As if you need convincing like it's not already the hottest euro summer destination and most fantasised place in the world. Really, I just wanted an excuse to rant about how much I love it here and inspire you to take a trip to the land of pizza, pasta and happiness too.
This list of reasons why I love Italy started as a note on my phone at 1am because I couldn’t sleep thinking about how much I love it here and don’t want to leave in a few days' time.
Here are all my favourite little quirks and sentiments of Italy I want to immortalise in my mind.
Carbs on carbs. It's normal and not demonised to eat pasta every day.
The friendly kitties roaming the streets.
The town church bells ringing every 15 minutes to tell the time.
Excessive talking with hands.
There’s so much history and heritage sites in every town.
The hectic driving. It's scary but also works somehow.
The bread doesn’t make you feel bloated.
Happy hour cocktails and aperitifs.
The passion & poetry of the language.
Espressos from a Moka pot.
Late dinners & lively streets all night.
Sleep ins & late starts.
Siestas.
Time moves a little slower, nobody's rushing.
They don't give a fuck. People are loud and proud.
The tap water tastes so good.
And it makes my hair and skin feel amazing.
My tan is thriving and without getting burnt.
Fruit grows on trees everywhere.
They make everything beautiful. Buildings, churches, art.
Everyone is gorgeous. Like Gucci model material it's ridiculous.
Their sense of family and community.
The body positivity. You'll see all shapes and sizes in speedos and old ladies rocking tiny bikinis.
No sandy feet on the pebble beaches.
The tasty little mozzarella panzerotti's from Maccas. You can even buy a block of parmesan cheese on the menu. To be continued
If you're sold and planning your stay, here are some must-see's, must-eats, and tips for your trip.
Fave Spots to Stay:
Rome Home to so much history, culture, and the best damn carbonara on the planet, there's truly no place like Rome. If you're flying into Italy, Rome is likely to be the most affordable city to start your trip from flight-wise. Be prepared to walk, lots. It's a big, beautiful city, so I'd recommend a 3-day stay if you want to get the full taste. My tips: get to the Trevi Fountain early, probably before 8am so you can marvel in its glory uninterrupted before the million other tourists flood in. Also pre-book your tickets for the Colosseum online, (ideally on a cooler or overcast day). Besides the big guns, I'd recommend strolling and eating your way through Trastevere, getting tapas & drinks in the Pigneto neighbourhood, and checking out the Gardens of Villa Borghese for a breath of fresh air in nature and a cute row boating date.
Florence Firenze is one of the most romantic cities, it has my whole heart. The art, the architecture, the wine. Bellissimo. Some must see's are the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral, the Bridge of Gold: Ponte Vecchio, the sculptures & David's booty *chefs kiss* at Palazzo Vecchio, and head to Piazzale Michelangelo for an amazing view as the sun sets over the city. If you're up for a wild night of Karaoke, brace yourself for the time of your life at the Red Garter bar. While you're in Florence, I'd also highly recommend booking a wine-tasting tour through Tuscany for the day. It's also only a short trip to Pisa if you want to get that iconic leaning tower shot.
Venice The floating city of Venezia is something straight out of a fairytale. You can get lost for hours strolling through the tight alleyways and canals, finding boutique arts and crafts at every turn. If you're looking to save on accommodation and want to spare yourself the struggle of lugging your bags over busy bridges, book your stay on the mainland Venezia Mestre. From there it's only a 10-minute train into Venezia Santa Lucia. Here's my list of all the most photo-worthy spots to see in Venice. A hidden gem worth finding amongst the canals is the 'world's most beautiful bookstore' Libreria Acqua Alta, stacked wall-to-wall with vintage books, very chill resident cats, and also a gondola out the back you can climb into for a pic without having to cop a €100 ride. I also recommend catching the water ferry for a day trip over to the islands of Murano for its world-renowned glassmaking, and to the rainbow island of Burano to explore the colourful fishing village.
Sorrento Sorrento is simply beautiful. The general vibe is much more relaxed and less packed than its neighbouring hot spots, but still so easy to take trips to Positano, Amalfi, Pompeii & Capri from. Day trips are all you really need to explore, eat & swim your way through the famous towns of the Amalfi Coast. You can take the SITA bus for a couple of euros, get a private driver, or hire your own car or vespa if you're brave enough to take on some sketchy cliffside driving. Sorrento has its selection of delish swim spots too, plus the town is much less steep so likely a lot easier to get to your accommodation compared to Positano. Dining under the lemon trees at Ristorante Parrucchiano Favorita was so special. You gotta try their cannelloni, they're the OG creators of the delicious dish.
