I am not a fan of crowds, but I am a fan of Italy. In summertime, crowds are unavoidable, particularly if you stick to the most-visited destinations. Rome, Florence, Venice, Pisa, the Amalfi coast, and of course the five teeny tiny villages that make up Cinque Terre are hugely popular, and alas, hugely overcrowded. So… Continue reading One Day in Vernazza • September in Cinque Terre
Most people arriving in La Spezia cruise port have the same destination in mind, and I'm telling you now, that is not the city of La Spezia itself. This city on the coast of Liguria is considered the gateway to Cinque Terre, one of Italy's most stunning areas of natural beauty. Whether you want to… Continue reading La Spezia Cruise Port • The Gateway to Cinque Terre
Docking weekly in the Ligurian port of La Spezia meant that we were in perfect proximity to Cinque Terre- Northern Italy's famous coastal area, comprising of five stunning villages connected by a series of hiking paths. I love a good outdoor adventure, but hiking from Riomaggiore to Manarola via the Via Beccara turned out to… Continue reading The Via Beccara from Riomaggiore to Manarola • Hiking the Hard Way in Cinque Terre
Our original plan that day had been to visit Vesuvius, but as we were literally denied entry to the train, it dawned on us that we'd actually been sold the wrong ticket and would therefore never make it. How very awkward. We realised we'd have to rethink our plans slightly. It was time to head… Continue reading Inside the Royal Palace of Naples
A day in Pompeii had me gasping from the minute we arrived. (Gasping in awe at the sheer scale of the ruined city, but also gasping for breath- it was so hot that Vesuvius might as well have been erupting throughout our entire visit.) Summer in Italy is hot hot hot, and that August day… Continue reading A Day in Pompeii • Lava and Ash in Italy’s Land of Fires
It's surprisingly easy to get to Pompeii from Naples, which is the closest big city to this ancient site in Italy's Campania region. Whether you want to make the journey on your own with public transport or as part of a tour, here's all the info you'll need. *This site uses affiliate links, where I… Continue reading How to get to Pompeii from Naples • The complete guide
It took several visits to Venice before I decided to visit the Palazzo Ducale- or the Doge's Palace, as it's called in English. Despite walking past the beautiful pink palace almost daily whenever I visited, my favoured travel style involves wandering city streets at my own pace, stumbling upon hidden nooks and crannies and favourite… Continue reading A Peek Round the Palazzo Ducale, Venice
Rome in winter is absolutely magical. So magical in fact, that despite the fact that I'm no fan of the cold, my favourite time to visit is in the quieter, chillier months of the year. The atmosphere is captivating, the temperature is rather on the icy side, and the city feels like a living working… Continue reading Rome in Winter : 10 Things You Need to Know
Hopping on a vaporetto from Venice to Burano island makes for an idyllic way to spend the day. The Venetian island is home to fishermen and lace-makers, and is famous for its brightly painted houses arranged along narrow canals. Although it's equally as picturesque- and basically a photographers' dream- Burano seems a world away from… Continue reading From Venice to Burano. Exploring the colourful island in the Venetian lagoon.
Did you ever hear of the pasta grandmas of Bari Vecchia? Eating in Italy is always a magical and scrumptious experience, but the Bari food experience is without a doubt the best one I've had yet. Here's why the little port city of Bari is well worth a visit. *This site uses affiliate links, where… Continue reading The Bari Food Scene: It’s full of grandmas and that’s why I love it.
