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Italy
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Italy

Travel guides, landmarks and museums in Italy: what to see and do.

Guides in Italy

the garden front of villa medici, white and covered in ancient reliefs, with the two towers, the colonnaded loggia in the centre with two lions beside the steps and clipped box hedges in the foreground
Museums & masterpieces

Villa Medici in Rome: 6 things to see, in the cardinal’s villa that Napoleon gave to artists

10 min read
the casina delle civette seen from the forecourt, with the pink bay-window turret under a roof of green majolica, the pointed gable with a round window, a crenellated brick tower on the left and a conical slate roof on the right
Museums & masterpieces

Casina delle Civette: 6 stained-glass windows to see, in the Art Nouveau house of Villa Torlonia

10 min read
the villino boncompagni ludovisi on via boncompagni, with the carved portal and the flags at the entrance, the three rows of windows and trees in front
Museums & masterpieces

Museo Boncompagni Ludovisi: 6 things to see, in a villa left to the state by a Swedish princess

11 min read
porta san sebastiano seen from outside, with the two round crenellated brick towers, the base faced in white marble and the open archway at the centre
Museums & masterpieces

Museo delle Mura: 6 things to see at Porta San Sebastiano, where you go in free

11 min read
the renaissance facade of the piccola farnesina ai baullari, with the rusticated ground floor and arched windows, the aedicule windows of the piano nobile, the columned loggia on the right, the friezes of lilies between the floors and the red museum sign above the entrance
Museums & masterpieces

Museo Barracco: 6 works to see, in a palace called Farnesina by mistake

11 min read
the fortezzuola seen from its formal garden, with the pink facade and the arcades on the ground floor, the clipped box hedges and a lamp post in the foreground
Museums & masterpieces

Museo Pietro Canonica: 6 works to see, in the house-studio inside Villa Borghese

11 min read
stefano lecchi calotype of 1849 with the aranciera of villa borghese reduced to a ruin, the roof collapsed, rubble in front of the central doorway and the row of round windows in the low wall, with the photographer signature written at the bottom
Museums & masterpieces

Museo Carlo Bilotti: 6 works to see in the Aranciera of Villa Borghese

11 min read
roesler franz watercolour of 1888 with the porto di ripetta on the tiber, a sailing barge moored at the quay, men working on the paving, two children standing and the ochre palaces on the right
Museums & masterpieces

Museo di Roma in Trastevere: 6 works to see, and the 120 watercolours of a vanished Rome

12 min read
the reconstructed room with the opus sectile walls from the porta marina building at ostia, with the inlaid marble panels lit in the darkness of the museo delle civilta
Museums & masterpieces

Museo delle Civiltà: 6 works to see at the EUR, in a museum remaking itself

12 min read
palazzo primoli on the corner of via zanardelli in rome, home of the napoleonic museum, with the red museum banners on the facade
Museums & masterpieces

Napoleonic Museum in Rome: 6 works to see, in a museum you get into free

12 min read
a wall of the galleria corsini with paintings in gilded frames hung in several rows up to the vault, the large ones high and the small ones low, above carved console tables
Museums & masterpieces

Galleria Corsini: 6 works to see in the only intact eighteenth-century picture gallery

12 min read
the great hall of the galleria colonna seen along its length, with the marble floor, the paintings on the gilded walls and the frescoed vault
Museums & masterpieces

Galleria Colonna: 7 works to see, in a palace that opens two days a week

13 min read
the garden front of villa farnesina, with the glazed arches of the ground floor loggia between the two projecting wings and a fountain in front
Museums & masterpieces

Villa Farnesina: 6 works to see, in the villa Raphael painted for a banker

13 min read
the terracotta sarcophagus of the spouses in its case at villa giulia, with the couple reclining on the banqueting couch and the man holding the woman by the shoulders
Museums & masterpieces

Villa Giulia Etruscan Museum: 8 works to see, and the tomb that arrived in 2026

14 min read
the marble enclosure of the ara pacis of augustus with the procession reliefs, inside the glass museum building in rome
Monuments & landmarks

Ara Pacis: 6 reliefs to read, and a monument rebuilt twice

13 min read
via merulana in rome almost deserted, the street palazzo merulana faces, with parked cars and nineteenth century buildings on both sides
Museums & masterpieces

Palazzo Merulana: 6 works to see from the Cerasi collection, in a building back from nothing

12 min read
the eighteenth century facade of palazzo braschi, home of the museo di roma, on the corner between piazza navona and corso vittorio emanuele
Museums & masterpieces

Museo di Roma at Palazzo Braschi: 7 works to see, and piazza Navona without the fountain

13 min read
the atrium of the maxxi in rome seen from above, with the black suspended staircases over the white floor and the curved concrete walls
Museums & masterpieces

MAXXI: 6 things to see, starting with Zaha Hadid’s building

12 min read
the white colonnaded facade of the palazzo delle belle arti, home of the national gallery of modern art in rome, on viale delle belle arti
Museums & masterpieces

National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome: 8 artworks to see, from Canova to Pollock

14 min read
headless roman statue in white marble standing in front of the control panel of the centrale montemartini in rome, with dials and a stop lever
Museums & masterpieces

Centrale Montemartini: 7 artworks to see among the engines of Rome’s first power station

13 min read
Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome seen from the Tiber, with the cylindrical drum, the bronze angel on top and the bridge with its statues reflected in the water
Museums & masterpieces

Castel Sant’Angelo: 6 spaces to see, from Hadrian’s ramp to the Passetto

13 min read
the hemicycle of Trajan’s Markets in Rome seen from the forum, with the Torre delle Milizie above and the brick arches on two tiers
Museums & masterpieces

Trajan’s Markets: 7 artworks from the Museum of the Imperial Fora

12 min read
the brick exterior of the Octagonal Hall at the Baths of Diocletian in Rome, with the portico and the word planetario above the entrance
Museums & masterpieces

The Museum of Rescued Art in the Octagonal Hall: the artworks coming home

9 min read
the portico of the great cloister at the Baths of Diocletian in Rome, with Roman sarcophagi lined up along the wall beneath the arches
Museums & masterpieces

Baths of Diocletian: 4 spaces to see, from the cloister attributed to Michelangelo to the Hall of Gold

12 min read
the loggia of the courtyard at Palazzo Altemps in Rome, with the three arches and the grotesque-painted vaults above the balustrade
Museums & masterpieces

Palazzo Altemps: 6 artworks to see, from the Ludovisi Gaul to the Ludovisi Juno

14 min read
the façade of Palazzo Massimo alle Terme in Rome, with the vertical banner of the National Roman Museum next to the arched portal
Museums & masterpieces

Palazzo Massimo alle Terme: 8 artworks to see, from the Boxer to Livia’s frescoes

