Italian holidays are popular among tourists for a wealth of reasons, from the archaeology and architecture of the mainland, to the clear blue water and hot, white-sand beaches of the islands – but there’s always something new to uncover, be it Bologna, the culinary capital of Italy, or the Roman ruins in Brescia.
Holiday specialist, Citalia, has created a guide to 90 of the best experiences around the country with all of the unique reasons to visit them – whether you want to take in the Siena Palio or the Venice Regatta, go island hopping off Sicily, or even scuba diving.
All Around Italy
While each location has something unique to offer even the casual traveller, some locations stand out as the best destinations to stumble across something new:
- Venice – Everyone is familiar with Venice for its network of canals and its masquerade masks, but there’s much more to the city. Travel over on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express and enjoy the Festa del Redentore in July – a massive fireworks festival – or the Regata Storica – a major rowing event and historic boat parade in September.
- La Spezia – Perfect for visiting in spring or late summer, the Ligurian port city offers a luscious feast for the city’s patron saint San Giuseppe in March, and an annual rowing competition in August in the form of the Palio del Golfo.
- Verona – The setting for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Verona’s best offerings include the Verona Arena, a preserved Roman amphitheatre in which music festivals are still held to this day, including the Opera Festival, which takes place there during July and September.
- Pragser Wildsee – A quiet and serene lake surrounded by mountains and stunning views, the best time to visit this off-the-beaten-track location is in January, when there’s potential snowfall to blanket the Italian Dolomites and provide the ideal backdrop to the turquoise water.
- Milan – One of the world’s fashion capitals, the main draw of busy Milan is likely to be the Fashion Week in September – but tourists should also consider the Christmas festival in December and furniture fair in April to get the most out of Milan’s offerings.
Helen Adamson, Citalia Brand & Commercial Director, said: “Many visitors to Italy enjoy visiting popular relaxing resorts like Sardinia’s Costa Smeralda, or cities that offer something new every time, such as Rome. However, there’s also much more to Italy for anyone looking for something further off the beaten track.
“With our 90th birthday celebrations, we want to make it clear that Italy has something for everyone – authentic food locations, historical sites from any time in the last 3000 years and busy local nightlife options. We created this tool so that Italy lovers can find something that suits their tastes, both in the popular tourist hubs and in destinations few think to visit.”
