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Marker Map

All recommended sites & everything else can be located & checked out with a few clicks - most have 10 photos showing views, food, beds, scenery, facilities, goods - everything you need to make an informed decision & links to all of them.

 

 Just click on any marker, then on the traffic arrow           and a 2nd location for instant detailed public & private travel information including routes, distances, times, frequency, transfers & stop locations.

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A picture of a red Vespa

Your holiday - Your way

Country Guide
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COUNTRY GUIDE

Aeolian Islands

Italy south aeolian islands vulcano calm night full moon stunning scenery

Photo by Matt Lamers on Unsplash

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BEST TIME TO GO TO - April - June and September - October.

  • July to September is peak tourist season and peak prices.

  • August is the worst month for humidity and swarms of tourists.

  • Winters in the north are cold with rain and snow.

  • October and November are the wettest months.

  • In Rome and the south it is not too bad all year round.

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STAY - Most hotels are available on Booking.com unless otherwise stated. It's best to get bookings with free cancellation and pay on site when you get there. Hotels chosen are usually 3*** or 4 or 5 if they are good value. They are chosen firstly for their location, value for money, positive testimonials regarding cleanliness and service and features like rooftop terraces and great views. 

Since the end of Covid a lot of prices have gone through the roof. So if the selected hotel is out of your price range click on the location map and choose something cheaper nearby. Or you might prefer something else but try to stay in the same area.

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VISAS - Click here for information

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TIPS -​

  • Read these Handy Tips before you go

  • Carry a photocopy of your passport at all times

  • You can also scan other important documents and keep them in an e-mail

  • It's always good to take an International Drivers License with you

  • Download Maps.me app and the appropriate maps onto your phone before you go

  • Book everything as far ahead as possible so all you have to do on the trip is relax and    enjoy yourself - places like Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast book out very quickly

  • Try to minimise your luggage as much as possible. There are numerous boat trips and hilly villages with limited vehicle access.

  • You're going to be tempted by a lot of delicious looking gelato on your trip. But looks  aren't everything and you should know how to avoid the fakes and get yourself an   authentic gelato.

  • Take some old bathers for the mud bath on Vulcano in Southern Italy

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FLIGHTS - TICKETS

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  • Cagliari Airport (CAG) - is an International Airport with direct flights to 73   destinations in 16 countries around Europe and one to Senegal. (Sardinia)

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AIRPORT TRANSFER -  Rome Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport (FCO)         24 KM

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  • Rome Ciampino - Giovan Battista Pastine Airport (CIA) 21 KM - take the train into Termini and change there. It also takes half an hour or so.

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Once you've bought your tickets get some travel insurance to cover yourself.

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BUDGET - 

It's Western Europe so it's expensive. Double the budget to €140 per person per day travelling as a couple or pair sharing accommodation and then add some for things you don't want to miss out on and a few treats. One way to save a few dollars on food is to take advantage of the free food provided during pre-dinner drinks.

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POPULATION - 58,906,000

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CAPITAL - Rome (strength, power)

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RELIGION - Roman Catholic

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ETHNICITY - Italian 95%, Albanians, Romanians, Ukrainians, Africans

 

LANGUAGE - Italian

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NATIONAL DRINK - Campari, Aperol Spritz, Prosecco, take your pick

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NATIONAL DISH - Ragu alla Bolognese

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GOVERNMENT - Parliamentary Republic

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BIRTHDAY - 2nd June 1946

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BIG MAC IN $US - $6.30

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LITERACY - 99.15%

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MINIMUM WAGE ANNUAL IN $US - There is none set by law

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CURRENCY - Euro €1 = $1.075

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LIFE EXPECTANCY - 83.4

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FUN FACT - As of 2021 Italy has the most number of UNESCO sites for any country      with 58. China comes 2nd with 56.

 

TOURISTS PER YEAR - 64.5 million

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NO.1 TOURIST SITE - The Roman Colosseum

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CHEERS - Salute, Cin Cin

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Have a look below for jump the queue and other tours in Rome and the Vatican. For a whole lot more in your local neighbourhood of Trastevere have a look here. 