14 min read
the facade of santa felicita in florence with its three-arched portico and the arch of the vasari corridor on the left
Monuments & landmarks

Pontormo’s Deposition at Santa Felicita: Mannerism inside a chapel

10 min read
the outer corner of orsanmichele in florence with two marble statues and one bronze statue in the gothic niches
Museums & masterpieces

Orsanmichele: the granary that became a church, and the fourteen guild statues

11 min read
the uffizi panel of the battle of san romano, with the unhorsing of bernardino della carda at the centre
Museums & masterpieces

The Battle of San Romano: the three panels split between Florence, London and Paris

11 min read
the inner courtyard of palazzo donnaregina, home to the madre museum, with three floors of ivory colored arched windows and the silhouette of a horse on the cornice
Museums & masterpieces

The Madre in Naples: twelve rooms commissioned from artists, inside a former pawnshop

11 min read
the facade of san miniato al monte with bands of white and green marble and the mosaic in the gable
Monuments & landmarks

San Miniato al Monte: the finest church in Florence is free and closes at midday

10 min read
the bare stone facade of the basilica of san lorenzo with the dome of the medici chapels behind it
Monuments & landmarks

San Lorenzo: the façade nobody ever finished and the sacristy that changed everything

11 min read
the baroque spire of san domenico maggiore with its bronze statue on top, and behind it the gothic apse of the basilica with its buttresses and battlements
Monuments & landmarks

Spaccanapoli: Gesù Nuovo, San Domenico Maggiore and the Donatello almost nobody looks for

12 min read
the green wall of titian’s room at the uffizi with the venus of urbino at the centre between two small portraits
Museums & masterpieces

Titian’s Venus of Urbino: what that painting really is

10 min read
room a35 at the uffizi with the baptism of christ on the left and leonardo’s annunciation on the right
Museums & masterpieces

Leonardo’s Annunciation and Verrocchio’s Baptism: the master and the pupil in the same room

11 min read
the florence baptistery seen from above with its octagonal plan and white pyramidal roof
Monuments & landmarks

Florence Baptistery: the doors you photograph are copies, and the originals are two hundred metres away

11 min read
caravaggio’s martyrdom of saint ursula, a dark scene with the saint in profile struck in the chest by an arrow and the king of the huns to her left
Museums & masterpieces

The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula: the last Caravaggio, credited to another painter for two centuries

11 min read
the brancacci chapel with three tiers of frescoes on the walls and the madonna panel on the altar
Monuments & landmarks

Brancacci Chapel: the point at which painting learned to cast a shadow

10 min read
the baroque high altar of the church of san gregorio armeno, with the gilded crucifix, the candelabra and the nuns’ choir grilles above
Monuments & landmarks

San Gregorio Armeno: how a shepherd figure is made, and the door almost nobody opens

11 min read
the doni tondo in its gilded frame on the red wall of the uffizi room, with visitors seen from behind
Museums & masterpieces

The Doni Tondo: Michelangelo’s only finished painting, and the frame nobody looks at

10 min read
rusting vintage cars parked in a row inside a tuff tunnel, with a lit lantern on the ground and a vaulted passage in the background
Monuments & landmarks

The Bourbon Tunnel: the escape route a king had dug, and that never reached the palace

11 min read
fra angelico’s annunciation with the angel on the left and mary seated on the right under a bare loggia
Museums & masterpieces

Museo di San Marco: a friary where every cell has its own fresco

10 min read
the facade of palazzo vecchio on piazza della signoria with the arnolfo tower and its projecting walkway
Monuments & landmarks

Palazzo Vecchio: the hall a friar built and a Medici painted over

11 min read
the mezzanine of toledo station with its blue and green mosaic walls and columns clad in tesserae widening toward the ceiling
Monuments & landmarks

The art stations of Naples: Toledo, Università and Materdei, and the ticket you actually need

11 min read
castel nuovo in naples with its dark piperno towers and the white marble triumphal arch between two of them
Monuments & landmarks

Castel Nuovo: the marble arch wedged between two towers, and the hall where the barons’ conspiracy ended

10 min read
the octagonal interior of the church of the pio monte della misericordia with the caravaggio on the high altar
Museums & masterpieces

The Seven Works of Mercy: the Caravaggio that was declared unsellable in 1613

11 min read
the octagonal pillars tiled with majolica in the cloister of santa chiara with the painted benches
Monuments & landmarks

Santa Chiara in Naples: the majolica cloister is not medieval, and the basilica you walk into dates from 1953

11 min read
the staircase of honour of the royal palace of naples with its double marble flight and coffered vault
Monuments & landmarks

The Royal Palace of Naples: a palace built for a king who never set foot in it

10 min read
the shaft of a well seen from below inside a tufa cistern, with daylight at the top
Monuments & landmarks

Underground Naples: the Greco-Roman aqueduct, the wartime shelters and the Roman theatre inside a ground-floor flat

11 min read
the bell tower and roofs of the certosa di san martino with the bay of naples behind
Museums & masterpieces

Certosa e Museo di San Martino: the most famous nativity scene in the world sits in the old kitchens

11 min read
the keep of the monforte castle in campobasso with its battlements, the flag and the external staircase
Travel guides

Campobasso: the Monforte Castle reopened in 2026 and the museum where the Samnites end up

10 min read
the facade of termoli cathedral with its rose window and the row of archivolts on small columns, in the square of the old town
Monuments & landmarks

Termoli cathedral: an Apulian facade on a cliff, an earthquake, the Turks and a restoration that took away instead of adding

10 min read
the cathedral of san pardo in larino seen from above, with its gothic portal, rose window and the hills behind
Monuments & landmarks

Larino: an amphitheatre paid for by a will, a cathedral consecrated in 1319 and the mosaics that are not where you look for them

11 min read
the stone seats of the theatre of pietrabbondante with a backrest and an armrest carved as a winged lion paw
Monuments & landmarks

Pietrabbondante: the Samnite theatre at 966 metres, with stone backrests and armrests carved as lion’s paws

11 min read
the paved forum of saepinum seen lengthways, with the basilica and the modern houses at the far end
Monuments & landmarks

Saepinum: the whole Roman town that a shepherds’ road has crossed for two thousand years

11 min read
a roman gate at saepinum with the grassy droving road running under it
Travel guides

What to see in Molise: a whole Roman town, a Samnite theatre and the day of the week that decides everything

13 min read
the restored facade of palazzo ardinghelli in laquila with the serpentine balcony and the maxxi banner
Museums & masterpieces

MAXXI L’Aquila at Palazzo Ardinghelli: the palace born of one earthquake and restored after another

12 min read
the limestone hill of tuvixeddu in cagliari with the rectangular shafts of the punic tombs cut into the rock
Monuments & landmarks

