There is always something comforting about converted old buildings. It could be down to the warmth of their history or maybe just the simple fact that they don’t build them with such robust materials any more. Mulina d’Anna is a converted old mill set in the vast and beautiful wine country of Tuscany. They
Giotto di Bondone was an Italian painter from the late Middle Ages, who is widely considered to have been the first of the many great artists that contributed to the Italian Renaissance. Being associated with such ambitious acclaim anyone or thing named after the great Italian artist certainly has a lot to live up to.
When you stand on the sandy beach at Nazare it looks just as a good beach should – a long expanse of pristine golden sand stretching as far as the eye can see, enveloped by the deep blue ocean. But if you’re asking where is the best place to surf in Portugal, Nazare could be
Surrounded by palm trees and lush green plants, boasting magnificent coastal views and being just 300 metres from great seaside restaurants and enticing sands, Casa Suenos certainly lives up to its name, the ‘house of dreams’. This attractive detached whitewashed luxury villa in Menorca is an archetypal holiday house with its idyllic leafy location, private
Perched on the verdurous and undulating Tuscany-Umbria border close to the village of Mercatale, there could not be a more apposite spot for Casale Seano. This vast and luxurious holiday let in Tuscany dates back to 800 AD when its life began as a medieval monastery. Casale Seano has been restored to an impeccable standard,
A small city with a rich history settled in dazzling Tuscan countryside. What city are we talking about? Lucca of course. Traces of Roman, Medieval, Renaissance and the nineteenth century can all be found in Lucca’s urban fabric, much of which has remained surprisingly well self-preserved. Narrow medieval streets wind and twist, presenting a hidden
Cadiz is one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in Europe. This beautiful city is built upon a narrow peninsula much of which is surrounded by sea. Its geographical location led to Cadiz becoming an important sea port and a leading naval base for at least 3000 years. Being such an significant city for so
Bartolome and Gonzalo Garcia del Nodal were tough seafaring brothers whose daring exploits have not gained the recognition in history they deserve. Hailing from the north-western port of Pontevedra, Galicia in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, these hard-hitting Spaniards had many a victory on the high seas. The name Nodal was a name to be
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
It could be argued that skiing in the French Pyrenees is a more personable and laidback experience than skiing in the Alps where resorts seem to be more expensive and are congested by a chic throng of poseurs. You don’t need the latest coloured ski suit in order to walk with your head held high
