Italy Travel Guide

Find inspiration from this collection of Zicasso's ten most popular sample itineraries to Europe. 

With so many opportunities on where to go and what to see, it can be challenging to decide how best to use your vacation days. These popular sample itineraries offer ideas and inspiration as you consider what you would like to do most.

From ancient ruins to enticing food and wine, grand palaces to spectacular vistas, Europe is endlessly captivating for every kind of traveler, and you can refine and curate your trip to precisely what you want.

Italy is a well-tailored romance with a wild imagination, and perfect for a luxury honeymoon with endless things to do.

From seaside villages to elegant castles, ancient ruins to the iconic Mediterranean coastline, you will find elaborate cobblestone streets and genuine Italian hospitality.

With remote towns overlooking rolling vineyards, museums adorned with breathtaking art, and idyllic palaces steeped in traditional culture, discover your essential things to do during your Italian honeymoon.

Italian cuisine is famous throughout the world, and the following information shares eight Italian culinary favorites and how to explore them during your travels in Italy.

Whether looking for classic dishes or eager to sample new ingredients, Italy celebrates local and seasonal flavors to create an unforgettable impact at the table.

From a private couple’s cooking class to a family-friendly gelato course, a senior’s wine tasting tour to a pizza-making class with friends, this list helps you explore where and how to sample traditional dishes during your Italy vacation.

Sicily is a treasure of Italy that captivates visitors with timeless ruins, classic culture, and mouthwatering gastronomy.  The scenery has shaped the culture from Mt. Etna to the shoreline, gorges to arid hills with cities hiding touches of ancient wonder. From captivating wines to delicious local recipes, volcano trekking to remainders of the Classical world and inspiring coastline, these are the essential things to do when you visit.

Europe abounds with culture from thousands of years of collective heritage and independent progress, and there are plenty of must-see destinations for art. Cities display artwork in elaborate galleries and along the streets as architectural treasures, while museums represent contemporary artists, showcase ancient artisans, and challenge perception with modern designers. Whether focusing on prehistoric artwork or Roman mosaics, Van Gogh’s Sunflowers or preserved Moorish arches, these must-see cities have it all.

Italy is a destination with festive Christmas markets that capture the joys of the holiday season where reveling in simple seasonal pleasures can change your entire perspective of the holidays. With holiday festivities overtaking medieval towns, seaside villages, and bustling cities, Italy becomes an immersion into masterful winter celebrations that begin in early December and stretch into January. Our suggestions of Italy Christmas Markets can take you across the country to enjoy the festive ambiance.

Venice is a cultural marvel, an elegant representation of history no matter the time of year you visit. With regal palaces shaped from marble and the lagoon waters winding between historic buildings, Venice creates an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in the world. From St. Mark’s Square to traditional cicchetti bars, gondolas to charming islands, Venice bustles with contemporary life while shining with the beauty of the past and the following information provides our suggestions on the best time to visit.

The Italian peninsula is surrounded on three sides by the Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Ionian, and Adriatic seas, azure waters that shape the best beaches in Italy, perfect for an array of different travel activities. These stunning beaches boast tranquil swimming coves, gorgeous seascapes, and popular stretches of sandy shores that attract visitors from around the world who are eager to embrace the Mediterranean charm and indulge in the sweet life for which Italy is known. Scroll down and learn more about the best Italian beaches to visit on your travels, depending on your daily activities.

Nature enthusiasts, hikers, skiers, birders, and other travelers who enjoy taking in the fresh air and open spaces should take notice of Italy’s 25 separate national parks. They are all protected by state and regional laws, ensuring that nature’s beauty is available to everyone. The parks provide a perfect space to step away from the crowds of Rome or the throngs of Florence to enjoy stress-free days of spotting rare animals or uncovering exotic plants. The following list shares seven of Italy’s celebrated national parks for visitors hoping to connect with Italy’s natural sceneries.

Italy is home to thousands of different pasta types to try while you travel, each with their own distinct shapes and flavors that stem from the unique regions found across the peninsula. Italian noodles represent over 300 different pasta shapes, each playing an integral role in the local cuisine and revealing the culinary personality of different regions and their gastronomic heritage.

These pastas have a history that dates back to Marco Polo in the 13th century and myths that trace back their origins to nomadic Arabs who brought noodles to Europe from Central Asia. No matter the origins of Italy’s different varieties of pasta, the noodles have inspired shapes and sizes from the different ingredients that have been available in the various regions.