Tuvixeddu and the Grotta della Vipera: Punic and Roman Cagliari

12 min read
the basilica of san saturnino in cagliari seen from the front with ruined arcades a great glazed arch and the dome
Monuments & landmarks

Basilica of San Saturnino in Cagliari: the island’s oldest church, reopened in 2026

11 min read
the corner of the fountain of the 99 spouts with stone masks the chequered wall and water falling into the basin
Monuments & landmarks

Fountain of the 99 spouts in L’Aquila: counting the masks and the secret of the spring

11 min read
the front of santa maria cathedral in cagliari with the bell tower on the left and a blue sky
Monuments & landmarks

Cagliari Cathedral: the Pisan pulpits and the crypt cut out of the rock

12 min read
the scarped wall of a bastion of the spanish fort in laquila with the dry grassed moat and the counterscarp
Museums & masterpieces

Spanish fort and MuNDA in L’Aquila: the museum is back in the castle, with an Antonello da Messina

14 min read
the arch of augustus in aosta with its slate roof, corinthian half-columns and the crucifix hanging under the vault
Monuments & landmarks

The arch of Augustus and the stone bridge in Aosta: a monument that was once a house and a bridge left without its river

11 min read
the green stone outer wall of the megalithic area museum at saint martin de corleans in aosta with the name carved into it
Museums & masterpieces

The megalithic area of Saint-Martin-de-Corléans: a six-thousand-year-old sanctuary found while digging the foundations of a block of flats

11 min read
the stone staircase rising to the basilica of san bernardino in laquila between cedars with the facade at the top
Monuments & landmarks

Basilica of San Bernardino in L’Aquila: Cola dell’Amatrice’s facade and Silvestro’s sculptures

13 min read
painted predella with seven half length saints under gilded arches and the dead christ held by an angel at the centre
Museums & masterpieces

National Art Gallery of Cagliari: the Sardinian-Catalan retablos explained

12 min read
the medieval mosaic floor of aosta cathedral with its circular medallions
Monuments & landmarks

Aosta cathedral: two mosaics under your feet, an 11th-century cycle above the vaults and a jawbone in the treasury

12 min read
the three aisled interior of the basilica of collemaggio with octagonal piers timber trusses and a chequered floor
Monuments & landmarks

Basilica of Collemaggio in L’Aquila: the first jubilee in history and the church that stood back up

13 min read
the façade of the collegiate church of sant orso in aosta, with the gothic gable edged in red terracotta and the romanesque bell tower on the left
Monuments & landmarks

The collegiate church of Sant’Orso in Aosta: forty capitals to read and a fresco cycle walled into the roof space

12 min read
the entrance of the national archaeological museum of cagliari in the cittadella dei musei with the pine tree and the sculpture
Museums & masterpieces

National Archaeological Museum of Cagliari: the Nuragic bronzes, one by one

13 min read
the southern façade of the roman theatre of aosta, twenty-two metres high, with buttresses, arches and three tiers of windows
Monuments & landmarks

The Roman theatre of Aosta has reopened, and the people who paid for it call it half a building site

11 min read
the bastione di saint remy in cagliari seen from piazza costituzione with its monumental staircase and arch
Travel guides

What to see in Cagliari in two days: the complete guide

12 min read
the pink and white chequered facade of the basilica of santa maria di collemaggio with three rose windows and three portals
Travel guides

What to see in L’Aquila in two days: the city that came back, monument by monument

14 min read
the porta praetoria in aosta, a double roman gate with three arches and the inner courtyard, seen from the street
Travel guides

What to see in Aosta in one day: the Roman city that the day of the week opens only halfway

13 min read
the frescoed façades of the cazuffi and rella houses in piazza duomo in trento seen from the square
Monuments & landmarks

Trento the painted city: the frescoed façades of Piazza Duomo and Via Belenzani

10 min read
painting of a session of the council of trent with the council fathers seated in the nave of a church
Travel guides

The Council of Trent and the art of the Counter-Reformation: what actually changed in the pictures

12 min read
the greek walls of reggio calabria excavated below the level of the falcomata seafront at dusk
Monuments & landmarks

The Falcomatà seafront: the Greek walls, the Roman baths and the Aragonese Castle

11 min read
the metal walkways suspended inside the palombaro lungo cistern of matera with the carved rock walls
Monuments & landmarks

The Palombaro Lungo: the cistern under the square and the Matera of water

9 min read
the flank of matera cathedral with the rose window and the bell tower seen from piazza duomo
Monuments & landmarks

Matera cathedral: the rose window, the Madonna della Bruna and the stone nativity

11 min read
the facade of reggio calabria cathedral lit at sunset against a pink sky
Monuments & landmarks

Reggio Calabria Cathedral: a twentieth-century church and a rescued chapel

11 min read
the cathedral of san vigilio in trento with the rose window and the spiral staircases on the transept front
Monuments & landmarks

Trento Cathedral and Santa Maria Maggiore: the two churches where the Council was held

11 min read
the month of october in the cycle of the months of torre aquila with the grape harvest the wine press and peasants among the vines
Museums & masterpieces

The Cycle of the Months in Torre Aquila: the eleven surviving months and what they show

11 min read
the facade of the teatro francesco cilea in reggio calabria which houses the civic art gallery
Museums & masterpieces

The Civic Art Gallery of Reggio Calabria: two Antonello panels inside a theatre

10 min read
the houses of the sassi of matera stacked on one another seen from the murgia timone viewpoint
Travel guides

The Sassi of Matera: the difference between Caveoso and Barisano, and life in a cave house

12 min read
buonconsiglio castle in trento seen from outside with the cylindrical tower and the magno palazzo
Monuments & landmarks

Buonconsiglio Castle in Trento: Castelvecchio, the Magno Palazzo and Romanino’s frescoes

11 min read
the frescoes of the crypt of original sin with figures and red flowers painted at their feet
Monuments & landmarks

The Crypt of Original Sin: eighth-century frescoes outside Matera

10 min read
the shipwreck room of the reggio calabria archaeological museum with two ancient boats and projections on the wall
Museums & masterpieces

The Archaeological Museum of Reggio Calabria: the four levels beyond the Bronzes

12 min read
the two riace bronzes in the room of the reggio calabria museum on their white marble bases
Museums & masterpieces

The Riace Bronzes: how to look at them, and why they reached us at all

12 min read
the monterrone rock spur with the rupestrian church of the madonna de idris dug into it in matera
Travel guides

The rock churches of Matera: which ones to visit in the Sassi and in the Murgia park

12 min read
piazza duomo in trento with the neptune fountain the cathedral of san vigilio and the palazzo pretorio
Travel guides

