Italians do it better – Pesto World Championships, Genoa, Italy: It stands to reason that Italians should make the best Pesto in the World. A simple fusion of two kinds of cheese, garlic, basil, olive oil, pine nuts and salt sounds on the face of it like something that could easily be recreated anywhere. But, […]
Vicenza – Birthplace of Palladian Architecture
Vicenza – Laced with History and Thriving with Life: It was over ten years ago that I first briefly visited Vicenza, for not much more than a lunch break, while we were travelling from Venice to Lake Garda. I was totally charmed and vowed to return. By chance, at the time I was planning this […]
Living the Dream at the Lido Palace Hotel, Lake Garda
The Lido Palace Hotel, Riva del Garda: What makes a hotel ultra luxury? For me, it’s end-to-end perfection – a place where from the moment you reach the entrance you are living the dream. The perfect setting helps too and Riva del Garda, a small town in the northern part of Lake Garda, is a […]
Exploring the Italian Riveria – Part 2: out and about in Liguria
A Ligurian Adventure: What is there to do in Liguria and the Italian Riveria in March? The week we stayed there, the forecast was for rain all week, so we planned and packed for all eventualities, but were incredibly lucky. We only saw rain on our final day in France, and managed to be inside […]
Exploring the Italian Riveria – A Stay at Liguria Holiday Homes in Pigna Part 1: The house and Pigna
Medieval Magic at Pigna, Liguria and the Italian Riviera: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a medieval house? In odd moments of musing, I have, but my thoughts never encompassed something as old on the outside, but complete with all modern day luxuries on the inside, as the house […]
Eat, Sleep Do in Garda Trentino
Recommended Places to Stay, Things to Do and Food to Eat in Garda Trentino: Last year’s trip to Riva del Garda and the surrounding region – Garda Trentino was ostensibly a food trip. Somehow, though, we managed to pack in a lot more, despite dining in some fabulous restaurants and I suspect that any visitor […]
Three Reasons to Visit Cortina
Snow, Food and Fashion – Cortina Style: I’m not a great fan of the listicle. But sometimes, just sometimes, I travel somewhere and there are clear and distinct things which make that place special. Cortina is such a place. For me at least, there were three things which really marked out this charming Italian ski […]
Exploring The Heritage of Garda Trentino
Garda Trentino – Mountains, Lakes, History and Passion: Last year’s trip to Garda Trentino came with a few surprises for me. Living in the UK, I tend to forget how dramatically the shape of mainland Europe has changed over the centuries. It’s easy enough to remember those changes which have happened within my lifetime, but […]
Stile Italiano – Hotel Ambra Cortina:
No Need to Ski to enjoy Hotel Ambra Cortina: There are moments when I wonder just what I am doing. Like Bridget Jones, I don’t ski. And, my personal style, if you can call it that, is distinctly British – an ageing, rather cuddly English rose if you are feeling kind. All sorts of things […]
Ancient and Modern – eating out in Garda Trentino
Dining in Garda Trentino: There are certain cuisines which seem so tied into to tradition that the idea of a contemporary version seems counter-intuitive. Italian food as a whole falls into that category, with those perfect pasta dishes, rich slow-cooked ragus and recipes that are handed down through the generations. But, a love of carefully […]