Pesaro 2024's "Capital of Culture" welcomes SPARK, iconic narrative of the "The Nature of Culture"'

I didn’t mind that it was raining when I arrived in Cannes on a Tuesday afternoon in November. Strolling the small city on the French Riviera, best known for its annual celeb-studded film festival, I appreciated the sleepy beaches; the warm, salty breeze; the dearth of crowds or waits to be seated at restaurants. That evening at Le Fouquet's brasserie, as rain pitter-pattered on the ceiling of the heated terrace, the sommelier poured me a chilly Chablis to go with my crispy seared scallops. “Romantic, isn’t it?” he asked. I couldn’t help but agree.

The pool was empty – perhaps because at about 22C, the water was too cold for Italians. It was also about to close. Whatever the reason, we had the glorious Biolago di Pinzolo, a spring-fed, plant-filtered swimming lake, to ourselves. As my son and I swam, we could just make out the tiny red-roofed hermitage of San Martino on the forested slope above, where, according to legend, a hermit survived on bread provided by a tame bear.

The 28th annual edition of the international art fair Miart last week kicked off a month of art, architecture, design and fashion in Italy’s most fashionable city. With 180 galleries from 28 countries showing more than 1,000 artworks, Milan’s international fair has a well-deserved reputation for carefully selected galleries. The fair has made a stellar effort to stand out among the hundreds of annual art fairs that include mammoth fairs like Frieze and Art Basel by focusing on Italian galleries and by taking the unusual decision to have the emerging galleries, rather than the established blue chip galleries, right at the front of the fair.

Despite the Côte d’Azur’s postcard image of beaches and palm trees, much of the Alpes-Maritimes – the French département (province) which lies in the Côte d’Azur's embrace – is covered by alpine terrain.

This Mother’s Day, why not treat your loved one with a special present to ease their travels? A soft scarf or cosy socks, for instance, are the equivalent of a cuddle in a gift and are perfect for travel-loving mums while in flight or in transit. Here are our top picks of the best accessories for stylish travelers.

“From the lush landscapes to the faultless food, you'll never be short of things to do - or eat - on an Italian escape,” says tour guide Lorne Blyth.

With additional reporting by Sarah Allard

This Mother’s Day, forget about gifting a typical bouquet, and instead opt for one of these long-lasting floral fragrances. Ideal for travel lovers, each one is inspired by a far-away land and one spritz will bring back memories of beautiful destinations spent with loved ones.

Italian pasta, in all shapes and sizes, is a perennial favorite in Italy and abroad. So it shouldn't be too surprising that pasta also has a global influence on Italian fashion and design.

The Sirreti List is a first in its sector as an independent guide launching in Spring 2024 showcasing exceptional vacation rentals, which have met the Sirreti accreditation standard, and as such are amongst the very best in the world.

A 420-mete white steel tube running alongside a railway line in the windswept northern Netherlands could usher in a new era in the transportation of people and freight.

This is part of Off Season Italy, a collection of guides highlighting the year-round appeal of Italy's most popular destinations, courtesy of our favorite local tastemakers. Read more here.