What to see in Trento in two days: Buonconsiglio Castle, the Council churches and the painted city

12 min read
reggio calabria seen from the pentimele hill with the curved seafront and the strait of messina
Travel guides

What to see in Reggio Calabria in one day: the complete guide

11 min read
interior room of raphael’s birthplace in urbino with cross vaults and paintings on display
Monuments & landmarks

Raphael’s Birthplace in Urbino: Giovanni Santi’s Workshop, the Disputed Fresco and the Cathedral with the Albani Museum

13 min read
skyline of urbino with the dome and bell tower of the cathedral and the bulk of the ducal palace seen from outside the walls
Travel guides

What to See in Urbino in One Day: the Itinerary from the Ducal Palace to Piero della Francesca’s Flagellation and Raphael’s House

13 min read
the flagellation of christ by piero della francesca with the three men in the foreground and the flagellation scene in the background
Museums & masterpieces

The Flagellation by Piero della Francesca and the Ideal City in Urbino: the Enigma of the Three Men, the Contested Attribution and the Twin Panels

14 min read
the interior of the oratory of san giovanni battista in urbino with the altar the salimbeni crucifixion and the narrative cycle on the right wall
Monuments & landmarks

Oratory of San Giovanni Battista in Urbino: the 1416 Salimbeni Frescoes and Brandani’s Nativity at San Giuseppe

13 min read
facade of the twin towers of the ducal palace at sunset with the two towers and the loggia of paired windows
Museums & masterpieces

The Ducal Palace of Urbino and the National Gallery of the Marche: history, Laurana’s courtyard and how to visit the piano nobile

13 min read
corner of the studiolo with the gilded coffered ceiling and the row of portraits of famous men
Monuments & landmarks

The Studiolo of Federico da Montefeltro in Urbino: the Inlays, the Famous Men and the Restoration Reopened in 2025

14 min read
the lunette of the oratory of san bernardino in perugia, with the saint among agostino di duccio's music-making angels
Monuments & landmarks

The Oratory of San Bernardino in Perugia: Agostino di Duccio’s facade, free and on a side square

9 min read
streets and arches of the medieval quarter buried inside the rocca paolina
Monuments & landmarks

Underground Perugia: the Rocca Paolina and the Etruscan Well, a walled-up quarter and a two-thousand-year-old well

11 min read
the fontana maggiore in perugia seen from an angle with the carved panels of the basins and palazzo dei priori behind
Monuments & landmarks

The Fontana Maggiore in Perugia: fifty reliefs by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano to read in the square

10 min read
the vault and walls frescoed by perugino in the audience hall of the collegio del cambio
Monuments & landmarks

The Collegio del Cambio in Perugia: Perugino’s frescoes and the self-portrait hung on a nail

10 min read
a room of the national gallery of umbria with gold ground panels on the walls
Museums & masterpieces

National Gallery of Umbria: the works to see, from Fra Angelico to Perugino

12 min read
the grand canal of trieste at sunset with moored boats the church of sant antonio in the background and the dome of san spiridione on the right
Travel guides

The Borgo Teresiano of Trieste: the district the free port built over the saltpans

16 min read
the white castle of miramare on the promontory with the garden fountain and the gulf of trieste
Monuments & landmarks

Miramare Castle in Trieste: Carl Junker’s building site, the park built on bare rock and the curse that does not hold up

13 min read
san giusto cathedral seen from the roman forum with the two raised columns and the bell tower
Monuments & landmarks

Trieste Cathedral of San Giusto: two churches, a Roman temple and the mosaics that stand between Ravenna and Venice

16 min read
piazza iv novembre in perugia with the fontana maggiore and the palazzo dei priori
Travel guides

What to see in Perugia in 2 days: an itinerary between Perugino, the Pisano and the underground city

12 min read
the white facade of palazzo revoltella in trieste with the allegorical statues on the balustrade and the museum’s banner
Museums & masterpieces

The works of the Revoltella Museum in Trieste: the house of a baron who has been buying art for a hundred and fifty years

12 min read
the courtyard of the risiera di san sabba with the brick industrial buildings the steel stele and the concrete wall
Monuments & landmarks

The Risiera di San Sabba in Trieste: what happened here and what remains today

12 min read
a detail of the triumph of death in palazzo abatellis, with the pope and the king struck by arrows
Museums & masterpieces

Palazzo Abatellis: the Triumph of Death, the Virgin Annunciate and the museum that teaches you to look

11 min read
the white stucco relief of the battle of lepanto by giacomo serpotta in the oratory of santa cita
Monuments & landmarks

The Serpotta oratories in Palermo: what can be done with a poor material

11 min read
the nave of monreale cathedral with gold ground mosaics and the painted timber roof
Monuments & landmarks

Monreale cathedral: six thousand square metres of mosaic born of a quarrel between a king and an archbishop

12 min read
palermo cathedral seen from the south side with its crenellated towers the apses and the palms
Monuments & landmarks

Palermo cathedral and the royal tombs: where the story of Frederick II ends

11 min read
the nave of the palatine chapel in palermo with its golden mosaics and christ pantocrator at the end
Monuments & landmarks

The Palatine Chapel in Palermo: a Catholic church with Arabic inscriptions on the ceiling

12 min read
the face and wings of the angel of the oneto tomb carved by giulio monteverde at staglieno
Monuments & landmarks

The monumental cemetery of Staglieno in Genoa: the sculpture a new middle class bought for itself

11 min read
the loggia of the villa del principe in genoa with citrus trees in pots and a dark storm sky
Monuments & landmarks

Villa del Principe in Genoa: Andrea Doria’s palace and Perino del Vaga’s vault

10 min read
the marble lion on the steps of san lorenzo cathedral in genoa, with the striped columns behind
Monuments & landmarks

San Lorenzo cathedral in Genoa: the unexploded shell, the Sacro Catino and Albini’s museum

11 min read
ecce homo by caravaggio kept in palazzo bianco in genoa
Museums & masterpieces

Strada Nuova Museums in Genoa: the works to see in Palazzo Rosso, Bianco and Tursi

12 min read
via garibaldi in genoa with the facades of the rolli palaces
Monuments & landmarks

The Rolli palaces in Genoa: how the system worked and when you can visit them

11 min read
palermo cathedral seen from the south with its domes crenellated towers and the statues of the saints on the wall
Travel guides

What to see in Palermo in 2 days: the itinerary of a city that changes religion every hundred metres

14 min read
view of genoa from the castelletto belvedere with the harbour in the background
Travel guides

What to see in Genoa in 2 days: an itinerary through the Rolli palaces and down to the sea

12 min read
francesco netti's in corte d'assise, with the ladies in hats watching the trial
Museums & masterpieces

