Category: Italy

Long on my list of must-visit cities in Italy is Vicenza, home to Andrea Palladio, one of the Renaissance’s greatest architects. His genius lay in his understanding and respect of proportion. Vicenza is crammed with Palladio’s buildings including the grand basilica, a theater (the first indoor theater in Europe), additions to churches and many palaces.…

Ferrara was a great surprise. Once home to the Este family, the city today is more bustling working city than tourist mecca. The city is, however, rich in museums. At the center of everything is the moated Castello Estense, a formidable presence. The Estense were patrons of the arts whose legacy lives on in the…

One of Italy’s more remarkable cities is Ravenna, last home of the Roman Empire in the West after the fall of Rome. Ravenna, especially in its churches, has an eastern church feel with its splendid mosaics, among the world’s best. When Charlemagne visited San Vitale at the beginning of the 9th century, he declared it…

In 2016 I passed through Bologna for the first time and fell in love with this stylish city, its churches and museums and its superb food. The food is good everywhere in Italy, but Bologna is undoubtedly the best. This trip Bologna was a base for trips to Ravenna and Modena. We arrived in Bologna…