Venice, Bologna and the Bay of Poets

On her travels, Bettany encounters the stunning beauty of Venice's canals, visits the sumptuous Lake Como and cruises down the Seine in Paris — all in her search for the good things in life. This is a rich treat-filled adventure revelling in all that makes life worth living. Bettany Hughes continues her pursuit of the good life on a grand tour of Europe. Arriving in Italy, Bettany's first stop is Venice, the culturepacked ‘Queen of the Adriatic'. Exploring must-see sights like St Mark's Square and the Doge's Palace, Bettany reveals why this city has proved so inspirational to travellers, artists and writers for centuries. Meeting the art collector and socialite Peggy Guggenheim's granddaughter and taking to the Grand Canal on a gondola, Bettany learns about living the Venetian dream and discovers where the locals head to for the best canal-side aperitivo. Heading west, Bettany stops off in Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna, which has been dubbed the breadbasket of Italy. Bettany picks up a wedge of the finest Parmigiano Reggiano and stops for a glass of wine to see if the city — now adored by foodies — lives up to the hype. Back on the road, Bettany heads to the Italian seaside, following in the footsteps of her literary heroes. The Romantic poets — Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, along with wife and novelist Mary Shelley – stayed around the Gulf of La Spezia, which is now called the ‘Bay of Poets' in their honour. Bettany explains her love of Byron, both as a poet and a romantic hero. After all, he once plunged into the bay and swam eight and a half kilometres to visit the Shelleys. Welcomed in by locals, Bettany experiences the same warmth that drew in the Romantics and dines on pesto, which this region has made a culinary artform.