We have compiled a list of the ten most popular pasta types that you will find in Italian cuisine as you tour the country and savor the delicious local dishes.

Italy produces some of the most famous cheeses in the world and is the third-largest cheese producer in the European Union. The countless flavors, textures, and recipes of Italy’s cheeses derive from all over the country and are made from various animals’ milk, including cows, goats, sheep, and buffalo. While some cheeses are best used in cooking with dishes like lasagna, tortellini, and cacio e Pepe, other cheeses, like Parmigiano Reggiano or Grana Padano, are eaten on their own or as a garnish to elevate dishes. The possibilities are endless with Italian cheeses and the over 450 varieties.

The following list of 12 of the best cheeses to try in Italy unveils the diversity of Italian cheeses, providing an explanation of their particular attributes from flavor to texture, aroma, to common food pairings. It also shares the locations that they are typically produced in, recognized by authenticated labels so that you can plan a trip to specific regions depending on the cheese you wish to try.

From impressions of ancient civilizations that predate the Roman Empire to mesmerizing artwork that reflects the distinctive eras of Western Europe, Italian heritage comes to life at any of the 53 different UNESCO World Heritage sites. The following curated list notes the top 10 sites in Italy that connect to remarkable history, fabulous art, and astonishing architecture often hidden in the fame of the Colosseum or Florence’s historic center.

As a jewel of Mediterranean beauty, the Amalfi Coast is an enchanting and unforgettable destination no matter the time of the year. With verdant woodlands and marvelous vistas, sparkling waters and mesmerizing heritage, the Amalfi Coast can easily captivate you with the scent of traditional cuisine and the charming cobblestone towns. From Arabic-Norman architecture to chic beaches, the following are our recommendations on the best time to visit to enjoy your perfect Amalfi Coast trip.

The Amalfi Coast is one of the world’s most famous shorelines and captivates visitors with dazzling cliffs, charming towns, and breathtaking panoramas. The culture has adapted to landscapes with homes rising along the seaside and heritage connected to the water. From gorgeous beaches to historic cobblestone lanes, rich artwork to aromatic terraces, the Amalfi Coast meets your wildest expectations and there are many essential things to do.

Eating in Emilia-Romagna is sampling the true soul of Italian cuisine with the four quintessential dishes of the region, creating an essential experience for any visit. The region continues to influence commercial kitchens, private kitchens, and celebrity chefs across Italy and around the world.

Whether visiting for the culinary history or eager to sample the traditional flavors of the markets, Emilia-Romagna is the perfect destination for finding the essential flavors of Italian cuisine.

A list of Emilia-Romagna dishes is practically a guide to the most iconic ingredients and plates of Italian cuisine. The simple geography instills in the region a perfect balance of fertile land and abundant water while the ingredients that shape the cuisine embody the eight centuries during which the region fell under the reign of warring noble families, Papal States, and distinct kingdoms.

The result is the unique make-up of hyper-local cooking traditions that still share common regional characteristics. The following are the most typical, and therefore popular, dishes you can find in Emilia-Romagna.

The four main culinary cities of Emilia-Romagna take inspiration from the iconic and famous flavors that capture the true essence of Italian cuisine. Yet these four cities have their own unique spin on traditional, local dishes that set them apart from one another and the rest of the country.

Emilia’s culinary customs focus heavily on animal fats and pork products. Romagna has stronger ties to Byzantine heritage influenced by the sea and classic land dishes.

Whether looking for fine cuisine or typical street food, Emilia-Romagna has the most quintessential tastes you can find during your Italy trip.

The cuisine of Umbria captures simple but elegant flavors that adhere to the strict calendar of seasonal ingredients that you can find during your Italian food tour. Olive groves and flocks of sheep overtake the hills of Italy’s only region that does not touch the sea or border of another country. The mountainous heart of Umbria abounds with medieval towns and castles that have been untouched by time and are bursting with gastronomic traditions where dishes have been handed down through generations and pay homage to heritage in kitchens that you can explore and experience.

From the Etruscans to the Medici, the Roman Empire to the Venetian Republic, Italy is filled with a fascinating history and remarkable culture to experience as a senior traveler.

With so many places to choose from, Italy is a wonder of the Renaissance, a charm of medieval preservation, and an elegant tapestry of undulating landscapes.

