Italy Travel Stories

Mar 13, 2012 • 3 min read

Italy is a dazzling, mesmerising feast of a country. Here are the country’s must-see highlights – if you don’t make it to them all on one trip, it’s the…

Jan 12, 2012 • 4 min read

Big-booted Italy and its volcanic little brother Sicily are firmly in the spotlight for travelling Europhiles, but what about the other island? Sardinia,…

Nov 15, 2011 • 3 min read

Locals will tell you that the only way to see Sardinia’s startlingly beautiful coastlines and rugged hinterland is to get out and hike.

Oct 19, 2011 • 4 min read

Leave Rome its Colosseum, Venice its canals. Let Tuscany have its masterpieces, along with its long lines. Umbria is the slow food, slow travel capital of…

Sep 11, 2011 • 4 min read

Though it was probably no picnic for the residents that endured it, Siena's centuries-long economic downturn during Medici rule can now be appreciated as…

Aug 18, 2011 • 3 min read

The island of Elba, the largest in the Tuscan Archipelago, is a 260km drive and 15km ferry ride north of Rome. In July and August, the population density…

Aug 11, 2011 • 3 min read

In the remote southern Italian region of Basilicata is the unique and ancient cave-city of Matera, famous for its sassi (stone houses carved out of the…

Jun 27, 2011 • 2 min read

A city as multi-layered, ancient, and chaotically alive as Rome is bound to contain many mysterious corners.

May 24, 2011 • 3 min read

Granite peaks and beechwood forests, underground springs and swirling mists. Lonely Planet Magazine chooses its favourite national parks in Europe.

Mar 31, 2011 • 2 min read

In this month's Lonely Planet Magazine, Alison Bing, author of Lonely Planet's Venice & The Veneto City shares her insider knowledge, mapping out her…

Mar 8, 2011 • 4 min read

Italy is a country blessed with exquisite cities and Rome is the daddy of them all. There are just too many reasons to fall in love with Rome: the…

Feb 18, 2011 • 2 min read

The mainstay of Italian colazione (breakfast) is scalding hot espresso, cappuccino (espresso with a goodly dollop of foamed milk) or caffè latte – the hot…

Feb 15, 2011 • 3 min read

The magic of Venice lies in its back alleys. Forming a parallel universe to the jam-packed shopping and sightseeing districts around Piazza San Marco and…

Jan 28, 2011 • 3 min read

Sicily's food is so good that even the mobsters in The Godfather turned to it for comfort. Indeed, the cuisine of Sicily is respected as one of the most…

Jan 14, 2011 • 3 min read

Looking for inspiration for a weekend away? Lonely Planet Magazine recommends Lucca, Italy in the spring.

Dec 23, 2010 • 4 min read

Once upon a time, a pre-dinner drink in Italy meant a swiftly served aperitif with a bowl of nuts or potato chips and some fat green olives.

Dec 1, 2010 • 2 min read

Where are the finest places in Italy to dabble your toes, whisk along in a convertible, or trek through timeless landscapes?

Oct 5, 2010 • 3 min read

To eat and drink in Italy often verges on the sublime, and at any time of year there are markets, shops and restaurants groaning with fresh seasonal…

Aug 12, 2010 • 2 min read

What are the absolute don't miss sights in Milan and Italy's Northwest? In this excerpt from Lonely Planet's Discover Italy guide, Lonely Planet author…

Aug 8, 2010 • 2 min read

For some, it seems the impossible dream. A  distant playground for rich snobs, (successful) travel writers, Merchant & Ivory film settings, and your lucky…

Aug 6, 2010 • 1 min read

Italy has always been a tourist hot spot. In this five-part extract from Lonely Planet Magazine (Aug 2010), we recommend five alternatives to big-ticket…

Aug 4, 2010 • 2 min read

In this five-part series taken from Lonely Planet Magazine (Aug 2010 issue) we show you just where to step off the tourist trail and start exploring the…