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 [...]

Photos by Peter Hunt

Photos by Marion Hume
Let’s go to Lecce. Yes let’s, because although it is dubbed “The Siena of the South” it’s a lot less crowded and, in the spring, before the tourist hordes heading for their trulli arrive, it’s actually rather cheap.
They say it’s like an oven in summer, down here in [...]

Photos Courtesy of Just Sardinia
How about two slices of heaven (with some fresh ricotta drizzled with mountain honey on the side)? Southern Corsica and Northern Sardinia are so close they almost touch, yet they are worlds apart, and not just because of two nationalities (French, Italian) and four languages, (including Corsu and Sardu).
If your idea [...]

Photo by Peter Hunt
Call it The Bridge of Bulgari. Tourists stumbling around Venice, cameras at the ready to snap the Bridge of Sighs - so named for those prisoners dragged from the law courts in the Doge’s palace to a wretched, damp prison from which no one emerged alive - instead are being confronted by [...]

Photo Courtesy of St George

With its perfect location, intimate scale and chicly modern interior the St George is the ideal hotel for a Roman holiday. It’s luxurious, contemporary and Baroque all at the same time. Don’t miss the Roman bath in the basement and the rooftop terrace with lovely views across the city’s skyline [...]

Just around the corner from the Pantheon this is the perfect spot to stop for an afternoon coffee. Its 1930’s interior adds to its charm and sitting on the delightful terrace at any time of day one has a lovely outlook of the pretty square, meandering locals and the Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza chapel. [...]

If someone is treating you in Venice, do suggest they take you to The Danieli, where old smoothy, Roger Moore - surely the most sauve Bond if not quite the most believable secret agent - is said to have stayed. Certainly, scenes in Live & Let Die (1973) show off the hotel’s astonishing chandeliers.

The restaurant, [...]