Explore Italy

Explore Italyhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italyExplore Italyhttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/northern-italys-olympic-regionA Traveller’s Guide to the Landscapes Behind the Winter Games2026-01-08T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/northern-italys-olympic-regionhttps://www.worldnomads.comYou may tune in to the Winter Olympics to see your favorite skier or ice skater, but the scenery has a way of sharing the spotlight. Between medal runs and record-breaking moments, each broadcast doubles as a visual tour of mountains, lakes, and villages that linger in your mind long after the competition ends. Northern Italy has that effect: while athletes fly down slopes and glide across the ice with remarkable precision, the camera also captures pink-glowing peaks, frozen lakes, and quiet alpine towns nestled beneath the ridgelines, making it hard not to imagine seeing it all in person. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/olympic-regions-one.jpg" alt="Alpine wilderness at its most dramatic" /> <figcaption> Alpine wilderness at its most dramatic. Photo credit: Gabriel Mungarrieta</figcaption></figure> This guide isn’t about the sports. It’s about the places you’ll see in the background, and how to experience them once the cameras stop rolling. These five Italian regions sit in or around the <a href="https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026">Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic</a> zones. They’re wildly different from one another: some dramatic, some peaceful, some built for adventure, others made for slow mornings and long meals. What they share is that unmistakable northern Italy blend of alpine scenery, culture, and food. <ul> <li><a href="#livigno">Livigno, Lombardy</a></li> <li><a href="#bormio">Bormio & Stelvio National Park</a></li> <li><a href="#cortina">Cortina d’Ampezzo</a></li> <li><a href="#val-di-fiemme">Val di Fiemme</a></li> <li><a href="#milan">Milan & Lake Como</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="livigno">Livigno: Italian Alpine Wilderness</h2> If you’re watching freestyle skiing or snowboarding clips during the Olympics, there’s a good chance the dramatic white bowl behind the athlete is somewhere near <a href="https://www.livigno.eu/en/">Livigno</a>. The whole valley sits at 1,816m, which gives it one of Italy’s longest and snowiest winters. Locals nickname it “Little Tibet” because the wide, open landscapes feel almost otherworldly. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/olympics-two.jpeg" alt="Livigno’s broad, sun-lit slopes — the kind of alpine calm that keeps skiers coming back." /> <figcaption>Livigno’s broad, sun-lit slopes — the kind of alpine calm that keeps skiers coming back. Photo credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/@madmartigand?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Dario Morandotti</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/a-person-standing-on-a-snow-covered-slope-9ZHkE1BLT88?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a> </figcaption></figure> But Livigno is more than just a snow-sports hub. It’s one of Italy’s best places for high-altitude hiking, especially in late spring when the snow melts, and the peaks open up. Trails into the <a href="https://www.nationalpark-stelvio.it/en/stelvio-national-park.html">Stelvio National Park</a> begin right in the village, and the views extend across Lombardy to the Swiss border. Other things to do in Livigno: <ul> <li>Explore the valley on <a href="https://www.livigno.eu/en/bike-tours#cat=Bicycle%20Ride,Mountainbiking,MTB%20Transalp,Road%20biking,Long%20distance%20cycling,E-Bike&filter=r-fullyTranslatedLangus-,r-openState-,sb-sortedBy-0&zc=13.,10.13652,46.53289">fat bikes</a> (winter) or mountain bikes (summer); there are hundreds of kilometres of trails.</li> <li>Visit the frozen <a href="https://www.livigno.eu/en/lake">Lake Livigno</a>, which becomes a mirror on calm winter days.</li> <li>Try <a href="https://www.livigno.eu/en/livigno-food">Italian alpine food</a> that’s completely different from what you find in the south: pizzoccheri, sciatt, polenta taragna.</li> </ul> Livigno feels remote, raw, and peaceful, the opposite of Milan’s pace. If you want a taste of Italy shaped by altitude and cold air, this is it. <h2 id="bormio">Bormio & Stelvio National Park: Thermal Waters & Peak Italian Alpine Culture</h2> Just across the mountains from Livigno is <a href="https://www.bormio.eu/en">Bormio</a>, a town that looks like it was carved perfectly into a valley between three huge ridgelines. It’s famous for steep ski slopes, but it has something else: <a href="https://pirovano.it/en/activities/bormio-thermal-waters/#:~:text=Since%20Roman%20times%20Bormio%20is,Bagni%20Nuovi%20(New%20Baths).">natural thermal waters</a> that have been flowing here since Roman times. When you see downhill skiing on TV, you might not know it, but just below those cliffs are hot springs steaming in the cold. This region is ideal for travellers who want a mix of adventure and relaxation. <a href="https://www.bormio.eu/en/activities-and-attractions/ski-winter-outdoor">Ski</a> in the morning, wander the medieval old town in the afternoon, and sit in <a href="https://www.bormio.eu/en/activities-and-attractions/wellness">thermal pools</a> at night while snow falls around you. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/olympics-three.jpeg" alt="Stelvio pass, one of italy’s most iconic mountain roads, twists its way toward the sky." /> <figcaption>Stelvio pass, one of italy’s most iconic mountain roads, twists its way toward the sky. Photo credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/@michaelarimakova?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Michaela Římáková</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/a-view-of-a-winding-road-in-the-mountains-9PsXR802VEA?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure> Things to do in Bormio: <ul> <li>Drive or hike part of the <a href="https://www.stelvio.net/english/">Stelvio Pass</a>, one of Italy’s most iconic alpine roads with 48 hairpin turns.</li> <li>Explore Stelvio National Park, the largest protected area in the Italian Alps, home to ibex, eagles, and some incredible glacier viewpoints.</li> <li>Discover Bormio’s small but atmospheric historic centre, with stone buildings and quiet piazzas.</li> </ul> If Livigno feels wild and remote, Bormio feels rooted, a place where Italian alpine culture has been lived for centuries. <h2 id="cortina">Cortina d’Ampezzo: The Dolomites’ Crown Jewel</h2> <a href="https://www.italia.it/en/veneto/cortina-dampezzo">Cortina</a> is the postcard everyone knows, the town cradled by jagged, pale peaks that turn pink every sunrise. The Dolomites’ <a href="https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250331-italy-dolomites-the-magic-of-the-legendary-enrosadira">Enrosadira</a> phenomenon (the alpenglow caused by the mineral dolomite) is one of Italy’s most photographed moments, and you’ll definitely spot it during Olympic broadcasts. But what makes Cortina special isn’t just the scenery; it’s how accessible the <a href="https://cortina.dolomiti.org/en/winter/">wildness</a> is. Five minutes from town, you’re already in landscapes that feel untouched. Even people who don’t ski end up falling in love with this place. Things to do in Cortina: <ul> <li>Ride <a href="https://cortina.dolomiti.org/en/pagina-altri-servizi/cortina-skyline-en/">cable cars </a>into the heart of the Dolomites for easy-access panoramas.</li> <li>Snowshoe or hike around the <a href="https://auronzo.info/en/tre-cime-di-lavaredo-dolomites/">Tre Cime di Lavaredo</a>, one of Italy’s most iconic mountain formations.</li> <li>Wander the town’s pedestrian streets for a dose of Italian alpine charm.</li> <li>Explore WWI tunnels and open-air museums hidden in the cliffs, with history carved directly into the rock.</li> </ul> Cortina is glamorous but still rugged. It’s where Italian elegance and mountain drama collide. <h2 id="val-di-fiemme">Val di Fiemme: Slower Italian Mountain Life</h2> Unlike the sharp Dolomite peaks, <a href="https://www.visitfiemme.it/en/area/val-di-fiemme/explore-the-valley">Val di Fiemme</a> offers a softer, greener style of mountain landscape. It’s known internationally for Nordic skiing, but what makes this region fascinating is its connection to music. For centuries, the valley’s forests have produced the highly <a href="https://www.visittrentino.info/en/guide/nature/beautiful-places/the-violins-forest_md_2248">resonant spruce wood</a> used for Italy’s finest violins. Craftspeople (luthiers) still come here to select wood by hand, a quiet tradition woven into the culture. This valley is quieter than Cortina and less remote than Livigno, making it ideal for slower travel. Things to do in Val di Fiemme: <ul> <li>Walk through the Paneveggio Forest, also called the “Forest of Violins.”</li> <li>Try winter or summer family-friendly trails near <a href="https://throneandvine.com/lago-di-carezza-karersee-guide/">Lago di Carezza</a>.</li> <li>Explore small alpine villages like <a href="https://www.trentino.com/en/trentino/val-di-fiemme/cavalese/">Cavalese</a> and <a href="https://www.trentino.com/en/trentino/val-di-fiemme/tesero/">Tesero</a>.</li> <li>Visit the Latemar mountain range, which has some of northern Italy’s most unique rock formations.</li> </ul> In summer, this region transforms into a massive hiking playground; in winter, it becomes a cross-country skiing paradise with world-class tracks. <h2 id="milan">Milan & Lake Como: Italy’s Fastest City to Its Quietest Lake</h2> Milan might host several Olympic events, but it’s much more than a sports backdrop. It’s Italy’s creative engine, fashion, design, galleries, and a modern skyline that feels totally different from the mountain towns. Even in winter, the city buzzes with life. But the real magic of Northern Italy is how quickly the atmosphere changes. One hour north of Milan, everything softens. Lake Como appears, still, deep, and surrounded by snow-tipped mountains. The lake reaches a depth of 410m, making it one of the deepest in Italy, and winter gives it a calm, reflective quality you rarely see in summer. Things to do around Milan & Lake Como: <ul> <li>Explore Milan’s museums and winter exhibitions, from the world-class <a href="https://pinacotecabrera.org/en/">Pinacoteca di Brera</a> to the futuristic halls of the <a href="https://www.italia.it/en/lombardy/milan/museo-del-novecento">Museo del Novecento</a>.</li> <li>Take the train north for day trips to lakeside towns like <a href="https://lakecomotravel.com/varenna/">Varenna</a> or <a href="https://www.bellagiolakecomo.com/en">Bellagio</a>, where narrow stone laneways climb between pastel houses and every corner looks like a postcard. The regional trains run often and make the lakes surprisingly easy to reach.</li> <li>Ride the <a href="https://www.italia.it/en/lombardy/como/funicolare-como-brunate">funicular above Como</a> for panoramic views of Italy’s winter lakescape. At the top, you can follow short walking trails leading to scenic overlooks, forested ridges, and classic alpine viewpoints without needing any special gear.</li> </ul> This combination, fast-paced Milan and peaceful Como, gives you a full picture of Northern Italy beyond the mountains. <h2>Before You Go: Quick Italy Travel Notes</h2> <ul> <li>Northern Italy is extremely well connected by <a href="https://www.italia.it/en/italy/rail-transport">trains</a>, and Milan makes a perfect base.</li> <li>Winter is one of the quietest and most beautiful seasons for the Alps and lakes.</li> <li>The Dolomites’ Enrosadira glow is best around sunrise or sunset.</li> <li>Many of these regions are just as enjoyable in summer, when the snow melts into hiking trails and turquoise lakes.</li> <li>Each area has its own version of Italian cuisine, and Alpine dishes might surprise you if you’re used to southern Italian food.</li> </ul> The Winter Olympics will spotlight some of the most beautiful corners of Italy, but they’re worth exploring long after the closing ceremony. Whether it’s the wild altitude of Livigno, the ancient hot springs of Bormio, the pink light of the Dolomites, the quiet forests of Trentino, or the lakes and modern streets near Milan, Northern Italy is filled with landscapes you’ll see once on TV and then spend years dreaming about. If you ever catch yourself watching the Games and thinking, “I wish I could go there,” you can. And it’s even better in person.Gabriel Mungarrieta 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/brisighella-foodie-heaven-without-the-crowdsThough its Emilia-Romagna neighbors Bologna and Parma get all the culinary fame, and nearby Tuscany gets all the tourists, the medieval village of Brisighella offers gastronomic specialties of its own, along with plenty of history and charm. 2022-05-10T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/brisighella-foodie-heaven-without-the-crowdshttps://www.worldnomads.comThe warped and irregular Via degli Asini – Donkey's Way – meanders out of view behind a colorful tapestry of leaning homes in the medieval borgo (village) of Brisighella, Emilia-Romagna's unsung hero. In a region of Italy celebrated worldwide for renowned delicacies (balsamic vinegar, lasagna, ragù, mortadella, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, tortellini) and status-symbol sports cars (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani, Maserati), it's admittedly hard to find fame up against such a rich and established pedigree. This incredibly preserved passageway dating back to 1290 – it was originally the top of a fortification wall – sits elevated from current street level out of sight, out of mind, hobbling along on a slight curve framed by semi-circle archways on one side, a low-slung, wood-beamed ceiling above and ancient homes on the other. It's at once both one of the most interesting and photogenic sights in all of Emilia-Romagna and one of its most under-the-radar. That's Brisighella: a discovery seven centuries in the making. <ul> <li><a href="#medieval">Medieval treasures sans tourists</a></li> <li><a href="#morettis">Moretti mini-artichokes, a local delicacy</a></li> <li><a href="#olive-oil">Brisighella’s signature olive oil</a></li> <li><a href="#trip-notes">Trip notes</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="medieval">Brisighella, Italy: medieval treasures sans tourists</h2> When Via degli Asini was built, Brisighella was a one-donkey town so to speak, with animals occupying first-floor stables above what was at the time the village's only street. Carts were stored at ground level while two floors of living space topped the stables. Above town, a fortified castle was constructed in 1310 by the Manfredi family (Lords of Faenza), which, together with the clock tower erected on square blocks of gypsum 20 years earlier, formed the defensive system of the village. On another nearby hilltop, the Santuario del Monticino, flanked by cypress trees, dates to the early 1600s. Together, this trifecta of Middle Age marvels looms over the red-hued rooftops of Brisighella, forming one of the most postcard-worthy scenes in all of <a href="/travel-insurance/destinations/italy">Italy</a> – yet most folks have never even heard of this quaint little Romagna town. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/brisighella/via-degli-asini.jpg" alt="Via degli Asini, or Donkey's Way, a medieval passageway in Brisighella, Italy." /> <figcaption>Via degli Asini (Donkey's Way). Image credit: Kevin Raub</figcaption></figure> Brisighella straddles the slopes of the Tuscan-Romagna Apennines in the beautiful Lamone Valley just nine miles (14km) northeast of the Tuscan border; in other words, the landscape is already transitioning into what is undoubtedly Italy's most celebrated region: the vineyard-strewn landscapes, castle-topped hillsides, and magical medieval villages of Tuscany. It would be remiss not to mention you can find less touristy versions of these things outside of Tuscany as well – in Umbria, Piemonte, Abruzzo, and here in Emilia-Romagna, among others. On a clear day, you can see Tuscany from the borgo’s 646ft (197m) clock tower, but the hordes of tourists don’t register from this distance. Brisighella remains undiscovered, and unaltered by the <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/participation/how-to-avoid-the-masses-when-you-travel">downsides of overtourism</a>. It's the reason that I am here – along with an Irish couple I meet who have come four times a year, every year, for a decade – along with the artichokes, of course. <h2 id="morettis">Moretti mini-artichokes, a local delicacy</h2> Every May, Brisighella finds itself delightfully inundated with a rustic mini-artichoke that grows nowhere else: Carciofo Moretto (Moretto artichoke). Supply is limited – there are only a dozen or so farmers in town that cultivate these coveted culinary gems, one of which is 65-year-old Silvano Neri, who oversees about three hectares on a gently sloping hillside a few miles outside town. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/brisighella/moretti-artichokes.jpg" alt="A colorfully costumed tribal member performs a traditional dance at Crow Fair in Montana." /> <figcaption>Local farmer Silvano Neri displays some of his Moretti artichokes. Image credit: Kevin Raub</figcaption></figure> Neri picks about 1,000 artichokes an hour. The job is on-demand only – local restaurants and supermarkets don't mess about with anything but extreme freshness – which he then turns around and sells to the local cooperative for €0.30 each. As he demonstrates his technique plying the field and explaining his unique counting system, I do the math. I'm no numbers whiz, but that comes to €300 per hour, an extraordinary amount of money by Italian standards – nearly 12 times Italy's average salary. The work – backdropped by the idyllic storybook landscapes of our collective Italian dreams – is easy and efficient. "Moretti are the least work and the biggest payoff," he says with a wry smile, proudly dressed head to toe in his green and yellow canvas jumpsuit provided by Consorzio Agrario di Ravenna. “I make €18,000 in May alone!" The rest of the year, Neri farms strawberries, cauliflower, peas, and onions, but none of those are as special as Brisighella's Moretti. The origins of Moretti are unclear, but they started appearing after WWII, though nobody paid them much mind. Folks picked them for personal consumption and not much else. About 10 years ago, with the help of the cooperative, Neri and a few others began to commercialize the product, recognizing the hard local clay and gypsum-rich soil that is credited for the unique environment that spawned Moretti. Each May, every restaurant in town features special off-menu dishes showcasing this slightly sweet artichoke variety: sliced raw with olive oil, lemon, and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano, in crunchy lasagna with guanciale (Framboise), showered in strichetti (butterfly pasta) with guanciale (La Grotta), and so on. It's a gastronomic marvel totally distinct from the region's usual suspects. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/brisighella/artichoke-lasagna.jpg" alt="A crispy dish of lasagna with cured pork jowl and Moretti artichokes." /> <figcaption>Lasagna with guanciale and Moretti artichokes. Image credit: Kevin Raub</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="olive-oil">Brisighella’s signature olive oil</h2> The other product unmistakably omnipresent around Brisighella is its remarkable extra virgin olive oil, produced in limited quantities and hard to come by in other regions of Italy. C.A.B (Cooperativa Agricola Brisighellese), a local cooperative born in 1962 to help organize and promote the area's wine and olive oil, was instrumental in obtaining DOP (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) status for the town's olive oil in 1996 – one of the first Italian olive oils to achieve the European Union's most important local product protection status. As with Moretti artichokes, Brisghella's famed olive oil owes a major debt to the unique soil. Like a rechargeable battery, the high concentration of gypsum in the area creates a microclimate – it stores heat from the summer and releases it throughout winter, allowing olive trees to flourish despite its northern geographic location nowhere near a lake or a sea (most olive oil is produced farther south and/or near bodies of water). The olive oil production facilities of C.A.B just outside town fire up between October and December when olives are harvested. Other times of the year, it operates a must-stop shop for local products (marketed under the label Terri di Brisighella) both here and in a smaller shop in town. I've come not only for a tasting of the famed olive oil, but for C.A.B's version of carciofo moretto sott’olio (Moretti artichokes in oil). This tasty treat marries Brisighella's two culinary coups, which share a common aromatic base, along with wine vinegar, salt, and pepper. Brisighella's signature extra virgin olive oil, Brisighello DOP, easily outshines the other two varieties I taste. But the artichokes never appear. "What about the carciofo moretto sott’olio?" I inquire. "They sold out," says Commercial Director Maria Cristina Tedesco. Of course they did. Planning a trip to Italy? Find out <a href="/travel-insurance/destinations/italy">how travel insurance can cover</a> adventure activities, lost or stolen baggage, sudden illness and more. <h2 id="trip-notes">Trip notes</h2> <h3>How to get there</h3> Brisighella is in the Lamone Valley about 7.5mi (12km) southwest of Faenza, which sits along the Via Emilia, a 2,000-year-old ancient Roman road that connects Piacenza to Rimini. It's a little over an hour's drive from either of Emilia-Romagna's major airports in Bologna and Rimini. <h3>Best time to go</h3> In May, when Moretti artichokes are highlighted in all of the town's trattorias. Brisighella's artichoke festival, Sagra del Carciofo Moretto, is usually held mid-May. <h3>Types of accommodation</h3> Brisighella is home to a small handful of hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs. <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/participation/agritourism">Agriturismi</a> (farm accommodations) pepper the surrounding hillsides around town.Kevin Raub 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/calabria-destinations-discover-the-wild-italyBlessed with vast areas of wilderness, ancient hilltop villages, and gorgeous coastline, this region at the toe of Italy’s boot is more rustic – but no less captivating – than more popular places up north.2021-08-05T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/calabria-destinations-discover-the-wild-italyhttps://www.worldnomads.comCalabria is Italy’s often-overlooked, wild, and mountainous toe. Less sophisticated, less la dolce vita than its northern neighbors, Calabria’s appeal lies in its rugged hinterland, shadowy history, and an impressively long coastline bathed by a cerulean-blue sea. <ul> <li><a href="#mountains">Forests, mountains, and hilltop towns</a></li> <li><a href="#sea">Down by the sea: Tropea and Scilla </a></li> <li><a href="#bronzi">Bronzi di Riace in Reggio Calabria</a></li> <li><a href="#trip-notes">Trip notes</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="mountains">Forests, mountains, and hilltop towns</h2> The Apennines form Calabria’s snaking, mountainous backbone, its wild interior dominated by three large national parks. As I drove towards the mountains of the Aspromonte National Park in the south, the rumored stronghold of the ‘Ndrangheta (the Calabrian Mafia), I felt I was heading for an adventure into the unknown. Instead of bandits and secrets, I found a landscape of forested slopes and pretty bergamot groves, steep twisting roads and hilltop eyries with stupendous views. These fortified hilltop villages grew from southern Italy’s bloody history of successive invasions dating from ancient days. Some defy gravity, like the deserted village of Pentedattilo that clings dramatically to soaring rocky spires. Others, like Gerace, are medieval beauties with spectacular views of the Ionian Sea. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/calabria/pentedatillo-olivia-pozzan.jpg" alt="The deserted village of Pentedattilo clings to a hilltop in Calabria, Italy." /> <figcaption>The deserted village of Pentedattilo. Image credit: Olivia Pozzan</figcaption></figure> In the heart of Calabria, Sila National Park is a rolling green landscape, a massive mountain plateau with several picturesque lakes. The spring weather was perfect for hiking but “La Sila” is also popular for winter skiing. As I zigzagged my way up Calabria’s spine, I stayed in rustic <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/participation/agritourism">agriturismi</a>, welcomed with home-cooked meals and tumblers of red wine. Calabria’s mountain people are as fiercely proud of their untamed land as they are of their hospitality, and none more so than in the Pollino. Italy’s largest national park, the Pollino National Park, is a rocky, mountainous wilderness straddling Calabria and Basilicata. Once-isolated <a href="/explore/europe/albania/hiking-in-albania">Albanian</a> villages exist here, strangely suspended in time. Settled by Albanian refugees fleeing the Ottoman Empire between the 14th and 18th centuries, the villages maintain their Albanian language (actually a particular dialect of Albanian), dress, and customs. Also unique are the famous pino loricato trees, ancient towering pines that only grow here and in the Balkans. I followed <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/hiking-travel-insurance">hiking</a> trails beside deep river canyons, through dense forests of beech, fir and maple and across alpine meadows carpeted in wildflowers. I knew wolves and wild cats prowled the forest, but I sensed the Pollino was home to something far more ethereal and primal. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/calabria/pollino-gettyImages-1276507739.jpg" alt="Horses graze below mountains covered in fall foliage in Pollino National Park, Italy." /> <figcaption>Pollino National Park. Image credit: Getty Images / Antonel</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="sea">Down by the sea: Tropea and Scilla</h2> As a self-professed beach connoisseur, I was lured to explore Calabria’s 500mi (800km) coastline, from the sandy eastern beaches lapped by the Ionian Sea to the dramatic rocky shores on the western Tyrrhenian coast. The water along the entire coast is limpid blue and crystal clear – however, there’s a gritty feel to the long string of cheap summer resorts and ugly developments lining much of the coastline. It wasn’t until I reached the poetically named Costa degli Dei (Coast of the Gods) on the south-west coast that I found the seaside charm I was searching for. Tropea, crowned Italy’s most beautiful village in 2021, perched on a cliff top overlooking a powder-white beach fringing the turquoise waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Legend names Hercules as the town’s founder, but its allure needed no celebrity endorsement. I strolled through the medieval town center, sampled a red-onion flavored gelato (a curious local delicacy), and gazed, bewitched, as a glorious rose-gold sun sank into the ocean. A little further south on the Tyrrhenian coast, and just north of Reggio Calabria, Scilla vies for the title of Italy’s most beautiful village. According to Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey, Scilla was home to the mythical six-headed sea monster of the same name. Straddling a rocky promontory dominated by an imposing medieval castle, Scilla is divided into two parts. On one side, pastel-colored houses wind down the hill to a pristine sandy beach (safe now from monsters). But it was the old fishing port of Chianalea, with its jumble of stone houses and quaint restaurants lapping the seafront, that captivated me. I wandered down an enchanting maze of narrow alleys and cobbled laneways, stepping around fishermen mending boats and nets as they must have done for centuries. As evening fell, the village was transformed into a romantic, lantern-lit seaside enclave. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/calabria/scilla-main-beach.jpg" alt="A broad, sandy beach in Scilla, on the Tyrrhenian coast of Calabria, Italy. " /> <figcaption>The main beach in Scilla. Image credit: Olivia Pozzan</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="bronzi">Bronzi di Riace in Reggio Calabria</h2> In Reggio Calabria’s national archaeological museum, the Museo Nazionale della Magna Grecia, I found perfection. The life-size bronze statues of two naked warriors, the magnificent Bronzi di Riace, are the world’s finest examples of ancient Greek sculpture. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from their stunning physiques and handsome, bearded faces. Were they gods or men? The bronze warriors, dating from around 450 BC, were found in relatively shallow water off Riace on Calabria’s Ionian coast in 1972. As the region was once part of ancient Magna Grecia (Greater Greece), it is believed they were shipwrecked during transport. But where were they going? And where did they come from? Nothing more is known about them. Their story remains a mystery. Other than a lively and pretty seaside promenade – which overlooks the Strait of Messina – there’s not much to see or do in the main port city of Reggio Calabria. But it’s worth a visit simply to gape and marvel at the exquisite Bronzi di Riace. <h2 id="trip-notes">Trip notes</h2> Lamezia Terme airport, south of Cosenza, has domestic and international flights. Reggio Calabria has a small domestic airport and a train station with services running to Rome, Milan and Naples. However, the best way to explore Calabria is to hire a car. There’s a decent autostrada (Autostrada del Sole) along the west coast and most interior roads are well signposted. An agriturismo (the plural is agriturismi) is accommodation on a working farm and can range from a single room to an entire farmhouse. In urban areas, B&Bs have become more popular than hotels and cover a wide range of options from seaside bungalows to restored palazzi, with prices to match. Calabria’s Mediterranean climate makes it a year-round destination. From April to June, spring wildflowers entice hikers, beachgoers bake in the sun during the summer party months of July and August, while March and October see mild weather and fewer crowds. Discovering this region is an adventure and it’s handy to know a smattering of Italian if you want to delve into its secret places.Getty Images / Nata Rass 1868159630 Getty Images The quaint fishing port of Chianalea in the town of Scilla, Sardinia, Italy.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/things-to-do-in-sardinia-beyond-the-beachesFrom prehistoric ruins to magical kingdoms and secret mountain pools, the Italian island of Sardinia is full of surprises beyond its superb beaches. 2021-08-03T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/things-to-do-in-sardinia-beyond-the-beacheshttps://www.worldnomads.comMuch more than the sum of its sparkling beaches and turquoise coastline, Sardinia has many secrets to disclose, and I was on a mission to uncover a few. A land of mystery and folklore, it’s a place where adventures unfold like the pages of a fairy tale. <ul> <li><a href="#goni">The treasures of Goni</a></li> <li><a href="#desert">Dunes and desert in Piscinas </a></li> <li><a href="#hikes">Mountains, dips, and hikes in Monte Nieddu</a></li> <li><a href="#kingdom">The Kingdom of Tavolara</a></li> <li><a href="#maddalena">Pink sands and beach sculptures in the Maddalena Islands</a></li> <li><a href="#trip-notes">Trip notes</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="goni">The treasures of Goni</h2> Pushing my way through a forest of cork trees, I’m hunting for homes that don’t appear to exist. “I’m sure they’re here somewhere,” insists my Sardinian boyfriend as we continue our search for the Domus De Janus – the “house of the fairies”. Recognizable by a rectangular doorway carved into rockfaces, these dwellings can be found all over the island and are thought to date back to 3,400BC. Although most probably used as tombs, the jury is still out on their official purpose. But delving deeper into a fantasy setting of contorted branches and sculped boulders, I like to think they were inhabited by magical creatures. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/sardinia/house-of-fairies.jpg" alt="The House of the Fairies, ancient dwellings carved in rocks in Goni, Sardinia." /> <figcaption>Domus De Janus – the “house of the fairies”. Image credit: Renato Granieri</figcaption></figure> Driving from the Sardinian capital, Cagliari, in the south, it takes us an hour to reach Goni, a tiny village rich in prehistoric sites. One of the most important is the Pranu Muttedu archaeological park (entry US $6/ € 5), where 60 menhirs and megaliths stand in formations, some with the faint semblance of human forms. Nearby, the Nuraghe Goni (free) is a fine example of the 7,000 Bronze Age stone watchtowers excavated across Sardinia. Exploring these ruins is eerily stirring, knowing I’m treading the footsteps of one of the <a href="/explore/middle-east/turkey/off-the-beaten-path-turkey">oldest civilizations</a> in this part of the world. Once full of life, today Goni is quiet. “It’s dead,” complains one elderly lady, bemoaning the absence of tourists in her café. “Look right; look left – there’s no one.” <h2 id="desert">Dunes and desert in Piscinas</h2> That tumbleweed scene fits with the wild-west feel of rural Sardinia, which I experience on a trip to Arbus 37mi (60km) northwest of Cagliari. Mountain goats are nibbling at fuchsia rhododendron bushes when we arrive at sunset and terracotta slate roofs blaze golden as church bells call evening prayer. A mass of rolling dunes and trees bent double by the wind, Piscinas – a 40-minute drive from Arbus – is the largest desert in Europe, where the sea roars loud as an ocean. At night, we wander along an old railway track in the sand, admiring abandoned mining carts illuminated by the Milky Way. But the place is best enjoyed during the day when rust-red lagoons bleed into the sea. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/sardinia/mining-equipment-piscinas.jpg" alt="Abandoned mining equipment on the dunes at Piscinas, Sardinia." /> <figcaption>Abandoned mining equipment on the dunes at Piscinas. Image credit: Renato Granieri</figcaption></figure> Once employed by the area’s mining industry, many retirees now live a peaceful life in Arbus – often beyond their 100th birthday, making Sardinia one of the world’s five <a href="https://www.bluezones.com/">Blue Zones</a>, places determined to be home to the world’s <a href="/explore/europe/greece/six-lesser-known-greek-islands-you-must-visit#cyclades">healthiest and longest living people</a>. The residents credit their longevity to a diet of velvety Cannonau wine, pecorino cheese, and culurgiones – pillows of doughy pasta stuffed with cheese, potato and mint. After eating them at a hillside restaurant, I could sleep for 100 years if nothing else. <h2 id="hikes">Mountains, dips, and hikes in Monte Nieddu</h2> Heavy dishes traditionally gave mountain communities enough energy to tackle <a href="/travel-insurance/activities/hiking-travel-insurance">steep climbs</a> and rough terrain, something I appreciate when we reach Monte Nieddu in the eastern San Teodoro province. The oak and cork forests have been made accessible by a series of firebreaks, leading to a granite canyon dotted with natural pools. Too rough for regular cars, roads are best tackled with a 4x4, so we take a ride with Johanna Beck from <a href="https://natura-viva.it/">Natura Viva</a> which offers a shuttle service from the town of San Teodoro (US $18/€15 return). We follow a trail to several waterholes shielded by a granite fortress of jagged turrets and rocky ramparts. Using ropes tied to trees and metal handles helpfully stapled into boulders, I lower myself into the crisp, refreshing water, where stones shiver on the bottom and clouds are reflected on the surface. But the best is saved for last, with an infinity pool plunging into a deep canyon. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/sardinia/monte-nieddu.jpg" alt="A hiker gazes at a rugged granite canyon in Monte Nieddu, Sardinia. " /> <figcaption>The author, hiking to the waterholes at Monte Nieddu. Image credit: Renato Granieri</figcaption></figure> On our drive back, Johanna pulls in at a viewpoint which overlooks Tavolara, a wedge of rock rising from the water like the prow of an ocean liner. Legend suggests Charles Albert, the King of Sardinia, made the island’s only resident a king following a hunting visit in 1836, and it’s since been unofficially declared the world’s smallest kingdom. <h2 id="kingdom">The Kingdom of Tavolara</h2> Catching a ferry from Porto San Paolo (US $10.50/€15 return), it takes us 20 minutes to arrive at the dock where current heir, Antonio (Tonino) Bertoleoni, runs Tonino’s restaurant. Inside his dining room, a sepia-toned family photograph hangs on the wall – an image which Tonino claims can also be found in Buckingham Palace. Whether that’s true or not doesn’t really matter – Tavolara is still a crown jewel on the coastline, and even the goats here are reputed to have gold teeth. After paying our respects at the island’s royal cemetery, where tombs sit beneath concrete coronets, we climb a viewpoint overlooking the bay. Although I fail to see any animals with shiny smiles, I do find a grotto with a Virgin Mary set on a shelf. Below us, the clear waters swirl with turquoise and sapphire colors, evidence this is a Marine Protected Area. <h2 id="maddalena">Pink sands and beach sculptures in the Maddalena Islands</h2> All along Sardinia’s northeast, the coastline is dazzling. Heading an hour north, we reach the port of Palau and catch a 20-minute ferry to the Maddalena Archipelago. Sandwiched between Corsica and the Strait of Bonifacio, six islands form a national park of forest-backed beaches, scenic hikes, and water so iridescent it could be mistaken for the Indian Ocean. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/sardinia/maddalena-getty-1162099039.jpg" alt="A group of swimmers at the Maddalena Islands, Sardinia." /> <figcaption>Swimmers in the Maddalena Islands. Image credit: Getty Images / Niccola Mastrandrea - EyeEm</figcaption></figure> One main road rings Maddalena island, leading to Octopus Beach, where – with some imagination – smoothed boulders become a cast of sea creatures. But it’s Caprera, connected by a bridge, that I find most captivating. Trails lead to ruins of military fortifications now reduced to rubble – the most atmospheric being the Batteria di Candeo, a secret barracks hewn into the rocks. A full-day boat trip (US $53/€45) allows me to explore the remaining islands, with spectacles ranging from the pink sands of Budelli to the bizarre sight of wild boars bathing on the shore. It’s proof that anything is possible in the magical, surreal world of Sardinia. And if pigs don’t fly, they can certainly swim. <h2 id="trip-notes">Trip notes</h2> Within Europe, there are several direct flights to Alghero, Olbia or Cagliari in Sardinia. Arrivals from elsewhere will need to fly via Rome or Milan. If you want to travel beyond big towns, a car rental is essential. Accommodation ranges from expensive beach resorts to more affordable guest houses and agriturismo further inland. Popular with Italians from the mainland, Sardinia can become extremely busy in July and August when temperatures are unbearably hot. If you want to hike or visit the mountains, I’d recommend going in May/June or September/October when it’s comfortable to climb and still swim in the sea.Renato Granieri 0 Renato Granieri Turquoise waters around the "island kingdom" of Tavolara, off the coast of Sardinia, Italy.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/what-to-see-and-do-in-lecceWhile crowds flock to Florence, they overlook this gem of a town in the southern Italian region of Puglia. Nomad Paola takes us on a walking tour of its graceful piazzas and stunning architecture.2021-07-27T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/what-to-see-and-do-in-leccehttps://www.worldnomads.comI remember, not so long ago, when any mention of a visit to or holiday in <a href="/explore/europe/italy/secrets-of-puglia">Puglia</a> elicited a quizzical raise of the eyebrow. These days, this region of the Italian south is justifiably renowned for its turquoise seas, whitewashed medieval hill towns, and delicious regional food and wine. Strangely, however, despite travel journalists often referring to Puglia as the “new Tuscany”, travelers still overlook one of the region’s most extraordinary treasures: the city of Lecce. <ul> <li><a href="#gem">Lecce, Puglia: an architectural gem in the heel of Italy’s boot</a></li> <li><a href="#heart">Finding the heart of the Old City</a></li> <li><a href="#saints">Saint Irene and Saint Oronzo</a></li> <li><a href="#amphitheater">Buried treasure: Lecce’s Roman Amphitheater</a></li> <li><a href="#basilica">The breathtaking Basilica of Santa Croce</a></li> <li><a href="#food">Mouthwatering local food in Lecce</a></li> <li><a href="#trip-notes">Trip notes</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="gem">Lecce, Puglia: an architectural gem in the heel of Italy’s boot</h2> Lecce is found in Italy’s deepest south, about an hour and forty minutes by car from Bari, the regional capital. It’s an easy drive, down the coast on the motorway or along coastal roads that follow the beaches and provide expansive views of the Adriatic Sea and centuries-old olive groves. On arrival, I always head for the Old Town (Centro storico) – this is a city to be enjoyed on foot, so you can meander down ancient alleyways, walk into churches, piazzas, and cafes at leisure or sip on an aperitivo at sunset with freedom. The Baroque architecture here is so unique, so beautiful, elaborate, and lyrical that it has its own name in architectural textbooks, and is known as the “Barocco Leccese”. Florence leaves you breathless, but I promise, so will Lecce. There are countless chapels and churches, vast palazzi carved from the soft, local, golden limestone – pietra Leccese – which artisans of the past joyfully sculpted to decorate the facades. I like to take the time to really stop and look at the minute, sculpted detail on some of the buildings. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/lecce/streets-getty-695434928.jpg" alt="A narrow maze of streets in the old center of Lecce, Italy." /> <figcaption>Narrow alleyways in the old center. Image credit: Getty Images / EunikaSopotnicka</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="heart">Finding the heart of the Old City</h2> The formal entry to Lecce’s historic center is through Porta Napoli, an arch built in 1548 in honor of King Carlo V who had built the defensive fortifications that once surrounded the city. The old walls no longer exist and so now, the magnificent arch stands triumphally alone, flanked by two Corinthian columns and the <a href="/explore/europe/austria/7-things-to-know-before-going-to-austria">Habsburg</a> royal crest. Over the decades, archaeologists working around the stone portal have uncovered a wealth of funereal objects from the Messapian civilizations; tribes who lived in the area some 7,000 years ago. From here, it’s a short walk to Piazza del Duomo (cathedral) in Lecce’s historic heart. Dominated by the Cathedral, this is one of Italy’s most beautiful piazzas, vast and airy in the daytime but truly magical at night as it is very gently lit to highlight the warm gold of the stone and the sensuous lines of the buildings. Its spacious feel contrasts with the labyrinth of narrow streets that run outwards in every direction. Whatever time I arrive, I take time to simply stand in the center and admire the Cathedral’s unusual dual facades – one which looks into the piazza while the other looks westward. The campanile, or old bell tower, the seminary, and Bishop’s Palace are superlative examples of the Barocco Leccese. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/lecce/duomo-getty-591579307.jpg" alt="Piazza del Duomo, Lecce, Italy." /> <figcaption>Piazza del Duomo. Image credit: Getty Images / Andrea Pistolesi</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="saints">Saint Irene and Saint Oronzo</h2> Next on the walking tour is the Church of Saint Irene, patron saint of the city until Pope Alexander VII rudely gave her the shove and installed a man – Saint Oronzo – in her place. (He no longer has a church but a piazza, just a short walk away). Saint Irene’s was begun in 1591 and is modeled on one of Rome’s great Basilicas, Sant’Andrea del Valle. The site of several, significant moments in Italian history, including the referendum that brought Lecce into the Kingdom of Italy in 1860, it boasts eight altars, some so intricate and ornate that, in my mind, they almost look like they are embroidered from stone. Piazza Saint Oronzo, just around the corner, is an odd and not entirely satisfactory mix of ancient and Fascist-era architecture but still worth checking out, as its cafes are lively and lovely for breakfast. <h2 id="amphitheater">Buried treasure: Lecce’s Roman Amphitheater</h2> It isn’t exactly rare to find a Roman amphitheatre in Italy, but Lecce’s is right in the middle of the old town, brilliantly preserved and incredibly, only rediscovered in 1901. It had been buried by other structures for millennia until a builder digging foundations for a new bank found the treasure. Built during the Emperor Hadrian’s reign, when Lecce was just a small trading port, it once held up to 15,000 spectators. Still partially buried, its horseshoe shape and seats are kept in semi-darkness at night, adding to its beauty and mystery. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/lecce/roman-amphitheater-getty-821296398.jpg" alt="A nighttime theater performace at the ancient Roman amphitheater in Lecce, Italy." /> <figcaption>A nighttime theater performace at the Roman amphitheater. Image credit: Getty Images / Massimo Borchi / Atlantide Phototravel</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="basilica">The breathtaking Basilica of Santa Croce</h2> The first time I clapped eyes on the Basilica of Santa Croce (Holy Cross), just a stone’s throw from the center, I was reduced to silence, unusual as all my friends would attest. This church began life in the 12th century, thanks to the hermit Pietro de Morrone who would later become Pope Celestine, but the current incarnation was begun in 1549 and took more than a century to finish. It’s the delicacy of the stonework that is unforgettable. Every inch of the façade is decorated with a dream-like riot of figures, from sheep and bizarre mythical birds to chubby cherubs and even what look like dodos. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/lecce/santa-croce-getty-538147172.jpg" alt="The elaborately carved exterior of the Basilica of Santa Croce in Lecce, Italy." /> <figcaption>Elaborately carved stonework on the façade of the Basilica of Santa Croce. Image credit: Getty Images / Julian Kumar</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="food">Mouthwatering local food in Lecce</h2> Breakfast is my favorite meal in Lecce: Caffe Leccese (espresso, in summer served icy cold) with a shot of sweet, locally produced almond syrup. This must be washed down with a pasticciotto Leccese, shortcrust pastry filled with a plain, lemon scented custard or an array of flavors including my favorite, pistachio. You must eat this warm from the oven. The cuisine of Lecce – cucina Salentina – is typical, fresh Mediterranean fare with fresh pasta at the heart and legumes or seasonal greens on top. Focaccia is a specialty, and fresh fish always a joy. <h2 id="trip-notes">Trip notes</h2> Fly into Bari or Brindisi airports and hire a car for the easy drive. Many of the city’s old palazzi have been turned into elegant B&Bs, ranging from five-star luxury to smart budget rooms. Lecce is much loved by Italians in summer, so the best time to avoid crowds is late spring or early autumn when you will still get blue skies and sunshine.Jacek Sopotnicki 1925963286 Getty Images An aerial shot of the old town of Lecce, in Puglia, southern Italy.

