"One of my rituals once the warmer weather arrives is to get up early and wander around the garden, seeing what the trees and plants are doing, inspecting buds and flowers and enjoying the early morning sunshine. The thermometer on the patio has moved from a chilly eight degrees Celsius to a much more acceptable 17. The house martens have also arrived, a sure sign that primavera is here at last. Everywhere is full of colour, just like this month’s issue, which brings you the kaleidoscope of life that is uniquely Italy. "
Fiona Tankard - Italy Magazine Editor Read on for the contents of the April Issue.
sense of place
The early morning spring sunshine casts its glow over a quintessential Tuscan landscape with olive trees
Molise's hidden gems
Stefano Rossini lets you into the secrets this stunning region has to offer from Termoli to Campobasso
the city of Padre Pio
Take a trip to the peaceful Samnite town of Pietrelcina with Marco Merola, the birthplace of Padre Pio and location of the annual artichoke festival
letters
what's on
Our guide to the most interesting events in Italy in spring
Italian insight and news
drawing inspiration
Aleid Ford assesses the importance of Michelangelo's drawings
book reviews
dual language
In this issue's dual language article, Katia Calandra recalls life on the farm a generation ago
Vini biologici
Marc Millon takes a look at the trend towards organic wine
Ischia: Isola di Terra
Germaine Stafford enjoys the flavours of this beautiful island
Easter in San Cataldo
The events of Holy Week in this Sicilian town described by Marco Menola
walk: Bagno Vignoni
Take a stroll through the treasure troves of this magical place with Gillian Price
vogalogna
A unique and colourful Venetian tradition attracts Kathy Mansfield
what's available in... Southern Piedmont
This beautiful area with its fine wines and cuisine described by Maria Christina Oggero
Neri Baldi and Gabriele Gori - riders of the iron horse
A charismatic duo of Tuscan steam train drivers talk to Gillian Price
Busatti
Christine Webb discovers a historic Tuscan business that produces breathtaking fabrics
Villa Pizzo
Sue Robinson visits a lovely garden on Lake Como
master of scents
a perfumier with a personal touch intrigues Cassandra Brown
law Q&A's
Our panel of experts specialising in Italian real estate law, taxation, building and planning laws are here to offer help and advice
bureaucracy
Michael J. Murphy explains the benefits of tax planning: from capital gains to tax returns
business
Our regular feature by Emma Bird looks at going freelance in Italy management jobs and looking after a wine estate in Chiantishire