Central Italy region; capital Florence, renowned for art, wine, landscapes.
Shoulder-season savings are shrinking as travel costs edge upward. Industry data shows fall demand is returning to peak levels, with luxury travelers leading the charge toward October and November bookings.
A tour across Italy’s lesser-known towns—from Tropea in Calabria to Torre di Palme in Marche and Barga in Tuscany—highlights regional hospitality, cuisine, and luxury travel, amid new luxury hotels and evolving cultural offerings.
Travel pieces reflect on Europe’s summer hotspots, with some destinations gaining calm after peak season and readers weighing where to go next despite mixed experiences.
A gang of at least seven masked thieves has stolen about 30,000 bottles of 2023 vintage wine from Marchesi Antinori near Cortona, Tuscany. Alarms and cameras were deactivated; two trucks loaded with wine fled during the night. The company says the theft is unprecedented in scale and is investigating with authorities.