On the Amalfi Coast, there is a place that manages to avoid the crowds, even on warm weekends. An authentic fishing village at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site has crystal-clear water, a slower pace of life and prices that can be more affordable than expected. Just when it seems every corner of the coast is already familiar, this coastal spot comes as a surprise: there are spacious, well-kept free beaches and seafood cooking centred on the day’s catch.

Paying more than €300 a week for a parasol and two sun loungers is no longer unusual. In 2026, beach club prices have risen again. Codacons estimates a year-on-year increase of 12.9%, while Altroconsumo reports a 6% rise compared with 2025 and a 24% increase over five years. It is a sizeable cost for holiday budgets, with major differences between resorts and even between rows of parasols. A price comparison based on 222 beach clubs across 10 destinations shows where costs are highest and where a better deal may still be found.

Is it really necessary to travel halfway around the world to find sapphire-blue water and pale sand?

Moving to Italy involves far more than choosing between a city break favourite and a sun-soaked coastal town.

Elba Island sits off the Tuscan coast in the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, a short ferry ride from Piombino.

More than 14,000 hectares of public land are returning to the agricultural market, with a formula aimed at changing the balance of power in the Italian countryside. ISMEA has launched the ninth edition of the Banca Nazionale delle Terre Agricole (BTA) for 2026, auctioning arable land throughout Italy and offering subsidized financing for those under 41. The most concrete innovation is the combination of repayment terms of up to 30 years and interest discounts linked to an insurance policy, designed to encourage generational turnover.

A striking figure: almost 2,500 high-net-worth individuals have already chosen Italy, generating an estimated €5.3 billion in tax revenue and wider economic impact. And the trajectory suggests far more, with projections reaching €38.4 billion by 2040. At the heart of this trend is a tax regime that, since 2016, has turned the country into a magnet for High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs). But who are they, where do they come from, and above all, where are they investing in property?

Italy remains one of Europe's most popular retirement destinations. Its slower pace of life, excellent cuisine and history continue to attract retirees from around the world.

A reopened flight route, a surname spotted on the village bell tower, a recipe scribbled in pencil: sometimes that is all it takes to trigger a return ticket.

An uninhabited island, flat as a table and hidden among sandbanks and canals: one of the most surprising places in the Venetian Lagoon is about to be reopened. San Giacomo in Paludo, just over a hectare between Murano and the route to Burano and Torcello, is at the center of a project that combines environmental restoration, research, and contemporary art.