From towns with majestic reputations to cities exuding a sophisticated ambiance, fairytale homes to seaside splendor, you can experience the perfect blend of living history and beauty during your trip.

The four best food cities of Tuscany capture the region’s distinctive flavors and celebrate the remarkable terrain that forms a gastronomical paradise. Many of the culinary customs surrounding the simplicity of Tuscany’s cuisine take root with the local Etruscan settlements and tradition of peasant cooking.

No matter the roots of the cooking methods and styles, Tuscany’s cuisine has helped shape the larger image of Italian food in an area known for sunflower fields and Renaissance lords, cypress trees, and hilltop towns whose recipes you can enjoy during your Italy trip.

The best time to visit Tuscany can immerse you in the local culture or take you into the enchanting ambiance of a winter wonderland. The Central Italian region has become the embodiment of a luxurious escape to Italy with an ambiance that borders on enchanting.

With Renaissance treasures, medieval walls, relaxing beaches, and exceptional wines, Tuscany practically embodies the splendor of greater Italy in a single region. The following are our suggestions on the best time to visit Tuscany, no matter the type of experience you wish to have.

The three best culinary cities of Lazio represent the distinct elements of the local cuisine. The diverse landscapes spread from the seaside in the west to the eastern mountains with ingredients that thrive in the rich history embodied in the traditions at the heart of Etruscan settlements, the Roman empire, the cradle of Christianity, and the luxuries of the baroque movement.

The mountain slopes and plains allow farmers to cultivate the prevailing heritage of Cucina Povera with unique ingredients and cultural flavors brought to life from around the Roman and Christian world. Exploring the food of Lazio can be a fantastic lens to view Italian culture.

The four best dishes to try during your trip to Lazio reflect the customs created when Rome acted as the heart of the ancient empire. The conquered landscapes of antiquity stretched over the hills and reached the western seas to create impressive ports from which Rome could reach the hidden corners of the known world, now embodied in the gastronomic traditions that were left behind. The food of Lazio takes the shape of simple dishes with quick and easy cooking techniques based on the ideas of fresh and readily available ingredients.

The regional cuisine of Lazio is characterized by Cucina Povera, the traditions of poor cooking that embody the tastes of farmers over the centuries who used the entirety of ingredients and ingredients that were easily accessed during the changing seasons. The increased standard of living in Lazio has resulted in home and commercial chefs creating flavors with ingredients that were once unheard of outside of regional cooking. You can sample the following dishes during your next trip to Lazio.

When visiting Rome, you have your choice of delectable cuisine from around the country, but authentic Roman flavors have evolved through centuries of social, political, and cultural changes that date back to the center of the ancient empire.

The city’s position as the former epicenter of an empire allowed the culture to absorb the gastronomic heritage from visiting merchants, immigrants, and political affiliates. Even with newer trends and growing international cuisine inside the city, food in Rome remains a source of pleasure that you can discover during your Italy tour.

The five dishes you need to try during your Tuscany trip are based on the traditional flavors using the freshest and simplest ingredients that pertain to the seasons. The custom of the Tuscan kitchen boasts a sense of regional flourish that celebrates the importance of locally sourced ingredients found at the market each week, often resulting in an easy preparation. The cuisine is so ingrained into the heritage of the region, the local government compiled a “Tuscan Food Pyramid” as a geographic representation of what are considered the 70 most essential products seen on the Tuscan table.

Tuscan chefs, both at home and in favored restaurants, turn the simple into the divine using culinary techniques dating back to the Etruscans. The next time you explore the alluring beauty of Tuscany, remember to sample the following culinary treasures for an exclusive look at the heart of the famous Italian region.

Florence has a distinctive dining scene that separates it from all other Italian cities. You can find the typical flavors across the city to find how Florence emerged from a Roman settlement to a city of import in the Middle Ages.

The food reflected the cucina povera when households prepared meals based on available ingredients relying heavily on items discarded by the upper class. The extravagant dishes of the Medici court have not withstood the tests of time, but the flavorful cuisine of the Cucina Povera remains the prevalent style of cooking in Florence that you can enjoy during your Italy trip.

Bologna’s famous delicacies derive from a rich culinary tradition that has impacted the cuisine of greater Italy, and there are several dishes you should try on your vacation. Historians have documented the culinary brilliance of the city since the Middle Ages, with published texts capturing the fascinating creations of inventive chefs dating back to the 16th century. The tradition of long-lasting products derived from a nomadic heritage in the mountains. Nowadays, food lovers from around the world visit Bologna to sample firsthand the unique dishes and robust flavors you can experience on your Italy tour.

