Splendio - Belmond Hotel, Portofino. One of the Italian Hotels on the Conde Nast Traveler Gold List

Italy dominates the Gold List 2025 in Europe by Condé Nast Traveler

For over three decades, the editors of Condé Nast Traveler have curated their annual Gold List, a dreamy compendium of hotels and cruises that transcend mere accommodation. These, the editors say, are places that ignite passion, become stories to tell, and are recommended to friends as destinations where magic happens.

Continue Reading
The Burial of st Lucy by Caravaggio [cropped]

On This Day in History: Caravaggio’s The Burial of St Lucy Unveiled

On 13 December 1608, the Church of Santa Lucia al Sepolcro in Siracusa, Sicily unveiled Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s The Burial of St Lucy. This poignant masterpiece, commissioned to honour Syracuse’s patron saint, is a striking example of the artist’s mature style, blending realism, raw emotion, and dramatic chiaroscuro.

Continue Reading