Travel

Without cars, buses or other vehicles, Venice is a pedestrian paradise—until you get lost. As I discovered on a recent visit, you need more than a map to navigate the Venetian labyrinth: You need a new vocabulary. As in other …

 A visit to quaint Vogogna, the ancient capital of the Ossola Valley, should start outside the village center, at the Oratorio di San Pietro, an ancient Parish with Longobard origins where you can admire some stunning frescos from the 15th …

We all know the legend of King Arthur and the Sword in the stone. But what you might not know is that Italy has its own version. And you can find it in the small chapel of Montesiepi, a few …

During the early Rena-issance, the noble Malaspina family became so powerful that it managed to rule over the border region between Tuscany, Liguria, and Emilia for several centuries. Instrumental to this success was their control over the Apuan Alps surrounding …

After Cascia and Todi, the journey to re-discover the customs and traditions of Umbria and its local saints stops in another astonishing medieval town, Gubbio. Nestled at the feet of Mount Ingino, in the northern part of the region, our …

The pristine medieval village Civita di Bagnoregio has paradoxically found a boom in tourism due to its slow, steady collapse down a jagged cliff of volcanic rock. Its nickname is Il Paese che Muore because it has actually been collapsing …

Borghetto sul Mincio is a gorgeous little town, famous for its old windmills on the river Mincio and for its rich history and architecture. Watching sunset over the river can be a truly unforgettable experience as the ancient towers and …

Perched atop three Tuscan hills, the ancient walled city of Siena is famous for many things. Its medieval streets and architecture have barely changed in 800 years. Its polychrome marble cathedral rivals the beauty of Florence’s own. And its historic …

For centuries they were the only way to travel, criss-crossing the shallow lagoon and navigating the city’s iconic canals. Today, whilst Venice’s gondolas still glide silently through the waterways few visitors know their history, happy to just enjoy the view …

After three eventful days in Naples, we rented a car and drove over the mountain pass to the Amalfi Coast, the iconic site of southern affluence and prosperity. The Amalfi Coast is another of those iconic, idealized images of the …