Bologna’s famous delicacies derive from a rich culinary tradition that has impacted the cuisine of greater Italy, and there are several dishes you should try on your vacation. Historians have documented the culinary brilliance of the city since the Middle Ages, with published texts capturing the fascinating creations of inventive chefs dating back to the 16th century. The tradition of long-lasting products derived from a nomadic heritage in the mountains. Nowadays, food lovers from around the world visit Bologna to sample firsthand the unique dishes and robust flavors you can experience on your Italy tour.

Modena’s unique position in the Po Valley influences the soil amid the rugged foothills of the Apennine Mountains, responsible for the diversity of meats, hams, salumi, pasta, cheeses, and treasured balsamic vinegar that you can taste during your trip to Italy. Seasonal ingredients define the flavors of the Modenese cooking tradition, from growing produce to the presence of game and fish. Many of the traditional recipes popular in the province have emerged from a heritage of the peasant kitchen or small landowners that incorporates the flavor of a wealthier lifestyle that influences contemporary life.

Modena’s unique position in the Po Valley influences the soil amid the rugged foothills of the Apennine Mountains, responsible for the diversity of meats, hams, salumi, pasta, cheeses, and treasured balsamic vinegar that you can taste during your trip to Italy. Seasonal ingredients define the flavors of the Modenese cooking tradition, from growing produce to the presence of game and fish. Many of the traditional recipes popular in the province have emerged from a heritage of the peasant kitchen or small landowners that incorporates the flavor of a wealthier lifestyle that influences contemporary life.

The four meals and dishes of Milan that you should try during your trip characterizes the culinary influences of lavish sovereigns that ruled over a historic center of cultural exchange. Milan’s position as the capital of the Lombardy region has brought a variety of flavorful cuisine and a mixture of cultures into the center of the city’s gastronomy, dating back to the Celtic kitchen of pre-Rome while remaining renowned for world-class restaurants and cafés. Milan is filled with foodies that celebrate the heritage of local cuisine with a focus on forward-thinking techniques while respecting local customs.

The distinct natural characteristics of Campania’s terrain have provided the region with sensational ingredients in the top three cities you can visit during your Italy trip. The region’s gastronomic history acts as a crossroads of civilizations along the Mediterranean Sea with a diverse landscape that has brought life to vibrant produce found in nutrient-rich volcanic soil. The greater region of Campania has a variety of provinces resulting in different types of cuisine. You can celebrate the cucina povera as you uncover how the cuisine reaches ultimate flavor with minimal ingredients.

The cuisine of Naples has ancient roots and humble origins that have inspired the creative recipes of present-day Neapolitan gastronomy that you can enjoy during your Italy trip. The city’s cuisine continues to typify the culinary traditions of Campania, with heritage predating Rome and reflecting the former Kingdom of Naples. With a culinary style that celebrates the soil, arid climate, the boldness of the Tyrrhenian Sea, and the importance of cucina povera, Neapolitan cuisine still focuses on using every aspect of an ingredient before adding herbs and spices to create the most vibrant flavor.

The three best cities of Sicily in which you can enjoy the customs of the Sicilian kitchen embody a tradition of expression and culinary artistry that is linked to the religious, historical, and cultural evolution of the island that you can find in the three best culinary cities across Sicily.  The closely linked events of Sicily’s history have developed famous dishes with regional and gastronomic cultures that reveal the contributions of the well-established civilizations throughout the island’s history that spans more than 2,000 years of settlers, merchants, and conquerors.

Whether you’re looking for flavorful meals sourced from ancient recipes, or curious about the authentic history that underpins the city’s sumptuous fare, here are seven dishes you must try during your exploration of Sicily’s magnificent cuisine.

As you travel through the Sicilian wonderland, you will be introduced to the gorgeous stretches of farmland where your daily meals are sourced from, as you indulge in luxurious wines transformed from local, simple ingredients into incredible recipes.

When you journey to Italy’s foodie paradise, you can find a delectable array of appetizing dishes to discover history, heritage, and the evolution of flavors on your trip to Italy’s one-and-only gourmet heaven.

