Culture, History & Heritage

We explore the Romans in Sicily, the Sicilian Vespers and British and Jewish history in Sicily to uncover the troubled and glorious past of this beautiful island.

Discover thousands of years of places, objects and fabulous stories with one of these fascinating archaeological tours of Puglia's ancient sites.

Puglia’s history, like that of so many parts of southern Italy, has an abundance of rich social tapestry. Discover the past of Italy's hidden gem.

Sicily stands as one of the Mediterranean's most culturally rich destinations, boasting an extraordinary collection of seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sicily that span millennia of human civilization and natural wonder. From ancient Greek temples to active volcanoes, these protected sites offer unparalleled insights into the island's remarkable heritage at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

What links Siena, Carrara, Matera, Gravina di Puglia, Venice, Lake Garda, Cortina D’Ampezzo, Corfu, Paris, the Côte d'Azure, and Chamonix? The answer is Bond. James Bond. The immense cultural, architectural and natural riches of our destinations have featured in 16 Bond films over the years, so in anticipation of the next instalment of the franchise (release date and principal star yet to be confirmed), we take a closer look at look at some of the stunning locations in Italy, Greece and France that have starred alongside 007 over the years.

The melting pot of the Mediterranean, Corsica has changed hands many times as empires waxed and waned. Learn how its history has shaped its culture here.

“C'e' acchi cosa di cchiu' beddu p'un populu d' 'a lingua di so' 'ntinati?” (What could be more important to a people than the language of their forefathers?)

Regardless of where you're staying in Puglia, our definitive calendar of top events will give you the low-down on what's happening near you.

With Archaeologists in Sicily dating pottery back to at least 2,400BCE, we explore the rich history and multi-national influences behind Sicilian ceramics.

Between 1876 and 1915, nearly 1.4 million Sicilians emigrated. A similar exodus occurred in the 1950s, when nearly half a million (over 10% of the population) left home in search of a better life. Read on to find out more about this fascinating slice of Sicilian history, which weaves together poverty, bravery, disasters, wars, intolerance, romance, and dreams that come true.

Sicily's multi-millennial history at the crossroads of the Mediterranean has left it with an enormous and varied range of archaeological wonders. Phoenician, Elymian, Greek and Roman sites abound, and no matter where you're staying on the island, there'll be a world-class ancient treasure or two nearby. Dig deeper with us.

Uncover our favourite historical sites in the Mediterranean, including UNESCO Sites in Italy, ancient monuments in the Greek Islands, and mediaeval citadels in Corsica.