Palermo: Sicily’s multicultural capital
5 min read • Apr 18, 2018
Palermo is a beguiling city, set like a jewel in the fan-shaped Conca d’Oro plain between two rocky promontories. For almost three millennia, empire after…
Travel Stories
Italy
- How to live like a Local in Florence
4 min read • Mar 19, 2018
When Lonely Planet Local Nardia Plumridge first laid eyes on Florence as a teenager, it was love at first sight. Today, the Renaissance capital’s classic…
- How to live like a Local in Rome
5 min read • Feb 16, 2018
A language nerd at heart, Lonely Planet Local Alexandra Bruzzese first packed her bags and set off for the Eternal City to fulfil her childhood ambition…
- How to live like a Local in Venice
4 min read • Oct 27, 2017
Lonely Planet Local Jo-Ann Titmarsh has been living in Venice for over 20 years. Although she originally came to the city as a student for a three-month…
- Naples' top 10 pizzerias
6 min read • Oct 24, 2017
Pizza is one of the world's favourite foods, and Naples is its birthplace. Legend has it that the classic margherita pizza was invented in 1889, when…
- Milan's 10 most quirky and unusual bars
5 min read • Oct 10, 2017
In a city known for fashion and elegance, you'd expect Milan's bar scene to be sophisticated – and sure, it's possible to sip aperitifs with the beautiful…
- Matera’s renaissance: new life in Italy’s ancient cave city
6 min read • Aug 30, 2017
There’s a new buzz in the ancient southern-Italian cave city of Matera, with boutique hotels, superb restaurants and innovative cultural hubs blossoming…
- Seven islands, seven adventures: Sicily’s idyllic Aeolian archipelago
5 min read • Aug 29, 2017
Clustered in the blue-green Mediterranean an hour’s boat ride north of Sicily, the Aeolian Islands are one of Europe’s most visually stunning and…
- Set-jetting seven decades of iconic film locations
4 min read • Mar 20, 2017
Films and TV shows have the incredible power to transport us to amazing locations around the world, and beyond to galaxies far, far away. But while the on…
- Spooky crypts and sparkling metro stations: 10 adventures in Naples' underworld
5 min read • Jan 3, 2017
Whilst the southern Italian city of Naples is well known for the anarchic cacophony of its street life, few visitors are aware that an eerily quiet…
- Must-know travel tips for first-timers in Italy
6 min read • Nov 7, 2016
What’s a trip to Italy really like? How do I get around, and what do I wear? What’s Italy's local etiquette? Here are practical tips to ensure your first time…
- Cutting-edge Florence: the city’s trendiest bars, boutiques and galleries
5 min read • Nov 4, 2016
Given Florence’s extreme wealth of artistic and cultural heritage, it’s not surprising that the achievements of its Renaissance masters such as…
- Cliffhanger: a white-knuckle adventure in the Italian Dolomites
6 min read • Aug 3, 2016
‘Not more dangerous, only more difficult,’ is Michael’s response when I ask whether the rain that continues to fall will make our climb more dangerous…
- Exploring Italy by train
6 min read • Jun 21, 2016
With some of Europe’s fastest trains and most scenic routes, Italy is a great place to travel by train. The country might be more famous for its deluxe…
- Eight great ways to immerse yourself in Venetian culture
5 min read • May 10, 2016
To get to know Venice from the inside out, first you have to see the lagoon city as the locals do. That means taking the leap beyond sightseeing and…
- The ultimate foodie tour of Tuscany
5 min read • Mar 30, 2016
If Italy can claim Europe’s most tempting cuisine, Tuscany is both its larder and its inspiration. This sun-drenched, vine-lined region is rich in slices…
- Naples on a plate
5 min read • Jan 20, 2016
To clued-in gourmands, the mere mention of Naples makes the mouth water. This loud, ancient metropolis is home to Italy’s finest pizza, silkiest…
- Coffee and culture: discover Florence's historic cafes
6 min read • Dec 21, 2015
Italy is a nation of coffee connoisseurs, so it’s no wonder that the country’s historic cafes are treated with nearly as much reverence as its…
- Visiting Venice on a budget
6 min read • Dec 9, 2015
Despite its enduring reputation as a playground for the world’s elite, some of Venice’s finest moments are surprisingly affordable. The beautiful Grand…
- Skiing in Italy: find your perfect resort
5 min read • Nov 20, 2015
Italy’s northern borders are delineated by an arc of majestic mountain peaks, including some of the tallest peaks in the Alps in the west and the…
- Treasures of the backstreets: Venice's finest artisan shops
5 min read • Nov 18, 2015
The brilliance of Venice’s glory days still shines in its ateliers where craftsmen and women keep centuries-old traditions alive. Famed Murano glass,…
- Dare to taste: Palermo's authentic street food
5 min read • Nov 17, 2015
The capital of multicultural Sicily, Palermo regularly ranks as one of the world’s top destinations for street food.