The Globalist Podcast (December 22, 2023) – A pacy round-up of the day’s main news stories, anchored from London by Emma Nelson.
Also, Chris Cermak reports on ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Ford’s Theatre in Washington.
Monocle on Saturday, December 18, 2023: Terry Stiastny joins Georgina Godwin for a look through the week’s news and culture. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, fails to secure long-term financial aid from the US and the EU, Rishi Sunak attends a hard-right-wing political festival in Italy and we learn about Finland’s festive TV genre – reindeer noir. Plus: Grace Charlton discusses Monocle’s Christmas gift-giving guide.
National Geographic Traveller Magazine (January 2024): The latest issue features adventures in Argentina, exploring Tahiti’s most remote corners, cycling through one of Italy’s iconic food regions and finding out how to plan a Great Walk in New Zealand…
Emilia-Romagna: Cycle through Italy’s ‘food valley’ for a taste of the country’s iconic produce
Tahiti: The French Polynesian island’s southeast offers coastal hiking and surfing fit for champions
Hampi: Long in ruins, the capital of the ancient Hindu kingdom beckons pilgrims to this day
New Zealand: For outdoor lovers, completing one of the country’s Great Walks is the feat of a lifetime
Manchester: Creativity and craftsmanship infuse all areas of life in this northwestern hub
Montreal: Canada’s second city merges European flair with North American innovation
County Wicklow: Foraging, fine arts and forest paths in an outdoorsy getaway to the ‘Garden of Ireland’
Bali: Local recipes and passionate chefs are the backbone of Indonesia’s food-loving island
Boston: In Massachusetts’ capital city, the best hotels are within easy reach of the culinary and cultural action
PBS Films (November 22, 2023) – Follow Cecil (Mark Umbers) as he provides a behind-the-scenes look at some of the iconic rooms, terraces, and views from Hotel Portofino.
Along the tour, he reveals insight as to what it’s like filming in the Mediterranean and even hints at what to expect in the show’s second season. This video was recorded prior to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.

Assouline Publishing (November 2023) – Experience the Dolce Vita lifestyle – a blend of beauty, style, and charm, inspired by Federico Fellini’s iconic 1960 film. This Italian way of life transcends time and still graces Italy today. Immerse yourself in its irresistible allure, captured by renowned photographers Ferdinando Scianna and Bruno Barbey, from Emilia-Romagna to Sicily.

Meet unforgettable figures like Maria Callas, Sophia Loren, and Marcello Mastroianni. With an enchanting introduction by Cesare Cunaccia and a curated collection of images, this book takes you on a journey through Italy, unveiling the origins of Dolce Vita.
VIRTUAL TOUR Films (November 6, 2023) – Villa Monastero is located in Varenna, Province of Lecco, on the shore of Lake Como. The villa lies south of the village, halfway between Varenna and Fiumelatte, and includes a botanical garden, a museum, and a convention center.
The villa hosts summer courses for the “Enrico Fermi” International School of Physics, and has heard lectures by more than thirty-four Nobel Laureates.
Villa Monastero is an eclectic villa built in the Nordic style. The site was originally a Cistercian convent, founded at the end of the 12th century in Varenna, which now lies beneath the modern building. The convent grew in importance and wealth, purchasing many properties, especially around Lierna, but eventually declined to only six mothers, and was closed by papal bull in 1567.
The whole estate was purchased by Paolo Mornico in 1569, using his fortune amassed through iron mining in Valsassinia. In the 17th century the Mornico family incrementally rebuilt and decorated it in the eclectic style.
The Florentine (November 2, 2023) – For the first time since its discovery in 1975, Michelangelo’s secret room in Florence, Italy, will be regularly open to the public starting from November 15.
The tiny space accessible via the New Sacristy in the Museum of the Medici Chapels contains charcoal drawings attributed to Buonarroti and will be open on an experimental basis to small groups of visitors until March 30, 2024.
Lionard Luxury Real Estate (October 20, 2023) – A luxurious villa of very ancient origins, among the most famous by Lake Maggiore, is for sale in the stunning town of Belgirate, on the border with Stresa.
Video timeline: 00:00 History of the Property 01:45 Private Dockyard 02:26 Private Beach 03:10 Lounge Area 04:00 Main Gate 04:15 Golf Cart 04:53 Private Chapel 05:29 Piazzale 06:04 Parking 06:58 Main Foyer 07:16 Music Room 07:54 Living Room 08:30 Study 08:54 Dining Room 09:21 Foyer 09:50 Kitchen 10:37 Smart Home 10:47 Private Elevator 11:12 Bedroom Area 12:28 Master Suite 12:44 Master Bathroom 13:16 Master Bedroom 12:23 Wellness Area 15:04 Attic Suite 15:34 Loggiato 15:50 Swimming Pool Area 16:39 Italian Style Garden 17:22 Dependance 17:56 Entertainment Area 18:25 Vegetable Garden 18:35 Outro
Its exclusive position directly by the lake, its 1,700 sqm of internal surface divided between the main house and the outbuildings, the private beach connected directly by an underground passage and the pier for private use contribute to the uniqueness of this property that belonged to the family of Napoleon III. Dating back to the early 19th century, the villa was built in a late neoclassical style on the walls of a previous religious building for Mathilde Laetitia Wilhelmine Bonaparte, daughter of Jerome, Napoleon’s younger brother.
Subsequently passed into the ownership of the Russian prince Vladimir Andrevic Dolgorukij, the property was remodeled only at the end of the last century, while the big park that surrounds it has remained intact in its original design, conceived by Anatoly Demidov, husband of Mathilde and well-known enthusiast and builder of gardens, especially in Tuscany. Its convenient natural location, in one of the towns of the Piedmontese shore of Lake Maggiore, ensures an always pleasant microclimate, while its strategic exposure, slightly oblique to the coast, has been designed to improve the panoramic view from any internal environment, rooms included.
Italy Together (October 16, 2023) – A picturesque town on the shore of Lake Maggiore north of Stresa, Baveno faces the romantic Borromean Islands and backs to the green hills surrounding the lake. The town of about 5,000 residents has seen a very long history, starting with prehistoric human existence. The many archeological finds testify to the many millennia that have touched this area.
The Romans left evidence in the way of necropoli, domestic wares, funerary items and coins. The town was along a crossroads between Ossola and the Alps, and later between Genova and Venzia, making it stragetically important with a once-flourishing commercial port.
The Economist Magazine (October 14, 2023): The latest issue features Israel’s Agony and its Retribution; America’s health-care rip-off; Technocrats vs Populists; The backlash against greenery; Rwanda wants to be Africa’s new cop on the beat; A corner of Italy that is forever China…

Much depends on its offensive in Gaza—and its politicians and neighbours
Briefing

The miscalculations of Israel’s and Gaza’s leaders are being laid bare