Travel ideas for Italy – a compendium of blog posts and ideas from others.
I’ve been to Italy many times over the last 15 years or so, and blogged about some of it – grabbed links on others. Here’s a single place where I can compile my advice for any potential travellers.
PREVIOUS BLOG POSTS
- ITALY in the OFFSEASON – Amazing Italy In the Off-Season – Jim Louderback (ALBA IS AMAZING, go there)
- LUCCA! – Living the Good Live in Lucca Italy – Jim Louderback
- MONACO – OK not Italy but close enough – A Lifting Experience in Monaco – Jim Louderback
ROME dining advice from a variety of people
- Osteria da Fortunata
- Nonna Betta for typical Roman Jewish cuisine in the “ghetto”. Roman Jews are the most ancient Romans still living in the eternal city and they have be custodian of the Roman cuisine in a sense.
- Bonci Pizzarium close to the Vatican
- Near the Pantheon there’s the best coffee place in Rome: Sant’Eustachio. They even sell their custom Nespresso-compatible capsules. The best. There’s also the gelateria Delle Palme around, one of the best!
- SORA LELLA (isola tiberina) – an iconic restaurant, better to book now
- SORA MARGHERITA (ghetto ebraico) – best artichokes in the world
- RETROBOTTEGA (Campo Marzio)
- ARMANDO AL PANTHEON (traditional Roman cuisine, including tripe Roman style with tomato sauce and mint)
- ROSCIOLI Ristorante (via dei Giubbonari) (modern Roman cuisine also has a deli nearby, with no doubt the best carbonara in town)
- Giuda Ballerino* (modern Roman cuisine, quite impressive terrace downtown)
Another Rome Restaurant List –
- Glass Hostaria*
- Il Pagliaccio**
- Marzapane (highest price/quality ratio)
- Imago, Hasler Hotel* (stunning terrace view on top of Spanish steps)
- Enoteca La Torre a Villa Letizia* (never tried personally)
- Seafood – Ottavio (not downtown, but best seafood in town)
BOLOGNA – Great place for food, walking around the old town, easy to get to. You can even park your RV within walking distance of the old town. Parma, Modena are nearby too and have great foodie stuff happening too
Bologna Restaurants –
- “Il mulino bruciato”, outside of the center, needs reservation but it’s amazing
- “Chiostro ai pini”, also outside of the center, is the place where you can eat the best crescentine in the world
- “L’osteria dei poeti” in the center is the place to eat where singers like Vasco Rossi and Lucio Dalla used to go era il posto di vasco,dalla e altri artisti
- “L’osteria del sole” is a must. It’s a winery / bar where people bring their own food very festive
Cinque Terra – go hike the towns or take the train around. Do it either before Easter or after mid October as it is crazy apparently in summer months. SO AMAZING.
LAKE COMO – go to Bellagio on Lake Como. Take the ferry from Como (take a train to Como from Milan). We stayed at the Hotel Du Lac and loved it.
Perugia – great walled city in Umbria. Walk around, get lost, eat, drink, climb the steps. Try to go during the International Journalism Festival – WHICH IS FREE TO ATTEND!
Genoa – Good town for a day, fun to walk around the old town, and on the train line so easy to get to. PESTO is the thing here.