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/secrets-of-pugliaLocated in southern Italy at the heel of the boot, Puglia is known for its unique, conical stone houses called trulli. Nomad Paola shares her tips on where to go, what to see, and what to eat.2020-11-05T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/secrets-of-pugliahttps://www.worldnomads.comLocated at the heel of Italy’s <a href="/explore/europe/italy/calabria-destinations-discover-the-wild-italy">boot-shaped peninsula</a>, the Puglia region (aka Apulia) is probably one of the country’s least-known jewels – and I love it so much that I’m almost loath to share its secrets. My paternal grandfather came from Puglia and spoke of it with such joy and melancholy that it imprinted itself on my heart as a child. Later, when my aunt and uncle moved to Bari for work, they both quickly became connoisseurs and lovers of its culture, architecture, and delicious food and took us kids on road trips to explore the coastline, pointing out fairy-tale stone towers and fortifications, splendid Baroque churches, and myriad, vast olive groves and orchards punctuated by the whitewashed trulli, stone houses unique to Puglia. <ul> <li><a href="#trulli">Trulli: little stone houses with conical roofs</a></li> <li><a href="#trullo">Renting and restoring our own trullo</a></li> <li><a href="#towns">Puglia’s whitewashed hill towns</a></li> <li><a href="#beaches">Wild, hidden beaches and buzzy lidos</a></li> <li><a href="#lecce">Lecce, the “Florence of the South”</a></li> <li><a href="#otranto">Otranto Cathedral: the Tree of Life</a></li> <li><a href="#maria">Santa Maria di Leuca: where two seas meet</a></li> <li><a href="#food">Wine, food, and sunset aperitivo</a></li> <li><a href="#trip-notes">Trip notes</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="trulli">Trulli: little stone houses with conical roofs</h2> Once upon a time, these curious, square structures with their distinctive conical rooves were simple shelters built by farmers needing refuge with their animals from the winter’s cold, or when tending vines and fruit trees in the burning summers. During the 1500s, when the region was under Spanish rule, taxes on new houses were raised dramatically to finance the ongoing and expensive civil war. The trulli (plural of trullo) were built without mortar, using a drystone technique, so they could be dismantled as quickly as they were erected – ensuring the poor local farmers could avoid payment of yet another crippling Spanish tax. Today, Puglia’s Alberobello, a little 17th-century town constructed solely of 1,500 or so trulli nestled photogenically into a hillside, has UN World Heritage status, and its whitewashed, vine- and bougainvillea-covered walls and pretty trullo church are popular with visitors to the region. Look out for the magical symbols painted on their roofs – some are Christian, some Pagan, some related to astrology, but all are intriguing. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/trullo-front.jpg" alt="A restored trullo - stone house with a conical roof - in the Puglia region of Italy." /> <figcaption>The author's restored trullo. Photo credit: Paola Totaro</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="trullo">Renting and restoring our own trullo</h2> A couple of years ago, we decided to spend a summer roaming Puglia, and rented a trullo to see what it would be like to “live” the experience. There are many trulli throughout the region which have now been restored and can be rented: they make delightful and often very romantic holiday houses, cool in summer and set amongst olive groves and lush fig and almond woodlands, most a stone’s throw from the seaside. For me, that first trullo experience became an obsession. The following year, we found an old ruin of a trullo for sale, its cones literally reduced to a pile of stones, and bought it. We’ve been restoring it ever since. The story of our adventures – not all of them fun, I might add – can be found <a href="http://trullimadlydeeply.blogspot.com/">here</a>. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/martina-franca.jpg" alt="A narrow, pastel-painted laneway in the hilltown of Martina Franca, Italy." /> <figcaption>A narrow laneway in the medieval town of Martina Franca. Photo credit: Paola Totaro</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="towns">Puglia’s whitewashed hill towns</h2> The Valle d’Itria is an undulating vale of vast, centenarian olive groves, and four of the best known of the medieval, fortified towns. Ostuni is the biggest, while Locorotondo is my favorite, with its heart-stopping views downhill over a sea of trulli, an unforgettable sight at sunset. The towns of Martina Franca and Cisternino are nearby, and all are incredibly pretty, with tiny, whitewashed laneways and flowers everywhere, and are best explored by parking your car outside the walls (there are plenty of inexpensive carparks) and spending an evening simply meandering. All are within a half-hour drive of each other. <h2 id="beaches">Wild, hidden beaches and buzzy lidos</h2> A car <a href="/travel-safety/europe/italy/driving-in-italy">really is a necessity</a> if you’re planning to explore Puglia, because the beaches – there are 500mi (800km) of coastline to explore – are exceptional. Keep in mind that some are free and a little harder to get to in national parks, while others offer the quintessential Italian lido experience, which means paying for entry and access to comfortable sunbeds, umbrellas, bar and restaurant, and changing and shower facilities. One of my favorites is near the vast, Egnazia archaeological site, which was once part of an ancient Messapic city. The beach nearby – Lido Archeologico – is an incredible spot to float past stone tombs in an emerald sea before heading to a nearby trattoria for fresh seafood and a cold beer. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/capitolo-beach.jpg" alt="Turquoise waters at Capitolo Beach in the Puglia region of Italy." /> <figcaption>Capitolo Beach, on the Adriatic coast near Monopoli. Photo credit: Paola Totaro</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="lecce">Lecce, the “Florence of the South”</h2> The <a href="/explore/europe/italy/what-to-see-and-do-in-lecce">Baroque city of Lecce</a> should not be missed, especially if you’re interested in art and architecture. Often referred to as the “Florence of the South”, Lecce is about a two-hour drive from Bari airport, and a little less from Brindisi, on the autostrada and a little longer but much more picturesque on the coastal road. Lecce is splendidly preserved, unlike many other southern Italian cities, and its architecture, sculpted from golden stone, and pretty, narrow streets make it a walkers’ paradise. I think it’s one of the most graceful and distinctive of Italian cities, and the food is fantastic. <h2 id="otranto">Otranto Cathedral: the Tree of Life</h2> Otranto, on the coast southeast of Lecce, is know for its Cathedral, consecrated in 1068, which has, over the millennia, been the site of legendary cultural battles, including becoming a mosque several times and the site of the Ottoman siege of 1480. The enormous 12th-century mosaic that covers its floor depicts the Tree of Life, while the crypt has some 48 bays and more than 70 columns inspired by the Mosque-Cathedral in Cordoba and Theodosius’ cistern in Istanbul. <h2 id="maria">Santa Maria di Leuca: where two seas meet</h2> Basing yourself in Lecce allows easy access south and to the other side of the boot, where the spectacular, Maldive-like beaches of Porto Cesareo and Punta Prosciutto are found. Puglia is surrounded by both the Adriatic and Ionian seas – if you can, stop at Santa Maria di Leuca, which sits at the very tip of the heel. It was built around a temple to the Goddess Minerva in ancient times, and has long been a site of religious pilgrimage and sanctuary. It’s said you can see the meeting of the two seas’ currents there, too, and the beaches, as well as the little town in the evening, are marvellous. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/san-vito.jpg" alt="San Vito, a picturesque beach on the Puglian coast with a 10th-century Benedictine Abbey." /> <figcaption>Atmospheric San Vito beach, with its 10th-century Benedictine abbey, near Polignano a Mare. Photo credit: Paola Totaro</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="food">Wine, food, and sunset aperitivo</h2> The world-renowned Primitivo reds of Puglia are delicious and memorable, as is the olive oil. Puglian food is fresh and tasty, simple cucina povera – the cuisine of the poor – and usually built around seasonal produce. Try the vast array of small, tender barbecued meat morsels known as bombette, orecchiette – hand-made pasta in the shape of small ears – dressed with cime di rapa (turnip tops lightly fried with olive oil, garlic, and baby tomatoes) and puree di ceci e cicoria (chick pea puree with chicory) that sounds odd but trust me, even if you’re not vegetarian, you’ll ask for seconds. I like to have an aperitivo in the photo-worthy Polignano a Mare or the tiny fishing town of Monopoli, and end the evening meandering the sweet alleyways to find a romantic trattoria for dinner. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/explore/italy/orecchiette-pasta.jpg" alt="A platter of hand-made orecchiette pasta, a specialty of Italy's Puglia region." /> <figcaption>Hand-made orecchiette pasta, a Puglian specialty. Photo credit: Paola Totaro</figcaption></figure> <h2 id="trip-notes">Trip notes</h2> <h3>How to get to Puglia</h3> Fly to Bari or Brindisi airports – there are many direct flights from major European capitals during the summer months – and pick up a local hire car. It’s best to book cars early, as they can be difficult to find, especially in peak season (July-August). There is also a good train service from Rome, Milan, and Naples to Fasano which is well placed for exploring the Valle d’Itria. <h3>Accommodation</h3> Puglia is awash in gorgeous, quirky <a href="https://www.trullionline.uk/trulli/">holiday houses</a>, including many renovated trulli and the fortified farmhouses known as masserie.Getty Images / davidionut 0971736382 Getty Images The 17th century-Puglian town of Alberobello, constructed entirely of trulli – small stone houses with conical roofs.

