Rouen, one of the most beautiful cities in Normandy, an hour from Paris: the cathedral painted by Monet, the Gros-Horloge and the places of Joan of Arc.
Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle): from Charlemagne’s capital to a university city. What to see in a day, from the UNESCO Palatine Chapel to the Rathaus and the spa.
Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome holds masterpieces by Caravaggio, Raphael, Bernini and Carracci. Its dark history, the works to see and my tips.
What to do in Lyon in a weekend: UNESCO-listed Vieux Lyon, the traboules of the silk weavers, Fourvière, the astronomical clock and where to eat in a bouchon.
The cathedral of Ruvo di Puglia is a gem of Apulian Romanesque with a unique hypogeum. History, what to see, the crypt and the famous Talos Krater.
The Priory of Malta in Rome is an ancient, unusual place, between Piranesi’s famous keyhole, the Knights of Malta and one of the finest views over the capital.
What to see in Marta, on Lake Bolsena: the clock tower, the fishing village, Martana island and the tragic story of Queen Amalasuntha.
What to see in Pitigliano, the tufa town and "little Jerusalem": the Jewish ghetto, the synagogue, the Orsini palace and the Medici aqueduct in the Maremma.
The Museum of Fine Arts in Lyon, among the largest in France: the Greek Kore, Tintoretto’s Danaë, Géricault and Braque’s violin.
Titian’s disputed birth date, the timber trade that made him rich, his revolution in colour and where to see his paintings today.
A mysterious labyrinth, a spotless knight, a sleeping beauty and a black Christ: all the secrets of Lucca Cathedral, between myth and reality.
Canova’s Cupid and Psyche (Eros and Psyche): the myth behind it, the two versions, the secrets of the marble and where to see it at the Louvre.
The Fountain of the Naiads in Piazza della Repubblica, Rome: the story, Mario Rutelli’s four nymphs, the scandal of the nudes and the square today.
The history of Rome in brief: from the founding in 753 BC to the kings, the Republic, the empire, the popes, the Baroque and the capital of Italy.
Inside Italy’s Foreign Ministry, Palazzo della Farnesina, is a major collection of Italian contemporary art: the story, the works and how to visit for free.
Are you planning a tour of the Vatican Museums in Rome? Here are my visiting tips, the anecdotes and 9 masterpieces you can’t miss.
The British Museum has a very ambitious goal: to gather the evidence of every civilisation in the world. My list of the works you can’t miss.
The Sainte-Chapelle in Paris is a Gothic masterpiece, built by a saintly king to house the most precious relics of Christendom.
Castel del Monte, Frederick II’s octagonal castle in Puglia: its history, the symbolism of the number 8 and everything you need to know to visit it.
What to see in Ravenna: UNESCO mosaics, Dante’s tomb and the monuments of a three-time capital, with updated 2026 prices and practical tips.
The Vittoriano is one of the most famous and photographed monuments in Rome. Discover its history and all the symbolic meanings it holds.
What to see in Pisa beyond the tower: a historical and artistic walk through the city’s lesser-known places, from the Lungarni to Piazza dei Cavalieri.
A walk through Madrid’s Retiro Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Crystal Palace, the monument to Alfonso XII, the Rosaleda and the Bosque del Recuerdo.
Caravaggio’s paintings are the mirror of a quarrelsome, eccentric and dangerous character. Here is his story and a few curiosities worth knowing.
What to see in Otranto: the Aragonese castle, the cathedral with Pantaleone’s mosaic, the Byzantine church of St Peter and the Salento sea.
What to see in Bruges: the Belfry, the Burg, Michelangelo’s Madonna and the museums of the Venice of the North, with tips on when to go.
What to see in Brussels in 3 days: Grand Place, the Saint-Hubert galleries, the cathedral, Manneken Pis and the Atomium, with history and tips.
The life, style and torments of Michelangelo Buonarroti told through curiosities and anecdotes, with a guide on where to admire his most famous works.
What to see in Reims in one day: the Gothic cathedral where the kings were crowned, the Chagall windows, the Roman Porte de Mars and the champagne crayères.
Soissons and its abbey of Saint-Jean-des-Vignes, an hour from Paris: a Gothic façade still standing and the cloisters that survive.
Roseto Capo Spulico: one of the most beautiful beaches in Calabria, crowned by a medieval castle linked to the Templars and the Holy Shroud.
Here are the 10 most beautiful works by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and the funniest anecdotes of his life. Are you ready to learn more?
Soutine’s work can’t be understood without his life, from a poor Jewish village to Modigliani’s Paris and the flayed ox that inspired Francis Bacon.
Villa Torlonia on Via Nomentana: the park, the Casino Nobile where Mussolini lived and the Casina delle Civette, a Liberty-style gem, with visiting info.
Cartier jewels are true works of art: the story of the maison, the most iconic pieces from the Maharaja of Patiala to Liz Taylor, and where to see them today.
What to see in Dusseldorf in one day: Frank Gehry at the MedienHafen, the Rheinturm, the K20 and K21 museums, the Kunstpalast and the old Altstadt.
