Lifestyle in Italy

Italy is home to small and large seaside towns all along its coastline, each with its own character and attractions.

Work eligible for tax relief falls into four main categories set out by law: extraordinary maintenance, restoration and conservative renovation, building renovation, and measures for safety, efficiency and accessibility. To establish which renovation works qualify for tax deductions in Italy in 2026, it is enough to check that the project falls within one of these legal categories.

People living in apartment buildings or historic centres rarely have a section of roof available for solar panels. To address this issue, sustainable construction has begun experimenting with solutions that can be incorporated directly into vertical façades. One technology that is still not widely used but is gaining ground is designed for those who want to reduce consumption without altering the building’s structure: solar window panels, also called photovoltaic windows.

For visitors to Naples, the metro can be part of the sightseeing rather than simply a way of getting around. The city’s network includes 20 stazioni dell’arte — art stations — across Lines 1, 6 and 11, bringing contemporary art into everyday public transport.Together, the stations in Naples con

Anyone who has seen the first images from The Dog Stars, Ridley Scott’s latest film and felt they recognised something was right. The director chose Italy as the main setting for his post-apocalyptic film, creating scenery that feels both familiar and strange. With a budget of $110 million, a crew of more than 400 Italian professionals and 100 international staff, The Dog Stars is one of the largest productions filmed in Italy in recent years.

A mountain bivouac is a small shelter, usually unmanned, intended to provide a safe roof for hikers and mountaineers at high altitude. Unlike a staffed mountain hut, there is no host to welcome visitors and no hot menu. A bivouac is basic and spartan and, for many people, one of the most authentic experiences the mountains can provide. Here is what a bivouac is and what to expect.

A tiny hilltop settlement in Lombardy has earned its identity through a free-roaming feline colony that has lived among its stone houses and lanes for generations.

Italy is one of the few countries where sunset can look completely different each evening, depending on where you are. A sunset in the Dolomites bears little resemblance to one in Positano, or to the late light over Sicily’s Scala dei Turchi. That remarkable variety of scenery makes Italy a sought-after place for anyone hoping to make the most of the day’s final light.

A supermarket in Venice is drawing attention for a detail that has nothing to do with pasta offers or the weekly shop. Despar Teatro Italia occupies a former Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau theatre, where original decorative details and a ceiling fresco remain in place above the shelves.The unusual

Tuscany is much bigger than Florence, and its most memorable corners often sit beyond the capital’s museum queues and busy central streets.

Italy ranks 25th in Visual Capitalist’s 2026 ranking of the best countries for quality of life, behind Spain and Portugal but ahead of the United States.

September brings milder temperatures and a calendar filled with major events covering literature, food, contemporary art and centuries-old traditions. There are plenty of options for anyone looking for things to do in Italy in September 2026. Venetian canals set the scene for poetry, the Langhe hills carry the scents of the grape harvest, Sicilian beaches fill with the aromas of spices, and Ligurian towns become spaces for new ideas.

The traditional Italian holiday calendar has long revolved around July and, above all, August.

A medieval castle on the Lazio coast played an unexpected part in Cleopatra (1963), the Hollywood epic starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

September is an ideal month to visit Italy and explore new places and landscapes. With mild weather, fewer tourists and a wide variety of events and festivals taking place across the country, travelling in September is certainly a good idea. If you prefer the coast, the mountains, a city, an island or a budget-friendly destination, there is bound to be a place that suits your holiday. Here, then, is where to go on holiday in Italy in September.

There is no need to travel as far as England to see a genuine English-style garden in Italy. Liguria has one overlooking the sea, with blooms that have few rivals in the country. On the hillside above Alassio, the Gardens of Villa della Pergola combine Mediterranean views with exceptional botanical collections, including iconic wisteria and a record-breaking collection of agapanthus.

Italy’s 2026–27 school year is approaching, and the return to the classroom will not look the same across the country.

Rome has an old riddle hidden in plain sight.

Italy’s 2026–27 school year starts in September, although the exact first day differs by region. The earliest published return date is 7 September, while the latest is 17 September 2026.For families with children in Italian schools, the important dates are not limited to the first day of term.

With more than 7,500 km of coastline, Italy has seafront promenades that are far more than simple walks beside the sea. For a sunset stroll or an evening wander, here is a selection of the most scenic seafront promenades in Italy, spanning the country from north to south, along with the features that set each one apart. Some, including Bari and Caorle, still tend to sit outside the usual tourist radar.

A castle rising from the rock, a heart-shaped lake, and restaurants perched above the sea: Abruzzo surprises you where you least expect it. In just a few hours, you can travel from the peaks of Gran Sasso to the coves of the Costa dei Trabocchi, passing through pristine medieval villages and parks that preserve rare biodiversity. These are perfect itineraries for those who want to avoid the usual destinations without sacrificing iconic landscapes.

Italy’s summer tourism market is showing stronger demand in 2026, with bookings rising across major cities, lake destinations and mountain resorts, according to data from property-management operator Halldis by Vita.The company reported a 12% year-on-year increase in bookings for June to August 2026

It's hot, the seaside beaches are crowded, but there's an alternative: real beaches, at high altitude, where the water remains clear and the air is lighter. In Italy and Europe, you'll find sandy lakes, mountain beaches, meadows, and full-service amenities, ideal even for just a weekend getaway.

Trentino and Alto Adige are often grouped together as one Alpine destination, yet they are two autonomous provinces with distinct languages, cultures and histories.For foreigners considering life in the region, the most noticeable contrast is linguistic: Trentino is predominantly Italian-speaking, w

Until a few decades ago, leaving home before the age of 30 was considered a natural step towards adulthood.