“To break and steal something in a shop is not a good solution,” said one young person who chose not to take part in the violent protests in Paris. I’m sure many Italians would agree, whilst others see the unrest as a chance to vent their anger and settle scores, leaving shopkeepers and locals paying the price. Patrizia Pepe all boarded up and blended in. But with Florence now being targeted ~ and with the best that Italy it has to offer ~ strong deterrents and stealthily preparations are...

A tranquil walk through the immaculate rolling hills and thick woodland of Greve in Chianti in the week of the porcini. Should have brought a foraging basket! It's impossible not to enjoy the breathtaking Tuscan scenery at its best with this gentle 6.5km trail of country lanes and woodland footpaths. Sauntering past working farms, a hunting tower, exquisite castle grounds and a goat's cheese farm/shop, amongst other rural attractions. So much to discover in this one stroll alone! Tidy views...

The properties available for rent here can be very elegant but after two years of negotiating chaos in Firenze ~ including household floods, building noise nuisance and eye-watering energy bills, we've finally escaped the over-priced rental market, and bought our own little piece of Florence! We closed the deal late March 2026, on an apartment tucked away in an old Florentine turreted towerhouse (a Villa), with sizeable shared grounds, ample parking, a pool and conveniently only fifteen...