Pinacoteca of Bari, the works to see: a Bellini on the top floor of a 1935 office block

12 min read
the swabian castle of bari seen from the dry moat with the sixteenth century bastion and the central tower
Monuments & landmarks

The Swabian Castle of Bari and its Gypsotheque: 130 casts of Apulian Romanesque

11 min read
a miniature from the bari exultet with christ enthroned inside a decorated letter and seraphim holding the stars
Museums & masterpieces

The Exultet scrolls of Bari: parchments painted upside down for people who could not read

11 min read
the rose window on the façade of the cathedral of san sabino in bari with its carved frame and grotesque corbels
Monuments & landmarks

The cathedral of San Sabino in Bari: a church that had its Baroque taken away

11 min read
the front of the basilica of san nicola in bari with its two truncated towers, seen from the empty square
Monuments & landmarks

The basilica of San Nicola in Bari: the relic theft that started Apulian Romanesque

12 min read
the basilica of san nicola in bari seen from the square with its southern flank and the bronze statue of the saint
Travel guides

What to see in Bari in 2 days: the itinerary of a city you visit on foot

12 min read
the basilica of superga with its columned pronaos, the dome and the bell tower, under a blue sky
Monuments & landmarks

The basilica of Superga: a vow, Juvarra’s dome and the 1884 rack tram

11 min read
the dome of guarino guarini chapel of the holy shroud seen from below, with six tiers of stacked arches and the star shaped lantern
Monuments & landmarks

Guarino Guarini’s Chapel of the Holy Shroud, and the cloth you cannot see

10 min read
the courtyard of the royal palace in turin with its columned arcade and the cobblestone pattern in the paving
Museums & masterpieces

Royal Palace and Galleria Sabauda: what to see at the Musei Reali in Turin

11 min read
the mole antonelliana lit at dusk with the snowy alps behind and the lights of turin
Monuments & landmarks

Mole Antonelliana and the Cinema Museum: the synagogue that never was one

10 min read
the gilded funerary mask of merit from the intact tomb of kha and merit at the museo egizio in turin
Museums & masterpieces

Museo Egizio, Turin: the works to see, and the story of how they got there

10 min read
turin at dawn seen from the hill, with the mole antonelliana and the snow covered alps lit pink behind the rooftops
Travel guides

What to see in Turin in 2 days: an itinerary built around the day of the week

12 min read
the portico of san luca in bologna with the sequence of arches climbing towards the colle della guardia
Monuments & landmarks

The portico of San Luca: the arches everyone calls 666, and the view Bologna has left

10 min read
the lamentation over the dead christ by niccolo dell arca in santa maria della vita in bologna, with the six terracotta figures around the body of christ
Monuments & landmarks

The Lamentation by Niccolò dell’Arca: how you carve a scream in clay

9 min read
the santo stefano complex in bologna seen from the sloping triangular square, with the brick facades of the different churches
Monuments & landmarks

Santo Stefano in Bologna: seven churches around a courtyard, and a basin that is not Pilate’s

9 min read
a detail of guido reni's massacre of the innocents, with the mother shielding her child
Museums & masterpieces

Pinacoteca Nazionale of Bologna: the works to look for, room by room

11 min read
the unfinished facade of the basilica of san petronio in bologna, with the marble cladding breaking off and bare brick above
Monuments & landmarks

Basilica of San Petronio: the facade nobody finished and the meridian that measured the year

10 min read
the grand canal seen from the accademia bridge with the salute the dogana and a gondola
Travel guides

What to see in Venice in 2 days: the itinerary that works around the bookings

12 min read
a wall of the scrovegni chapel with the three bands of panels frescoed by giotto against the blue ground
Monuments & landmarks

Scrovegni Chapel: how to visit it and how to read Giotto’s cycle

10 min read
piazza maggiore in bologna with the palazzo del podesta and the torre dell arengo lit by low sun and the porticoes in shadow
Travel guides

What to see in Bologna in 2 days: the itinerary of a city you walk under cover

12 min read
titian s assunta on the high altar of the frari basilica between the gothic windows of the apse
Monuments & landmarks

The Frari basilica in Venice: Titian’s Assunta and the choir nobody expects

10 min read
the royal chapel of the treasure of san gennaro in naples cathedral with the frescoed dome and the baroque altars in polychrome marble
Monuments & landmarks

Naples cathedral: three churches one inside the other, and the richest treasure in Europe

10 min read
the central part of paolo veronese s feast in the house of levi with christ at table and the dogs in the foreground
Museums & masterpieces

Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice: 7 works to see (and one that is not there)

11 min read
the pink and grey facade of the palace of capodimonte in naples seen from the avenue of the royal park
Museums & masterpieces

Capodimonte museum: the works to look for, room by room

11 min read
the veiled christ by giuseppe sammartino in the sansevero chapel in naples with the marble veil clinging to the body
Monuments & landmarks

Sammartino’s Veiled Christ: how you carve a veil in marble

9 min read
the seaward front of the doge s palace in venice with its two stacked loggias and moored gondolas
Monuments & landmarks

The Doge’s Palace in Venice: the building that stands up the wrong way round

10 min read
the west front of st mark s basilica in venice with its golden mosaics and the quadriga on the loggia
Monuments & landmarks

St Mark’s Basilica: the church Venice built out of plunder

9 min read
naples seen from castel sant elmo with the bell gable of the certosa di san martino in the foreground, the port, the gulf and vesuvius behind
Travel guides

What to see in Naples in 2 days: the itinerary that holds the old centre and the hill together

12 min read
piazza navona with borrominis facade of sant agnese in agone and the fountain of the four rivers
Travel guides

Borromini’s works in Rome: what they are, which ones you can visit, and in what order

11 min read
borrominis concave and convex facade on via di propaganda in rome seen from below
Travel guides

The Borromini you cannot visit: four works you look at from the street

9 min read
the concave facade of sant agnese in agone with its twin bell towers in piazza navona in rome
Monuments & landmarks

Borromini in Rome’s churches: four free stops, from the facade to his tomb

10 min read
the courtyard of the sapienza with the concave facade and the spiral lantern of sant ivo in rome
Monuments & landmarks

Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza: Borromini’s spiral, and why you cannot go in today

8 min read
borrominis perspective gallery at palazzo spada seen on axis with the statue at the far end
Museums & masterpieces

Borromini’s perspective gallery at Palazzo Spada: nine metres that look like thirty-five

8 min read
the rippling facade of san carlo alle quattro fontane at the crossroads of via delle quattro fontane in rome
Monuments & landmarks

San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane: the church that fits inside a pier of St Peter’s

9 min read
The Minerva elephant designed by Bernini, carrying the Egyptian obelisk on its back
Monuments & landmarks

