Italy for everyone: 7 exciting itineraries to suit every traveller
We’ve teamed up with the experts at Trailfinders to create a guide to finding the right region, experiences and time of year to visit Italy for you…
Words: Rory Buccheri
From pre-historic ruins to pristine beaches, culinary capitals to mountainous paradises, Italy’s 20 regions have something for everyone. Whether you have been dreaming of a family getaway to the countryside, or are after an active, multi-centre holiday to explore the peninsula’s beautiful cities North to South, Trailfinders can tailor the perfect Italy escape. Use the map below to discover your next Italian adventure…
The Dolomites
Best for: Hikes & Outdoor Exploration
Photography: Shutterstock
There is no one way to enjoy the Dolomites, Italy’s active playground reaching 10,000 ft above sea level. A paradise for mountain trekking, wildlife spotting, and outdoor exploration, this craggy region is home to Cortina d’Ampezzo – a top skiing spot during winter – and the Val Gardena, perfect for hiking surrounded by rarefied sceneries. Follow an expert guide around the massifs of Lake Federa and the Alpine Lavaredo, or explore the small but storied Northern villages of the Val Gardena on a self-guided walking trip. Italy’s region of lakes and peaks offers different thrills year-round, but its vast natural sceneries are best enjoyed when the skiing crowds have dissipated.
Bologna
Best for: Cuisine
Photography: Shutterstock
Bologna is behind some of Italy’s most beloved bites, from brothy tortellini to indulgent mortadella. Touring the “Red City” alongside Trailfinders, you will savour the tapestry of street food from local markets, and get your hands floury as you learn pasta-making skills from local experts. Just like the perfect tortellino, Bologna is encased by layers of terracotta medieval buildings, such as the Due Torri (‘two towers’), and is the ideal place for immersion, whether that be cuisine, history, or culture. From walking the kaleidoscopic Quadrilatero at sunset to exploring the jaw-dropping UNESCO World Heritage Porticoes, there is plenty to get you hungry for the second round.
Tuscany
Best for: Wine
Photography: Shutterstock
The Italian wine region par excellence, Tuscany is home to bucolic vineyards and picturesque hillside towns rich in architectural treasures. Though wine culture runs through the cypress-laden countryside, the micro-regions around Florence and Siena are the home of renowned reds such as Chianti and Montepulciano. Whether you want to pair a visit to sophisticated Florence with a city winery, or find out about the unique terroir as you bike around the rural area around San Gimignano and Lucca, going off the beaten path in Tuscany with Trailfinders will bring you the best taste of its tannic gold.
Puglia & Matera
Best for: History and architecture
Photography: Shutterstock
The heel of the boot-shaped peninsula is the prehistoric cradle of Italy. The landlocked city of Matera is known for its ‘sassi’, the Paleolithic dwellings carved in the soft limestone hills which give the city its unique, layered look. The time-travelling experience continues into Puglia, the coastal heel, where the trulli in Alberobello, with their quintessential conical roofs and whitewashed walls, tell a story of climate savviness dating back to the 14th century. After visiting the two UNESCO locations, it rewards to explore the surrounding architecture-rich area. Lecce is a Baroque dream with its churches and palaces, and Otranto and Gallipoli blend maritime themes to imposing medieval fortresses and castles.
Sardinia
Best for: Rugged beauty and beaches
Photography: Shutterstock
Sardinia is the ultimate frontier of pristine beaches in Italy. Peek behind the city walls of Catalan-Gothic Alghero for views of rugged, strawflower-covered coastline in Baja Sardinia – from the Maddalena Archipelago national preserve, to the maritime town of Porto Cervo. Each face of Sardinia displays a unique flavour of the Tyrrhenian landscape: shallow, clear waters in Chia and Cagliari are the gem of the South; ancient caves and sun-scorched archaeological sites cling to the Northern coast around Cala Luna, and are best enjoyed on a walking trip. Away from the white sands and turquoise waters of the Emerald Coast, the countryside shows a different face of Sardinia, with the nuraghi – the mysterious prehistoric dwellings of Sardinia’s endemic population.
Sicily
Best for: Culture
Photography: Trailfinders
Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Arab cultures meet on the largest Mediterranean island. Palermo is the former capital of the Arab-Norman empire, which preserved palaces, churches, and street markets you can explore on its UNESCO World Heritage route. Head East to Syracuse and Ortygia to soak in Sicily’s Hellenic past, with Greek temples and bronze statues sharing sun-bleached streets with Baroque villas. From the hinterland of Sicily, with Piazza Armerina’s impeccably preserved Roman Villa del Casale, to volcanic Catania with its urban piazzas seething with life, you will find bites of culture – from millenia-old to contemporary – in every nook of Sicily.
The Amalfi Coast
Best for: A small group tour
Photography: Shutterstock
Embark on an exploration of the popular Amalfi Coast on foot to avoid the crowds and relish in the lush Mediterranean surroundings. You will become uno di casa (‘one of the home’), welcomed by a local family on day one, and uncovering highlights beloved by locals as the trip unfolds. You can get a unique glimpse of Capri from Monte Tre Calli, follow the fragrant lemon groves to the town of Amalfi, and finally hike the ‘Walk of the Gods’ to Positano, with the shimmering blue of the Mediterranean sea and its endemic verdant shrub unfolding at your feet. For the culture buffs, Pompeii and Herculaneum are part of the trip, but so is the option to relax in a poolside villa as a reward to the intense days of walking.
Go with the experts
Whether you are after a culinary adventure, or are looking to explore Italy’s cultural corners in depth, expert Trailfinders consultants will help you craft the perfect trip. Pick from a variety of holidays, from active small groups to fly drive, villa holidays, and everything in between.
Call today on 020 7368 1354 or visit the Trailfinders website via the link below for more information.
