Italia magazine
June/July 2021Italia! is the award-winning magazine for everyone who has a passion for Italy. Each month, you¹ll find a wide variety of beautifully photographed and intelligently written articles to inspire and inform you. Covering every aspect of Italian life, from travel, holidays and property to food, wine and culture, we bring Italy closer to English-speaking readers across the world.
in this issue
benvenuti…
It’s good to welcome you to the new issue of Italia! – I think you’ll love it, I know I do. So where are we two months on since we last met? Second lockdown, third wave… We hope you are doing well. Whatever our current situation, one abiding fact remains the same: our love for Italy stands strong, and we’re proud to show our support for the country until we can all travel again. There’s a summery feel to this issue, which is packed with vibrant features, photography and reviews to inform and inspire your virtual travels. We begin in Fiesole, a short bus ride away from Florence and well worth a visit. There’s our travel guide to Gavi in Piedmont – renowned for its wines, of course, but with so…
this month’s contributors
KATE WICKERS writes for many British and international publications. Her family travel memoir, Shape of a Boy, Family life lessons in far flung places, will be published in January 2022. On Instagram as @wickers.kate, she visits Procida, Italy’s newly crowned Capital of Culture for 2022, to see what all the fuss is about. Find out more on page 52. JOE GARTMAN travels to the aptly named town of Bassano del Grappa in Veneto, where he learns about the origins of this town’s precious nectar and its elevation over the centuries from a rustic ‘moonshine’ distillation to the sophisticated grappa spirit now known and enjoyed the world over. Read the whole story on page 43. FREYA MIDDLETON has lived in Florence for many years and has a wealth of knowledge about the city…
unsung nero?
He’s one of Ancient Rome’s most notorious rulers, but was Nero really the power-hungry villain he’s thought to be? This is the question behind a new exhibition at the British Museum in London, which showcases some 200 objects that explore Nero’s rise and fall, from his succession to the throne in AD 54, aged 16, to his death at the age of 30. The exhibition will cover the turbulent events of his reign, from Boudicca’s rebellion in Britain to the Great Fire of Rome. Visitors can explore the story of his life and decide for themselves whether he was simply a young and inexperienced ruler in a challenging position, or whether he was really the cruel and murderous figure we see described in the history books? The exhibition takes place…
5 italian rivers to see in 2021
Images 1, 2, 3 & 5 © iStock; image 4 by Heather Crombie…
gaga seeks home in rome
Lady Gaga landed in Rome earlier this year to start filming the new Ridley Scott movie Gucci, about the family behind the famous fashion brand. The American singer and actress will play Patrizia Reggiani, the ex-wife of Maurizio Gucci, who was convicted of orchestrating his assassination in 1995. Lady Gaga began her stay at a hotel but was thought to be on the lookout for a temporary home in the city while filming continues in various locations across Italy, according a report in La Repubblica newspaper. A suitable base had not been established at the time of writing, but the idea is thought to be a Covid-safe alternative to a lengthy hotel stay. Other Italian locations for filming include Florence, Milan and Lake Como, and Lady Gaga will join an…
you tell us…
We asked our Facebook friends for their Puglia travel tips – we’ve picked a few of our favourites to help you plan your next trip. • I liked Gallipoli – the old town, and the beaches just outside the town… And crystal clean water. Gunilla Marianne Ålbrink • San Vito Dei Normanni is an authentic Puglian town with a Norman castle, lots of lovely cafés, bars and restaurants, and a pedestrianised centro storico linking two beautiful piazzas. It is never mentioned in guidebooks but is only 25 minutes from Brindisi airport and provides fantastic access to all major tourist attractions. Karen Veal • A great place to stay in Nardò is Palazzo Cariddi (www.palazzocariddi.com). It’s an intimate boutique B&B in a 500-year-old palazzo, based in the historical centre. Debbie Stacy Send us a letter using the address…
