Italia magazine

Welcome to the latest issue of Italia! magazine – poised and ready to inspire your travels to beautiful Italy. Crammed with intelligently written features and evocative photography, as well as generous helpings of Italian food and drink, it’s a celebration of il bel paese to enjoy at your leisure. We begin our journey in Bologna, a well-connected city with a wealth of heritage and culture for the curious traveller – not to mention the food! Turning our attention to wine next, we explore the verdant Prosecco hills in our new ‘Grape Escapes’ series, and we reveal ten good reasons to add Calabria to your must-visit list in 2025. An elegant spa in Emilia-Romagna offers a rejuvenating break, and we tread pathways to the past in search of Sardinia’s ancient inhabitants.…

SARA SCARPA spends an exciting weekend in Bologna, where she discovers a city not yet affected by mass tourism and offering a microcosm of Italian life. With its abundance of culinary delights, culture, history, art and live music, one weekend will not be long enough! Turn to page 22 to start your Bologna adventure. MARIO MATASSA is a writer and chef who regularly graces the pages of Italia! magazine. Fascinated by Italian food culture, this issue he delves into the wonderful world of chocolate – a treat with so much more to it than a quick breakfast of toast and chocolate hazelnut spread! Find out more, plus four recipes to try on page 64. FLEUR KINSON casts her expert eye over the property market in the north eastern region of Veneto. Home…

Sailing tour company Venturesail has announced that Italy is now its biggest destination, with more trips than any other country for the first time ever. Its offerings include everything from luxury yacht adventures on the Amalfi Coast to island-hopping short breaks around the Gulf of Naples. Its latest trip combines the twin pleasures of sailing and walking, and takes in the volcanic islands off the north coast of Sicily. Based on the picture-perfect tall ship Florette, the experience is ideal for all sailing abilities and explores the Aeolian islands from both sea and land, with specialist guided hikes around the islands as well as a chance to get hands-on with sailing a historic tall ship under the expert guidance of its experienced crew. Find out more about this and other…

Tell us about LiguriaHomes Casamare “LiguriaHomes Casamare was founded in 1991 with the opening of Casamare Real Estate in Ospedaletti. Over the years, we expanded across western Liguria, and now operate five offices, from the French border to Alassio. In 2014, we introduced the ‘LiguriaHomes’ brand to highlight our international focus, culminating in our partnership with Hamptons International. With a multilingual team and over 30 years of expertise, we provide professional, transparent, and client-focused real estate services in Liguria.” What services do you offer? “We specialise in property sales, guiding buyers and sellers through the process. We assist with obtaining Italian Tax ID, bank introductions, mortgage support, and legal aspects such as coordination with notaries. Post-sale, we help with utilities, renovations, and property management. We provide seamless support, ensuring our…

SAN FEDELE 27 Grange Rd, Birkenhead, West Kirby, Wirral CH48 4DZ Facebook: sanfedelewestkirby San Fedele wine bar in West Kirby is a welcoming slice of Italy in northwest England. Founded by John Invernizzi, whose Italian heritage and time spent in Italy as a child helped to inspire his vision for the venue, the bar serves authentic produce in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere. The wine list is packed with great Italian wines, alongside a delicious menu of sharing boards with cheeses, cured meats, focaccia and other Italian produce. There are more Italian drinks on offer, and the friendly staff are always happy to offer advice. If you’re in the area, look out for regular San Fedele events too, from language lessons to wine tastings. If you’d like to suggest a…

Dough lovers rejoice! The latest ranking of the 50 Top World Artisan Pizza Chains has been announced by esteemed guide to the sector, 50 Top Pizza. The results saw Spanish pizzeria Grosso Napoletano take the title for the second consecutive year, while second place went to 150-year-old Da Michele in the heart of Forcella in Naples, which now boasts more than 60 locations across the world. In third place was Big Mamma Group, with venues in France, Spain, England and Germany. The guide’s judges are made up of 1,000 experts spread throughout the world. The criteria are based on the quality of the pizza, the service, the location, the wait, and beverage lists. See the full ranking and find out if one of your local chains made the list at…