Europe – since 2001
Ancient history in Rome
The Italian capital is a fascinating place. While strolling from your hotel to the next restaurant, you will likely come across some kind of archaeological site that may be over 2000 years old.
I covered my favourites (incl. restaurants of course) in this post.
Cafés & culture in Torino
In the shadow of neighboring Milano, the small town in the north-west of Italy actually has a lot to offer:
Among my favourites were dinner at Piola da Cianci, a visit of the film museum, strolling along the Po river and the beautiful architecture in the old town.
It’s also the gateway for day trips in the Piemont region.
Pizza & Limoncello in Napoli
The city in the south has quickly drawn me in with its lively ambiance. While it’s a bit chaotic, there is always something going on. And let’s not forget the amazing pizza!
Personal recommendation: Go on a day trip to Ischia.
Aperitivo in Bologna
Home to the famous Bolognese sauce, and a university city. After a stroll through the old town, sit down at one of the many restaurants and order a drink. It will be served with the most generous side dishes I have seen in Italy – for free. They will even cover your dinner.
A taste of “La Dolce Vita”
If you want to discover the more extravagant side of Italy, I recommend:
- Lake Como
- Amalfi Coast
- Florence
- Milano
Train to Sicily
Crossing over from mainland Italy to the country’s biggest island is an interesting trip. I did it on a train, which was then put on a boat. On the return journey, I even took the direct night train from Palermo to Florence.
On Sicily, some of my favorite experiences included hiking Mount Etna & a day trip to Cefalù.
Camping!
Some of my earliest camping memories are of family holidays to Italy. The campgrounds here are on another level: most even have their own Pizzeria on site. They are very well maintained and spread out throughout the country.
The most memorable places were: Caorle (close to Venice), Tuscany & Elba.
It’s also a great option to make your trip to Italy a bit more affordable.
Places I’d like to go:
- Matera
- Dolomiti
- Calabria
- Procida
- Bergamo
- Verona
How to get around:
- fly to Milano or Rome. International busses to and from France, Switzerland and Slovenia are available too.
- trains connect most cities. In the countryside, buses may be the better option.
- BlablaCar safe version of hitchhiking when buses don’t run.
- The summer months (especially July + August) are extremely busy & prices skyrocket.
thattravelstory 