On Venetian Time | Italy Travel Storyhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/on-venetian-timeOn Venetian Time | Italy Travel StoryThu, 25 Jul 2019 21:05:34 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/on-venetian-timeThe Flower Festival That Destroys Itself | Italy Travelhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/flower-festival-that-destroys-itselfThe Flower Festival That Destroys Itself | Italy TravelFri, 22 Feb 2019 23:49:27 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/flower-festival-that-destroys-itselfUnited by Faith | Italy Photo Storyhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/united-by-faithUnited by Faith | Italy Photo StoryFri, 15 Feb 2019 22:49:51 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/discovery/united-by-faithThe Day I Fell Into a Canal in Venicehttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/a-canal-in-veniceThe Day I Fell Into a Canal in VeniceThu, 29 Nov 2018 18:06:33 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/connection/a-canal-in-veniceNew Priorities on an Old Iron Road | Italy Travelhttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/transformation/new-priorities-on-an-old-iron-roadNew Priorities on an Old Iron Road | Italy TravelThu, 14 Jun 2018 18:55:43 GMThttps://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/stories/transformation/new-priorities-on-an-old-iron-roadhttps://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/the-world-nomads-podcast-episode-11-italyListen to Episode 11 of The World Nomads Podcast. We explore Italy beyond the obvious, the sandwich that's a real tear jerker and advice for taking a good Instagram shot.2018-03-06T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/the-world-nomads-podcast-episode-11-italyhttps://www.worldnomads.com<div> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2V9BgOBKU7Mu64Jii8i9DY?si=ucNEpy2dQ_GZeHkenEK_UQ"><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/spotify%20logo%20green.png" style="width: 46px; height: 46px;" alt="“Listen" on="" spotify="" /></a>   <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=154934&refid=stpr"><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/stitcher-logo-120x46.jpg" style="width: 120px; height: 46px;" alt="Listen on Stitcher" /></a></div> <h2>Episode 11: Italy</h2> Italy is on the Mediterranean Sea sharing borders with France, Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, San Marino and Vatican City. With a population of around 61 million, you’ll never guess how many cups of espresso they consume! <h2 class="p1">What’s in the Episode:</h2> 00:12 Intro 01:50 Phil’s Quiz Question 02:06 Elena on the sandwich that made her cry – “…and I didn't tell him what I wanted at all, I was like, "you just make your sandwich." And it had like six kinds of cheese on it, probably four kinds of meat. A dozen different types of salads and greens. Some tomatoes. Fresh herbs from the harden nearby. It was embarrassing, I got my sandwich, I took a bite of it, and I had to go sit in a corner like far away from the people because I was crying.” 11:33 Catching up with our world nomads 12:08 Madeline Jhawar runs Italy Beyond the Obvious it’s a travel planning service just for Italy – but wait until you hear Phil launch into his pronunciation of a place he stumbled on while in the country! 18:00 Travel news and the farty passenger that forced an unscheduled stop 21:31 Mauro Mazz with Kim’s “speak to me” in Italian request 31:10 Word Nomads Isaac Entry with tips on how to get your travel pics featured on our Instagram page 35:46 Quiz Question answer 37:00 What’s next in Episode 12 <h2 class="p2">Who’s on The Show:</h2> Mauro Mazz from <a href="https://www.crabintheair.com/">Crab in the Air</a> a blog designed to help you find “fantastic ideas for visiting the most amazing locations”. Madeline Jhawar who runs <a href="https://www.italybeyondtheobvious.com/">Italy Beyond the Obvious</a> it’s a travel planning service just for Italy Elena Valeriote The World Nomads Passport to Plate program winner. This is a photo of Caseificio Borderi who made the sandwich that made her cry. You can check them out <a href="http://www.caseificioborderi.eu/chi-siamo/?lang=en">here</a>. <figure><img src="https://media.worldnomads.com/Podcast/Italy/italy%20sandwhich.jpg" /><figcaption>Image: Elena Valeriote</figcaption></figure> <h2 class="p1">Resources and Links</h2> Scholarships Newsletter: <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/create%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank">Sign up for scholarships news and see what opportunities are live here</a>. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/worldnomads/%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank">Follow World Nomads on Instagram</a> for the latest stories, and #WorldNomads for your chance to be featured. <h2 class="p3">Want to Share This Episode?</h2> Copy this code onto your web page: <iframe width="100%" height="200" src="https://player.whooshkaa.com/player/episode/id/174722?visual=true&sharing=true" frameborder="0" style="width: 100%; height: 200px"></iframe> <h2 class="p1">Want to Talk to us?</h2> We want to hear from you! If you have any travel insurance questions to <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">Ask Phil</a>, want to give us feedback on the episode, or have suggestions for topics you'd like us to cover, email us at <a href="mailto:podcast@worldnomads.com">podcast@worldnomads.com</a> Sign up for Podcast news in the newsletter box on the right-hand side. <h2 class="p1">About World Nomads & The Podcast</h2> Explore your boundaries and discover your next adventure with The World Nomads Podcast. Hosted by Podcast Producer Kim Napier and World Nomads Phil Sylvester, each episode will take you around the world with insights into destinations from travelers and experts. They’ll share the latest in travel news, answer your travel questions and fill you in on what World Nomads is up to, including the latest scholarships and guides. <a href="https://www.worldnomads.com/%22%20%5Ct%20%22_blank">World Nomads</a> is a fast-growing online travel company that provides inspiration, advice, safety tips and specialized travel insurance for independent, volunteer and student travelers traveling and studying most anywhere in the world. Our online global travel insurance covers travelers from more than 135 countries and allows you to buy and claim online, 24/7, even while already traveling. The World Nomads Podcast is not your usual travel Podcast. It’s everything for the adventurous, independent traveler. Don’t miss out. Subscribe today. <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full Transcript of the Episode</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner"> Speaker 1: The World Nomads Podcast, it's not your usual travel podcast. It's everything for the adventurous independent traveler. Kim: I'm laughing already. Thanks for tuning in. I can't even speak at the start of the podcast. It's the World Nomads Podcast, and we're getting quite the following now, Phil, aren't we? Phil: Oh, yeah, absolutely. We got a few people out there that love us. Thanks, mum. Kim: Exactly. Now, I should mention, too, our travel insurance and lifestyle brand. Look, in this episode, we're off to beautiful Italy. Phil: [00:00:30] I know. Does anybody not know where Italy is? Just in case you're confused, it's in the Mediterranean. It's that boot-shaped place. Borders France, Austria, Slovenia. Within it is San Marino, a very small country, and the smallest country in the world, the Vatican City. Kim: Sorry. I've still got the giggles. Wait until ... It will all become very clear. It will become very clear. Phil: And [inaudible 00:00:53] I get very embarrassed by this, so hang in there. Kim: Yes. Yeah. So who's on the show? Madeline Jhawar. She runs [00:01:00] Italy Beyond the Obvious, and it's a travel planning service just for Italy. And Madeline's travel philosophy is not only to see Italy but to feel it, to hear it, to do it, to keep it simple. Very much World <g class="gr_ gr_1016 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="1016" data-gr-id="1016">Nomadsy</g>, Phil. Phil: Very much. I love it. Kim: So [Mauro 00:01:13] Mazz, oh, I love talking to Mauro. He was so sexy sounding. He runs the- Phil: You've gone all A Fish Called Wanda on me right there. Kim: I do. This is A Fish Called Wanda. He runs a blog with his wife called "Crab in the Air." He's Italian, and yes, I do have one [00:01:30] of those "speak to me in Italian" moments. And Phil, before you judge me, this episode does belong to you with this classic blooper that's coming up that you'll hear that in our chat with Madeline. Plus, World Nomads contributor Elena tells us about the sandwich that made her cry. Travel news, and let's do it, kick it off with Phil's quiz question. Phil: All right, it's about Italy. I love coffee, and I love Italian espresso. I have a fabulous little Italian machine at home as well. But how much espresso coffee is consumed [00:02:00] in Italy each year? How much espresso in Italy each year? Kim: End of the episode, you'll find that out. When you think Italy, you think food. Now, this lady was the winner of our Italy Passport & Plate program, and because you can whack it on so well, you can introduce her. Phil: Elena Valeriote. Kim: There you go. Phil: Nearly. Nearly, nearly [crosstalk 00:02:22]. Kim: Nearly got it. Yeah. Hi, Elena. How are you? Elena Valeriote: I'm great. Thank you. How are you both? Kim: Well, we're well. But tell me about the Passport & Plate program. What [00:02:30] did you do? Elena Valeriote: Yeah. It was back in 2014, and it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. I went to Cinque Terre, Italy, which is up on the northern coast, for a little over a week, about a week and a half. And I spent my days making some travel videos, just short films mostly focused on Italian food. And it was a lot of eating, a lot of drinking, sunshine, and music, and everything good. Kim: Did you put on weight? Elena Valeriote: [00:03:00] Actually, no, because the "Five Cities," so Cinque Terre means the "Five Cities" in Italy, or "Five Earths" to be correct, but they are located on the top of these really, really tall hills, and so there [inaudible 00:03:18] cliffs that drop off into the coast, and I hiked between several of the hills. Did a lot of running and walking, so as much as I was eating I was working it off, too. Phil: But was there not a little [00:03:30] fishing expedition on a boat that ... Elena Valeriote: Yes. Phil: She didn't look very good. Kim: Oh, really? Phil: She did a face in the videos. Kim: Tell us. Elena Valeriote: I know. Phil: Go on. Elena Valeriote: I couldn't believe that that was the whole subject of one of the videos, but yeah. As much as I love to travel and to constantly in motion, my body does not. I don't do especially well with motion sickness on anything, but especially boats. And so one of the days, I had the joys [00:04:00] of being invited to hop boat, which anyone else would be pretty thrilled about, and I was excited for, but I ended up getting pretty dizzy and had to lie down in the middle of the boat for most of the excursion. Phil: But I have to tell you, the film crew we sent with her, they said she was a real trooper about it, so- Kim: Oh, really? Phil: Yeah. It's good. Kim: Really? So you don't do boats, but you do food. So tell us what you learned about food in Italy. Elena Valeriote: Well, the thing about food in Italy is that it's so fresh and so [00:04:30] much of it is local because Italians take this incredible pride in their food. So in Cinque Terre, they have what is traditionally called poor food. They say that it's very simple food, but it just ... I mean, you take a couple ingredients like lemons, basil, potatoes, and some anchovies, and you throw it all in a dish, and it's just exquisite. I mean, these people know what they're doing. And you dash on some olive oil and some fresh honey. I mean, the thing about the trip [00:05:00] was that every day, I was in an olive grove or a lemon grove or on a fishing boat, and I was surrounded by this food that was coming right from there. And so everything just tasted alive and vibrant. And that's what I found in all of my travels in Italy, that the food is just incredibly of the place, and they take such a pride in preparing it that you're going to have a good meal no matter what. Kim: Yeah. It's a real family experience, too, isn't it? Elena Valeriote: Yes. Yeah, actually at one of the ... I spent [00:05:30] several afternoons in kitchens in Cinque Terre on this trip, and one of the times I was in the kitchen with three generations. So I had a grandmother, a daughter, and her granddaughter all in the kitchen together, and we were cooking, and it was wonderful. It was very Italian to have all of the family there. Phil: We're heated from the awful pronunciation that I did of your name, but there's an Italian background, so was that the part of Italy that your family was from? Or they were from another part? Elena Valeriote: [00:06:00] Both of my family, my mother <g class="gr_ gr_1048 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1048" data-gr-id="1048">and</g> my father's side, come from Italy. And so my father's side is from the south, and my mother's side is from the north, but not quite in the Liguria region, which is where I was in Cinque Terre. Kim: Tell me about pizza. Did they really invent pizza, the Italians? Elena Valeriote: I don't actually know the answer to that entirely, but- Kim: Hang on. Hang on, Elena, Phil will. Phil knows everything. Elena Valeriote: Tell me, Phil. Phil: [00:06:30] Yes. The Margherita pizza is very definitely an Italian invention because it's the colors of the Italian flag with the white cheese, the red tomato base, and the green basil leaf or basil leaf as you ... And it was invented as a dish for Queen Margherita, hence it's called Margherita. Kim: Right. Is there any- Phil: I'm sorry. Kim: Is there anything Phil doesn't know? Phil: I'm sorry. Elena Valeriote: I have heard that story, but it's one of those things you have to wonder if it's an Italian [00:07:00] myth. But I know that there are, and particularly in Naples, they've come up with a whole definition of what a pizza is, and it's a touchy topic depending on where you go. Phil: Well, I was there a couple of years ago, and I've got young kids. They would've been five and nine at the time, so it was pasta one day, pizza the next for like two weeks. And with gelato at the end of every one of them, but we were doing a lot of walking, too. And they said the best pizza they have ever had in their lives was [00:07:30] in Naples, of course. The home of it. Kim: Well, of course. Of course. What are some of the rules? I've been told you can't have a cappuccino with a meal. Elena Valeriote: Yeah. There are quite a lot of rules, and it takes some time to learn them when it comes to food etiquette in Italy. The cappuccino for sure is one. I love a good cappuccino. It's something I definitely picked up in Italy, but you are supposed to have it on its own, perhaps with a croissant or a piece of toast, maybe with Nutella [00:08:00] on it, in the morning, but absolutely not with a meal and never after 10:00 a.m. Phil: Can I ask one question? You're quite a well-traveled person as well, Elena, so what's your secret to travel? What do you try and do that makes travel the best it can be for you? Elena Valeriote: For me, I plan all of my travel around food. Maybe I don't pick the city necessarily based on the food, but when I know where I'm going, I will [00:08:30] make an itinerary for my day that is essentially what is going to be the best thing I eat that day. And so I'll pick out, what's the best place that makes bread in this city? And then I will start my day there, and I'll get a good coffee and some good toast, and then it's guaranteed to be a good day. Kim: In all your travels then, which country or which nationality has the best food? Elena Valeriote: I've got to be partial to Italy, of course. Kim: Correct answer. Elena Valeriote: [00:09:00] Yeah. I can't even tell you. I spent two weeks in Sicily at one point, which was incredible, and had multiple life-changing experiences when it comes to food. I actually