A new edited collection of Italo Calvino’s letters appeals more to lovers of the Italian’s work than to the general reader, but is still deeply rewarding

Lucy Hughes-Hallett's Life of Gabriele D'Annunzio paints a picture of a compelling and anarchic poet-statesman

The over-generous Italian welfare state means that for all the belt-tightening, most people in the country still enjoy la dolce vita

Book review of The Pursuit of Italy: A History of a Land, its Regions and their Peoples by David Gilmour

The Italian Inquisition by Christopher F. Black

‘Italy is a microcosm of Europe: if democracy and the rule of law die there, the writing is on the wall for the rest of us’

‘Italy's real problem isn't Berlusconi's private affairs. Rather, the problem is the culture he now represents. ’

The average Sicilian's attitude to the European elections sheds light on our relationship with our own politicians

Surviving by Allan Massie

Five hundred years after his birth, Andrea Palladio continues to influence architecture