THE REST OF ITALY

Francesca and Ben’s guide to the rest some a very small portion of Italy.

Milan

Vibe: Modern, urban, the NYC financial district of Italy

Eat: Risotto alla Milanese

Drink: Barolo (while Milan is slightly east of the Piemonte region where Barolo is grown, it’s close!) Also the sparkling wines of the Asti!

Must see: The famous Duomo/Cathedral, the Last Supper, the Galleria

Cinque Terre

Vibe: Touristy, but bright, vibrant, and beautiful

Eat: Seafood

Drink: La Spezia isn’t really known for its wine, but drink up pesto or some local olive oil instead!

Must see: Hike between the towns to really take in the views

Bologna

Vibe: In some ways similar to Siena – a small college town with a great atmosphere and some of the best food in Italy. In our humble opinion, Bologna is seriously underrated (including by my man Rick Steves).

Eat: The list is long here. Bologna is in the Emiglia Romagna region which is home to parmigiana, balsamic, and prosciutto di Parma – to name just a few! Some of our favorite dishes are tortellini in brodo, ragu bolognese (of course), and a tomato and onion sauce called friggione.

Drink: Lambrusco is the famed wine of the region (if sparkling red is your kind of thing).

Must see: The famous portici, the central piazza, and the ambiance are all wonderful in Bologna

Orvieto

Vibe: Towering hill town with a beautiful cathedral and lots of ceramics. Also a very convenient stop on the Rome > Florence train line!

Eat: Anything with truffles

Drink: Orvieto classico white wine

Must see: the Duomo

Also check out the tiny ghost town of Civita di Bagnoregio nearby!

Florence

Vibe: Small, touristy, frequently English-speaking, but delivers art that packs a punch

Eat: Bistecca alla Fiorentina

Drink: Chianti

Must see: The Duomo, Uffizzi, the Galleria (w/ David), Ponte Vecchio, climb up to the Piazzale Michelangelo for the best view in Italy, the Bargello if you have time, and much much more!

While not a personal favorite of the Bride & Groom, Florence is the epicenter of art and culture from the Medici era, and it is not a town to be missed! The Bride recommends two to three days (max) to tour the city – make sure to get tickets to Uffizzi (art museum) and Accademia (David) prior. Other must-sees are the Duomo where you can also climb to the top of the Dome or the Bell Tower (shorter line) for a stunning view, and we highly recommend the trek up to Piazzale Michelangelo for a panorama of the whole city. It’s a great spot to bring wine and a panino and to enjoy the sunset. Folks should also be sure to stroll along the Pontevecchio and see the city’s artisanry. Art lovers shouldn’t miss the Bargello and history fans will enjoy the Basilica di Santa Croce where Galileo, Michelangelo, and Machiavelli are all laid to rest.

Naples

Vibe: Grungy but full of character, bustling, messy, chaotic, so fun.

Eat: Pizza of course.

Drink: Nero d’Avola (Red) and Falaghina (White)

Must see: the Archeological Museum, Piazza del Plebiscito, but the REAL must-see is Pompeii. Make the trip. It’s worth it. (And tack on Herculaneum if you have time!)

Rome

Vibe: It’s impossible to describe the Eternal City in just a few words. If you’re able to: don’t rush through Rome. Do the sites but give yourself a few additional days to just be there. It’s well worth it.

Eat: Everything in sight! Favorites are pizza Romana and the Roman classic pasta dishes – carbonara, caccio e pepe, amatriciana, and alla gricia. Reach out for specific recs.

Drink: Lazio isn’t really known for its wines, so take the opportunity to enjoy some cocktails (or wines from places you won’t be visiting!) in this urban hub.

Must see: Of course the Vatican (check out Clam Tours [LINK]), the Roman Forum, the Colosseum, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, the Spanish Steps, the Borghese, Capitoline Hill and much, much, much more.

Amalfi Coast

Vibe: Touristy but beautiful

Eat: Seafood

Drink: Limoncello

Must see: The views of the Coast are the main site to see in and of itself!

Note: Can’t speak to it as we’ve never been, but we’ve heard lovely things about Sorrento despite what White Lotus may have implied

Puglia (Lecce, Bari, Locorotondo, Alberobello)

Vibe: Off the beaten path, beautiful seas and cliffs, much less touristy than the other coasts, lots of beautiful white stone buildings and stone piazzas