Italy Archive
Leave the gun, take the cannoli
The Godfather is a film packed with memorable quotes, yet this one stands out from the rest. Clemenza, the trusty henchman, stops to water the plants at the side of the road while one of his men puts three shots into the back of his driver’s head.
Sicily – an island apart
Carthage, Greece, Rome, North Africans, Normans, Spaniards and Bourbons have all taken their turns as invaders of Sicily. Some would argue that even the Italians are perhaps no more than the latest group to colonise this fiercely disobedient Mediterranean island. As each culture’s influence has waxed and
The Veneto: History, romance and spectacular scenery
Verona: “Romeo, Romeo where for art thou Romeo?” we wondered as we gazed up at Juliet’s balcony in the historic centre of Verona. Alas, no Romeo, just Will, our fellow colleague. Piazza dell’Erbe: Verona, one of the most fascinating cities of Italy, is rich in Roman,
24 hours in Florence
Florence Tuesday 11th October 2011 With a few hours on our hands we decided to take a short walk around some of the principle sites in the city. Starting from our hotel (Hotel Paris), we headed down Via dei Banchi towards the centre. Nothing quite prepares you
The Amalfi Coast – thousands of years of history waiting to be unearthed
Small pretty villages hug the rocky coastline while young Italians, distinguished from the tourists by their far superior dress sense, fly around on mopeds without a care (or a helmet). The sun always shines, giving the sea that alluring blue and creating a sharp contrast with the
Just what is Agritourism?
Mention the phrase ‘agritourism’ to the average person looking for a holiday and you’ll probably get a wide range of reactions. Some might imagine waking up before dawn to help the farmer in milking his herd; others might picture themselves picking fruit or crushing grapes or olives.