Your Guide to Authentic Italy
Helping you travel Italy like a local with authentic Italian food, wine, & Italy travel tips.
As seen in:
YOUR GUIDE TO AUTHENTIC ITALY
Helping You Travel Italy like a Local With Authentic
Italian Food, Wine, & Italy Travel Tips
Helping You Travel Italy like a Local With Authentic Italian Food, Wine, & Italy Travel Tips
As seen in:
Exploring Italy’s Hidden Gems: 8 Must-See Spots For Your Next Trip to Italy
Italy’s allure goes beyond the famous postcard-like scenes from the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre that you see on Instagram, or the lively urban hubs of places like Rome and Florence, that often steal the spotlight from Italy’s hidden gems. Filled with the most UNESCO...
October in Italy Weather: How to Plan and Pack For Your October Italian Vacation
If you’re a fan of milder weather and less-crowded travel experiences, October is the perfect month to plan your bucket list vacation to Italy! With its vibrant fall colors and bountiful harvest, October is a fantastic time to explore Italy's stunning landscapes, soak...
Why You Should Book a Small Group Tour For Your Italian Vacation
Does your idea of the perfect Italian vacation include vast rolling hills, verdant vineyards, picturesque beaches, rich, vibrant culture and rustic cuisine? If so, look no further than the beautiful country of Italy! Attracting over 60 million tourists a year, maybe...
Explore Italy’s Best Kept Secret: the Le Marche Region
Searching for Italy's next Tuscany? Look no further! Hailed as all-of-Italy-wrapped up into one region, Le Marche is the perfect once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list Italian destination for those of you that don’t want to spend all your time in the overcrowded touristy...
September in Italy Weather: How to Plan and Pack For Your September Italian Vacation
Many of you have probably heard that September or fall is the best time to visit Italy. You may be right, especially if you’re a fan of mild, sunny days and calm, cool nights. However, the weather you’ll find in Italy during September will depend on where you are...
Flights To Italy – 5 Things You Need To Know Before Booking
Italy is a dream vacation destination with gorgeous views, world-class dining, and fascinating places to explore. There are many unique places to visit in Italy, making it a romantic, soul-satisfying escape for adventure lovers everywhere. To make the most of your...
July Weather in Italy: How to Plan and Pack for Your July Italian Vacation
Planning a trip to Italy in July? You’re probably wondering what July weather in Italy is like, how it will shape your plans, and how to pack for your Italian vacation. That’s why we’ve got answers for you! After having spent years traveling every summer to Italy and...
How to Order Your Coffee Like a Local When Visiting Italy
Planning a trip to Italy as a coffee lover? You’re in for a treat! Italy is renowned for its authentic coffee culture and the quality of its espresso (psst… it’s not e”x”presso). However, ordering coffee in Italy can be a bit different than ordering coffee in other...
May Weather in Italy – and What to Wear
One of the many perks of planning a vacation to Italy in May is the gorgeous, mild spring climate. It’s a great time to travel, especially for those who can’t stand the heat. However, with May weather in Italy ranging from a few leftover April showers at the start, to...
The Most Underrated City to Visit in Italy
What’s the first city that comes to mind when you think of Italy? You probably think of Rome and its Colosseum, Florence, Milan, or the canal city of Venice. While these are beautiful locations and can be worth a visit in your lifetime, these cities are unfortunately...
How to Plan a Trip to Italy – Without the Crowds!
Are you finally ready to start planning that dreamy bucket-list Italian adventure? Maybe you’re thinking of Rome, Venice, Milan – or Sting’s Villa in Tuscany, featured in the latest issue of Conde Nast! In reality, many of these locations only have a good reputation...
The Best Pizza in Rome, Italy – and where to find it
The history of Roman Pizza is a young one, beginning just after the end of WWII. Pizza in Italy gained popularity outside of Naples starting in the 1950’s. This was a time when new pizza making techniques appeared and when a new kind of pizza emerged that was made to...
Do’s and Don’ts in Italy – Etiquette for Tourists
Preparing for a trip to Italy? Then you’re probably asking yourself: “How do I not look like a tourist in Italy?!” or “What if I do something embarrassing?!” As an Italian and local expat with over 30 years of combined expertise in traveling Italy, we’re here to let...
How to Travel by Train in Italy – A Local’s Guide
Train travel in Italy can be a great experience once you know how to navigate the logistics and understand its limitations. With the modernization of trains, Italy boasts one of the best travel systems in Europe. Italy’s two largest cities, Rome and Milan, are now...
Best Off-the-Beaten-Path Locations to Visit in Italy – without the crowds
Do you want to experience Italy without crowds, tourist traps, and wasted time? To get an authentic Italian experience, you’ll need to venture off the beaten paths of Rome, Venice, Tuscany, and Florence to discover the best hidden gems in Italy. But that can be...
