Italian cities

Welcome to the south, a deeply evocative part of Italy steeped in history and tradition, where art and architecture tell the story of a rich and layered past.

For years, it has been taken for granted that a prestigious address guarantees a smooth property sale. The data now suggests that this is no longer the case. In many situations, the opposite is true. Homepanda Horizon, an observatory launched by the estate agency operator Homepanda, analysed 243,266 property listings over twelve months of continuous monitoring across Milan, Rome, Naples and Turin. The result is a snapshot of the market that challenges some of the sector’s most deeply rooted assumptions.

The 83rd Venice International Film Festival returns to the Lido di Venezia in September 2026.

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

August in Italy revolves around Ferragosto, the public holiday on 15 August, when plenty of shops and smaller businesses close and cities can feel unusually quiet.

Walking among stone walls, towers rising above the hills, and cobbled lanes that seem frozen in time is an experience Italy does particularly well. The most beautiful medieval villages in Italy tell the story of an era shaped by castles, Romanesque churches and communities perched high up for protection, places that have since become popular travel destinations.

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.

To find Italy’s most pleasant climate in 2026, you need to look east, along the Adriatic coast, which dominates the ranking. In this context, Bari confirms its place at the top for the third consecutive year. The data comes from the Sole 24 Ore Climate Index, which each year compares Italian provincial capitals based on overall climate wellbeing.

Italy still attracts remote workers, retirees and professionals in large numbers, and the search for the best places to live in Italy hasn’t slowed down in 2026. The reality, though, is a little less glossy than the brochure version.

Planning a trip to Tropea in 2026? This clifftop town on Calabria’s Costa degli Dei blends a characterful old town with some of the clearest water in southern Italy.

Northern Italy in summer is all glistening lakes, pastel fishing villages, Alpine backdrops and long aperitivo evenings by the water.

Planning a short break in Milan in 2026? Italy’s financial and fashion capital is far more layered than its glossy image suggests.

Grammichele, in the heart of the province of Catania, is well known for its mesmerizing geometric grid from above. The surprise is heightened when you discover it's not a contemporary whim, but the result of a 17th-century reconstruction guided by a rigorous urban planning vision. With just over twelve thousand inhabitants, the town center boasts baroque squares, scenic churches, and a museum that recounts the origins of this urban enterprise. Here, then, are what to see in Grammichele, the hexagonal city.

If you’re planning a short Italian escape and want somewhere atmospheric, walkable and packed with culture, these five destinations deliver.

There’s something about sunset in Italy that feels almost unreal.As the heat softens and the crowds thin, the country’s most beautiful seaside cities transform. Clifftop villages glow pink and gold. Harbours shimmer in molten light.

Venice’s controversial tourist entry fee is back for 2026, and this time it covers even more dates.

The scent of fresh basil. Traders calling out prices.

If you’ve been daydreaming about a place by the sea but don’t fancy paying Amalfi Coast prices, there are still options out there.

Northern Italy is compact enough to explore easily by train, but varied enough that you can go from Alpine peaks to lagoon cities in a matter of hours.  If you’re trying to narrow down the best cities to visit in northern Italy, it helps to start with the heavy hitters.

Did you know that Italy has its own “Greenwich”?While the world’s Prime Meridian passes through Greenwich in London, the reference meridian for Central European Time runs through a small seaside town in southern Italy.

Northern Italy is a different creature from Rome and the south.

Between panoramic staircases, elegant Art Nouveau villas and mysterious underground tunnels, Naples reveals a fascinating side far beyond the usual tourist routes.

Italy, the historic home of espresso, has secured two spots in the prestigious World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops ranking — proving that the country’s coffee tradition is evolving as well as enduring.

The Italian Capital of Culture 2028 has not yet been announced, but the path towards the final decision is well underway. Ten shortlisted cities will compete for the title by presenting their cultural projects to the ministerial committee.

Venice’s legendary Ca’ Dario, the palace said to bring misfortune to its owners, is back on the market after a major restoration. Overlooking the Grand Canal in Dorsoduro, this 15th-century gem is steeped in history — and mystery.