Month February 2018

Before we left Australia many people urged us to visit Lucca in Tuscany. I’m pleased to say that finally we managed to get there and friends, you were right, Lucca is a beautiful city. In fact Greg and I found that… Continue Reading →

Today in Rome it snowed. An Arctic storm swept across Europe overnight dumping several centimetres of snow on the capital, and this morning Romans woke to the rare sight of their city blanketed in white. The last time it snowed… Continue Reading →

The Romans were extraordinary road builders. Before the 4th century BC, many roads were poorly-maintained, meandering tracks connecting villages and towns. But Rome required a more efficient transportation network, a more effective means of deploying and supplying its armies, so… Continue Reading →

In 2015 a group of local and international artists descended on a social housing precinct in Via Tor Marancia, about a 20-minute bus ride from the centre of Rome. The aim of the urban renewal initiative was to breathe new… Continue Reading →

The Aventine Hill, a short walk south of the Colosseum, is one of the seven hills on which Ancient Rome was built. And on top of the Aventine Hill, in the Piazza of the Knights of Malta, there’s a quirky… Continue Reading →

As well as seeing and doing many wonderful things during our six months in Italy, we’ve also learned a bit about what it takes to make a good life here. While there have been no real surprises, it’s certainly true… Continue Reading →

Here’s a geography question for you. What part of Italy boasts rolling green hills and sparkling seas; sprawling vineyards and ancient olive groves; national parks and natural hot springs; the remains of Etruscan tombs and a Roman city; medieval castles… Continue Reading →