had a sandwich that made me cry. Phil: What? Elena Valeriote: Yeah. It was so moving. It was the best thing I've ever eaten, and I had the best pizza of my life in Sicily. Phil: No, no, no, no. What was in the sandwich? Come on. Elena Valeriote: Oh, it was probably [00:09:30] like 20 ingredients. It was not a slap-it-together sort of sandwich. It was this wonderful little place down in Syracuse right near the water. And you stand in line, which is the only time you're going to see Italians standing in line for food because that's very, I think, a California or American thing generally to think food is worth standing in line for, but this place is worth it. And you stand in line, and as you're standing there, there's a little counter out front, and there's this little old man standing there. [00:10:00] And he's there pretty much every day because I follow them on Instagram, so you're guaranteed to meet him pretty much if you go there. And he's there with his whole family. I met them all. There's mother, grandmother, daughter, husband, children running around, and it's the older man that's making the sandwiches. He's got this whole selection of ingredients in front of him, and he just pulls everything together. I didn't tell him what I wanted at all. I was like, "You just make your sandwich." It had like [00:10:30] six kinds of cheese on it, probably four kinds of meat, a dozen different types of salads and greens, some tomatoes, fresh herbs from the garden nearby. Phil: I know what you mean. I'm with you on it. Kim: I cannot believe you cried. That's so good. Elena Valeriote: It was embarrassing. I got my sandwich, I took a bite of it, and I had to go sit in a corner far away [00:11:00] from the people because I was crying. You got to go. Got to go to Sicily. Kim: Well, yeah, on the list. Thank you so much for the chat. Elena Valeriote: Well, thank you very much. Kim: Now, we don't have a photo of the actual sandwich that made Elena cry, but we will share a photo of the place that makes these tearjerkers and a link to their website, and we'll put that in show notes. Phil: I want one now. I just want to go and have one. Kim: So do you need to cry on a shoulder? On a shoulder? Phil: [crosstalk 00:11:30] [00:11:30] cry. Kim: Time to check in with our World Nomads. So I've come across these skaters in the middle of Sydney. Where are you from? Speaker 5: I'm from the UK. I'm electrician. I've got a sponsorship lined up, and yeah, it's a really cool place. I'm fortunate enough to know some really cool people here already that rollerblade, that are some of the best in the world, so- Kim: Did you pack your rollers [inaudible 00:11:52]? Speaker 5: Yeah. Oh, yeah. I've got so many pairs of these. Yeah. I'm going to ship them all. I've just brought the ... I probably buy some [00:12:00] every six months, if not four, depending on what new ones come out. And I'll probably spend between four to 600 pounds each time. Kim: Madeline Jhawar runs Italy Beyond the Obvious. It's a travel planning service, and it's just for Italy. But wait until you hear Phil launch into his pronunciation of a place he stumbled on while he was in Italy. It's coming up. We kicked off by asking how a Canadian became an expert on travel in Italy. Madeline Jhawar: I [00:12:30] spent about five years in Italy, and one of those years, I was working as a tour guide for a hiking and biking company called Butterfield & Robinson. So I guided eight-<g class="gr_ gr_1001 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="1001" data-gr-id="1001">dayish</g>-long hiking and biking tours around Italy. And so when you do a job like that, you just inevitably get people saying, "Where should I go? What should I do? How long should I stay? What should I see?" Kim: Why did you call your business "Italy Beyond the Obvious?" Madeline Jhawar: I think that [00:13:00] that's what I was getting requests for. I had such a deep understanding of Italy, and when I started giving advice to people, I just got so sick of talking about Rome, Florence, and Venice all the time. Not because they're not worth talking about but because just over and over and over and over again, I just got ... There's so much more in Italy. And the famous sites are worth seeing absolutely, totally endorse that, but there's so much [00:13:30] more. Phil: So give us a few examples. What is not obvious that's fantastic? Madeline Jhawar: I would say there is kind of two ways to think about not obvious and fantastic. One way is to see the main sights in a different way. So you can still see the main sights but with a beyond the obvious approach, and so you might still see the Colosseum in Rome, and you might still see the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, but the approach is different. And then the second beyond the obvious way is literally [00:14:00] to just go to different places. I would also add that Italians are the biggest tourists of Italy, and so there are so many cities in Italy that are super, super famous that foreign tourists just aren't aware of. There's like 20 towns that, for the Italians, are equally as famous. And so those are really nice to send foreign travelers because even if you get there as a foreign traveler ... Let's [00:14:30] just take, for example, Ravenna, which is on the Adriatic coast a couple of hours south of Venice, and it's a huge, important place for art, for Byzantine mosaics. And they've just got these jaw-dropping mosaics, and they're all religiously themed, and they're very gold, and they're very kind of blingy. But if you love mosaics, I mean, you'll just blown away by these mosaics. But Ravenna is a really, really ... No Italian will ever tell you that Ravenna is off the beaten [00:15:00] track. They're super famous and super important. But as a foreign traveler, if you go to Ravenna, you'll be surrounded by Italians, and you'll think this is totally off the beaten track, but the Italians are from Milan, and they're from Rome. They're not locals. They're not locals from Ravenna. Phil: I look for those sorts of things, and I have to say, a few years back I was on the Amalfi Coast. I was in Ravello, which is very high up on a mountain. And I was looking down the coast, and I'm going, "What are those places over [00:15:30] there? And why aren't they in my guide book?" And I think it was Minora and Majora, I think they are, and they are very popular with Italian tourists, but they're just not in the Western guidebooks. Kim: They can't be called that. Madeline Jhawar: Yeah. Minori and Maiori. Yeah. They are. They're- Phil: There you go. Kim: Come on, guys. You know what that's called. Phil: Yeah, yeah. Downstairs stuff. Kim: You can't [crosstalk 00:15:54]. Phil: No. No. Okay. But the opposite of that. They were beautiful, yeah. Madeline Jhawar: Yeah. Phil: Oh, no. Kim's lost it. Anyway. Kim: There's no [00:16:00] place called that, surely. Phil: There is. Madeline Jhawar: Yeah. It's Minori and Maiori, yeah. It's M-I-N, Minori- Kim: Yeah, but that's not what Phil said. Madeline Jhawar: Oh. Phil: Okay. All right then. Kim: All right, let's get back to what was ... What guidebook were you looking at? All right, let's get back to it. How would you sum up Italy? Madeline Jhawar: Probably in my [00:16:30] world, it would be bucket list of some sort. It would have something to do with bucket list. I get people all the time that are like, the dream trip, bucket list. And it doesn't matter your budget, it doesn't matter your interests, it doesn't matter who you're traveling with, whether it's your 90-year-old grandmother who can't walk more than a block or your one-year-old or two-year-old toddler, there's something that- Phil: Who refuses to walk more than a block, yes. Madeline Jhawar: Right. Yeah. I mean, honestly, there is something [00:17:00] for everyone. Kim: Good one, Phil. Phil: Yeah, all right. Kim: Come on, can we hear that? Replay that moment when your cred as an independent but very adventurous traveler came into question. Phil: "What are those places over there? And why aren't they in my guide book?" And I think it was Minora and Majora, I think they are, and they are very popular with Italian tourists, but they're just not in the Western guidebooks. Kim: [00:17:30] They can't be called that. Madeline Jhawar: Minori and Maiori, yeah. It's M-I-N, Minori- Kim: Yeah, but that's not what Phil said. Madeline Jhawar: Oh. Phil: Okay. All right then. Kim: That still cracks me up. I can't believe it. Do you think Madeline ... There was a slight giggle there, but she probably wasn't operating at a 13-year-old level like you and <g class="gr_ gr_1023 gr-alert gr_tiny gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="1023" data-gr-id="1023">I</g>. Phil: And she also could not see the look on your face that I could. Kim: Yeah, exactly. My eyes popped. Good one, Phil. Let's get to travel news. Phil: All right. Can you [00:18:00] name Italy's national airline? Kim: I can. Phil: Go on. Kim: Italia. Phil: Alitalia. Yeah, for now, but the bankrupt and much-troubled airline is facing competition from Air Italy, which intends to take over the mantel as the national carrier. The airline will have its home not at Rome's Fiumicino Airport but in Milan. Air Italy, formerly known as Meridiana, once tried to merge with Air Alitalia, so they win. The "Beast from the East," a severe winter weather storm that lashed [00:18:30] the UK and Western Europe last week, caused flight cancellations, long delays of both forms of transport, planes and trains and cars and everything, and brought rare snow to Rome. Kim: Did you see the footage of the priests that were- Phil: The priests, yeah. Kim: ... throwing snowballs? Phil: Throwing snowballs in St. Peter's Square. Absolutely. Wonderful. A flight on the low-cost Dutch airline Transavia heading to Amsterdam from Dubai was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Vienna after a dispute broke out over a passenger passing gas. [00:19:00] Okay. Kim: What? That's [inaudible 00:19:06] flights. Phil: Yeah. Air traffic control, this is Transavia flight 111, and we have to land because of a farting passenger. Kim: It must've been a smelly one. Phil: A couple of the passengers who complained to the cabin crew were ejected for becoming unruly, but two other passengers who were in the same row and said they weren't part of it, they got kicked off as well. Other passengers have said on social media that they thought the cabin staff overreacted a little bit, but the elderly gentleman [00:19:30] who was the gassy elderly gentleman was allowed to stay on board. Gassy passengers notwithstanding, Kim, do you enjoy airline travel? I mean, do you like the experience of being on a plane? Kim: Love it. Love it. Phil: Love it? Okay. Well, this is for you. A Japanese company is giving people who love the experience a chance to indulge their passion without going anywhere. You can book yourself a seat in a mock aircraft cabin that doesn't go anywhere. You get served airline food, you hear the safety announcements, you watch in-flight movies and listen to the rumble of the jet engines [00:20:00] for a few hours while enjoying it through those virtual reality goggles. Kim: I'm in Japan in June. Should I go and check this out? Phil: Yes, please. Because, "What the actual?" is my question on that one. What? Kim: Why? Phil: There is a new world's most powerful passport, meaning passport that allows you visa-free entry into the most countries. Germany's held the top dog spot for many years, but it slipped to third in a new count. Visa-free access to 162 [00:20:30] countries goes to the holders of a passport from, and it's a tie, South Korea and Singapore. Germany's third with 161, just one less. The UK's next with 159. At the other end of the scale with visa-free access to just 26 nations is Afghanistan. But don't start celebrating yet, Miss Kim. Hang on. You could be South Korean. Kim: I know. Phil: Have you got the South Korean passport, Miss Kim. Kim: I know. Everyone loves it. Whenever I have a Korean taxi driver and [00:21:00] I get chatting, they know my name's Kim, it's like we're instant family. It's great. Phil: Passports with lots of visa-free access are targeted by criminals for the obvious international crime-related reasons, and that's why <g class="gr_ gr_995 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="995" data-gr-id="995">there's</g> lots of security measures going into passports. But the more countries you can get visa-free access to, the more likely your passport's going to get nicked and your photograph changed into some international drug <g class="gr_ gr_997 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="997" data-gr-id="997">dealer,</g> if you're not already one, Kim. Kim: [00:21:30] That wraps up travel news. Phil: Thank you. Kim: Maro Mazz, he runs a blog with his wife called "Crab In The Air," and he's Italian, and yes, I have one of those "speak to me in Italian" moments. Well, good evening from Australia. Maro Mazz: Good morning from Italy. Kim: It wouldn't be a chat with Italy, and I don't think that I've done this in any other podcast, without having a glass of wine. Am I in the right company? Maro Mazz: That is correct. That is totally correct. It's [00:22:00] early in the morning, but yeah, it's getting in that direction. Kim: Well, when I was in the Czech Republic, we went into a café, and it was 9:00 in the morning, and we were grabbing something to eat, obviously, looking for something that was breakfast-like. And there were these three old women. I'll never forget it. They were in their mid- to late-70s, if not in their 80s, and they were chugging on red wine. And I thought, "This is the place I'm going to retire." Maro Mazz: That's true. Yeah. I think I remember something as [00:22:30] well being in Prague. Yeah, there I think it's more common. In Italy, yeah, it happens, but it's mostly on, let's say from mid-day on. In the morning, you'll find a lot of cappuccino, a lot of coffee drinking, a lot of people in those where we call bars in Italian, but it's actually a coffee shop. Kim: Now, I'm getting this mixed accent. Tell us, what's your history? Maro Mazz: Yeah, sure. Well, I'm Italian, [00:23:00] but been traveling across the globe a lot for a lot of years since I was a kid. And then also now the last 10 years since I met my wife, so we've been traveling a lot and going from place to place and as soon as possible whenever possible. Currently in Italy, but of course always going around exploring new [00:23:30] places from Europe, around different areas here, which is very convenient to explore, to Southeast Asia, which we are truly falling in love, with Thailand especially. Been there like seven times now, eight times I think, and then other countries around the world. Kim: We'll get into that, but you're married, I'm married. Have you watched the movie A Fish Called Wanda? Maro Mazz: A Fish Called Wanda, no, [00:24:00] I haven't. Kim: It doesn't matter. Just saying something to me in Italian. Maro Mazz: [Italian 00:24:07]. Kim: Oh. In fact, I'm translating. Did you say, "I'd like to disappear?" Maro Mazz: Said, "What would you like to know?" Kim: "Know," all right. Well, I just wanted to hear the accent <g class="gr_ gr_1020 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-ins replaceWithoutSep" id="1020" data-gr-id="1020">to</g> be honest. But Italy is such a super popular destination. Why do people choose it? Maro Mazz: Well, I think that Italy is [00:24:30] really a melting pot of diverse experiences. So there are, I would say, at least three reasons for which people love and look forward to visit Italy. I mean, I identify the cultural, historical aspect, which is a main one. But together with the food, with the culinary experience, with everything related to that. But [00:25:00] then I would say another major aspect is the nature, the landscapes. You can go from the Mediterranean Sea to the Alps to the lakes and have everything of this in around of just a couple of hours. So it's pretty unique from that point of view. Kim: Now, we've chatted <g class="gr_ gr_1019 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="1019" data-gr-id="1019">to</g> somebody in this episode who spent time in Italy, a lot of time. She tells us about a sandwich that she ate that actually [00:25:30] made