Polignano a Mare If you have time to get to the east coast, I promise you it's well worth the trip. If you want a taste of the less touristy side of the Italian coast, Puglia is where many locals head for their summer vacays. Polignano a Mare was the cutest coastal town, imagine a hybrid of Greece & Croatia. You can take the train there and it makes for the perfect central base to take trips to Bari, Monopoli, Ostuni & Alberobello. I have to plug our Airbnb A Casa di Elena their sweet host, fab location, and delish rooftop breakfast overlooking the whitewashed cliffs.
La Spezia If you're taking your trip through northern Italy, the coastal towns along the Italian Riviera are simply the place you want to be in the summertime. You might not have heard of La Spezia but probably of Cinque Terre, or at least seen photos of those iconic colourful houses on hills overlooking the sea. Well La Spezia is just 5 minutes outside of the Cinque Terre by train, and it's much cheaper than staying in the towns, so I'd recommend booking your accommodation there if you're wanting to stretch your money further. For all the best eats, swims & hikes check out my lil guide to the Cinque Terre.
For the record, I adore Milan, Como, Portofino, and Naples too, (really anywhere in Italy lol), and I'm yet to see Sicily, but if I had to pick just a few spots to visit, the above are my favourites.
Fave Swim Spots:
The little coastal town of Santa Marinella is about an hour train trip from Rome. This swim was exactly what we were craving after being in the steamy summer heat of Rome. Save yourself around 50 euros a day by buying your own beach umbrella rather than renting one, and head to the free beaches (Spiaggia Libera).
The boat trip to Capri was well worth the cost and was probably my favourite day of the whole trip. Book a boat that includes the Blue Grotto on the itinerary, and be extra kind to your kayak rower and ask if you can swim in the blue grotto!
There are so many swimming gems in the Cinque Terre, but my favourite spot is off the pier at Riomaggiore, or just around the corner from the La Conchiglia bar for a pebbly beach with crystal clear water.
The stunning Lama Monachile beach in Polignano a Mare. You’ll fight for an inch of beach to lay down your towel, but so worth it for the iconic views, little grotto caves and cliff jumping. They have spotlights on the cliffs at night so you can go for a magical night dip without the crowds.
The swim spot of my Pinterest dreams in Portofino. Plug 'Baia di Cannone' into your Maps and walk down the stairs from the main road to find this magical little lagoon.
Fave Eats:
Colazione to start the day- typically a coffee, fresh juice and cornetto pastry for breakfast
Spaghetti alla Carbonara in Rome
The most delicious loaded paninis from All’Antico Vinaio in Florence, Rome or Milan. The lineup is worth it, I promise
The famous pizza from Eat, Pray, Love at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele (or any pizza in Naples)
Lemon sorbet on the Amalfi Coast
Dinner in the Trastavere neighbourhood for the best food in Rome
Pesto anything in the Cinque Terre region - pesto focaccia, pesto pasta, pesto lasagne...my stomach is rumbling and it's 1 am :')
The best tiramisu in town, from Two Sizes in Rome
Head to the Pigneto neighbourhood in Rome for tapas & drinks
Aperol Spritz - Italy's favourite cocktail
Bruschetta at Nessun Dorma in Manarola with an iconic view
A daily gelato - look for the places with silver tubs, not too brightly coloured or loaded with toppings, that's usually a sign that it’s full of artificial flavours. I always judge a place by the colour of their pistachio flavour, it should be an almost dull brown/green. Vivoli Gelato in Florence has been my fave gelato so far.
Hot Travel Tips:
The train is so handy and affordable to travel through Italy and also through Europe in general. The Eurail Global Pass was well worth it for my trip, especially if you’re planning to country hop. Double-check if you need to book a seat reservation for your journey, and always give yourself extra time before the departure to find the right platform, some stations are huge.
For me it’s always comfort over cuteness when it comes to my shoe choices for travelling. A quality pair of sneakers will get you a long way when you’re doing sometimes 20k + steps a day.
Don’t trust the bus, sometimes they come, sometimes they don’t, and sometimes they’re full so you gotta fork out a very expensive cab ride home (from Positano). So always have a backup plan or some extra cash.
Carry a bottle with you and drink the tap water, (especially in Rome) I promise it’s bussin, it’s cold and crisp.
Pack sunscreen with you unless you wanna pay triple what you would at home. Skin smart hotties wear SPF, Italians don’t.
I swear I'm not 60 years old, but ‘free’ walking tours were actually so great to learn the history and hotspots of the cities. Google Sandemans New Europe Tours to book a time, and you pay what you want to the guide at the end of the tour.
Expect to be charged a city tax on top of your accommodation fees. Typically it’s a few euros per person, per night and even for an Airbnb, hostel or hotel.
Don't forget to mention my name at passport control so the Italian Government might maybe sponsor me as a travel influencer :-)
Ciao x
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