Greccio: home of the world's first Nativity scene
St Francis is usually associated with Assisi, but there are also important sites in Lazio where he left his mark.
Philip Biss
Greek is no longer spoken in upper Sabina, as it might have been mor...
Christmas and New Year in Rome
How to celebrate the Christmas and New Year festive season in Rome.
Christmas is a magical time in Rome, particularly for children. Streets in the historic centre twinkle with traditional street ligh...
A variety of birds can be watched from Roman balconies and gardens.
Apart from their cheerful, colourful appearance and songs, birds are important animals. They help control insect pests and, in fact...
Everything you need to know about renting a property in Italy.
For many expats, looking for the perfect housing solution may be frustrating and disappointing unless they understand the laws and regul...
Exploring the villages of Sabina north of Rome
The villages in the Sabine hills north of Rome are rich in history and culture.
Where is Sabina and what is it best known for? For many people who live in Rome it is an area they have heard of but ne...
The Myth of San Michele on the Isle of Capri
The dream house of a legendary Swedish doctor and a secret love affair on the island of Capri.A little over a century ago, The Story of San Michele by Swedish doctor Axel Munthe was a runaway best sel...
Where have ancient Rome's buildings gone?
Over the millennia, imperial Rome's splendid buildings have been damaged, plundered, redesigned and then recycled into the fabric of the modern city.
Ruins and artefacts re-emerging is, Rome being Ro...
Dealing with red tape in Italy
Guide to help expats navigate their way through Italian bureaucracy.
Many expats protest about bureaucracy in Italy, but let’s be fair: this scourge exists in every society. And as more and more form...
Villa of Livia: Rome’s very first First Lady
Everything in the Garden's Lovely: Discovering Empress Livia’s country retreat in Rome.
Twenty-year-old Livia Druscilla must have considered herself lucky. Born in 58 BC into a wealthy noble Roman fa...
United Nations holds exhibition by refugee artists at Venice Biennale
Rothko in Lampedusa. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees offered five young refugee artists a residency in Venice during May to coincide with the Biennale.
Barca Nostra lies at the far...
Top international athletes converge in Rome for the 2019 edition of Italy’s annual track and field event.
The world’s fastest and strongest athletes will return to light up the Eternal City as the 39...
The unique heritage of Herculaneum
Herculaneum is less well-known than Pompeii but in many ways it offers a more complete visitor experience.One hot summer day in 79 AD, 300 terrified citizens of the seaside town of Herculaneum fled to...
The Colosseum hosts the Severans
An exhibition at the Colosseum traces the Roman empire's “last period of greatness” under the 40-year reign of the Severans.
A new exhibition at the Colosseum pays tribute to the Severans, Rome’s fou...
75th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino
75th anniversary of one of the bloodiest battles of world war two.Driving past Monte Cassino many years ago with the late Mark Pluciennik, professor at Leicester University, and one of the most cerebr...
The social commentary in the rhymes of Trilussa still rings true in Rome today.“But he’s famous!” goes a voice outside a bar in Trastevere. A footballer? Politician? Big Brother contestant? Film star?...
