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Top destinations

In this section you wil find the top Italy destinations grouped by region or in general by geographycal areas.
This is a section full of good information and tips about what to see in the main destinations, how to organize day trips to visit the surrounding beauties. You will find a bunch of information on where to stay and to eat and about the main experiencesyou can enjoy in the area

Civita Bagnoregio, the dying city

Civita Bagnoregio is a delightful ancient hamlet, noted for its striking position atop a plateau of friable volcanic tuff overlooking the Tiber river valley.

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Perched on top of a tufa hill among a desolated valley made up of calanchi, Civita Bagnoregio is an Etruscan town with over 2500 years of history. The continuous erosion makes the soft tufa rock becoming thinner and thinner: the hills edges fall off, leaving the buildings built on the plateau to crumble. Civita Bagnoreggio is slowly dying.

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Garda lake in 1 day -_Mantova-Micio lake

Mantova, a Lombardy renaissance jewell

  Mantua and Sabbioneta, both united by the inheritance left to them by Gonzaga, are the main centres of Italian and European Renaissance. Mantua has… Read More »Mantova, a Lombardy renaissance jewell

Cremona, home of stradivari

  Cremona, it is located on the border between Lombardy and Emilia Romagna and lies on the left bank of the Po. It’s a charming town… Read More »Cremona, home of stradivari

Ostia Antica, a convenient alternative to Pompei

  Visiting Rome and no time to go to Pompei? Well, Ostia Antica archeological site could well satisfy your ambitions of visiting the remains of… Read More »Ostia Antica, a convenient alternative to Pompei

Bergamo: Lombardy’s hidden jewell

  Bergamo Alta is a fascinating medieval town perched on a hill, surrounded by 16th-century cyclopic defensive walls. Its old city center hides real treasures, such… Read More »Bergamo: Lombardy’s hidden jewell

Top things to do in Venice - visit St Mark square at night

Twenty top things to do in Venice, beyond the obvious

The best twenty top things to do in Venice (plus two seasonal opportunities): my personal unmissable itineraries, activities and experiences in Venice

I often receive questions such as “what are Venice highlights?” and “how long should we stay?” So I put together the things I like to do when I’m in Venice, to share them with you. Whenever it made sense, I tried to make suggestions “beyond the obvious”, in order to make your Venice stay a really unique and memorable experience.Read More »Twenty top things to do in Venice, beyond the obvious

The voluptuous ecstasy of Saint Teresa

  Bernini ecstasi of St Teresa is considered to be one of the sculptural masterpieces of the High Roman Baroque (and arguably the most sensual… Read More »The voluptuous ecstasy of Saint Teresa

Bombardino

Delicious Bombardino

Bombardino is the unmissable drink when skying in the Dolomites. It is made by mixing 1/2 eggnog and 1/2 Brandy, mixed with spirit of the… Read More »Delicious Bombardino

Capri souvenirs: discover what to shop in posh Capri island

Capri souvenirs
Lovely Capri and Amalfi coast magnets, sold in a stall close to Capri’s harbour.

Charming Capri souvenirs may be found everywhere in Capri, as well as fashionable clothes, shoes and handicrafts. Here are the three unmissable ones: Canfora sandals, Limoncello Liquor and Capri’s bells.

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The amazing Duomo di Orvieto

  Orvieto’s Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption (the “Duomo”) is an unrivalled wonder, celebrated over the centuries by artists and writers as well… Read More »The amazing Duomo di Orvieto

Rome Italy - Vatican Museums

Rome in 5 days: how to get the most out of your Rome stay

Rome must sees, such as Colosseum, Spanish steps and Vatican, and off the beaten path sights such as Appian way and the catacombs: easy 5 days itinerary.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you will definitely need more than 24 hours to discover it! Actually, even though two or three rushy days may be sufficient to get a glimpse of the main sights, ideally you should try to dedicate not less than five days to the visit of the eternal city.

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Fabulous Venice Carnival

 

What to see, do and enjoy during Venice carnival, an unmissable Italian event.

Venice Carnival is much more than costumed chaos: parades, processions, masquerade balls, entertainment, music, and parties… well Venice Carnival will offer you everything you need to live a really unique and rewarding experience (especially if you manage to avoid week ends, when the town gets really crowded).

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How to visit a Balsamic Vinegar maker in Modena

Discover the making of traditional balsamic vinegar in Modena and learn how to visit a  Modena Balsamic Vinegar maker. This is a very easy half day tour from Bologna or day tour from Milan.

