Getting into Perugia from Rome takes around 2.5 hours. Funnily enough the train is about as long (if not longer) than the bus, which cost around 34 euros return. To get into the main city you have to come up through electric escalators and walk through an old castle. More quaint it couldn't be!

After checking into the most catholic of hostels (spacious in the city centre and a bargain at only 15 euros a night), we enjoyed the joys that this year's international journalism festival had to offer. Much more outside Europe-food for thought, in between Al Jazeera's social media hub, citizen journalism in Jordan and American models via The Huffington Post.

cafebabel.com was represented by Italian correspondent and writer Andrea Giambartolomei, who spoke on a panel about where Europe is today:

IJF Perugia

Pictured from L-R: Bruno Waterfield Brussels correspondent The Daily Telegraph (UK), Jean Quatremer Brussels correspondent Libération (France), Tiziana Barghini Reuters editor for southern Europe, Andrea Giambartolomei cafebabel.com and Marco Zatterin Brussels correspondent La Stampa (IT)

IJF Perugia II

We'll post a piece about the findings of the debate in general soon. Watch this space