Alicante is famous for its beaches; less so for its hiking. But in the Sierra de la Serrella, a short hop from the city, Isis Taylor discovers a network of trails that combine natural beauty with an insight into ancient cultures

The parks and wilderness areas of Italy are some of the most dramatic on the continent, ranging from Europe’s highest active volcano to the last refuge of the Marsican bear. We pick 21 of the wildest to explore…

t was the best of croissants, it was the worst of croissants. Yesterday I experienced all-butter nirvana at an impromptu patisserie pitstop somewhere outside of Grenoble. Today I’m click-clacking arou

Not many successful breakaways involve almost 5,000m of climbing over 324km, but that’s exactly what Napoleon Bonaparte pulled off in just six days in the spring of 1815. After escaping from exile on

Nick Dakin-Elliot, who gardens in Tuscany, is still moved by the Italian hilltop gardens that command some of the most beautiful views in the world

Base yourself in this handsome villa on Tuscany’s timeless coastline and discover the region’s Etruscan history, says Rosie Paterson