Two Hikers Find Their Retirement Bliss in England
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Valerie Fortney Schneider
Small Cities, Big Advantages: Emilia-Romagna Revisited
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Comacchio: The Mini-Venice Nobody Knows About
I hopscotched across several canals by way of footbridges—each one different from the next—and strolled alongside the glittering waterways without any crowds jostling me. In fact, I marveled at having the place practically to myself on a sunny day in late June. Next, I clambered into a flat-bottomed boat called a batana for a placid glide along the canals...
The Best of Affordable Italy: Tranquil Beaches, Cultured Cities, and Homes From $58,400 Part One
Sipping Aperol spritz at an outdoor café while watching the high-fashion parade of the evening passaggiata unfold along marble-lined promenades…or lazing on the terrace of a centuries-old stone farmhouse as the heat haze shimmers on a vista of cypress trees and olive groves… Everyone has their own personal dream of Italy...
The Best of Affordable Italy: Tranquil Beaches, Cultured Cities, and Homes From $58,400 Part Two
If you want art and culture, Italy has plenty of that. The world’s most acclaimed artists and composers lived and worked here, defining the concepts and ideals of their fields. There are countless places to enjoy world-class museums filled with archaeological artifacts and exquisite art. But a region that stands out for its quality of life and beautiful cities is Emilia-Romagna. It’s one of the wealthiest regions in the country and offers great lifestyle, with a blend of outdoor activities and cultural pursuits.
A Move to Le Marche Didn’t Mean Leaving Pets Behind
When Lisa and Tony Castrignano boarded their flight in Boston this past September to start a new life in Italy, they also had their two dogs and two cats in tow. "We never considered leaving our pets in the States," says Lisa. The couple...
Back to the Land in Lesser-Known Le Marche
The first thing you notice is the calming scent of lavender. It hangs faintly on the air everywhere, in the garden and in the house. That’s not surprising; the eco-lodge is named for the lavender that owners Elizabeth Perkins and Hans Groot grow on their farm amid a patchwork of rolling hills in Le Marche, between the mountains and the sea.
Your Italian Escape for Less Than $180,000 in Romantic Umbria
Your morning begins with a frothy cappuccino and a fresh-baked cornetto at the café just a few steps from your stylish loft apartment. A chat with the other regulars and a glance at the newspaper ease you into the day. Then you make your way through the weekly mercato to select ripe...
The Best Hill Towns in Umbria: Italy’s Romantic Heart
With the heady fragrance of fresh truffle wafting from the kitchen, my mouth waters as I await the plate of handmade tagliolini pasta that will soon be coming my way, while sunlight filters onto the patio. It’s easy to think that this is the perfect Italian hill town. But then, there are so many to choose from.
The Understated Appeal of Umbria
The geographic heart of Italy is Umbria, which is smack in the center of the peninsula. It is also called the “green heart of Italy” for its agricultural heritage, its forests, and its verdant hills of olives and vines. Umbria shares a lot with its neighboring regions of Tuscany and Le Marche—the same picturesque landscape, brick-built hill towns, and similar cuisine.