Are we there yet? The October half-term brings the opportunity to have a final fling with some UV rays

Adrian Mourby enjoys an epicurean break at an exclusive spa in Tuscany.

Livorno president Aldo Spinelli claims striker Alessandro Diamanti is on the verge of a move to West Ham.

British tourists may have given Tuscany its "Chiantishire" epithet, but the appeal of converting rustic, historic properties into chic tourist accommodation is apparently universal. The Danish-owned newcomer Borgo Santo Pietro enters a market already groaning with luxury hotels; that it stands out from the crowd is because it perfectly strikes that tricky balance between luxury and informality.

A freight train carrying liquid gas came off the tracks and exploded in the heart of an Italian seaside resort

Historic architecture meets modern design in in these tasteful retreats. By Rhiannon Batten

Until now, owning a rustic retreat in the depths of the Tuscan countryside meant expensive renovations and costly upkeep. But as Janet Street-Porter discovers, there is an alternative

Ancient traditions are part of everyday life in this medieval Tuscan town. See it at its best, bathed in spring sunshine, before it is invaded by tourists – and horses.

Forget boring new-builds – Tuscany's the place to find character and history

Serves 6-8

Some first-time visitors to Florence have been known to suffer from Stendhal syndrome – often referred to as Florence Syndrome – which is named after the 19th-century French novelist. As a result of prolonged proximity to such "sublime beauty", he was overcome with an extreme case of nerves and palpitations.

Visit this Tuscan city as it marks the 150th birthday of its son, Puccini, says Adrian Mourby

He has sold 50 million records, but the blind tenor Andrea Bocelli is hoping his latest release will finally win over the critics. Peter Popham meets the singer at his Italian home

From Henry James via Mavis Gallant to Edmund White, stories about innocent Americans being undone by encounters with wicked Old Europe are a well-used literary trope. US writer Joseph Olshan seems well aware that his latest novel, The Conversion, sits on the tassel on the end of this tradition; he name-checks James early on. His plotting, however, is most unJamesian in its candour.