Bernini in Rome: palaces, angels and the last sculpture

11 min read
The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa of Ávila by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the Cornaro Chapel
Monuments & landmarks

Bernini’s works in Rome’s churches: five stops, all of them free

11 min read
The Cathedra Petri by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the apse of St Peter’s Basilica
Monuments & landmarks

Bernini’s works in St Peter’s: seven masterpieces in one building

11 min read
The Goat Amalthea with the Infant Jupiter and a Faun attributed to Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Museums & masterpieces

Bernini at the Borghese Gallery: the works nobody looks at

10 min read
The first bust of Cardinal Scipione Borghese by Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Museums & masterpieces

The two busts of Scipione Borghese: the crack that made Bernini start again

8 min read
Truth Unveiled by Time by Gian Lorenzo Bernini at the Galleria Borghese
Museums & masterpieces

Truth Unveiled by Time: the statue Bernini carved for himself

9 min read
Boy with a Basket of Fruit by Caravaggio at the Galleria Borghese
Museums & masterpieces

Sick Bacchus and Boy with a Basket of Fruit: the two Caravaggios Scipione got through a seizure

9 min read
David with the Head of Goliath by Caravaggio at the Galleria Borghese
Museums & masterpieces

David with the Head of Goliath: the painting Caravaggio used to beg for pardon

9 min read
the facade of santa maria novella in florence, with the white and green marble inlay designed by leon battista alberti
Monuments & landmarks

Santa Maria Novella in Florence: Masaccio’s Trinity and what to see in the complex

12 min read
the polychrome facade of santa croce in florence with its rose window and the bell tower beside it
Monuments & landmarks

Santa Croce Basilica in Florence: the tombs, the Giottos and what to see

13 min read
the interior of the chapel of the princes at the medici chapels in florence, faced with marble and semiprecious stone
Monuments & landmarks

Medici Chapels in Florence: Michelangelo’s New Sacristy and what to see

12 min read
the courtyard of the bargello palace in florence, with its open staircase and the coats of arms on the walls
Museums & masterpieces

Bargello Museum in Florence: 8 masterpieces to see and how to plan the visit

13 min read
botticelli’s birth of venus, with the goddess standing on the shell and pushed ashore by the winds
Museums & masterpieces

Botticelli’s Birth of Venus: meaning, details and why the title is wrong

11 min read
the ponte vecchio in florence seen from the arno with the shops jutting over the river
Monuments & landmarks

Ponte Vecchio and the Vasari Corridor: the history and how to visit them today

12 min read
the rusticated facade of pitti palace seen from the sloping square
Monuments & landmarks

Pitti Palace and the Boboli Garden: what to see and how to plan your visit

13 min read
the face of michelangelo’s david in profile, with the hand holding the sling over the shoulder
Museums & masterpieces

Accademia Gallery: Michelangelo’s David and what to see beyond the statue

12 min read
brunelleschi’s dome seen from above with its eight webs and the lantern
Monuments & landmarks

Florence Duomo: how to visit it, Brunelleschi’s dome and which pass to choose

14 min read
botticelli’s primavera, with venus at the centre of the flowered meadow and the three graces dancing
Museums & masterpieces

Botticelli’s Primavera: meaning, figures and the details to look for

11 min read
detail of bernini’s fountain of the four rivers in piazza navona in rome
Travel guides

Bernini’s fountains in Rome: which ones are really his and how to see them in a day

15 min read
bernini’s bee fountain on the corner between piazza barberini and via veneto
Monuments & landmarks

Bee Fountain: Bernini’s smallest fountain and the mistake that cost dear

9 min read
the barcaccia fountain in piazza di spagna with the spanish steps behind it
Monuments & landmarks

Fontana della Barcaccia: the sinking boat at the Spanish Steps

11 min read
bernini’s fountain of the four rivers in the middle of piazza navona in rome
Monuments & landmarks

Fountain of the Four Rivers: the story, the symbols and the legend that does not hold

13 min read
the view over florence from piazzale michelangelo, with brunelleschi’s dome and giotto’s bell tower
Travel guides

What to see in Florence in 2 days: a full itinerary with tickets and opening times

15 min read
sandro botticelli’s birth of venus, the goddess standing on a shell
Museums & masterpieces

Uffizi Gallery: 10 works to see and how to plan your visit

14 min read
Civita di Bagnoregio seen from the bridge, the village on its tufa spur surrounded by badlands
Travel guides

Villages in Lazio: 9 to visit, and how you actually get there without a car

16 min read
the Boxer at Rest in the National Roman Museum, one of the eight unmissable museums in Rome
Museums & masterpieces

Museums in Rome: the 8 not to miss, with the closing day and what to look for inside

15 min read
the arcades of the Colosseum lit at dusk, the first stop of a three-day itinerary in Rome
Travel guides

What to see in Rome in 3 days: an itinerary built around bookings and closing days

16 min read
the Boxer at Rest, a seated Greek bronze with bound hands and copper inlays on the wounds, at the National Roman Museum
Museums & masterpieces

National Roman Museum: 6 works to see and how the combined ticket works

14 min read
the inner courtyard of Palazzo Doria Pamphilj in Rome with its orange trees and two levels of arched portico
Museums & masterpieces

Doria Pamphilj Gallery: 6 works to see in the finest private collection in Rome

13 min read
the façade of Palazzo Barberini in Rome seen from the gate, with the Barberini bees on the coat of arms and the lit portico
Museums & masterpieces

Palazzo Barberini: 7 artworks to see, from the two Caravaggios to La Fornarina

14 min read
Carlo Maderno’s façade of St Peter’s Basilica at blue hour, with Michelangelo’s dome behind it and the inscription of Paul V
Monuments & landmarks

St Peter’s Basilica: what to see, what you pay for and what you do not

14 min read
the Trevi Fountain seen from the front, with the façade of Palazzo Poli, the papal inscriptions and Oceanus in the central niche
Monuments & landmarks

The Trevi Fountain: the history, what you are looking at and the new access rules

12 min read
the portico of the Pantheon in Rome with its monolithic columns and the Agrippa inscription, seen from Piazza della Rotonda with the obelisk
Monuments & landmarks

The Pantheon in Rome: what to see, what the ticket costs and why the dome stands up

13 min read
the Roman Forum seen from the Palatine, with the Basilica of Maxentius on the left, the Arch of Titus and the Colosseum beyond
Monuments & landmarks

The Roman Forum and the Palatine: what to see and how to read the ruins

13 min read
the arcades of the Colosseum lit at dusk, with the Palatine Hill and cypresses in the background
Monuments & landmarks

The Colosseum: how to visit it, which ticket to choose and what to really look at

13 min read
the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi seen from the lower square with its colonnade
Travel guides

