Italy Travel Articles

 

Miscellaneous Italy Travel Basics

Regions of Italy Italy has 20 regions. Each region is divided into provinces. Most travel articles refer to the regions in Italy. On this website we group information by region. Provinces of Italy These are the provinces for some of the popular tourist regions: Emilia-Romagna - Bologna, Ferrara, Forli-Cesena, Modena, Parma, Piacenza, Ravenna, Reggio Emilia, Rimini Liguria - Genoa, Imperia, La Spezia, Savona Tuscany - Arezzo, Florence, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Massa, Pisa, Pistoia, Prato, Siena Umbria - Perugia, Terni Marche - Ancona, Ascoli Piceno, Fermo, Macerata, Pesara Campania - Avellino, Benevento, Caserta, Naples, Salerno Puglia (Apulia) - Bari, Barletta-Andria-Trani, Brindisi, Foggia, Lecce, Taranto Basilicata -...

• Sticky

View full article »

 

Lazio A Week in Northern Lazio

Many people bypass this part of Italy on their way to Tuscany, Umbria, Venizia or Como. But a week in this region will surprise and delight; not to mention steals your heart. If you are a lover of Italy, don't miss this special area. And I promise you will return, as I have so many times. Arrival Fly into Rome and take the little airport train to the Central Terminal in Rome. It costs about 8 euro and is a three-minute walk from baggage claim in terminal C, where you will arrive if you were on an international flight. Once in the Central Terminal, purchase a ticket to Orvieto, another 7 or 8 euro and only an hour and 10 minute trip. You'll be on a train to Florence, and they leave very regularly. Just watch for the Orvieto station...

View full article »

 

Lazio My Italian Community in Bagnoregio

It's been many years since I first started vacationing in Italy. What was once an adventure in travel for me has become so much more. The little village of Bagnoregio, outside Orvieto in the tri-corner of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio, has become a second home for me. I now make time to go there three times a year for a variety of reasons. I used to say it was just a lovely respite from my hectic life in southern California. As a social worker, with an intense work life, respite is important to my sanity. But this little country destination, a farmer's paradise, has become another whole community for me that's as important to me as the one I reside in for most of the year. I've written a little about some of the interesting places I've...

View full article »

 

Umbria In Love With Orvieto

My personal addiction to Italian culture happened several years before my encounter with the extraordinary hill town of Orvieto over 12 years ago, when friends brought me for three weeks of travel to this densely artistic place. I fell so in love with what I experienced that I’ve made two or three trips annually - and even bought property nearby - to continue the adventure. Orvieto is located in the Umbria region of Italy and is unique because it borders three regions: Umbria, Tuscany, and Lazio - and has the best of all three cultures. This is a unique spot because it maintains an elegance that many hill towns cannot claim. Besides one of the largest, most spectacular cathedrals in all of Italy (with a chapel fresco that inspired...

View full article »

 

Venice Venice - 200 Things To Do and See

by Ruth L. Edenbaum, originally posted on slowtrav.com in 2005 This is not a complete list of things to do and see in Venice, but is merely a list of some of what is readily available, especially to those who choose to spend more than two or three days there. These are some of my favorite things in Venice. Items are organized by neighborhood (sestieri). Venice seen from the Campanile in San Marco San Marco 1. The Doge's Palace. Take the regular tour, or walk through it with an Audio Guide or Guide Book. 2. The Doge's Palace. Take the Secret Itinerary Tour, see rooms that are off limits to other tours. 3. Basilica San Marco. Inside, outside, the Treasury, the Loggia, the Pala D'oro, and the Baptistery. 4. The Campanile. Look down on...

View full article »

 

Campania & Amalfi Coast Hiking the Path of the Gods

The Amalfi Coast is a south facing peninsula in the Campania region, south of Naples. It is lined with mountains that drop steeply to the coast. Towns spread up the mountain sides from the water. The main towns from west to east are Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, and Ravello. There are more towns east of Amalfi but these are not as popular with tourists from abroad. A busy and somewhat narrow road, the infamous Amalfi Coast Road, winds along the coast dramatically going high up at some points and along the water at others. You can drive to the different towns or take a bus or ferry to them. Ravello sits high above the sea, well off the coast road, and can be reached by car or bus. The larger town of Sorrento is on the north western side of...

View full article »

 

Food & Drink How to Eat in an Italian Home

If you are traveling to Italy, it is a given that you will be dining in as many restaurants as possible. But as amazing as the food is in most of these locales, there is no replacement for Italian food cooked and served up by a genuine Italian in a genuine Italian home. Most people think that it's a stereotype to say that food is the most important thing in Italy, but in reality, this isn't far from the truth. Food and family go hand in hand, and preparing meals for one another and eating together is the number one way that Italians express their love and affection. This is why, in my opinion, you don't really get the full "Italian experience" until you have broken bread with an Italian family in their home. I have been...