The gastronomic traditions of Palermo act as an amalgamation of cultures that have gathered in the city for over more than two millennia that you can taste when sampling six staple dishes during your trip. The contemporary connection with the Slow Food Movement originates from a long history of working with fresh, seasonal ingredients that are harvested around the mountain slopes, peaks, and valleys of Palermo Province and typifies the culinary heritage of greater Sicily. The importance of traditional flavors is seen from private kitchens to celebrated street food and with famous chefs.

The three best cities of Italy’s famous islands where you can find the embodiment of culture, food, and culinary traditions are Sicily and Sardinia. The traditions of Sicilian and Sardinian kitchens include ingredients from the land and sea, with ancient pastoral customs to the simple appreciation for good food.

The islands of Italy have absorbed the various customs of the variety of cultures who have settled on Sicily and Sardinia over the last two millennia, including Greek, Spanish, French, and Arab influences. The mixture of Mediterranean heritages on the different Italian islands enriches the cuisines with a range of cooking techniques and flavors. Herbs and spices are commonly used for a unique culinary encounter that you can experience and enjoy as part of your next vacation.

Southern Italian food features the bright and delicious flavors of the Mediterranean that many visitors associate with traditional Italian food that you can discover during your Italy vacation. Cooking is an essential way that Northern, Central, and Southern Italy showcase their diversity. The food of Southern Italy is often referred to as Cucina Povera, with frugal southern cooks relying on the bounty of the sea or the hard-fought harvest from tenacious farmers. The warm Mediterranean climate supports a history of trade and conquest, revealing distinctive characteristics of the unforgettable gastronomy.

Cured meats have become a culinary staple across the Italian peninsula to try during your travels. The Italian term for cured meats is salumi, and is differentiated from French charcuterie by the types of meat used, the flavor of the meat, and the specific Italian methods of preparation and preservation.

When visiting a meat deli in any specific region, you will find the country’s renowned salumi on display. The following list offers information on the 14 best types of salumi from across Italy and where you can find each meat during your Italian vacation.

The Italian truffle season takes place every fall, a brilliant time to visit the country if you wish to participate in truffle hunting tours and take in the array of dazzling truffle festivals that pop up across the Italian peninsula between October and November.

Celebrating the robust flavors of the distinctive truffle varieties in addition to the culinary heritage of Piedmont, Molise, Tuscany, Umbria, Emilia Romagna, and Le Marche, these festivals offer a uniquely Italian experience for you to immerse yourself in during your vacation. The following list shares the top truffle festivals by region to help you plan the route of your Italian truffle hunting tour, and your Zicasso travel specialist can suggest the best routing for your perfect vacation.

Illusive white and black truffles hide in small quantities throughout Italy’s vibrant topography. The decadent morsels populate rolling hills, speckle the soil along grand cliffs, and inhabit the plentiful forests. Nature’s bounty bursts throughout the Italian peninsula, and the prized truffle is one of the country’s most sought-after locally-grown foraged goods. Below is everything you need to know about Italian truffles and truffle hunting tours in Italy.

Our traveler's guide to the types of accommodation in Italy outlines the best options available to luxury travelers for your next vacation across the stunning peninsula. From hotels planted in the heart of Milan's vibrant metropolis to well off the beaten path in the middle of the Tuscan countryside, the country's accommodations each offer unique opportunities to immerse yourself in the country's rich culture.

Travelers flock to Venice to indulge in the time-honored tradition of cruising the famous canals, and our complete guide to planning a gondola ride in Venice will help you to get the most from this essential Venetian experience.

The gondolas' history as Venice's primary mode of transportation dates back to the 7th century, and they have since grown exponentially in global popularity. Today, legendary gondoliers use single oars to gently row tourists sitting comfortably in stylishly painted and upholstered gondolas along the web of canals that connect the city's dazzling Venetian districts.

You can book a trip with Zicasso to nearly any destination in the world. Our goal is to make the planning, booking, and travel process easy and enjoyable as you create the experience that you want most. The world overflows with wonders, and the sheer number of choices is exciting. Your decision to work with a destination expert on where to go, how to get there, and how long your trip should be simplifies your planning process significantly.

There are three main considerations to planning your trip:

Knowing your budget is an essential component of any trip planning process. Whether the sky's the limit or you have specific parameters, Zicasso is here to help you set our priorities in planning to maximize your investment. Your interests and preferences on a couples trip will differ from a family-friendly vacation, while a highlights tour will result in wildly different experiences than one designed to take you off the beaten path. There are three steps in considering the costs of your trip, as a customized vacation that has been designed for you allows maximum flexibility with your spending.