her cry, it was so good. Is that common for people to be so caught up in the emotion? Maro Mazz: Yeah. I will say the one thing that we miss when traveling outside of Italy, beyond the fact that there is great experience in food around the world, is actually food. I mean, food is terrific here. And it's not even the complicated things [00:26:00] that you can eat. It just the basic ingredients have their own unique flavor. If you can taste the tomato, like the <g class="gr_ gr_973 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="973" data-gr-id="973">pomodoro</g>, it's a unique taste. It has something that by itself is just already a meal almost. I think that is one thing that is truly unique about Italy and about probably the millennial culture that has gone through 2,000 [00:26:30] years of story, and that brings you this kind of advanced but simple kind of food. So that is absolutely something fantastic that by itself is already a reason to visit Italy. Kim: And it transcends generations, doesn't it? Maro Mazz: Yeah, absolutely. It's ever green, right? Kim: That's the saying. We mentioned that it's a super popular place to visit, [00:27:00] Italy, and you've highlighted the reasons why. What do you think of tourists who come or go to Italy, and does it ever get tedious? Do they have unreal expectations of what to expect? Maro Mazz: I think it's really important to avoid going to the typical touristic places. I think it's really important to experience almost the daily life in Italy. So not just visit [00:27:30] the typical cities such as Rome, Florence, and Venice, but also go a little bit beyond that and even visit the towns outside where you can find the real trattoria, which is a typical restaurant that you can find in the countryside that serves local dishes. Or you can even find those monuments that are not listed in the typical guide but are there. You have fantastic castles and bridges and all these kind of monuments [00:28:00] outside even the major cities, the beaten track, the usual super-visited touristic places. And if you leave that one and just go and do a normal road trip around, you'll find amazing things that are even beyond the usual spots. Kim: So you're passionate about Italy obviously, but you also mentioned that you do a lot of travel. What do you do <g class="gr_ gr_1013 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="1013" data-gr-id="1013">on</g> your holidays [00:28:30] or within your travel, and why? What moves you? Maro Mazz: Well, I mean, I really have a great passion for experiencing different cultures. Even in terms of really meeting people. We talked about Italian food but also French food. Any kind of food from different countries is, I think, really unique and gives you that perspective of the local culture, so how they're really [00:29:00] eating, how they're feeling through the day, how they're interacting with each other. So that is a major thing. Meeting new people, trying to understand, maybe no learn of course, but trying to understand other languages, and reading it, and even, of course, exploring all the wonders that we have around the world, which are fantastic and really need to be experienced. Kim: Everybody says when they're traveling [00:29:30] that it's about meeting people. Have you met people that you've stayed in touch with that have become significant in your life? Maro Mazz: Yeah, absolutely. And it's, I wouldn't say everywhere, but almost everywhere. Each single place, there are always those few people that you meet there that are truly unique. And you say, "Well, that was a great experience by itself." And that is another reason for traveling. I mean, meeting with these [00:30:00] people that give you back their own experience. Whichever work, whichever kind of interaction there is with these kinds of people, even with the taxi driver, remember talking about with them and learning their story and hearing about what they do on a daily basis and their families, it's so fantastic, and it connects you so much with locals. So, yes, it's one of the great pieces [00:30:30] of traveling. Kim: We will have a link to "Crab In The Air" in show notes, but for those who didn't get the Fish Called Wanda reference, it's a British-American comedy film with John Cleese and an actress named Jamie Lee Curtis, and she doesn't mind a guy with an accent. This is a bit of a snippet. Speaker 7: I am Italian. [Italian 00:30:49]. Phil: She used to float [00:31:00] my boat, Jamie Lee. Kim: Right. Thanks, Phil. Joining us now- Phil: She probably still does actually. She's the same age as me. But there you go. Kim: This has been a very loose podcast, this one. Joining us in the World Nomads studio is our social media specialist, Isaac Entry. Isaac Entry: Hey, guys. Good to be here. Kim: You entered the studio. Do you get the joke? Isaac Entry: I get it. I've heard- Phil: That never happens to you much, right? Isaac Entry: I've heard them all. Phil: You should try having the name of a cartoon cat. That's really boring. Kim: Sylvester. Phil: [00:31:30] Yeah. Kim: What's that one? "Putty Cat?" Phil: That's it. Kim: What do you get, Isaac, with a surname like Entry? Isaac Entry: Probably not safe for the podcast, Kim. Phil: Well, okay. Kim: Oh, well, you've come in at the end of it. Wait to you go back and have a listen at the beginning. Now, the world is a beautiful place, and we do see the best of it on our social media platforms. How do you get featured on Instagram, for example? We have how many followers? Isaac Entry: We have over 100,000 followers. I'm going to take this opportunity to do a quick shout out to everyone [00:32:00] that has ever tagged us because we have over 100,000 followers on Instagram now. The #worldnomads, that's how you get featured on our channel. Kim: There are a lot of people that are traveling. Not everyone that hashtags World Nomads would be plucked out and featured. Isaac Entry: Featured. For sure. We have, last month, over 500,000 people used that hashtag. And I have the task of going through all those pictures and picking out the best ones. Phil: You look at them all. Isaac Entry: [00:32:30] Yes, I do. Yes, I do. Kim: So what do you look for, then, to feature it on the World Nomads' Instagram page? Isaac Entry: Am I saying "um" too many times? Kim: No. Isaac Entry: Is that podcast best practice? Kim: No. Isaac Entry: Look, the first thing is it has to be a good picture. What a good picture is for Instagram comes down to several things. I think it needs to be strong compositionally. It needs to have bright colors. If it looks good on your phone, it [00:33:00] will look good on our Instagram feed. Phil: I once read a thing that said the most popular book cover for people choosing a book when it's on the shelf is a sort of a pale green. Is there a color that works best that should be dominant in Instagram photos? Isaac Entry: I think blue is a good color. Any shade of blue is a good color. Kim: Yeah. Is that your favorite color? Isaac Entry: It's not my favorite color. My favorite color is now pink thanks to my four-year-old daughter. Phil: You do wear some charming fingernail [00:33:30] polish. Oh, you are right now. Well done. Isaac Entry: She's been practicing on me. Phil: Okay. Kim: That's so gorgeous. So blue. And do you mind photos that have been heavily filtered? Isaac Entry: I prefer photos that are not heavily filtered. It's a bit like makeup, right? Kim: Yeah. Isaac Entry: Just a tiny bit can go a long way. Too much is too much. Phil: Portraits, landscapes, what? Isaac Entry: Everything. If you jump on our feed, we love a good portrait. Any kind of photo that captures some sort of interaction with somebody that is from the destination, we love that sort of stuff. Landscapes, [00:34:00] places of worship, interesting architectural sites. If it's a good photo, we'll feature it. Phil: Is there anything that is an immediate turnoff? Like toothless or betel-nut-juice-stained teeth of Cambodian women or something like? Kim: What? Oh, Phil. Phil: No, no. It's a classic stereotypical image. The betel-nut-juice-stained- Kim: Yeah, but that's cultural, isn't it? You seem the most culturally insensitive- Phil: [crosstalk 00:34:25] anyway, but they're a cliché. Isaac Entry: If there's anything that is a turnoff, I think it's something that looks [00:34:30] a bit too staged. Phil: You've been looking at these photos for quite a while now. Isaac Entry: Yeah. Phil: The sort of photos that World Nomads are submitting, have they changed at all in that time? Isaac Entry: Yes. Look, I think that there's a definite trend towards drone photos, which is really amazing. It's such an amazing way to get a new perspective on places that we have seen and think we know. To be able to get up high and capture some of these photos is pretty amazing to see. Kim: Do you have one picture that stands out as your favorite? Isaac Entry: On the [00:35:00] Instagram feed, there are so many amazing moments that have been captured on our feed. I personally like portraits. I love when someone's worked up the courage to approach somebody in a foreign country to say, "I think you look really interesting. I'd like to have a chat to you. Can I take a photo?" Kim: "With your betel-juice-stained teeth?" Phil: Yeah. I was expecting you to say, "I've got this awesome photo of a Cambodian woman with betel-nut-juice-stained teeth." Yeah, thanks. Thanks, mate. Kim: Just hang with us while we wrap up the- Isaac Entry: I love portraits. Kim: You love portraits. Hang with us while we [00:35:30] wrap up the episode. Isaac Entry: Sure. Kim: #worldnomads. Isaac Entry: That's it. Kim: And simply our Instagram account is ... Isaac Entry: World Nomads. Phil: World Nomads. Kim: It's so easy. All right, let's wrap up this episode. Phil: It does what it says on the jar. That's it. Kim: Yeah. Say it like it is, and Phil does that very well. Let's wrap up this episode with the answer to your quiz question. Phil: From faux pas Phil. Yes, I love coffee, and I love Italian espresso. How much espresso coffee is consumed in Italy each year? 14 billion, [00:36:00] with a B, cups. 14 billion cups of espresso coffee. And per capita, they consume about 3.7 kilos each. That's just over eight pounds in a year. Isaac Entry: Wow. Phil: Eight pounds of coffee in a year. Kim: That's a big step. Isaac Entry: Wow. Phil: That's a lot of <g class="gr_ gr_963 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="963" data-gr-id="963">hand waving</g> and being awake, isn't it? Isaac Entry: And they drink them in those little cups, too, don't they? Phil: Yup. Yeah, yeah. Isaac Entry: So that's a lot of little cups to wash. Phil: Yeah. I can go on about the coffee etiquette in Italy if you want, like- Kim: No, it's all right. Phil: Okay. All right. Kim: Yeah. Isaac Entry: It's [00:36:30] a great story. Go on. Because I remember the first time I walked into a coffee shop, in Rome I think it was, and everyone was standing at the bar with these little things. Phil: That's right. Yeah. If you want to sit at a table, you have to ask for "a <g class="gr_ gr_968 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="968" data-gr-id="968">tavola</g>," "at the table," and you get charged extra for the table. Isaac Entry: What's "a <g class="gr_ gr_966 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="966" data-gr-id="966">tavola</g>?" Phil: "A <g class="gr_ gr_965 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="965" data-gr-id="965">tavola</g>." Kim: "A <g class="gr_ gr_964 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="964" data-gr-id="964">tavola</g>." Phil: "At the table." Isaac Entry: Oh, right, okay. Kim: If you can get a- Phil: I probably just said something rude. Kim: Yeah. I know. Look, really, this has been an interesting podcast. It wraps up right now, actually. [00:37:00] Episode 11. Go make yourself a pizza, sit back, think of Italy. We'll get ready to take you to South Korea. Isaac Entry: Did you just say, "Sit back and think of Italy"? Kim: Yeah. See what I did there? Isaac Entry: #worldnomads, please. Kim: Reminder: subscribe, rate, share on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher. You can find us on Spotify and iHeartRadio and contact us, as a few people have been doing, by emailing podcast@worldnomads.com. Speaker 1: The World Nomads Podcast, explore your boundaries. </div> </div> </div>sbossert 0170034503 iStock Tricolor Pasta

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/passport-and-plate-producing-parmigiano-and-prosciutto-in-italyTri Phan Quoc cooks up a storm in Italy’s famous Emilia-Romagna region, and gets a lesson from a local on how to make fresh pasta from scratch.2017-02-27T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/passport-and-plate-producing-parmigiano-and-prosciutto-in-italyhttps://www.worldnomads.comLearning to cook a variety of pasta, from garganelli to ravioli, Tri gets a taste for Italian culture and discovers that, in an Italian kitchen, passion and cooking go hand-in-hand. <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full transcript of the video</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner">Tri Phan Quoc: Bona sera everybody it's, Maitri your food Explorer. I'm now at the Casa Artusi. I'm going to have a cooking lesson with Daniella-Maria. It's a nice apron. I hope that it can help with making this pasta. So now we have about 200 grams of flour, this [is] home cooking. You don't have an exact measurement. You make a well, two eggs, here. I kind of make a mess there.  So use the tips of my fingers and just slowly incorporate the flour into the eggs. Now I'm going to continue to need that dough until it's smooth and soft. That's it. So we have finished making the dough and I will have let it rest for about 15 minutes. You know, it's kind of like more bouncy, I think it's like baby skin. So now just roll the dough we're gonna make the first cut of the pasta is going to be a Garganelli. Just like this one, that little nice square as well, and the filling is made with fresh ricotta cheese and as well as parmesan.  I'm a little bit nervous, you know, it's not like the first time that I've made pasta. I try at home where it's different, you know, making pasta from the motherland of pasta and then being mentored by an Italian mama. Use the side of your hand and then just cut it into little individual Ravioli. These are not the same size. It's handmade. It's quite rustic. So roll it at both sides. Tagliatelle. Let's see. So it doesn't have to be beautiful or polished because it's homemade. Gratzie.