TUSCANY
I arrived in Tuscany in 2019 to work and live in the small town of Siena (50,000 inhabitants). Located in the heart of Tuscany, Siena is a magnificent fortress town known for its Palio, a bareback horse race where riders are ready to fight for victory ... (Video of the Palio by the BBC )
Tuscany is quite similar to the Bordeaux region because it is mainly wine-growing, it brings together a large number of properties recognized around the world. There are also small medieval villages, usually perched on a hill, a perfect setting for cinema (6 Underground, Under the Tuscan sun ...) or video games (Assassin's Creed II). Tuscany is home to Florence where you can find Michelangelo's David but also pure and magnificent landscapes and many small historic villages. If you want to diversify your trip from classics like Rome and Venice, you MUST go to Tuscany.
My recommendations:
- Visit Florence on foot and get lost in the streets ...
- Rent a car to enjoy the region and the surrounding towns.
- Book a tasting or a lunch in a vineyard.
- If you are traveling together, it is very advantageous to rent a villa in the countryside with a swimming pool for less than 50 € / night / person!
PS: Remember to book your visits in advance to be sure of availability or limit the wait.
PSbis: In less touristy places, remember to translate a few sentences to make yourself understood because people will not necessarily speak English!
SICILY
The region of Sicily is very different from the Northern regions because it is much less industrialized and therefore more authentic and family-friendly. I spent a large part of my stay in the region of Trapani on the west coast of Sicily (known for the mafia) then I visited the east and south of the island.
Marsala, where I have resided most of my stays in Sicily, is a beautiful seaside town with fantastic beaches. We eat really well there, with dishes based mainly on fish or the famous arancini.
The east of the island is much more touristy. It is also there that I saw the most French in the streets. The streets have a very strong Greek influence and are beautiful. The beaches are a little more rocky or difficult to access. It is quite convenient to have a car on site so that you can travel around the area and enjoy the small towns around. For example it is better to stay in Syracuse which is cheaper and where it is possible to park than to go directly to Ortigia which is accessible only by foot.
My recommendations:
- Go to the Oasis Faunistica Vendicari Nature Reserve and enjoy the calm and the turquoise water.
- On Marsala , enjoy an incredible sunset while taking "the apperitivo" at the Salines della Laguna.
- With the car, go eat more than fresh fish in the small village of Portopalo di Capo Passero at the restaurant La Scala.
- Go to Castelmola before sunset to watch the sun disappear behind Etna and visit this small village at an altitude of over 800m.
PS: I also took a tour of Naples (Campania region which allows you to reach Sicily by ferry ) and if you have planned your vacation in the Bay of Naples, the island of Ischia is more appreciable because it is slightly larger and less touristy than the island of Capri!
Veneto
Veneto is THE region of romance and my favorite region. There is Venice with its canals and gondolas, Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, Treviso, the capital of Tiramisu and the area of Prosecco, the Italian Champagne.
Not to mention the obvious beauty of Verona and Venice, both world famous, these two cities enjoy a rich gastronomy thanks to access to the sea. In addition to delicious local dishes, the wines are remarkable. One speaks for the region of Prosecco of a so-called " heroic " agriculture either in "staircase" or impossible of access for the tractors and thus maintained only manually. Magnificent cities, incredible gastronomy, what more could you ask for? Maybe less tourists ...
My recommendations:
- Visit the islands of Burano and Murano (in that order) in Venice, in the morning to avoid the crowds of tourists arriving in the afternoon.
- Enjoy an opera (or show) in the open air in the old arena (not all year round).
PS: Avoid going there in summer but rather take advantage of the fall to meet fewer people and benefit from off-season prices.
PS2: If you are a wine lover, try to secure tickets for Vinitaly in April in Verona, it is the biggest wine event in the world!
Rome
It is often said that Rome is an open-air museum and it is true that if you only stay a few days in the Italian capital, you can be satisfied with its alleys, monuments and the many bars and cafes of the city. It all depends on your preferences of course. On the other hand, it is a shame to miss certain wonders such as the Basilica of San Pietro and the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican or the Santa Scala, important in Christian history. As you can imagine, the city is very touristy so you better be prepared and book your skip-the-line passes in advance if you don't want to spend 2 hours in line!
Sightseeing buses that go around the city can be an alternative if you have very little time to spend in the city and want to see the essential monuments of the city. But above all, bypass the tourist trap restaurants by taking the streets parallel and perpendicular to the main streets and above all avoid menus with images and use Google Translate!
My recommendations:
- Admire the view of the Vatican by going up to the top of the Basilica (paid access but magnificent). Beware of claustrophobes , the top floors are very narrow!
- Eat an incredible Tiramisu at Two Sizes or discover the Porcetta the local sandwich.
