Gorizian Rhapsody

Gorizia’s post-war watchtowers and cyclone fences remain but you can now, of course, meet the border on your own Eurozone terms: put your right foot in and shake it all about, or hop, amble or drive out of Italy without even a flash of a passport.

Nice Basics

Nice often gets overlooked in favour of neighbouring glamourpusses Cannes, Monte Carlo and St Tropez.

High summer in Piemonte

Most of the locals have hightailed it down to the Ligurian coast or headed north to the alps; the bus-loads of truffle-snorting food pilgrims are still a few months off.

Take Me Home: Eating the past in Genova

It’s not by chance that Genova is not one of Italy’s prime destinations; its impacted verticality can be daunting, and its sprawling port and general air of having gone-to-seed are often off-putting to the casual visitor.

Take Me Home: Grey Days in Paris

When you have only one morning to go shopping in Paris, best not to find yourself at a 2am lock-in at your favourite Parisian friend’s local – in this case, Mon Chein Stupide (1, rue Boyer 75020, 01 46 36 25 49) – the night before.

Tunisia: Tunis’ New Charmer

The Bay of Tunis is hauntingly, heartbreakingly beautiful, a mesmerising haze reaching towards the strange striated coast of Cap Bon and brooding twin peaks of Bou Kornine.

Milan’s Villa Necchi Campiglio

Donna Wheeler is fascinated by one of Milan’s most seductive villas, the sisters who once lived there, and their vintage closets… No one really comes to Milan for the Roman ruins, early Christian churches or even its stunning, other worldly Duomo.