Italy
Tourist trap or travel treat, the trulli in Alberobello
A procession of trulli fill the urban valley below, climbing up the hillside opposite, so tightly clustered together all that’s visible of most are their wizard-hat roofs. […]
Year: 2023
Basilicata
Behind the scenes of James Bond and Matera
Matera was no stranger to Hollywood when the Bond circus rolled into town to film No Time to Die, the final instalment of Daniel Craig’s tenure as Britain’s super spy. […]
Hiking
10 common complaints about walking holidays in Europe
Knowing what people like and dislike about walking holiday experiences helps travel companies make improvements. Sometimes, however, negative feedback can be due to people’s lack of knowledge of the areas they have chosen to visit. Here are 10 common complaints about walking holidays in Europe. […]
Hiking
Why does anyone need walking directions?
Why does anyone need walking directions? It is a fair question. The obvious and simplistic answer is, so you don’t get lost. But there’s more to it than that. […]
Emilia Romagna
Ten favourite food experiences in Emilia Romagna
Our most recent exploration was a dream job in that it involved putting together a gastronomy odyssey through Italy’s Food Valley in the culinary heart of the country. […]
Emilia Romagna
From Rochdale to Reggio Emilia
Sitting at the crossroads of Italy’s main communications arteries, Reggio Emilia remains stubbornly below the tourist radar, despite its proximity to, and easy access from Modena and Parma. […]
Emilia Romagna
Six of the best in Parma
To get a feel for the place, head to Strada Farini early evening and do what the locals do, order an aperitif, sit back, and soak up the atmosphere of a great Italian city. […]
Portugal
The Setúbal Peninsula and the Costa da Caparica
Although most people who fly into Lisbon will gaze longingly down at the golden stretch of sand that lines almost the entire coastline south of the city, few will know its name. […]
Emilia Romagna
An introduction to Bologna, the food capital of Italy
Some cities can be standoffish at first, even slightly moody until you get into their groove. Others are like meeting an old friend you haven’t seen for a long time. Bologna falls into the latter. […]
Emilia Romagna
Travelling through Emilia Romagna by train
Emilia Romagna’s main cities lie in a line between Milan and Rimini. Throughout the day, travellers rarely have to wait to long to catch a train south east or north west. […]
Hiking
Walking on La Palma after the volcanic eruption of 2021
La Palma’s world changes at Las Manchas. As well as the new ‘mountain’, the Volcán de Tajogaite (a name voted for by the islanders), there are smaller hills of ash, glistening in the sunshine as JCBs attempt to shovel them into some sense of order. […]
Emilia Romagna
Learning the rules of Italian cooking
We fell foul of the rules of Italian cooking in a kitchen tucked away the end of a shadowy courtyard off a nondescript street on the western edge of Bologna’s old centre. […]
Travel Talk
Can travel experiences be too authentic?
Someone who books into a 5-star hotel and eats in a fine dining restaurant populated by well-to-do locals could end up with a more authentic experience than, say, someone who stays in a hostel and eats at Maccie D’s. […]
Hotels
Ten annoying things about hotel bathrooms
In ascending order of the level of teeth-gnashing involved, these are 10 annoying things about hotel bathrooms. […]
Alentejo
Six of the best in Alcácer do Sal
Alcácer do Sal is one of those Alentejo towns that is a sight for sore eyes, yet remains hidden from the gaze of mass tourism. […]