View full article »

 

Florence A Week in Florence, Italy

Over five million international visitors arrive in Florence (Firenze in Italian) each year. Over 90% of these tourists stop by for only a day. Most of the rest stay less than four nights. But it is the wise traveler who spends a week or more, setting up a home base in a Florentine apartment and exploring the city and the surrounding countryside at their leisure. Tour Italy from Florence To tour Italy from Florence make a lot of sense. The center of the Chianti Classico wine region is thirty minutes southwest of the historic center of Florence. By bus or train Siena, Pisa, Lucca, and even, Cinque Terre, can be reached within an hour or two. For more far-flung destinations, Florence, with its central location, provides a smart staging...

View full article »

 

Food & Drink Pizza for Dinner

Pizza in Italy is not junk food! Pizza is a very popular dinner for Italians and for tourists. It is inexpensive and is a quicker and lighter meal. In most restaurants, especially in smaller towns and less touristed areas, pizza is served only at dinner. Pizza for Lunch In most towns, bakeries sell simple pizza slices for lunch. You will also find a pizza-like food in cafes for lunch, but this is not great pizza. Larger towns may have takeout-style restaurants that serve pizza by the slice for lunch. Or you may find pizzerias that serve pizza for lunch as well as dinner, but this is not the norm. Pizza for Dinner The best pizza is had at dinner time in a restaurant that specializes in pizza. The best pizza is made in a...

View full article »

 

Food & Drink Restaurants in Italy

You will love the restaurants in Italy. Most are small, family-run places. Almost every meal is the best meal of your life. It would be easier to list the places where you had a bad meal, than to list where you had good meals. Meals in Restaurants Breakfast You won’t find a typical American breakfast in Italy. No pancakes or eggs benedict or waffles. No whole wheat muffins. The typical Italian breakfast is a cappuccino and a sweet pastry taken at a cafe. Hotel breakfast rooms cater to the breakfast tastes of many nationalities: Italians (sweet pastries, cappuccino), Germans (bread, butter, jam, meat, cheese, coffee) and Americans (dry cereal, yogurt, fruit). I think the British fit into one of those groups. Some hotels will even have...

View full article »

 

Campania & Amalfi Coast Paestum, Greek Temples

Paestum was a Graeco-Roman city on the coast, south of the Amalfi Coast, founded in the 7th century BC by Greeks and originally known as Poseidonia. Today you can see remains of three major temples in Doric style, dating from the first half of the 6th century BC - Temple of Ceres, Temple of Hera and Temple of Neptune. There are also remains of Roman houses, an amphitheater and a forum. Paestum was abandoned in the middle ages and discovered again in the 18th century. During World War II, on September 9, 1943, Paestum was the location of the landing beaches of the U.S. 36th Infantry Division during the Allied invasion of Italy. This is a beautiful site to explore. Plan to spend several hours here. The temples are spread out. There is a...

View full article »

 

Campania & Amalfi Coast Pompeii Sites

Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano, south of Naples, near the coast. On 24 August 79 AD Mount Vesuvius erupted covering nearby towns with 13 - 20 feet of ash. Several of these towns, on the south side of Vesuvius, have been excavated and are open to the public. These archaeological sites give you a unique look at life in the 1st century AD. Pompeii and Herculaneum are the best known, but smaller sites like Oplontis and Stabia are interesting too. If you have time for only one site, go to Pompeii. Plan to spend several hours there - it is magnificent. We have been there three times and I would happily return. The Archaeological Museum in Naples has many artefacts from these sites. This is a very populated area and the sites are...

View full article »

 

Sicily Neapolis Archaeological Park

The Neapolis Archaeological Park (Parco Archeologico della Neapolis), is in the northern part of the Neapolis quarter, one of the five areas of Syracuse in the Greek and Romans periods. There are several sites to see here but the mains ones are the Greek Theater (3rd century BC), the Roman Amphitheater (3rd century AD) and the Ear of Dionysius in the stone quarries. This is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Location: Italy - Sicily - Syracuse - Syracuse Note that Syracuse is the English spelling. It is Siracusa in Italian. It is easy to drive right by the entrance because it is set back from the road and is across the road from the park. Driving there from the city center along Via Ettore Romagnoli, the entrance is on your right at Viale...

View full article »

 

Le Marche Fonte Avellana Monastery

Fonte Avellana Monastery (Monastero di Fonte Avellana) on the slopes of Monte Catria is a Catholic monastery founded in 979 by a group of hermits. Most of the buildings were built in the 12th century. It was an important center of learning in Middle Ages. Dante visited and described it in his Divine Comedy. The most interesting part of the monastery is the scriptorium where they produced illuminated medieval manuscripts. The beautiful room was designed to let in a lot of natural light. You also visit the Dante Alighieri Library, the church, and the crypt. Fonte Avellana is in a very beautiful and peaceful location and makes a good stop when exploring this corner of Le Marche. Location: Italy - Marche - Pesaro and Urbino - Frontone To...

