Paris by Arrondissement – 2e Arrondissement

Galerie Vivienne

Paris 2nd Arrondissement is Home to the Historic Paris Bourse and the Banking Sector: Located on the right bank of the Seine River, the 2e arrondissement or 2nd arrondissement is home to the historic Paris Bourse and a large number of bank and airlines head offices, making this Paris district primarily a business zone. 2nd arrondissement The 2nd arrondissement is the smallest of the Paris districts, but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for in economic importance. The Palais … [Read more...]

Paris by Arrondissement – 1er Arrondissement

Louvre Museum

Paris 1er Arrondissement: Located on the right bank of the Seine, the 1èr arrondissement or 1st arrondissement is the geographical centre of Paris and this is where many of the Paris monuments and landmarks are located. The 1èr arrondissement is one of the smaller Paris districts by area, but in terms of tourist attractions, it is a haven for visitors. 1èr arrondissement The 1st arrondissement is one of the oldest districts in Paris and is divided into the following four … [Read more...]

Portofino – The Jewel of the Italian Riviera

Portofino harbour

Nicknamed the "Pearl of the World", Portofino is Absolutely Gorgeous: Once a humble fishing village, Portofino's picturesque harbour is the most exclusive bay and upmarket resort in Italy. In this town, built around the small harbour, there are plenty of upmarket designer boutiques, luxury yachts and magnificent villas, all indicative of the long association that Portofino has had with celebrity visitors. There is enough wealth crammed in this small harbour to support one of the smaller … [Read more...]

Montepulciano – Famous for its Vino Nobile

Piazza Grande in Montepulciano

Montepulciano - A Hill Town in Tuscany that's Famous for its Vino Nobile: One of the pleasures of travelling in Tuscany is visiting its many charming medieval hill towns, Montepulciano being one of them. Set on a ridge of about 605 metres above sea level, Montepulciano is one of the of the highest Tuscan hill towns. The town is famous for its Vino Nobile di Montepulciano so if you love a good red wine, this is the town for you. Medieval Montepulciano Although Montepulciano's history … [Read more...]

Portofino: Live from the luxury Ligurian Resort

Portofino

Portofino has luxury designer shops, big boats and 5 euro coffees - Cinque Terre it's not! Avoiding the Louis Vuitton, Hermès and Dior shops along the waterfront, and refraining from indulging in 5 euro coffees, Tony Page wanders past million dollar cruisers and climbs up above Portofino to give you an overview of this famed Ligurian resort on the Italian Riviera, much favoured by celebrities like Ava Gardner, Marlon Brando, Madonna and Sting "Here we are in Portofino where the clouds … [Read more...]

Montepulciano: Live from the Heart of Tuscany’s Wine Country

Montepulciano

Montepulciano is the highest hill town in Tuscany, and renowned for its wine, the Vino Nobile Henry James drank so much Montepulciano wine he couldn't remember much about this famous Tuscany hill town, but it's beautifully preserved and well worth a visit, especially to taste the food - and don't miss the wine cellars! "Well here we are in the main street of, the main square, actually, of Montepulciano. I'll sweep round in a minute to give you a view. Not many people here at this time, about … [Read more...]

Capri – Stylish and Stunningly Beautiful

View of Capri

Capri Was Once a Cult Destination for the Rich and Famous: With its swanky shops and legends of aristocrats, film stars and celebrities living lives of luxury and pleasure on the island, Capri is an island with a reputation for glamour and style.  It was a popular destination during the Roman times and is still very popular with both local and overseas tourists today. Some 15,000 visitors invade the island each day during the peak summer months to enjoy its magnificent landscape and some … [Read more...]

Positano: Live from Spiaggia Grande Beach

Positano Spiaggia Grande

The Amalfi Coast - colourful houses cascading down the cliffs - it has to be Positano Positano on the Amalfi Coast has a great reputation but does it live up to the hype? Tony and Helen Page discover colourful houses cascading down the cliffs, brown bodies lazing on the beach, unexpectedly cheap shopping and plenty of boats cruising up and down the coast - including one to take them back to Sorrento... "Well, it's always been a dream to come down to the Amalfi Coast and here we are finally … [Read more...]

Positano is Picturesque, Romantic and Positively Charming

Amalfi Coast

The Picturesque and Popular Town of Positano is a Gateway to the Amalfi Coast: Positano is one of the gateways to the Amalfi Coast region (Costiera Amalfitana), reputed to be one of the most scenic stretches of coastline in Italy. It also has a reputation as the playground of the rich and famous. With books, films and travel brochures painting an idyllic picture of the Amalfi Coast's legendary landscape, sun-drenched beaches and la dolce vita, it's no wonder that thousands of visitors … [Read more...]

Pienza – The Town that Pope Pius II Built

Pienza Historical Centre

Pienza Was Pope Pius II's Idea of the Perfect City: From our base in the spa town of Chianciano Terme, we took an excursion to Pienza, a small town in the Val d'Orcia in Tuscany. Pienza was Pope Pius II's idea of the perfect Renaissance city and it is also famous for its pecorino cheeses. Pienza and Pope Pius II Pienza was a town that was conceived of by Pope Pius II. As a young man, Enea Silvio Piccolomini (Pope Pius II), was very well travelled and being a bright and curious individual, … [Read more...]