Assisi: what to see in one day, between Giotto and Saint Francis

10 min read
Leonardo’s Last Supper in the refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan
Museums & masterpieces

Leonardo’s Last Supper in Milan: how to visit the Cenacolo Vinciano

9 min read
The Odescalchi Castle of Bracciano overlooking the lake
Monuments & landmarks

How to visit Bracciano Castle: everything you need to know (updated 2026)

8 min read
The School of Athens, Raphael’s fresco in the Vatican Rooms
Museums & masterpieces

Raphael’s School of Athens: all the secrets of this timeless masterpiece (updated 2026)

9 min read
The terraces of the sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia in Palestrina
Monuments & landmarks

Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia in Palestrina: the most venerated of antiquity (updated 2026)

10 min read
the cloister of the abbey of fiastra seen from under an arch, with the well and the flank of the church
Travel guides

Abbadia di Fiastra: what to see against the splendid backdrop of Le Marche (updated 2026)

7 min read
lake tovel in autumn with the yellow larches reflected in the water and the brenta dolomites
Travel guides

Trentino-Alto Adige: 7 things to do in summer amid unforgettable nature and landscapes (updated 2026)

7 min read
Aerial view of Ostuni, the white city of Puglia
Travel guides

5 things to see in Ostuni and a curiosity you surely didn’t know (updated 2026)

9 min read
The Doric temples of the archaeological park of Paestum
Monuments & landmarks

Paestum: 8 things to see and to know about this beautiful archaeological park (updated 2026)

13 min read
The Cathedral of San Feliciano in Foligno
Travel guides

7 things to see in Foligno, one of the most beautiful towns in Umbria (updated 2026)

9 min read
A glimpse of the Amalfi Coast seen from Ravello
Travel guides

What to see on the Amalfi Coast: 5 places not to miss (updated 2026)

12 min read
The Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa with the cathedral, the baptistery and the leaning tower
Monuments & landmarks

Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa: everything you always wanted to know (updated 2026)

13 min read
The unfinished façade of the Malatesta Temple in Rimini, designed by Leon Battista Alberti
Monuments & landmarks

The Malatesta Temple in Rimini: the complete guide to the cathedral (updated 2026)

10 min read
The brick alleys and medieval walls of Santarcangelo di Romagna
Travel guides

Santarcangelo di Romagna: what to see in this beautiful medieval village (updated 2026)

7 min read
The old sailing fishing boats in the canal port of Cesenatico
Travel guides

What to see in Cesenatico: the many colours of Leonardo da Vinci’s canal port (updated 2026)

6 min read
The old fish market and the alleys of Rimini’s historic centre
Travel guides

6 things to see in Rimini in 1 day: a route through its finest art (updated 2026)

9 min read
The Grotto of Tiberius in Sperlonga, the natural cave turned into a nymphaeum by the emperor
Monuments & landmarks

What to see in Sperlonga: the villa of Tiberius in one of Italy’s most beautiful villages (updated 2026)

12 min read
the creation of adam in michelangelo’s sistine chapel
Monuments & landmarks

Curiosities about the Sistine Chapel: 5 Anecdotes You Do Not Know (updated 2026)

10 min read
The Romanesque basilica of San Pietro in Tuscania on top of its hill
Travel guides

Tuscania, the ideal town to discover history from the Etruscans to the Middle Ages (updated 2026)

5 min read
The medieval aqueduct and Piazza Garibaldi in Sulmona
Travel guides

Sulmona: what to see in the town of confetti and of Ovid (updated 2026)

8 min read
A panorama of the Monti Sibillini National Park between Umbria and Marche
Monuments & landmarks

Monti Sibillini National Park: 2 things you certainly didn’t know (updated 2026)

6 min read
The Canopus of Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli, with the long pool framed by columns
Monuments & landmarks

Visiting Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli: the secrets of the emperor’s palace (updated 2026)

12 min read
The brightly coloured sculptures of Niki de Saint Phalle’s Tarot Garden in Capalbio
Monuments & landmarks

The Tarot Garden by Niki de Saint Phalle: my interpretation of these visionary works (updated 2026)

16 min read
The bell tower of Pistoia cathedral seen through an arch, with the baptistery dome beside it
Travel guides

What to see in Pistoia in one day: the medieval city almost nobody visits (updated 2026)

14 min read
The village of Pisciotta and the Cilento coast overlooking the sea
Travel guides

What to see in Cilento: 9 places I visited that you absolutely must know (updated 2026)

13 min read
The village of Civita di Bagnoregio isolated on its tufa spur in the valley of the calanchi
Travel guides

Why you should visit Civita di Bagnoregio before it disappears forever (updated 2026)

7 min read
the bull's head and one of the brothers in the farnese bull, at the archaeological museum of naples
Museums & masterpieces

The MANN: 7 works of the Naples Archaeological Museum not to miss! (updated 2026)

15 min read
The village of Castel Santa Maria perched in the Umbrian Apennines between Norcia and Cascia
Travel guides

Castel Santa Maria and the Madonna della Neve: why it’s such a special place for me (updated 2026)

6 min read
the kurhaus of merano along the passirio, with the mountains in the background
Travel guides

What to see in Merano: walks and relaxation between art and nature (updated 2026)

7 min read
The Romanesque façade of a church in Piazza Silvestri in Bevagna
Travel guides

Bevagna: what to see in one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Italy (updated 2026)

9 min read
Piazza del Campo and the Torre del Mangia seen from above in Siena
Travel guides

What to see in Siena: 8 wonders that will make you want to leave right now (updated 2026)

8 min read
piazza del duomo in catania with the elephant fountain and palazzo degli elefanti
Travel guides

What to see in Catania in one day, plus some practical tips (updated 2026)

9 min read
piazza unita d italia in trieste with the town hall at the far end and the wet paving
Travel guides

What to see in Trieste in 2 days: piazza Unità, Miramare, San Giusto hill and the cafés of Joyce (updated 2026)

17 min read
The Romanesque cathedral of Trani overlooking the sea
Travel guides

3 things to see in Trani you absolutely can’t miss (updated 2026)

7 min read
paolina borghese by Canova
Museums & masterpieces

Galleria Borghese Rome: 10 masterpieces you absolutely must see (updated 2026)

17 min read
the rione sanita in naples from above at dusk, with the lit streets and the hill behind
Travel guides

Naples’ Miglio Sacro: 10 things to see in the Rione Sanità (updated 2026)

14 min read
the romanesque arches of the abbey of the trinity at venosa, in side light
Monuments & landmarks

The unfinished abbey of Venosa: the story of the Trinity, from the Romans to today (updated 2026)

10 min read
Bernini’s Triton Fountain in Piazza Barberini, Rome
Monuments & landmarks

