The mountains of southern Piedmont, those of the province...

The Melbourne-based travel writer Paul Manser has written for major newspapers and magazines that demand a sort of glossy sheen to stories. Real-world travels, and life in general, rarely reflect the glow of a mainstream travel story. Those tales may not make it into Manser’s typical outlets, though they did make into his book, “Life Plans on Dive...

What is it about Tuscany that’s so endlessly appealing? I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve visited the region (seven in 2024 alone!). And it’s definitely a part of Italy that people—Italians and foreigners alike—love to explore. Last year, I wrote about how to make the most of a week in Tuscany based on a question from a reader and this we...

One of the earliest European printed books was a tourist guide to Rome. Ranging from information on ancient ruins, fallen temples and classical bathhouses to the place where an emperor “saw a vision in the sky”, Mirabilia Urbis Romae (Marvels of the City of Rome) was written in Latin in the early 12th century. The popular text was reproduced in doz...

If you are traveling to Europe and appreciate a great breakfast, there are some countries where you'll love getting up in the morning to break your overnight fast. For example, the breakfast buffets in Scandinavia are noteworthy as are the full English breakfasts you can get in Britain. However, such feasts aren't available in every country. The ru...