Fancy a trip around the islands of Venice on your own boat? What could be better than messing around in a motor boat, acting like George and Amal Clooney on their Italian holiday? Just one snag… how to drive the boat. I’m sure that the Clooneys had a private […]
Venice is one of the world’s great art cities. It’s best known for its glorious Renaissance treasures rather than its modern art galleries. The city’s museums and churches are stuffed with grand masters like Tintoretto, Titian and Bellini… whilst the Grand Canal conjures up images by Canaletto. But […]
The Venice Biennale is the show of a lifetime with its wild and wonderful exhibitions scattered across Europe’s most beautiful city of art. I’ve dreamed of making a trip to the Biennale for 20 years. When I found myself at the ‘heart of the art’ earlier this month, […]
Damien Hirst is no stranger to controversy. The bad boy of British art is renowned for whipping up a storm and dividing critics… and that’s exactly what he’s done with his latest show at the Venice Biennale. Treasure from the Wreck of The Unbelievable is an epic event […]
When the temperature plummets and there’s snow on the ground, my thoughts turn to summer holidays. Umbria is one of my top tips for a holiday destination if you’re looking for a hot location with a rich cultural mix. Less crowded than Tuscany, more relaxing than the busy Neapolitan Riviera and cheaper […]
Visiting a fabulous art gallery or museum should be one of life’s great pleasures but what happens when the experience is ruined by rampaging coach parties, screaming children and petty irritations? People having loud conversations on mobile phones, breast feeding mothers, and badly behaved teenagers are some of […]
1. Underrated Destination – Umbria Lovely Umbria, nestled in Tuscany’s tourism shadow, is the lesser known jewel in Italy’s crown with its historic palaces, piazzas and cathedrals. The countryside is picture perfect with vineyards, olive groves and sunflower fields stretching as far as the eye can see. Charming villages […]
It was only a few years ago that I discovered that there is a growing tourist market for what is called ‘destination art’. You won’t find this type of art in a conventional gallery. It is generally large in scale and tends to be situated in the great outdoors […]
As somebody who has long loved wine tasting a trip to Umbria was a real treat but I must admit that I wasn’t really sure what to expect. So, we all know about the super Tuscans but how often have you read about the so-called ‘super Umbrians’? A […]
Umbria is sometimes called ‘the new Tuscany’ on account of its beautiful rural landscapes, historic towns and superb architectural gems. If you love Tuscany, this is definitely the place for you. Umbria is oozing with history and culture which makes it a must for lovers of the arts, […]