Ultimate Italy Packing Guide – What to Pack for Italy
We’ve all had that awkward moment when we showed up to a party over or underdressed for the occasion – the last thing you want is to have this feeling for an entire week in another country! Unsurprisingly, one of the most common questions we get from guests before...
Stop Making These 9 Big Mistakes on your First Trip to Italy
Visiting Italy for the first time has long been on your bucket-list. Now that you’re finally planning the Italian vacation you’ve dreamed of, you want to have the trip of a lifetime. After spending hours DIYing it on TripAdvisor, searching for last minute deals,...
The Best Pizza in Naples, Italy and Where to Find it
Naples is not only the birthplace of Pizza as we know it today, but remains the world capital of pizza. Pizza Napoletana is a cornerstone of the local cuisine and culture. Story narrates that in 1889 Raffaele Esposito, a local pizzaiolo, made the “ Pizza Margherita”...
7 Big Mistakes Retirees Make When Planning a Trip to Italy, And What to Do Instead!
As an Italian and a local expat, over the years we’ve helped many guests in their retirement years avoid common pitfalls that can put a damper on an Italian vacation. That’s why we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to retirees' biggest mistakes when planning a...
Where to Eat the Best Pizza in Venice, Italy
Until the end of the 1990’s Venice was notorious in Italy for not offering decent quality pizza. Pizza chains dominated Venice for decades, often being the only way to get a slice of the most quintessential Italian food while visiting. Most of the pizza was made with...
Best Boutique Hotels in Florence, Italy
Searching for the best boutique Hotel in Florence Italy, is a difficult task, as many of the Florentine owned hotels have been sold to global hotel chains. This makes finding a personalized experience and selecting a hotel that directly supports Italian owned and...
A Quick Guide to Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Wine
Beloved by Italians and wine lovers abroad, Montepulciano D’Abruzzo is the second most grown grape in Italy after Sangiovese. Together, the two of them share the majority of acres of wine grown in Italy. Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is not to be confused with the “Vino...
What is Prosecco? An Italian Wine Expert Answers Your Questions
Prosecco might be one of the most well known Italian wines due to an unstoppable growth in the past 20 years which has crowned it the undiscussed king of Aperitivo hour, with the Aperol Spritz, one of the most popular drinks throughout Italy. With many producers...
Best Boutique Hotels in Venice, Italy
The magical lagoon of Venice is a dream trip that's on practically everyone’s bucket list. Taking a beautiful “traghetto” (handcrafted wooden water taxi) and sleeping in a Renaissance Palace is a unique experience that should be part of your stay and not be ruined by...
5 Pasta Types to Eat in Abruzzo, Italy
Abruzzo is one of the largest producing pasta regions in Italy. Some of the biggest names in Abruzzo's pasta-making business are located near Chieti. The province of Chieti is where traditional pasta types from Abruzzo have been made for centuries. Chieti is in an...
Best Restaurants in Venice, Italy for Authentic Italian Food & Wine
Top of mind on your trip to Venice is Piazza San Marco, Gondolas floating down the Rialto, and the stunning Venetian glassware - not necessarily the delicious “authentic” Italian food and wine. Drawing in the crowds with some of Italy’s most famous sites, chowing...
A Quick Guide to Pecorino Wine
When you hear the word “Pecorino” what's the first thing that comes to mind? It's probably a delicious aged cheese that you ate on your last trip to Italy. What you might not know is that Pecorino also happens to be a crisp white wine that is a perfect pairing for the...
Local’s Guide to Shopping in Florence, Italy
Known around the world as the "Birthplace" of the Renaissance, the city of Florence is no stranger to craftsmanship and artisanal handmade leather goods. My guess is if you're anything like me, you've probably already heard about it's famous leather markets and plan...
Ultimate Guide to Olive Oil Benefits (and more!)
Spending my summer vacations in Puglia, Italy’s largest olive oil producing region, many of my fondest memories are centered around olive oil. Olive oil benefits have been long heralded by Italians, including my family. On warm Italian summer nights, we’d sit out on...
This Italian Pizza Dough Recipe will transport you to eating Pizza in Italy
Digging into a slice of gourmet pizza in Italy is on every foodie’s bucket list. Nothing quite beats the real thing. But when you can’t make it to the Bel Paese to sink your teeth into a pizza margherita, the next best thing is learning the secret to enjoying...
Ready for Your Backstage Pass to Experiencing Italy like a Local?
“Giovanni & Chantelle personally guided us. After having been to Italy multiple times, I can honestly say no other experience compares to the one provided by Giovanni & Chantelle. With their local knowledge we were able to experience food & restaurants we would not have discovered on our own.”
“When I lost my luggage, Giovanni took his personal time to help me sort things out, it really showed how much they care about their clients. They really went above and beyond the scope of the tour.”