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Rome Tours 1

RT1
North Italy
HP Italy Nth
Rome 1

           NORTHERN ITALY 26N         

map of your Italian vacation holiday to Rome Florence Pisa Parma Cinque Terre Modena Venice Bologna

       HIGHLIGHTS - La Dolce Vita

 

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Rome 4N

 via Florence 3N 

Pisa 1N - (Cinque Terre)

Riomaggiore 2N

Vernazza 2N 

Parma 2N 

Modena 2N

Bologna 3N

San Marino 2N

Venice 2N

Trieste 3N = 26N

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  • The Vatican

  • Trevi Fountain

  • The Coliseum

  • Vecchio Bridge

  • The Buffet of Pork

  • Harry's many Bars

  • Florence Cathedral

  • The Capital of Coffee

  • Disneyworld for foodies

  • Luciano Pavarotti's house

  • The Leaning Tower of Pisa

  • Vespa ride in the Bologna Hills

  • Michelangelo’s Statue of David

  • Birthplaces of the Bellini and Prosecco

  • San Marino and Slovenia Double Bonus

  • CinqueTerre - 5 very scenic coastal villages

  • Walk around the world's only pedestrian city

  • UNESCO World Heritage Listed Sites every step of the way

  • Try to get a passport stamp in the world's smallest country

  • Motor Valley -  Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani, Ducati

  • Food Valley - Parmigiano Reggiano, Parma Ham, Balsamic Vinegar, Mortadella, Truffles,      Tomato, Lambrusco, Pasta, Artisanal Gelato, Cooking class in the food capital of Italy,        Tagliatelle   al Ragu cooked by a Bolognese

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1 - 4  Rome - 4N​​​​​​​​​

Photo by Gab on Unsplash

Ferrari

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A map of your walking tour of rome including the Vatican Trastevere Trevi fountain colosseum Spanish steps Pantheon St peters Basilica

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Trastevere Tours 3

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  • Fly into Rome and stay in the fun neighbourhood of Trastevere. ​​Take the train from Rome Fiumicino Airport to Roma Trastevere. It takes ½ an hour and there are 66 per day. From here it is a short taxi ride to your hotel.

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  • Rome is quite compact and you can walk around to most of the attractions. Buses and  trams are the next best way to get around. To see the sights there is the Hop on Hop off Bus. You won't have to travel far to get some of the best Suppli in Rome. Just a 10 minute walk away across the river is the rooftop bar Hey Guey. On top of the hotel Chapter Roma   it has a Mexican theme and great views. There are 4 Harry's Bars on this trip, so if you    want to commit to the trail the first one is here in Rome. Unfortunately more than one    drink in at least 3 of them will probably break the bank. This is one of those 3.

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Rome Trastevere map of where to eat and drink restaurants bars special places

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  1. Stay at or near the Hotel Trastevere *** - excellent location near the tram stop and all the action in Trastevere, 20 minute walk to the Vatican, free breakfast, bar

  2. Locanda San Cosimato - same area and a bit cheaper

  3. There are also good deals on Airbnb

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5 - 7  Florence - 3N

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Italy Florence sunset art statue of david Michelangelo leonardo da vinci ponte vechio

Photo by Jeff Ackley on Unsplash

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  1. Stay at or near the Hotel Machiavelli Palace *** - set in a 14th Convent in an excellent location in the old town close to the major sites, near restaurants and bars and only 300m from the train station, rooftop terrace bar (Happy Hour) with fantastic views of the historic centre of Florence, Tour Desk 

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  • Have a look at these tours in Florence and around Tuscany - 

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Tuscany Tours

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Map of the treasure troves of Florence art open air museum Michelangelo classical arts world class

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  • Like all areas of Italy Florence has her specialties such as gelato which is said to have been invented here. Try these places for some of the best. For an interesting and delicious     lunch head over to the Sant'Ambrogio Market where you will be spoiled for choice.     Come sunset it will be time to head to one of these rooftop bars. Santa Croce is the    centre of night life in this town.

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8  P I sa - 1N

  • Take the quick and cheap train to Pisa. It's a 20 minute walk to the hotel so a taxi is  probably best. Do the tower then check out the other highlights nearby in the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Square of Miracles. Don't forget to pre-book your skip the line tickets. You can and should climb the tower. Stroll around relaxing and taking in the other sights around town.

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  • Have a look through these skip the line and other activities around Pisa - 

leaning tower of Pisa

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Pisa Tours

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Map of your pub crawl through the leaning tower of Piza major tourist attraction icon italt

  • Stay at or near the Hotel Grand Duomo **** - excellent location close to the tower, visible from the 5th floor rooftop bar and in amongst the lively old town, 20 mins walk from the train station, 2 restaurants, free buffet breakfast, ATM

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  • If you want a view of the tower outside your window go to the Residenza d'Epoca Relais l Miracoli - excellent location literally a stones throw away from the tower and close to bars and restaurants, bidet, Cafe / Bakery, don't forget to book a room with a view

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9  (CInque Terre) RioMaggioRe - 2N

Italy Cinque Terre stunning coastline major tourist attraction 5 towns

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Cinque Terre Tours

  • Back to the train station and off to the Italian Riviera at the UNESCO World Heritage    Listed Cinque Terre National Park. As good as the photos look they still don't capture how spectacular this place really is. Work out your days so that you get to see and do all of the things you want to. The distances between the villages are small and quickly covered by train. There is a discount train card you can buy. You can also go up and down the coast    on ferries. Have dinner and drinks in a neighbouring town and catch the late train home.  Lay on a beach (be wary of currents and heed any warning signs) and go for hikes along    the many trails, boat trips,  drink coffee, people watch, eat lunch, stroll the old villages,  drink sundowners and soak in the spectacular scenery. 

