Italy captivates you once and for all with its unique charm, vibrant colors, and special energy. If you want to fully experience and appreciate this country, then remember what you absolutely must do in Italy to fall in love with it forever.
It's well known that the best pizza in Italy is Neapolitan. Didn't know that? Then Naples should be at the top of your travel list. On the second place will be Margherita pizza. Delicious, tender, with slightly charred edges and double mozzarella - that's how a real Italian pizza should be.
To try this culinary marvel in Naples, ideally, you should visit L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, located on Via Cesare Sersale 1/3 (not far from the train station). For just €4-5, you will be served the best pizza you've ever tasted. Trust me on this. And then you can visit the nearby pizzeria Trianon or one of those along Via Tribunali - Pizzeria di Matteo and Gino Sorbillo, for example - and compare your experiences.
2. Taste Ligurian Cuisine
Every region in Italy is famous for its unique culinary specialties, and Liguria is no exception. It offers a rich variety of seafood dishes (the sea is right there!) and vegetables, as well as various types of bread and pastries.
You can start with Genoa, where you can taste the famous pasta with pesto - a traditional Genoese sauce made from pine nuts, local olive oil, garlic, and pecorino cheese. This dish is served with boiled potatoes and green beans - a slightly unexpected combination, but oh-so-delicious!
If you want to try focaccia col formaggio (focaccia with cheese), head to Focaccia in Piazzetta cafe in Recco (Piazzetta Ns. Sig. Ra Del Suffragio 8/9, 16036 Recco), where they serve these amazingly tasty wheat flatbreads with soft, melted cheese inside.
And, of course, don't miss the fish dishes: fried anchovies (aciughe fritte), grilled fish, or sea bass stuffed with squid. For example, at Bagni Ariston restaurant in Rapallo, you'll find affordable prices and high-quality dishes. The address is Giardini E. Pound, Fontana delle rane, 16035 Rapallo.
3. Embark on a Mega Shopping Spree in Milan
Visiting Italy and not going shopping in Milan? No way! But here's a little secret: you should head to the outskirts of the fashionable capital, specifically to the designer outlets Fidenza Village and Serravalle.
Here, two things will pleasantly surprise you. First, the number of fashion outlet boutiques (over 90 of them!). And second, the discounts: up to 70% off during regular times and even more during sales. Only internationally renowned brands are represented here, such as Armani, Valentino, D&G, and Versace.
4. Visit the Statue of Juliet in Verona
Do you remember the movie "Letters to Juliet"? Well, that tiny courtyard with the statue of the famous Veronese lover actually exists. Come here early in the morning or in the evening when the crowds of tourists subside to immerse yourself in the atmosphere, wander through the rooms of the house where she supposedly lived, and leave your message for Juliet.
Address of Juliet's House: Via Cappello, 23, 37121 Verona. The house can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday from 08:30 to 19:30 and on Monday from 13:30 to 19:30. The ticket price is €6.
5. Soak up the sun on the beaches of all five seas of Italy
Italy is a paradise for sunbathers as it is surrounded by five seas, offering a plethora of beaches to choose from.
If you prefer warm sand and the sound of waves, head to the east coast to the Adriatic Sea, such as in Rimini or Lido di Jesolo. If you're looking for romance, you can find hundreds of charming coves along the coast of the Ligurian Sea in the northwest. For those who enjoy a more secluded retreat, the coastline of the Ionian Sea in the regions of Calabria and Apulia is ideal.
6. Savor the most delicious desserts
Continuing with the culinary theme (how can we talk about Italy without it!), it would be a crime not to mention the world-famous Italian desserts: tiramisu, panna cotta, English soup, rum baba, and cannoli.
Tiramisu should be tasted in its birthplace, such as in Treviso, for example, at Antico Ristorante Beccherie (Piazza Ancilotto 11). As for panna cotta, it's best to head to Piedmont, where it originated.
The dessert with the peculiar name "English soup" (Zuppa inglese) is a delicate liqueur-soaked sponge cake with vanilla cream, very popular in central Italy, and the best rum baba in the country can be found in Naples at Patisserie Capparelli on Via dei Tribunali 325.
To conclude your sweet tour, you can enjoy crispy cannoli in Sicily. Cannoli are wafer tubes filled with mascarpone cheese, ricotta, or cottage cheese, often flavored with wine or syrup. They can be found in any gelateria.
7. Try the most delicious gelato in Rome
You can enjoy it at Grom café, and it will surely leave a lasting impression on you! Their gelato is thick and creamy, with a caramel-like consistency, and comes in a wide variety of flavors and types. They also serve hot chocolate, fruit sorbets, granita (crushed ice with various syrups), and many other delicious treats. So, go ahead and indulge in trying them all!
Here are some addresses: Via della Maddalena, 30a; Via Agonale, 3; Via Tuscolana; Viale dell'Oceano Pacifico, 83; Roma Termini, Piazza dei Cinquecento.
Tips: If you can't make it to Rome, don't worry, Grom is a chain of cafes throughout Italy.
8. Witness the Grand Canal in Venice at night
Venice is arguably one of the most romantic cities in Italy, and during the summer twilight, illuminated by lights and shimmering reflections on the water, it truly resembles a fairytale come to life. So, if you find yourself there, make sure to savor the sights of the city at night, preferably from one of the numerous bridges (such as the Rialto Bridge).
9. Experience life in the Italian countryside
To truly experience the beauty of authentic Italy, it's worth venturing out of the cities and into the countryside. For this purpose, renting a cottage in one of the picturesque valleys or amidst vineyards would be ideal. Even better, you can stay in a room with hospitable hosts on a real Italian farm. It's an excellent way to not only relax but also immerse yourself in the life and customs of the real Italians.
10. Visit a volcano
Do you think you've tried everything and there's nothing else to do in Italy? Then you'll love the idea of climbing one of its volcanoes. There are many to choose from: Etna, Vesuvius, Albano and Bracciano (dormant volcanoes, but with beautiful volcanic lakes) and many more. Who knows, maybe you will be lucky enough to see one in action?