- Knowing that access to the Colosseum is limited to a certain number of people and that the wait can be endless even with passes (in the end people are rather disappointed) , I recommend going instead to the Roman Forum and its remains !
PS: Book some tours (Sistine Chapel) well in advance and early in the morning because the lines are already very long at 1 0h, even if you have booked!
Cinque Terre
You have surely already seen photos or videos of the Cinque Terre with its colorful seaside villages. The region is very popular in the summer for its unique scenery and its seaside. I spent a few days there with my sister, in order to do some sightseeing and sunbathing. This region is very rural therefore accessible by train, boat or car (but after that it is almost impossible to park). It is better to book a long stay directly in the Cinque Terre (some accommodations also provide free access to paid deckchairs on the beaches) or a short stay in La Spezia to enjoy the shops and activities in the evening and visit the villages during the day.
The best is to take the boat, but if the water is rough, your only solution will be the train. The boat is nice in summer, you can enjoy the view of the colorful villages and less crowded if you leave early in the morning. The train is fast but it only uses tunnels so you won't enjoy the scenery. Better to go directly to the terminus then on the return, stop at the other villages. People tend to get off at the first stop and then gradually arrive. In addition, I preferred Monterosso al Mare!
My recommendations:
- On La Spezia go to the restaurant Dai Pescatori or have an aperitif-dinner at Hemingway.
- On Portovenere, go eat at Le tre Torri.
PS: If you want to bring back an original souvenir you can bring back an exceptional bottle of wine (A Scìa Cinque Terre Bianco) with a magnificent label and a delicious wine!
Milan
In Milan, we have a completely different spirit, a big economic city. The city has a large number of magnificent monuments and shops for shopping at all prices. After all, Milan is one of the fashion capitals of the world. Its old trams, historic buildings and cobbled streets make up a very pleasant historic center for walking. On the other hand, as soon as you move away from the center, unsightly tags, garbage and buildings covered with plaster damage the city.
For me, one can easily enjoy Milan on a long weekend. The city center can be visited fairly quickly, which leaves you time to visit some museums or go shopping!
My recommendations:
- Eat on the terrace in front of the Milan Duomo at Maio's or take the "apperitivo" with buffet at the top of the casino of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
- Find out more about Leonardo da Vinci's inventions in the Leonardo's World Museum.
- Enjoy the nightlife district of Navigli and have a take out sandwich to eat on the quays.
PS: If you want to see the famous Last Supper (Last Supper) painting by Leonardo da Vinci located at the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie . Better to book well in advance because there is very little chance that there will be availability on the following days. On the other hand, you will find at the Leornardo World Museum a very nice analysis of the interactive painting !
UMBRIA
Umbria is a region in the heart of Italy renowned for its many religious pilgrimages and very old towns. The region is not very large but yet the cities are quite different from each other. When my father came to visit me for the second time, we went to Perugia a city from the 13th century. You may remember, the summer of 2019 was very hot so we visited the city under 45°C in the sun. There was not a cat and it was very nice!
I returned to the region later to visit Assisi, the city known especially for Saint Francis of Assisi, I spent the night in Foligno (a small village) and visited Montefalco, a city known for its red wine. powerful. The architecture is fantastic, the buildings are well maintained so everything looks very clean. On the other hand, most museums close at the start of the afternoon, at the hottest hours and reopen around 3pm-4pm, so in some cities, there is not much to do during the day.
My recommendations:
- If you also face intense heat, go and visit the Etruscan Pozzo or the Etruscan well in Perugia, it won't take you very long but it is different from the usual museums.
- Have a snack at Chiosco della Porchetta a local charcuterie / sandwich shop or all products from the agricultural domain!
- You must also go to Assisi because the city is beautiful but if you want to do the Basilica of Saint Francis, be careful because it closes quite early or visit the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels of Assisi which is original because we find the small Church of Saint Francis in the heart of a much larger Basilica.
- On Montefalco, enjoy a good time by going to taste wines on the terrace of Re Tartù.
Bologna
You get to enjoy the city much better when you're with locals. The city of Bologna welcomes a large number of students thanks to prestigious universities, which makes it a city that lives a lot at night but also one of the most dangerous cities in Italy. Renowned for its gastronomy based on cold meats and cheeses (Parmesan, Mortadella, Tortelinin etc.), the city of Bologna can be an interesting stop on your trip.
Culturally speaking, the city is very interesting. There are seven "secrets" there, ie architectural elements with hidden messages or elements. It is nicknamed "La Dotta, la Rossa, la Grassa" or "the Smart, the Red, the Fat" for its universities and museums, the color of the buildings and its rich cuisine.
My recommendations:
- Go taste the piadina of Sfarinà for a light and delicious meal.
- Find the 7 secrets of Bologna (on the internet) then try to find them in town !
