Venice is one of our favourite cities in Italy.

We always try to visit it once a year as we love to discover its hidden courtyards and peep the small gardens of its ancient palaces through the iron gates, where centuries-old trees learned how to live in this unique place in the middle of the sea.

What we love most about Venice is the breath of silence and peace in the calli (narrow streets) and campi (little squares), far away from the crowds of tourists. In a city with no cars, buses or subways you can only walk or take the vaporetto (ferry boat) with your hair ruffled by the wind. You will discover an old way of living that is no more part of our times. You can experience an atmosphere of an old-time village that unfortunately you can’t find elsewhere anymore: washing hungs out of windows and…

Mario Balotelli has been in scintillating form since swapping Manchester City for AC Milan; the temperamental forward has netted seven times in six games for the Rossoneri to date. Balotelli continued his hot streak of form with a wonder strike for Italy against Brazil.

Given the form Balotelli has shown of late and City’s supposed search for a new striker in the summer, Roberto Mancini may well be regretting parting company with his troubled, but talented attacker.

We have all seen the movies with the Tuscan vineyards, the olive trees growing along the side of the road and the pace of life that almost seems to stand still. I was so scared that this bubble was about burst, but I got so much more than I expected.

We had a week school break at the end of February and I was on the first train possible to Florence, Tuscany. I was like a kid on Christmas eve. I’ve only heard about how pretty Florence’s was but it’s one of those place you have to see it to really appreciate it. There is something magical about Tuscany and it’s people and before I knew it I was in love with this wine region of Italy. There was no point in fighting it, and I didn’t want to, because I was oh so happy!!! So I decided that this…