ITALY
What to see AFTER your first visit
What to see AFTER your first visit
The key to visiting a city, no matter where it's located, is to visit with a local and not JUST a tour guide. You MUST have a tour guide who is passionate about sharing their unique stories and activities and who is in contact with local realities and artisans. You will be AMAZED at how much more personal your experience will feel when guided by a person who is thoroughly connected to a city - 360 degrees from every angle.
Italy is a lot more than Rome and Tuscany. From the Hills of Langhe to the trulli of Puglia, going through the culinary haven of Romagna, you will find fewer tourists and wonderful land to discover.
Puglia (above)
Summer dreaming . . . walking along the seafront in Otranto, breathing the salty breeze, watching a sailboat bobble in the bright blue bay, you may catch yourself thinking "NOW this is the real Italy!"
Summer dreaming . . . walking along the seafront in Otranto, breathing the salty breeze, watching a sailboat bobble in the bright blue bay, you may catch yourself thinking "NOW this is the real Italy!"
This little travel secret is being discovered more, but you still won't find hordes of tourists here. This is Southern Italy, minus the masses. Puglia brims with pristine cove, sandy beaches and charming villages. Wait, did we mention the FOOD of SOUTHERN Italy . . . wide variety of seafood, fresh tasty vegetables, rich olive oil, and of course, basil and oregano. The best Italian olives come from this region and are often marinated in garlic oil with crushed chili.
What do you think of NO LINES, NO HASSLE, NO CROWDS.
Just sun and sea and genuine Italian hospitality.
Basilicata
With over 11,000 years of history, Basilicata spans a total of 3,860 square miles, located at the "insole" of Italy's boot between Puglia to the east Campania to the west, and Calabria to the south.
The region's history of poverty contributed to its unique cuisine which is gaining significant recognition in the last several years. Artisan Luganega sausages, fresh pasta made from water, salt and flour (omitting the usual eggs present in the rest of Italy's pasta), and abundant use of seasonal vegetables and legumes are prominent in the cuisine allowing it to highlight local flavors.
Sassi di Matera is one of most highly visited UNESCO World Heritage Sites visited in the region. It is a city of caves and was used as the backdrop location for Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of Christ". Moving along to the area of Vulture Melfese... is drawing wine enthusiasts showcasing its high-quality red, Aglianico, while the small town of Bernaida, the former home of Francis Ford Coppola's grandfather and current location of his newly-opened Villa offers another great experience. And natural Beauty lovers are enamored with the miles of coastline and national parks in Maratea watched over by the2nd largest statue of Christ in the world. Last but not least, Pollino offers travelers a bit of everything, a national park, prehistoric cave drawings and burial sites and unique vacation spots such as the thermal springs in Latronico.
VENETO Venice will tug at your heartstrings, but stay awhile, there is more to Veneto than Venice.
Stay tuned for a more in depth view of our times visiting Padua, Volpolicella, Verona, Lake Garda, Vicenza, Bassano del Grappa, Asolo and Treviso.
Savoring Sicily
Enjoy an intimate voyage through Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean. Sicily boats stunning seascapes, historic towns and charming countryside. Fed by rich volcanic soil, Sicily also produces some of Italy's finest wines. A journey through Sicily includes authentic food, private guides and behind-the-scenes access to Sicily local traditions and people.
Which ever your style, we hope you will TRAVEL far and wide and explore this beautiful WORLD!!
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for more inspiration and ideas for a travel inspired life.
for more inspiration and ideas for a travel inspired life.
watching the city come to life. Typically you will arrive in the morning and as your water taxi motors you to your hotel, you watch in amazement . . . supplies arriving from the mainland and just the idea that there are NO CARS. It is fabulous . . . the Grand Canal, the quiet hidden canals, narrow bridges!! Travel CAN change your life and it sure did that for me!
gold mosaic St. Mark's Basilica with marble inlays (this time I happened upon the Basilica right in time for mass-it was so beautiful). Soak up all of the history, guides will take you a step back in time to the city's glorious past!! As you walk along the corridors of Doge's Palace, your guide will share fascinating history of the Republic of Venice. Truly, don't skip the guide for St. Mark's Basilica and Doge's Palace. Oh and Cross the Bridge of Sighs and imagine for a moment the sadness of the prisoners taking their last look at beautiful Venice. Ask about the most famous prisoner.
Private, serenade Gondola Ride (most people think they all include serenade, not so). Definitely a highlight for me, the sweetest and most passionate serenade you can imagine--feels like you are the only people in Italy.
