All Italy stops to watch a spectacular boat race that's been contested for more than 700 years, writes Carol Smith.

A picture of a young boy who drowned off of the coast of the Greek island of Rhodes has come to represent the tragedy in the Mediterranean sea.

A cafe owner found so much archaeological treasure buried beneath his property that he now has a museum. Michael Day hears his story ...

A shipwreck in which hundreds of people are feared dead may be one of the worst disasters of the Mediterranean migrant crisis.

Venice is the setting for Nicky Pellegrino's new novel. On a fact-finding visit she strayed into richly rewarding back streets.

Bev Wood experiences the Italian capacity for both wild frenzy and languid indolence.

For most of their adult lives they have been entangled in one of Europe's most intriguing murder mysteries, prime suspects in the near-inexplicable murder of a young Englishwoman in Italy.

New Zealand lamb wool prices jumped to their highest level in almost four years this week.

The wall of silence that has protected the Mafia for decades is finally cracking, even in its Sicilian heartland.

Nearly 1000 refugees were safely brought ashore in Italy yesterday after being abandoned by suspected smugglers on a merchant ship.

In 2013 Pope Francis had a lot to celebrate. Not only was he named Time magazine person of the year, but was also awarded the title of Esquire's best-dressed man.

Italy's leading tourist attractions including the Colosseum could soon be in foreign hands as the country seeks new directors from around the world to make its museums more profitable.

Chow Chow dogs, painted and dyed to look like panda bears, have been seized from an Italian circus.

The UN's refugee agency has revealed "the most lethal route in the world" after a record number of deaths.

Italian police yesterday revealed an enormous collection of animals confiscated in recent months from jailed or arrested mafia bosses.

Make a plan before you leave ship and reap the rewards of your research, Pam Neville says. She shares some shore excursions from a recent Mediterranean cruise.

Security for Italy's most at-risk prosecutor has been increased because of claims that Cosa Nostra bosses have plans to assassinate him with a bazooka.

Rupert Murdoch prepares to complete the merger of his British, Italian and German pay-TV companies next week.

Two Kiwis working in Miami have been victims of fraud - with a $27,000 Italian shopping spree charged to their credit card.

Dozens of suspicious deaths in a hospital in northern Italy may have been the work of a suspected "killer" nurse with a grudge against "annoying patients with pushy relatives".

George Clooney's wedding put Venice in the news. But Anne Hanley finds plenty for lesser mortals to do - for free.

When Rome's tourist traps got a little tiring, Josh Martin found a boisterous table with locals was only a few clicks away.

An Italian villa is the perfect setting for an exotic honeymoon, writes Alexia Santamaria.

Italy's economic crisis appears to have produced a boom in criminal deceptions that are testing the faith of the elderly.

Sir Michael Caine and Julie Christie are among celebrities who have signed a petition calling for giant cruise ships to be banned from Venice.

Football Federation Australia boss David Gallop has received assurances Italian giant Juventus will bring their World Cup stars for next month's clash with an A-League All Stars side.