If you have a taste for “slow food”, you can’t ignore Balsamic Vinegar (“Aceto Balsamico”), which needs not less than 12 years of aging (but usually as much as 25!) before being savored!

This is still a family handmade product, and you can visit an “Acetaia” (litterally: the “vinegar place”). This is a fantastic experience to discover a century old tradition, and one of the most exclusive Italian food products.

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Naples nativity scenes market: San Gregorio Armeno

San Gregorio Armeno Market and the nativity scenes museum at La certosa di San Martino

Discover the liveliest Christmas market in central-south Italy, and one of the finest Italian Nativity Scenes museums.

Naples nativity scenes market_San Gregorio Armeno

Setting up a nativity scene—Presepe in Italian —is a strong tradition in Naples, started as early as the 11th century. Still today, the Presepe is a Must for every true Neapolitan, and the unmissable place to buy your Presepe is the San Gregorio Armeno market.

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Climbing on top of Pisa leaning tower

Tips to climb on top of Pisa leaning tower and to visit awesome Piazza dei MiracoliPisa leaning Tower is one of the most iconic places… Read More »Climbing on top of Pisa leaning tower

One day in Lucca: best things to do including city walls biking

One day in Lucca

Best things to do if you manage to spend one day in Lucca, Italy. A walking and biking itinerary to discover Lucca in one day (even though spending 2 days in Lucca would give you a much better opportunity to enjoy this lovely town). Use the enclosed Lucca Map to optimize your Lucca in one day tour.

Lucca is an unmissable destination in Tuscany and one day is the minimum amount of time you should dedicate to its visit. Despite is relatively small site, its city center hosts amazing monuments and sights, dating from Roman age to renaissance. But what makes Lucca really unique are its  Renaissance-era city walls that have remained intact while so many other Tuscan towns saw theirs destroyed in past centuries.

Since Lucca isn’t a hilltop village, it is ideal for anyone with mobility issues as well as for families with kids.

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Gallipoli, the “beautiful town” of Salento: an easy one day tour

Gallipoli, in the Salento, is one of the most beautiful destinations in Puglia. Discover how to visit Gallipoli in one day and why you shouldn’t miss it.

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When viewed from the sea, Gallipoli white skyline reveals itself in all of its oriental beauty, resembling a village of the Cyclades islands.

Gallipoli is a fishing town named from the Greek Kallipolis, meaning beautiful city. It’s located on the southeastern coast of Puglia, the heel of Italy. Gallipoli is celebrated for its crystal clear blue sea and the sandy beaches that make its territory one of the most cherished natural attractions of Salento.

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Summer night in Lecce

A walking tour to enjoy a magical summer night in Lecce, the Florence of the South. What to see, where to eat and where to stay.

Lecce is the Apulia region jewel, and one of the most fascinating southern Italian town.

Capital of the Salento (the southernmost part of the Italian heel), Lecce is nicknamed “The Florence of the South” because of its awesome Baroque monuments. Wandering in a summer night in its century old, stone paved streets is simply magic. Discover with me its main square, piazza del Duomo, after the crowds are gone and the full moon lights up its golden limestone monuments.

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Gubbio, medieval perfection in Umbria

Discover Gubbio, a medieval jewel in the heart of beautiful Umbria Are you looking for the perfect medieval town? Cobblestone streets, Gothic palaces and churches,… Read More »Gubbio, medieval perfection in Umbria

Cycling on history: discover Rome Appian Way and its catacombs

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 A bike itinerary to discover the Appian Way (“Appia Antica”) and its catacombs, one of the most fascinating destinations in Rome

The via Appia Antica is the old Roman Appian Way, which ran from Rome down to Brindisi, three hundred kilometers to the south. The stretch close to Rome is now part of a nature and archaeological park which includes early Christian catacombs, original Roman causeways, monuments and mausoleums, the remains of seven Roman aqueducts dating back to the Republican and Imperial age, and large, untouched rural landscapes dotted with cypress and maritime pines.

Walking or riding a bike along the Via Appia Antica is a refreshing change from the city, particularly on Sundays when the area is closed to traffic. The road is attractive and atmospheric, with plenty of grassy spots where to relax and to picnic. You could easily spend a whole day here (the complete itinerary is more than 30 Km long!), but with so much else to see in Rome most visitors spend there just two hours or less.

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