Paul Rush is beguiled by the magical maze of Venice and the fancy frills of Burano.

Heather Whelan marvels at Carrara's famed marble, which has been quarried since Roman times.

Markets fell overnight on both sides of the Atlantic as Italy's borrowing costs soared, intensifying concern that efforts to contain the European Union's debt crisis aren't working.

Liz Light walks country lanes and forest paths in northern Italy.

These dehydrated dead have not been laid lovingly to rest but made to stand like the soldiers of a ghoulish army.

Mauricio and Charlotte brave crowds of 'Romeo and Juliet' aficionados in Italy, go tramping in Slovenia and find some fellow All Blacks fans in Croatia.

Kiwi journalists Maurcio Olmedo-Perez and Charlotte Whale are taking the scenic route home from London.

The magic and luxury of Venice is best appreciated when you arrive by boat, writes Raymond Whitaker.