The Triton Fountain in Rome: 5 things to know and a few anecdotes (updated 2026)

8 min read
The roofless Gothic abbey of San Galgano in Tuscany
Monuments & landmarks

The sad story of San Galgano Abbey and the sword in the stone (updated 2026)

9 min read
One of the colossal sculptures of the Park of the Monsters in Bomarzo among the woods
Monuments & landmarks

The Park of the Monsters in Bomarzo: what to see and the secrets of the Sacred Wood (updated 2026)

8 min read
The entrance arch and buildings of the Coppedè district in Rome
Monuments & landmarks

The Coppedè district in Rome: a unique place suspended between dream and reality (updated 2026)

7 min read
the square of san candido with its painted houses and the snowy peaks of the baranci behind
Travel guides

The San Candido to Lienz cycle path: a ride into the nature of the Alps (updated 2026)

4 min read
The facade of the Royal Palace of Caserta seen from the garden
Monuments & landmarks

Royal Palace of Caserta: what to see in one of the most beautiful palaces in the world (updated 2026)

12 min read
Eda among the trulli of Alberobello
Monuments & landmarks

The trulli of Alberobello: what to see in the town of trulli, between history and curiosities (updated 2026)

11 min read
The Circus of Maxentius along the Appian Way in Rome
Monuments & landmarks

The Appian Way: 5 things to discover on the queen of roads, a UNESCO site (updated 2026)

12 min read
The woods and green ridges of Valle Imagna, in the province of Bergamo
Travel guides

Valle Imagna: 5 things to see and the finest trails if you love nature holidays (updated 2026)

10 min read
The helical Royal Staircase of Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola
Monuments & landmarks

Palazzo Farnese in Caprarola: all the information and curiosities about this gem of the Viterbo area (updated 2026)

9 min read
The colourful houses of the Corricella harbour in Procida
Travel guides

Visiting Procida: 5 things to know before you leave for this beautiful island (updated 2026)

8 min read
The fountain in the main square of Sutri during the village festival, with the bell gable and clock behind
Travel guides

What to see in Sutri: the amphitheatre carved out of tuff, the Etruscan necropolis and a crypt in the dark (updated 2026)

12 min read
equestrian statue of marcus aurelius at the capitoline museums
Museums & masterpieces

Visiting the Capitoline Museums: 8 must-see works you should know (updated 2026)

13 min read
the sassi of matera seen from the belvedere, with the cave houses stacked one above the other
Monuments & landmarks

What to see in Matera: 7 things to try in the city of the sassi (updated 2026)

11 min read
raphael’s marriage of the virgin at the pinacoteca di brera
Museums & masterpieces

What to see at the Pinacoteca di Brera: 8 masterpieces explained for you (updated 2026)

11 min read
The Brera Altarpiece (Sacred Conversation) by Piero della Francesca
Museums & masterpieces

Piero della Francesca’s Sacred Conversation: a timeless masterpiece (updated 2026)

7 min read
the spires and rooftop terraces of milan cathedral
Monuments & landmarks

Milan Cathedral: 7 essential things to know before you visit (updated 2026)

13 min read
A field of tulips in bloom on the outskirts of Milan
Travel guides

A trip to Milan: springtime, tulips, projects and aperitivi (updated 2026)

7 min read
Giovanni Pisano’s pulpit in the church of Sant’Andrea in Pistoia
Monuments & landmarks

Giovanni Pisano’s pulpit in Pistoia: all the secret meanings of a masterpiece (updated 2026)

6 min read
The decumanus maximus among the ruins of the archaeological park of Ostia Antica
Monuments & landmarks

Visiting Ostia Antica: one of the most beautiful archaeological parks in the world (updated 2026)

11 min read
the interior of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome
Museums & masterpieces

Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome: great masterpieces and a dark past (updated 2026)

9 min read
The Romanesque façade of the cathedral of Ruvo di Puglia
Monuments & landmarks

The cathedral of Ruvo di Puglia: why I loved it so much (updated 2026)

6 min read
The villa of the Priory of Malta on the Aventine Hill in Rome
Monuments & landmarks

The Priory of Malta on the Aventine: the most romantic spot in Rome (updated 2026)

12 min read
The harbour and colourful houses of the fishing village of Marta on Lake Bolsena
Travel guides

What to see in Marta: myths and legends in a fishing village on Lake Bolsena (updated 2026)

4 min read
The skyline of Pitigliano, the tufa town perched on its crag in the Maremma
Travel guides

Pitigliano: what to see and how to get to this medieval town (updated 2026)

6 min read
The Romanesque façade of San Martino Cathedral in Lucca
Monuments & landmarks

Lucca Cathedral: all the mysteries of San Martino, from the labyrinth to the Volto Santo (updated 2026)

11 min read
The Fountain of the Naiads at the centre of Piazza della Repubblica in Rome
Monuments & landmarks

The Fountain of the Naiads in Piazza della Repubblica: the secrets of a scandalous masterpiece (updated 2026)

6 min read
The Imperial Forums of Rome seen from above
Travel guides

The history of Rome in brief: from its founding to today (updated 2026)

9 min read
The Palazzo della Farnesina in Rome, seat of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Museums & masterpieces

The Farnesina Collection: the contemporary art hidden inside Italy’s Foreign Ministry (updated 2026)

5 min read
vatican museums
Museums & masterpieces

Tour of the Vatican Museums in Rome: 9 masterpieces you absolutely must know (updated 2026)

14 min read
Castel del Monte, Frederick II’s octagonal castle near Andria, in Puglia
Monuments & landmarks

All the secrets of Castel del Monte: the manor of Federico II and its mysteries (updated 2026)

10 min read
The Byzantine mosaics of a basilica in Ravenna
Travel guides

What to do and see in Ravenna: why is this city so famous for its mosaics? (updated 2026)

9 min read
Altare della Patria (Vittoriano) in Rome
Monuments & landmarks

Altare della Patria: everything you should know about the Vittoriano in Rome (updated 2026)

11 min read
The church of Santa Maria della Spina on the Lungarni of Pisa
Travel guides

What to see in Pisa: 5 lesser-known and underrated places in the city (updated 2026)

8 min read
The white town of Otranto overlooking the Salento sea
Travel guides

What to do and see in Otranto during your holiday in Salento (updated 2026)

7 min read
the castle of roseto capo spulico seen from below, with its battlements and a blue sky
Travel guides

Roseto Capo Spulico is one of the most beautiful beaches in Calabria: a fairy-tale sea (updated 2026)

5 min read
The swan stained-glass window of the Casina delle Civette at Villa Torlonia, Rome
Monuments & landmarks

Villa Torlonia and its enchanted houses: a beautiful, little-known place in Rome (updated 2026)

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