</div> </div> </div>World Nomads 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/passport-and-plate-at-home-in-langheSofia Levin shares a visual poem, inspired by her culinary travels through the region of Langhe & Roero in northwest Italy.2017-02-27T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/passport-and-plate-at-home-in-langhehttps://www.worldnomads.comWhat if there was a place where kisses came in twos, courses in fours, and laughter is limitless? In northwest Italy, Sofia uncovers a place of pleasure seekers, where wine pulses through people’s veins and people share not out of generosity but out of genuine love; a place that many of us wouldn’t mind calling home for at least a little while.World Nomads 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/passport-and-plate-a-mouthful-of-italian-cheeseJoin Tri Phan Quoc as he travels to the foodie paradise of Italy, where he meets a local wine producer and explores the magical vineyards.2017-02-27T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/passport-and-plate-a-mouthful-of-italian-cheesehttps://www.worldnomads.comJoin Tri Phan Quoc as he travels to the foodie paradise of Italy, where he meets a local wine producer and explores the magical vineyards on a wine-tasting journey - discovering that the wine in Italy is a lot stronger than he is used to.World Nomads 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/passport-and-plate-fishermen-named-beppe-italyJoin Elena Valeriote as she takes on the rough Italian seas off Cinque Terre’s coast, where she meets two local fishermen.2017-02-26T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/passport-and-plate-fishermen-named-beppe-italyhttps://www.worldnomads.comElena gets her hands dirty hauling the catch on board, but, will seasickness cut the trip short? Also, find out more about the life of one of the Beppes, plus the importance of sustainable fishing in the Cinque Terre region.World Nomads 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/passport-and-plate-terrace-to-table-italyTravel with Elena Valeriote to the Italian Rivera, where she discovers how agriculture has thrived in along the mountainous coast.2017-02-26T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/passport-and-plate-terrace-to-table-italyhttps://www.worldnomads.comTravel with World Nomad’s Elena Valeriote to the Italian Rivera, where she discovers how agriculture has thrived in along the mountainous coast. Join Elena as she gets her hands dirty by helping repair the sea wall that has allowed vineyards, olive trees and honey production to flourish on the cliffs for centuries. She also finds out how the local farmers produce the Ferrari of olive oils.World Nomads 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/passport-and-plate-cinque-terre-kitchenJoin Elena as she’s invited into local homes to learn age-old cooking traditions, and to taste incredible Italian food.2017-02-26T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/passport-and-plate-cinque-terre-kitchenhttps://www.worldnomads.comTravel to the top of the cliffs in Cinque Terre, a beautiful, rugged section of coast on the Italian Rivera. Here World Nomads’ Elena Valeriote meets with an array of local food producers, chefs and winemakers. Despite the language barrier, cooking is a universal language. But, will Elena do a homemade ravioli recipe justice? <div class="AccordionSection nst-component nst-is-collapsed"><button class="AccordionSection-title nst-toggle">Full transcript of the video</button> <div class="nst-content"> <div class="AccordionSection-inner">Elana Valeriote: I think that if anyone would have asked me, what's the thing you want to do most in the world, I would have said I'd like to go to Europe and eat, and if they'd asked me to specify where I would have said Italy. So, when I got the chance to do just that, I was just over the moon excited. But what I didn't realize was that even more than that, part of this trip that I would love is being in the kitchens and the wine cellars with the people here and getting to talk with them about how they cook and why they cook and where they got their recipes from. I think one of my favorites was making the ravioli, one of my first cooking experiences here because even though there was a bit of a language barrier between me and the woman I was cooking with, cooking is a universal language. You can really communicate through food. She would just show me, you know, you pinch it off this bit of dough here and you press it in this way, and when I would do something right, it was bravissimo and it felt so great. She was so willing to give me the recipe and to show me this thing that had been in her family for generations. It was really special. I mean, coming from an Italian family, and not really being able to cook with any of my Italian ancestors, I felt like she was my Italian grandmother that I didn't have, and the food was just, it was so great. I've never had pasta that, that was that fresh. Oh my gosh. I'm always amazed at how good every single glass of wine is here. The ravioli ended up being our dinner for that night at Louchio wine cellar and everyone said over and over that I had made it and that they were so proud of it. I love to cook alone, but cooking is a shared experience. Always you cook so that you can give it to someone else and eat with them. The dish that we made was an, um, anchovy dish, and again, just very few ingredients. You've got some anchovies, some potatoes, some onions, tomatoes and the first step, of course, is you have to prepare your anchovies, uh, which is not something I particularly enjoy doing. I've never done it before, but I was willing to give it a go and you have to start by ripping the head off of the anchovy, which is a bit gruesome for me. I knew that anchovies were particular to the region and I wasn't looking forward to it, but I thought, you know, I'll get through it. It'll be all right. Uh, but I have found that they can be prepared in pretty delicious ways. You could taste the dry white wine in it, which is, of course, from Cinque Terre. All using the local things and you could taste just the freshness of the vegetables in it. It's incredible what you can do with just these few ingredients and that's what I've seen here again and again, in Cinque Terre, especially is because those work with just five basic ingredients, either in their pasta or their cookies or their bread dough, and they turn these simple few ingredients into what they call "poor food" because it's such a basic amount of food, but they're decadent at the end. You know, they have a really rich flavor that doesn't need to be overwhelmed with salt and pepper and parmesan. I don't want to leave here at all, but I also feel like this is the sort of place that if you let it, it stays with you. And I feel like this trip is definitely going to linger over me for a long time.</div> </div> </div>World Nomads 0

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/5-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-going-to-italyWith efficient public transport and a sunny climate, Italy is an easy country to visit. Here's what Italy is like, the best places to visit, and expert travel advice to make the most of your trip.2024-03-28T11:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/5-things-i-wish-i-knew-before-going-to-italyhttps://www.worldnomads.comTraveling to Italy? Here are six things to know before you go. <ul> <li><a href="#food">There's no such thing as “Italian food”</a></li> <li><a href="#cash">Cash vs. credit in Italy</a></li> <li><a href="#train">Train travel in Italy isn't always punctual</a></li> <li><a href="#etiquette">Restaurant etiquette in Italy</a></li> <li><a href="#alternative">Explore Italy's alternative travel spots</a></li> <li><a href="#relax">Remember to relax</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="food">There's no such thing as “Italian food”</h2> We all know what to expect when we go to a typical Italian restaurant back home – the usual array of pasta dishes, maybe a couple pizzas, and, of course, a tiramisu on the dessert menu. Would it surprise you, then, to learn that in some parts of Italy you'll be hard-pressed to find tomatoes in the local dishes at all? Italy is a relatively young country, formerly made up of independent city-states  – now called regions – with which most residents of those regions still primarily identify. Each region has its own personality, its own dialect (sometimes its own language), and its <a href="/explore/europe/italy/brisighella-foodie-heaven-without-the-crowds">own cuisine</a>. Moving from region to region – and sometimes from town to town – introduces travelers to new local specialties, and it can be a shock to those of us who think we already know what Italian food is. Get to know what's produced locally and what's in season, and you'll be eating the freshest and best of what that area has to offer. Steer clear of so-called “Italian food” that's not typical of the region you're in, and you stand a much better chance of avoiding touristy (and overpriced) restaurants. <h2 id="cash">Cash vs. credit in Italy</h2> Most Italians pay for things on a day-to-day basis with cash – from their morning coffee to dinner that evening and everything in between. While businesses are now required to accept credit cards by law, as of November 2022 they are not required to accept plastic for purchases under €60, and many still prefer cash. Be prepared to be refused electronic payments for small purchases, and also keep some cash on hand for taxis, buses, or outdoor food stands and markets. And don't worry – almost every hotel in the country (and certainly all the big ones) takes plastic, as do train stations. But watch out for the dynamic currency conversion fee. Shops or restaurants may ask if you would like to be charged in your home currency. Avoid this, since you'll likely be given an unfavorable exchange rate, plus be hit with fees from their bank as well as yours. <h2 id="train">Train travel in Italy isn't always punctual</h2> There's that great line about how “at least Mussolini made the trains run on time” – we've all heard it, and it's funny, but it's not true. It's an urban legend (one that some older Italians still repeat – don't try to argue with them). Today, the trains in Italy are notorious for being a bit late, or for occasionally not running at all due to periodic labor strikes – and yet they remain, in my mind, the best way to get around most of the country. There are certainly places where you'll want to have a car, or where a bus might serve your needs better, but in most cases I still recommend <a href="/responsible-travel/make-a-difference/participation/the-return-of-train-travel">trains as transportation</a> – especially if you're sticking to bigger cities and towns. I should note that while people will complain that trains are always late in Italy, that's not license to show up late for your train and then be annoyed when it's already left the station. In my experience, trains in Italy are more often on time than they are weirdly delayed. <h2 id="etiquette">Restaurant etiquette in Italy</h2> This phenomenon isn't unique to Italy, but it bears mentioning because it catches so many off guard. Where I live in the US, waiters come check on you 90 seconds after depositing a plate in front of you, wondering if “everything is okay” before you've had a chance to even take a bite. They'll check on you a few times during the meal, and then when it looks like you're close to being done, they'll leave your bill on the table for you to take care of at your convenience. In Italy, after your meal is delivered, you may not see the waiter at your table again until it's time to clear your plates. And when you're done with your meal, after coffee or dessert or whatever your final course was, no one's going to come by with a bill without you specifically asking for it. This is not the waiter being rude. This is the waiter letting you enjoy your meal and your dinner conversation for as long as you want. Restaurants in Italy are not looking to “turn over” tables every 1.5 hours – once you sit down, that's it, that's your table. It's yours as long as you'd like to stay. There's a reason the Slow Food movement begain in Italy, after all. So, when you're ready to leave, you just flag down your waiter the next time he passes by and say, "Il conto, per favore." You'll get your check, and you're not being rude for asking for it. Oh, and don't forget to bring cash. (See point 2) Another thing to note: Italians eat late – not as late as the Spanish, in most cases, but the dinner hour in many cities doesn't start until at least 8pm if not later (in Milan, restaurants don't get busy until 9pm, even on weeknights). Many restaurants in bigger cities and towns (especially if they're even relatively popular with tourists) will be open earlier than that, but the earlier opening time isn't for the locals. It's for visitors. If you can't adjust your dinner hour to match that of the locals, that's fine – just remember that if a restaurant is dead quiet at 6:30 or 7 in the evening, that may have nothing to do with the quality of the establishment and everything to do with the time. <h2 id="alternative">Explore Italy's alternative travel spots</h2> I'd never suggest that Rome, Florence, or Venice aren't wonderful destinations, well worthy of their fame. But even Italians, as proud as they are of these icons, would love for travelers to branch off the beaten path. Instead of Florence, consider <a href="/explore/europe/italy/what-to-see-and-do-in-lecce">Lecce in the southern region of Puglia</a>. This exquisite city overflows with elaborate Baroque architecture (but not crowds). Instead of Tuscany, consider Emilia-Romagna, with medieval villages and vineyard-covered hillsides that easily rival its neighbor. Or head to <a href="/explore/europe/italy/calabria-destinations-discover-the-wild-italy">Calabria</a>, the toe of Italy's boot, with its mountainous, forested interior and the seaside charm you might expect from its poetically named “Coast of the Gods”. <h2 id="relax">Remember to relax</h2> You'll note in a few of the things listed above that the concept of time may seem a bit fungible in Italy – and it is, in a way. Breakfast may be a tiny shot of coffee and a pastry inhaled while standing at the bar, and Italian drivers may seem like they all think they're in a Formula 1 race, but generally speaking, Italians aren't wedded to the clock. You'd do well to try to adopt this mentality while in Italy (when in Rome, etc.), as it will help you avoid frustration with things like train delays and waiting to get the bill in a restaurant. Relax. You're on vacation, after all. Additional reporting by Ellen HalliStock/jenifoto 0148524432 iStock

https://public-web-wn.uat.wng.me/explore/europe/italy/august-il-palio-italyThe Italians’ factional tendencies can be seen in all their swaggering glory at Il Palio, a bareback horse race that last for about a minute and a half.2019-07-01T10:00:00Z https://wng-kosmos-wn-cms-uat.kaos.nibit.com.au:443/explore/europe/italy/august-il-palio-italyhttps://www.worldnomads.com<ul> <li><a href="#location"> Location </a></li> <li><a href="#dates"> Dates </a></li> <li><a href="#description"> Description </a></li> <li><a href="#participation"> Level of Participation </a></li> <li><a href="#essentials"> Essentials </a></li> <li><a href="#attractions"> Other Local Attractions </a></li> </ul> <h2 id="location">Location</h2> Il Campo, Siena, Tuscany, Italy <h2 id="dates">Dates</h2> 2nd July and 16th August each year <h2 id="description">Description</h2> During the short bareback dash around central <g class="gr_ gr_33 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="33" data-gr-id="33">piazza</g> Il Campo, which is covered in packed dirt for the occasion, jockeys are allowed to do anything to their opponents other than <g class="gr_ gr_42 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Grammar multiReplace" id="42" data-gr-id="42">tug</g> their reins. The winning steed is often rider-less. The crazy gleam in the mares’ eyes is reflected in the <g class="gr_ gr_39 gr-alert gr_gramm gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim Punctuation only-del replaceWithoutSep" id="39" data-gr-id="39">stands,</g> because this event strikes at the heart of Sienese civic pride. Each horse represents one of the city’s 17 <g class="gr_ gr_37 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="37" data-gr-id="37">contrade</g> (districts), all of which have their eye on the victorious <g class="gr_ gr_36 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling ins-del multiReplace" id="36" data-gr-id="36">palio</g> banner. The displays of loyalty are as much of a spectacle as the race itself. The horses are blessed in the <g class="gr_ gr_34 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="34" data-gr-id="34">contrades</g>’ churches and medieval parades accompany the competitors when they register at the Palazzo Comunale. Before the race, pageboy types wave bright flags bearing the <g class="gr_ gr_35 gr-alert gr_spell gr_inline_cards gr_run_anim ContextualSpelling" id="35" data-gr-id="35">contrades</g>’ ancient symbols, including a double-headed eagle and a crowned dolphin. <h2 id="participation">Level of Participation</h2> 3 – lay a bet and smell the nervous sweat. <h2 id="essentials">Essentials</h2> Get there four hours before the race starts for a place near the rails, or watch the warm-ups on previous days. <h2 id="attractions">Other Local Attractions</h2> A World Heritage site, Gothic Siena also makes a great base for touring the medieval Tuscan towns of San Gimignano and Volterra. More Info: <a href="https://www.ilpalio.org/index_english.htm" target="_blank">Il Palio Website in English</a>; <a href="http://www.aboutsiena.com/tourist-offices-in-Siena.html" target="_blank">Siena Tourist Information</a>Getty Images/Awakening 11159667754 Getty Images Jockeys compete at the historical horse race Palio di Siena, in Siena, Italy