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  • Have a look through these places to stay at, they are all located in good positions in different areas around town and should be good value -

  1. Scorci Di Mare - close to the beach​

  2. Alla Marina Affittacamere - by the harbour

  3. La Dolce Vita - great location on the main street near bars and restaurants

  4. Banchi - great location on the main street 

  5. Al castello - amazing views from rooftop terrace

  6. Or this one with a terrace and a view and some climbing involved on Airbnb - Villino Caterina Luxe & Relax

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  • Spend a few days exploring the 5 villages where cars have been banned for over ten     years. It is a very popular area so book ahead for everything you can to avoid disappointment. 

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Cinque Terre Italy breathtaking coastline stunning towns must see swim amazing

Image by Julius Silver from Pixabay 

Manarola - Cinque Terre

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Cinque terre italy Riomaggiore walking tour restaurants bars hotel stunning

  • RIOMAGGIORE - Castello di Riomaggiore, sunset from the water, the rocks or you could catch the train to Monterosso and take the Sunset Cruise back to Riomaggiore (see boat trips above). Swim off of the rocks, go kayaking (see boat trips above)

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  • MANAROLA - busy main street and waterfront, hike up to stunning Nessun Dorma for a drink, a feed and the Pesto Experience, there is a popular sunset viewpoint up the same track, swim and sunbake in the harbour, jump off the rocks

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  • CORNIGLIA - the only place you can see all 5 villages, it is the plainest one, huge climb  from the train station, no boat access, but there is a shuttle bus. A lot of people skip this  one which means it will be less crowded than the rest.

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10  Vernazza- 2N

  • Stay in 2 different places so you'll have plenty of time to get to know all the villages and  pick your favourite. This one is known as the prettiest and is the half way point on the      Blue Trail. 

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  1. Stay at or near Affittacamere Elisabetta - excellent location 170 m from the train station (there is a luggage transfer office just below the station if you need it) and 1 minute from  the beach, close to the centre of town, furnished terraces with 360 degrees views of the town and the sea, minimarket

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cinque terre vernazza italy breathtaking coastline swim restaurants bars beaches swim sunsets sundowners

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  • EATING - Specialties, Anchovies (they have 2 festivals each year), Lemons (only get 1 festival, try the Limoncello - Gelateria Ice Cream II Golosone (hidden away in the old  section of town)

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11 - 12  Parma - 2N

  • When you're ready catch the train back to La Spezia and then on to the UNESCO      Creative City of Gastronomy - Parma, which takes about two and a half hours altogether. Located in the Emilio Romagna Valley it is a land of slow food and fast cars. Have yourself    a Parma Ham, Parmesan Cheese and Balsamic Vinegar tour booked for tomorrow (see the tours below the map). You'll need to be up early to see how the King of Cheeses is created. They will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel.

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  • Today you can look around town, there is an electric "train" that leaves from the main square nearby. The Tomato and Pasta museums are located in the same place about half   an hour out of town.  the Parmigiano Reggiano Museum is even further out in the other direction. Then there is the Parma Ham Museum also half an hour out down a different  road. And there's others. And then there's the Labirinto Della Mason a huge bamboo labyrinth 17 kms west of town. The centre contains a courtyard with two luxury hotel suites and a museum of the late owners private art collection housed in a museum. If you need    to organise transport their is a Concierge service at the hotel. A 10 minute walk from the hotel across the river is the Arturo Toscanini Birthplace Museum. He was the most famous and influential conductor of the 20th century.

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  • The evenings entertainment is just around the corner in Via Farini so you won't have to   walk too far. Try out Da Pepen to see why it's so popular with the locals.

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  1. Stay at or near the Hotel Button *** - excellent location less than 100m from Via Farini the main action street and only slightly further to the main square and a 5 minute walk to   Parma Cathedral, bar, cafe and snack bar, minimart, barber / beauty shop, the train     station is 1.5 kms away

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  • Below the map you will see a range of tours where you can taste the big 3 and see how they are made. Parmesan Cheese - Parma Ham - Balsamic Vinegar. You can leave the Balsamic part until you are in Modena if you like - 

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Parma italy parma ham parmesan cheese balsamic vinegar food gourmet

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Emilia-Romagna Tours

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Ferrari Formula one car

13 - 14  Modena - 2N

  • The train to Modena today takes less than half an hour. Modena is famous for many things. It is the birthplace of Enzo Ferrari and Luciano Pavarotti. It is the home of Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale the best  Balsamic vinegar in the world. It is also the Supercar Capital of the world with the factories of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani and previously Ducati (now made in Bologna if you want to got to the factory / museum at the next stop) and De Tomaso based here. 

