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SPINA VERDE REGIONAL PARK IS located just steps away from the resort town of Como, Lombardy, Italy. It spans the border with Switzerland (where it is called Parco del Penz), allowing hikers to cross back and forth between the two countries. Inside the park, visitors can follow trails like the Scala del Paradiso (Stairway to Heaven) that were once u...

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I am reclining on a sun chair, paperback in hand, as two kittens sleep curled up in the hollowed trunk of an olive tree next to me. Italian children take turns jumping in the pool. Uno, due, tre! Two people help an older relative out of his wheelchair and into the shallow end. A smile stretches across his face as the cool water meets his body.  My...

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In this brand new series, readers are invited on a virtual journey that embraces the whole of Italy, but that focuses on the lesser known, smaller, often ignored localities. In this difficult moment it's paramount that we help the struggling economies of minor travel destinations, as opposed to the more established ones. This first appointment take...

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One of the many hidden gems in Italy is the little Venice. This is how someyimes Comacchio is called. Its canals, the bridges, the water reflecting the buildings and even the Carnival, in fact, are somewhat reminiscent of a miniature Venice. Comacchio, however, has its own identity, its history and the particular charm of a city set, like a real ge...

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Magical atmosphere and past between history and legend: Island of San Giulio hosts a border with almost otherworldly charm. Let’s find out more. The island of San Giulio is far from the traditional idea of an island where beaches, sea and fun are the masters. It is a mystical place worth visiting. The beautiful island pops up in Lake Orta in front...

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The wind whispered through cypress trees, and the valley was still for a moment. Then, a vehicle growled into view, roof down to allow the thick, lemon-scented sun to pour over its passengers. Ah, Italy. A land where the espresso is strong, the scenery is impressive, and the dolce is very much vita. It’s never struggled to keep its status as one of...

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When it’s August in northern Italy, you have two options: suffocate or hit the water. But where to go? The beaches are taken, holidaymakers crammed onto their sunloungers like glazed sardines. And the lakes? Como’s full of Americans chasing George Clooney. Maggiore’s lovely yet busy. Garda? Crowded too, I’m afraid. Orta and Idro are too small. Just...

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Throughout the world, the last few pandemic-strewn years have revived the allure of train rides—and more so of journeys along old tracks that force us to unplug from technology. Italy isn’t exactly a mecca as far as suped-up high-speed railways are concerned, but if you’re looking for some very, very slow—not to mention epically scenic—travel optio...

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Valle d’Aosta, the smallest region of Italy, is tucked away at the northwestern corner of Piedmont. A beautiful Alpine heart, filled to the brim with traditions, history, and natural beauty. Popular among trekkers and skiers, it is one of the regions – the others are Sardinia, Sicily, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Trentino Alto-Adige – to enjoy a Stat...

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What gives Venice a timeless charm is its inexhaustible source of treasures and surprises. It often happens that even Venetians themselves marvel at the things to do, the legends they have never heard, and the places they have seen a thousand times but that always hide new secrets. Beyond the crowds that enliven St. Mark's every day, or the seducti...

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