From the beginning of December for approximately two weeks, the Jewish festival the Hannukkah is celebrated in the ghetto area of Florence. The first time that Jewish segregation took place it was here in Florence when the world’s first ghetto was born. The very word “ghetto” has become extremely overused today, describing virtually any rundown
When it comes to atmospheric and ‘Christmassy’ European towns, Brittany’s St Malo certainly takes some beating. Its Christmas market dominates the festive presence of the town with about 30 chalet style stalls selling anything from home-grown gastronomy to Christmas presents of all shapes and sizes. Local crafts are demonstrated on the streets, the ambiance augmented
Visiting the Catalan capital of Barcelona is a rewarding experience all year round as this vibrant city is a constant swath of colour and vivacity. At Christmas time, as you can imagine, Barcelona is especially exuberant with lights adorning the streets in a truly spectacular fashion and festivities taking place round every corner. The mayor
If you are looking for a manor house rental in South-West France, you will appreciate the magnificent Manor La Tourrette. La Tourrette is an incredible French manor house from the mid-19th century, which has been painstakingly restored to its former glory and even beyond. This imposing manor sleeps 14 comfortably and will make a luxurious getaway for
Kefalonia is the largest island in the Ionian Sea. This beautiful island has seen some harrowing acts of war over the centuries, particularly in the Second World War when 5000 Italian soldiers were massacred by the Nazis after the Italian armistice of 1943. Two films were made here about that dark period, ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’,
Named after its beautiful pink rock formations, which line the shoreline and glow warmly as the sun goes down in the western sky, the rose granite coast of Brittany never fails to attract a constant trickle of tourists. This rare rock can only be found elsewhere in China and Corsica. The rocks take the form
Whenever you go to restaurants in the likes of the Cote d’Azur, the Costa Brava and the Etruscan Coast, one thing that is nearly always on the menu is sardines. The humble sardine is said to have taken its name from the island of Sardinia because they are so plentiful there. The truth is that
When it comes to exclusive European wining and dining, the French Riviera has to be in pole position. With so many lavish haunts with Michelin chefs and their assistants ferrying away behind the scenes in the kitchen, it’s no wonder the world’s elitist members can’t seem to resist flocking to the Cote d’Azur for their
Leonardo’s Mona Lisa is possibly the most iconic portrait in the world and hangs in the Louvre Gallery in Paris. The woman who sat for the world’s most famous painting was said to be a merchant’s wife called, Lisa Gheradini del Giocondo who lived over the street from Leonardo in Florence. Lisa Ghradini became a
It is a well-known fact that the people who live in Mediterranean countries generally eat well and can often live for a longer time than their non-Mediterranean counterparts. Much of the world-renowned health and longevity of the residents of the Med is pinned on olive oil. Although it’s not just olive oil that is responsible
