Lifestyle in Italy

In southern Tuscany, a small hilltop village is built around 42 thermal springs that have flowed for millennia.

Along cliffs, lighthouses and ancient mule tracks, Italy is home to spectacular walks overlooking the sea, with postcard views and, often, specific rules to follow. In some cases, tickets or advance bookings are required; in others, it’s best to set off during the cooler hours of the day and carry plenty of water. Here’s a selection of 10 coastal routes and sea‑view trails in Italy, with essential information on difficulty, walking times and access.

Planning a summer break on Italy’s dramatic coastline often means packing light: swimwear, sunglasses and a pair of trusty flip-flops.

A recent Guardian feature picked out six of the best natural and free beaches in Italy, highlighting stretches of coastline that remain open to all despite the dominance of private beach clubs. The selection spans the Adriatic, Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean, focusing on protected parks, volcanic

From the I-Days in Milan to open-air gigs in Puglia’s parks, and on to the international buzz of Florence and Lucca, summer in Italy is once again one of the best times of year to catch live music.So which music festivals are taking place in Italy in summer 2026?

In recent years, a growing number of Italian municipalities have introduced a smoking ban on beaches. The aim is to protect the environment, improve air quality and make beaches more comfortable for everyone.

Each year, the Blue Flag award becomes a valuable guide for those planning their vacation and wanting to know which beaches in Sicily have the Blue Flag. The criteria also evaluate purification, safety, accessibility, waste management, and environmental stewardship. Here is the list of all the 2026 Blue Flags in Sicily, including the awarded locations, what's new compared to last year, and the beaches to keep an eye on.

When the cities start to bake in July, there’s another side to Italy that feels surprisingly liveable.

If you’re planning a trip or living in the country this year, Italy Pride 2026 will once again light up cities right across the peninsula.

With 49 Blue Flag beaches for 2025, Sardinia remains one of the most sought-after destinations in the Mediterranean. This prestigious award recognises not only the quality of the water but also the commitment to environmental sustainability and high-quality tourist services.

Milan Pride 2026 runs from Saturday 21 June to Saturday 28 June 2026, with the main parade taking place on Saturday 27 June 2026.Milano Pride is the city’s annual late‑June celebration of LGBTQ+ communities and allies.

From the Piedmont hills to the shores of Lake Garda, to the Emilian Apennines, the heritage of medieval villages is rich and surprising. Northern Italy's medieval villages are among the most fascinating destinations for those seeking a weekend getaway immersed in history, art, and evocative landscapes.

There’s nowhere quite like Italy when it comes to family-friendly festivals. Towns and cities fill with music, food stalls, street performers and local traditions that draw in everyone.If you're looking for the best festivals in Italy with kids in 2026, you’ll find options all year round.

Each June, just outside Rome in the Castelli Romani, Genzano di Roma turns into an open-air artwork for the Infiorata di Genzano 2026.

June in Rome always carries a certain energy, but Pride month adds something extra.

If you’re in Italy in late June, chances are you’ll hear about Festa di San Giovanni 2026.

For those planning a beach holiday in Central Italy, this list of the best beaches for swimming is a reliable guide based on objective environmental parameters. The 2026 Blue Flags in Lazio confirm the strength of the region's seaside offerings, with a high concentration of award-winning locations along the Pontine coast and two in the Rome area.

Just a few minutes beyond the Aurelian Walls in Rome, you’ll find an enormous green corridor where you can literally walk on paving stones laid more than two thousand years ago. Mausoleums rise out of the grass, catacombs run underground, and aqueducts cut across the skyline.

Although he was born in Florence, a significant part of Flavio Cobolli’s life — fresh from the 2026 Roland Garros final — has unfolded somewhere quite different, far from major sports hubs and global tennis centres.So, where does Flavio Cobolli live?

The Stadio Olimpico in Rome is one of the capital’s most important sporting and cultural venues. It hosts football matches, athletics competitions, concerts and major international ceremonies, and forms part of the Foro Italico complex.

Pastel-colored sands, dunes that look like hills, and coves accessible only by sea: no, it's not a tropical dream.

If you’ve spent any time on an Italian beach, you’ll know it usually means hiring a sun umbrella and a couple of loungers at a privately managed beach club. What’s changed is the price.

Italy isn't just about great art cities and famous villages: there's another geography made up of tiny towns where the houses can be counted on one hand and life flows very quietly. These are the smallest villages in Italy, places where it only takes a few minutes to walk through the entire town. In these tiny villages with very few inhabitants, every house has a story, every alley holds a memory, and every elder is a sort of living archive of traditions, dialects, and legends.

Matteo Arnaldi is widely regarded as one of the most promising talents in Italian tennis. In 2026, he’s competing for the top spots at the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris, alongside fellow Italians such as Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Berrettini.

There’s a stretch of central Italy where rust-red rock towers rise sharply above green woodland, with a deep blue lake sitting just below.