View full article »

 

Sicily Greek Temples - Agrigento, Selinunte, Segesta

We went to Sicily in April 2014 to see the Greek temples at Agrigento (Valley of the Temples), Selinunte and Segesta. We spent a week in Scicli (near Ragusa in the southeast corner) and spent the day at Agrigento on our way going to Sciacca where we spent three nights. From there we did easy day trips to Selinunte and Segesta. Sicily is an amazing place to see, but seeing these Greek temples was a dream come true for me. Agrigento (The Valley of the Temples) The Valley of the Temples (Valle dei Templi) sits below the modern city of Agrigento. The ancient city of Agrigento was a Greek colony in the 6th century BC and became one of the leading cities in the Ancient Greek world. Doric temples were built in the 6th and 5th centuries BC...

View full article »

 

Campania & Amalfi Coast Positano

Undoubtedly the most dramatic town on the Amalfi Coast, Positano is heart-stoppingly beautiful with its pastel-splashed houses clinging to the nearly vertical cliffs. Located between Amalfi and Sorrento, it is almost preposterous that anyone thought to build a town in this steep landscape, yet Positano has gone from sleepy fishing village to swanky resort that has attracted intellectuals, artists and stars for decades, and its popularity just continues to grow. Location: Italy - Campania & Amalfi Coast - Salerno - Positano How to Get There: The best way to arrive in Positano is by boat, to see the full effect of its setting on the hillside. You can catch a ferry from Sorrento, Amalfi or Salerno. Then you can return by bus on the...

View full article »

 

Campania & Amalfi Coast Capri, a Magical Island

"Magical" is the word that comes to mind for Capri, a picturesque island of breath-taking scenery, blooming flowers and cascading vines, pretty streets, and natural beauty. Cliffs and coves make up a good deal of its coastline, pocked with sea caves, while a mountain rises in the middle of the isle. Whether you want to hike, shop or swim, this is the place that offers it up in style. Location: Italy - Campania & Amalfi Coast - Naples - Capri On the island there are two municipalities – Capri town and Anacapri. The arrival port is Marina Grande; the luxury boat harbor is Marina Piccola, while Capri's town center is on the hill, accessed by the funicular in Marina Grande. Get a map at the tourist information office in Marina Grande...

View full article »

 

Le Marche Pergola Museum of the Gilded Bronzes

The Pergola Museum of the Gilded Bronzes (Pergola Museo Bronzi Dorati) has a life size group of gilded bronzes from ancient Rome. There are two female figures, cloaked and veiled, and two horsemen, wearing military outfits on decorated horses. This is the only group of gilded bronzes from ancient Rome in existence today. They are displayed in a room on their own. Location: Italy - Marche - Pesaro and Urbino - Pergola Remember that the museum closes mid-day, from 12:30 - 3:30. We did not remember this on our visit. There is a large parking lot across the street from the museum. Website: Pergola Museum of the Gilded Bronzes The Pergola Gilded Bronzes were found in 1946, but it took until 1987 for them to be fully restored and displayed...

View full article »

 

Umbria Ocriculum Archaeological Park

The remains of the ancient Roman city of Ocriculum sit beside the River Tiber (Fiume Tevere) below the modern city of Otricoli. The remains of an amphitheater, forum, theater, monuments and other buildings have been preserved in an archaeological park which is open to visitors. The Via Flaminia ran beside the ancient town and parts of the road have been excavated. This site was partly excavated in the 18th century by the Vatican and many of the statues and carvings found are in the Vatican Museums. This is a beautiful and off the beaten track archaeological site in a pretty corner of southern Umbria. Location: Italy - Umbria - Terni Ocriculum is off the SS3 on the left across from where the road branches off to Otricoli. There is a...

View full article »

 

Umbria Carsulae Archaeological Park

Carsulae (Parco archeologico di Carsulae) was a Roman town on the Via Flaminia, founded in 300 BC. Visit the remains of the Forum, monumental necropolis, baths, arch of San Damiano, theater and amphitheater. A long stretch of the Via Flaminia is visible. The remains of Carsulae were not built upon in modern times, so you see how the town was originally. The on-site museum displays statues and tomb stones found in there. Location: Italy - Umbria - Terni - San Gemini Located in the countryside in southern Umbria, near San Gemini. Coming from Acquasparta to the north there are very few signs. There is a large parking area about 500m from the site. At the site there is a small museum and cafe. Paid entry. Check the website for opening...

View full article »

 

Sicily Roman Villa of Casale

The Roman Villa of Casale (Villa Romana del Casale), the remains of a villa built in the 4th century as a summer home for a member of the Imperial family, contains one of the best collections of Roman mosaics in the world. An open sided building sits over the villa remains and you view the mosaic floors from walkways. The villa has 62 rooms with 42 mosaic floors with very detailed pictures created by the mosaics. The most impressive mosaic is the 197 feet long "Great Hunt" showing the hunt, capture and transportation of wild animals from North Africa and India to Rome. Location: Italy - Sicily - Enna - Piazza Armerina Located 6km from Piazza Armerina in the interior of Sicily. It is best reached by car. Hours: Open all day (does not...

View full article »