Mount Etna loomed large over everything as we arrived in eastern Sicily that early January. From miles away, I could see the steam plumes rising from the snow-topped behemoth, like blown-out candles on a hastily iced birthday cake. Appropriately, I was on a milestone birthday road trip around Sicily, from Palermo to Catania. The second-to-last stop...

Nature lovers have the chance to explore the stunning views of the Italian region of Sardinia by embarking on a 500km trail in the southwest of the island. The trail, known as the Cammino Minerario di Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara's Mining Trail), is made up of 30 stops steeped in history and culture. And for visitors under 35, the autonomous region...

Capri is a walker’s paradise, full of incredible views and scenery, but most visitors never venture beyond the winding lanes of the island’s two towns, Capri and Anacapri. If you want to put some distance between you and the crowds and experience the sweeping vistas that have inspired visitors since the time of the Roman emperors, however, there’s...

Having arrived in Sardinia the previous day, we arose on the Golgo plateau where we'd spent our first night, grateful for the comfort of the secluded mountain hut to prepare us for the challenge that lay ahead. As we set off in Land Rovers, we took in our first glimpses of the beautiful, rugged mountains of Sardinia’s eastern coast. Soon we had mad...

Exploring the Aosta Valley means immersing oneself in a setting of unspoiled beauty, rich in charm and history. Here, in one of the jewels of the Alps massif, is the Cammino Balteo, a medium- and low-altitude hiking route that unravels among enchanting villages, silent vineyards, majestic castles and breathtaking views. The Balteo Trail is not just...

“The Ducati trail?” My husband was suddenly excited. “Do we get to ride motorbikes?” I had to explain that the “Ducati” in Sentiero dei Ducati, a new hiking route being promoted by Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, refers not to the high-performance bikes made nearby, but to the medieval duchies that once ruled north and central Italy. And far from ea...

Italy's joint Capitals of Culture for 2023 are Bergamo and Brescia, earning this honor for their robust cultural offerings. Yet travelers who want to put a more outdoorsy spin on their visit to these marvelous cities can enjoy a brand-new hiking trail that connects the two. Along the way, trekkers will pass by two Unesco World Heritage sites, 34 co...

Some hikes offer such beautiful views as to leave you breathless: this is the case of the hike on Monte San Primo. Here’s what you need to know The Monte San Primo with its one thousand six hundred and eighty-two meters of height is one of the peaks of the Larian Triangle among the most popular because of its panorama. Where is Monte San Primo? We...

Is the journey the destination, as they say — or is the best destination really just a good meal? If you’re more for the latter, the rifugio-hopping tradition of mountain-goers in Trentino-Alto Adige is the life for you. If a tree falls in the Dolomites and no one is around to hear it, it might still make a sound. But if one takes a hike without a...

Northern Italy is teeming with historic, art-filled cities vying for travellers’ attention. Most visitors will head to Venice, Milan or Turin, but this year two often overlooked destinations should be on your radar. Bergamo and Brescia, both in the region of Lombardy, are sharing the accolade of the country’s Capital of Culture for 2023. These two...