Every day we are asked what where to go, and what do do in Italy, so as the summer is now taking off, we thought to share with you some of our best destinations and local activities.
Piedmont
Piedmont has something for everyone! Nature lovers will find beautiful mountains paths in Waldensian Valleys, ideal for hiking in spring and summer, to snowshoeing in winter and gather chestnuts in autumn. If you prefer truffles, venture with an expert truffle hunter among the hills of Langhe, Roero and Monferrato.
These are areas of excellent wines: with your car or bike, cross this charming wine landscape, recently listed as a UNESCO cultural heritage… And do not forget to visit some of the many castles and cellars that you will encounter along the way.
A guided tasting of Barolo (to name just one of the great local wines) is a must! Food lovers will appreciate the processing steps of hazelnuts and cheeses from local producers.
The greediest, will have to go to Turin, the Gianduia capital, to buy in pastry homonyms chocolates or taste the Bicerin (typical chocolate liqueur). The beautiful city, with the charm of European capitals and the neighboring Royal Palace of Venaria, a witness of a glorious past, will fascinate architecture lovers.
The Italian Lakes
Our tour starts from the Lake Maggiore, that enchanted Goethe, Byron, Dumas, Stendhal and other writers at the time of the Grand Tour… Stresa is its “pearl”, the small town that includes in its municipality three of the four Borromean Islands – Mother, Beautiful and Fishermen – conveniently visited with a boat trip.
Nearby, the small Lake Orta is an oasis of quiete appreciable, especially, walking the Path of Silence that winds through the streets of the Island of San Giulio. Farther east is Lake Como, offering relaxation, thanks to the fabulous microclimate, and worldliness, for the beautiful villas that overlook its banks, chosen as a location for weddings and film (Villa Balbianello is in the second episode of Star Wars) or, private ones, from celebrities such as housing. The largest and most famous is the Lake Garda with countless gems to visit: pretty colorful villages, castles, spas and the scenographic Vittoriale, home of the poet D’Annunzio.
Many places offer scenic trails for hiking and bathing waters, then, in your suitcase will not miss comfortable shoes and bathing suit!
Tuscany
Tuscany, a land of illustrious men, of ancient villages and art cities. Between history, art and architecture, cultural heritage of the whole Tuscany, offers thousands of ideas to the traveler caught or just curious, not surprisingly Florence, its main city, is called the cradle of the Renaissance and the Italian language. Impossible not to visit some of the sumptuous Medici Villas and some of the villages perched on high ground or dominated by imposing towers and castles, rich in historical workshops (such as Volterra and San Gimignano in Val d’Elsa, Pienza and Montalcino in Val d’Orcia , Pitigliano, Sovana and Sorana in Maremma, Anghiari in the Tiber Valley, Barga in Garfagnana, Cortona in the Val di Chiana and the nearby Montepulciano …).
As is well known around the world, this region is also a land of fine wines and oils: the food and wine avid traveler will be guided in the visit of historical cellars and tasting the final product… Maybe a “fett’unta” prepared with “foolish bread” (without salt), baked in a wood, and extra virgin olive oil combined with a glass of Chianti Colli Senesi or Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
Puglia
Blue sea and sunny countryside, Apulia is traditionally a land of fishermen and farmers.
Embraced by the Adriatic and Ionian seas, it boasts some of the most beautiful seaside resorts of Italy. And if along the coast stand out bays, fjords, caves and white beaches, inland, to capture the traveler eyes are the Mediterranean maquis, the olive groves enclosed by dry stone walls, the trulli and the masserie, typical of character buildings rural, that now often host accommodation can offer the most authentic hospitality in this land. Stage of transition for pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land, Apulia is a land of faith, with countless churches and shrines, but also in tradition and folklore, often closely linked to the cycles of nature.
You can join it by participating in the olive harvest, or one of the many events at the rate of Taranta, tasting any wine and food product, after seeing it born on its farm, visited even by bike or on horseback. A trip through Apulia can not be considered as such without visiting the Val d’Itria and its Trulli, Salento with the baroque Lecce, Otranto, the Gateway to the East, Gallipoli, the Pearl of the Ionian and Ostuni, the White City.
Sardinia
Sardinia is among the most desirable italian destinations, in addition to the famous Costa Smeralda frequented by celebrities, includes places of great natural and archaeological interest known to few.
We speak of pristine beaches, endless stretches of white sand and small hidden coves in the wild-rocky coastline overlooking the crystal clear waters of the color of the Caribbean Sea.
We talk about forests and waterfalls, gorges and lakes, coal and metals mines, and Nuraghi (typical stone building, in the shape of a truncated cone, built from 1800 BC) that can be admired inside, between the hills and mountain ranges.
For these reasons, this island promises to be an ideal destination not only for lovers of history and traditions, but especially for the outdoor sports enthusiasts, from hiking to snorkeling, from mountain biking to kayaking, from sup canyoning.
Between the lands to be discovered, the Sulcis, the Sinis and Montiferru
Sicily
Definitely not only the sea! While offering 1500 kms of beautiful coastline, from rocky cliffs to white beaches, Sicily is above all a land of art, culture, history and tradition.
Very rich in history, this island has countless archaeological sites, including the famous Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the wonders of Taormina, the ancient Segesta and Selinunte Park.
From Greek and Roman remains, it passes to the yellow-golden limestone monuments: magnificent churches and palaces with richly decorated facades, which are typical expression of Sicilian Baroque (XVII – XVIII century).
Art and culture are mixed in craft works, like the Sicilian carts and Sicilian puppets (wooden marionettes that have given rise to a real and its theatrical form), while the combination of culture and culinary tradition has made Sicily famous for its sweets (like Cannoli and Cassata), its wines and its recipes based on vegetables and fresh fish.
Among the destinations suggested the fascinating Val di Noto, the natural reserve of the Etna Park and the volcanic island of Pantelleria.
