Why I love Italy

“Italy's 20 regions feel more like 20 independent states, each with its own dialects, traditions, architecture and glorious food. From nibbling on knödel in an Alto Adige chalet to exploring souk-like market streets in Sicily, the choices are as diverse as they are seductive. Then there's the country's incomparable artistic treasures, which amount to more than the rest of the world put together. It's hard not to feel...” Read More

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Cristian Bonetto
Writer

Top experiences in Italy

Recent articles

Seven reasons to visit Pistoia, a 'little Florence' without the crowds

If you're looking for a uncrowded corner of Tuscany that is rich in history and culture, you'll be delighted to find yourself in pretty Pistoia at the foot of the snow-capped Apennine mountains.

Even the locals were taken by surprise when their modest city was voted Italy’s Capital of Culture for 2017, but there’s no doubt that Pistoia richly deserves the award. This thriving, self-confident town, where culture effortlessly bridges the gap between the past, present and future, offers visitors a plethora of delightful experiences.
Paula Hardy
Lonely Planet Writer

On the grapevine: five must-try Sicilian wineries

Until recently known as a viticultural wasteland of bulk-blended plonk, sun-bleached Sicily is fast becoming one of Italy’s most dynamic wine regions. Enlightened local winemakers are using unique Sicilian varietals and back-to-basics wine-making techniques to produce cellars full of show-stopping drops. To savour the flavour, book a degustation at one of the following standout wineries.

Family-owned Planeta (planeta.it) offers a thorough introduction to Sicily’s diverse wine styles, each of its six estates (in Melfi, Sambuca di Sicilia, Vittoria, Noto, Etna and Capo Milazzo) dedicated to a particular terroir.
Cristian Bonetto
Lonely Planet Writer

Sicily’s best beaches: warm waters and stunning scenery

Boasting more than a dozen offshore islands and nearly 1500km of coastline on the Ionian, Tyrrhenian and Mediterranean seas, Sicily has beaches for every taste. While Sicilian beaches are often of the pebbly variety, with fewer sandy expanses than other Mediterranean hotspots, the coastal scenery here is some of Europe’s most dramatic, with deep-blue, turquoise and emerald green waters framed by rugged rocky outcrops.

Sicily’s waters remain clean and warm throughout the summer and autumn months, with swimming conditions at their best from June to early October. Beaches range from crowded bathing lidos where you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas to stretches of nearly deserted strand.
Gregor Clark
Lonely Planet Writer
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Travel guides

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Italy adventures

$56.02 Sightseeing tours

Rome City Bike Tour

Enjoy the best of Rome on a four-hour bike tour with a local guide. Cycle through Rome, discovering its ancient monuments, fancy shopping streets, beautiful churches and fountains. The tour route will provide a reminiscent view of Rome's main attractions, plus some hidden squares and little alleys that are less common among tourists. For a leisurely, yet authentic, look at Rome, this tour should not be missed.
$477.92 Small group tours

3-Day Italy Trip: Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri

Explore Italy’s scandalously beautiful Campania region on a 3-day southern Italy tour from Rome, with 4-star hotel accommodation in Sorrento included. After seeing the big, bold and brash city of Naples by coach, explore the UNESCO-listed ruins of ancient Pompeii and then hit the Amalfi Coast. Cruise to Capri to see its fabled Blue Grotto (summer only), and then spend your final morning at leisure, soaking up the sun in Sorrento.
$591.11 Small group tours

5-Day Best of Italy Trip

See the best of Italy in five days on this must-do tour from Rome, and fall in love with Assisi, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Padua, Venice and Montepulciano – places so captivating that you won’t want to go home! Enjoy a mix of guided tours and free time to discover world-class attractions like Florence Duomo and St Mark's Basilica (Basilica di San Marco), and enjoy four nights of 3- or 4-star hotel accommodation – two nights in Florence and two nights in Venice.
$360.16 Small group tours

2-Day Italy Trip: Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento and Capri

Enjoy an overnight trip from Rome to the south of Italy, and visit the vibrant city of Naples – capital of Campania – as well as Pompeii, Sorrento and the island of Capri. With excursions and ample free time factored in, this Italy 2-day tour offers the perfect introduction to the area. Enjoy overnight 4-star hotel accommodation in Sorrento on the stunning Amalfi Coast as well as tours of Naples, Capri and the UNESCO-listed Pompeii archaeological site.
$667.72 Small group tours

5-Day Italy Trip: Florence, Pisa and Venice

Get to know Florence and Venice on a 5-day tour from Rome. With guided tours of each city plus plenty of free time, the package is perfect for experiencing the best of these Italian cities. An additional visit is also included to Pisa for a walking tour of Cathedral Square, that takes in the UNESCO-listed Leaning Tower of Pisa and Duomo di Pisa. Four nights of 3-star, 4-star or 4-star superior hotel accommodation – two nights in both Florence and Venice – is included plus transport. The tour finishes in Venice, making it an ideal option if you want to spend longer in one of the world’s most romantic cities.
$1199 Small group tours

Mediterranean Express

Jump on this quick (and affordable) seven-day tour of some of Europe's greatest cities. See what's so nice about Nice, snap the expected "holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa" shot, and then explore Gaudí's famous architecture. And hey, think of the food to be tried on a tour from Rome to Barcelona! (Good thing you'll be walking so much.) Travel on trains and leave the coach bus behind on this life-changing experience.
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