There’s always one restaurant which everyone is fighting for a table at during fashion week – and this season in Milan, it was Pisacco.

E M Foster wrote in A Room With A View that Florence has a “pernicious charm”.

Photos Courtesy of Hotel Cipriani
Some hotels are world famous because they deserve it. Some hotels stay worth the hype. Such a hotel is the enchanting Hotel Cipriani, out on the lagoon in Venice. After many years of traveling, it always makes my personal “Top 10” list, because of course, it is gorgeous, the setting looking [...]

Absolutely not to be missed if you should find yourself in Florence before end January 2013, the Marilyn exhibition at Museo Salvatore Ferragamo.
While of course I appreciate Marilyn’s unique position as a global icon, I’m not one of those people who snaps up every new tome on the doomed bombshell who died in still-suspicious circumstances [...]

They may be called the Spanish Steps but the Italians (and flocks of tourists) sure know how to use them. Stroll to the top of the 137 step climb or prefer to people-watch with a Prosecco in hand amongst hot young things toting Zara bags and middle age business men sneaking in a mid-afternoon gelato. [...]

As traditional and Italian as it’s namesake, this tiny lunchtime trattoria (open 12-3:30pm Monday-Saturday) hidden beyond more flashy and expensive restaurants has been servicing hungry locals and tourists alike for almost 60 years. And it hasn’t lost its way.
We arrive later than most at 2pm and are told the wait should be no [...]

Photo Courtesy of Gary Arnold
One of the few restaurants in Rome that combines traditional Roman cuisine with contemporary brasserie style Maccheroni is a must. One of my favourite restaurants anywhere and, apparently where Michelle Obama chose to eat on her recent trip to Rome. At the historic heart of Rome and a [...]

When in Rome, go to the Pantheon.

Piperno’s cuisine follows the great tradition of Roman cooking, enhanced by Jewish influences. Tucked away in the small square in the Jewish neighbourhood the terrace sprawls across the square which is surrounded by elegant buildings. Make sure you sit outside. Don’t miss the fried artichokes. Celebrity clientele includes Francis Ford [...]

If you love Carlo Scarpa or Olivetti typewriters then this will be your thing. A small space in Piazza San Marco (Venice) was transformed by Carlo Scarpa between 1956 - 1959 for Olivetti as their showroom. For some reason in the late 90s Olivetti moved out and a novelty shop moved in! Luckily, last year [...]