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  1. Stay at or near Room & Breakfast Canalino 21 - parking available in the street, excellent location in the centre next to the Albinelli Market - walking distance to everything - close   to the (3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites - the Albinelli Market, Cathedral and Bell Tower),  in a former Palace, bidet, washing machine, minimart

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  • There is plenty to see around town but if you want to get out to the car places it may pay   to hire a car for a day or two. Or have a look in the tours for Lambretta scooters. There are other attractions and it will be nice to have a drive around the countryside.

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  • There are various tour options including eating and cooking at the Corte Leonardi   Balsamic Farm. Another one worth a visit is the oldest one around. Acetaia Giusti has    been around since 1605 and it is just north of town. They run 6 x 1 hour long tours in   English per day and they have a museum. There is the Pavarotti Museum the last house    he lived in. Next door is Ristorante Europa 92 aka Ristorante Pavarotti where he ate quite often and which still serves his favourite meals. You can visit the Opera House in Modena named after him for a tour or to see a show or both. Visit a Lambrusco Winery while     you're in the area.

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  • At Maranello you can drive various models of Ferraris and Lamborghinis on the racetrack.  As you can imagine it's not cheap but it is a once in a lifetime thrill. There are much   cheaper drives through the streets and hills of Maranello. Even cheaper is the realistic F1 simulator. There is a similar program at the Autodromo di Modena which is out near the Panini museum.

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  • Have a look through these tours below. You can offset some of the cost by not having to rent a car. Some are from nearby Bologna but can be done from Modena as well or you can wait until you are in Bologna - ​​​​​​​​​​​​

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Modena Tours

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Map of Modena motor valley ferrari Maserati Pagini Luciani Pavarotti Panini Mudetec Lamborghini

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  • If you really want a meal to remember take your credit card to the 2018 best restaurant in the world and most famous in Italy the 3 Michelin star Osteria Francescana. Just    remember to book a looong way ahead. Or you could try the cheaper, poorer sister restaurant Franceschetta 58. You'll still need your credit card and your booking. In fact Modena is a world class place to eat and you should try as much of the variety of local specialties as you can while you're here.

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15 - 17  Bologna - 3N

  • Another quick trip down the rails to the food mecca of Bologna. It also has UNESCO    status with the Porticoes of Bologna  measuring an extraordinary 62 km long. It is also known as La Dotta (erudite - due to it's University), La Rossa (red - due to the colour of       it's roofs and left leaning politics especially during the fascist years) and La Grassa (fat -  due     to the delicious food). Including the famous and sometimes huge (200 kg)       sausage known as mortadella. 

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  1. Stay at or near Gran Suite Piazza Maggiore - T&T communications - excellent location near the centre and close to Mercato di Mezzo and 2 minutes walk to Piazza Miaggiore 

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  • Just like Curry the world's favourite pasta dish Spaghetti Bolognaise doesn't really exist.     In fact not only does it not exist it's not even spelled correctly. What they really eat here     is called Tagliatelle al Ragu Bolognese. Be sure to try some as they have the best in the world. As it's all about the food here why not do a cooking class or a food tour. Go and     see how Mortadella is made. Who doesn't want to see a 200 kg sausage. You may need    to spend the whole day out there because it is located in FICO World Eataly a 25 acre   food-centric theme park known as the Disneyworld for food. It just on the edge of town. 

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  • Also in town are the twin leaning towers of Garisenda and degli Asinelli. At 97m the taller one Asinelli is open to the public and you can climb up to the top. Like everything on this trip book well ahead.

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  • Hire a Vespa and head for the Bologna Hills. Have a relaxing day cruising around the countryside on the iconic Italian freedom machine. Stopping off where ever you like. Just out of town is the Gelato Museum Carpigiani which offers a range of experiences from tasting to a master class. Also out this way is the Ducati Factory and Museum where you   are welcome to come and look around. The factory has a tour in the morning and one in the afternoon. The people at Travelhoo can give you recommendations and a map. Here's  a suggested route.

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Map of Vespa Tour Ducati scenic ride through the mountains

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Bologna Tours

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  • You're certainly spoiled for choice when it comes to eating here. Here are a few places     you might want to look at. Also there is The Osteria, which has been around since the    15th century and Da Bertrino Restaurant who have been serving traditional Bolognese dishes since 1957. Try these top 10 local specialties as you go around. 

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  • Have a look through the tours above☝️  for more food experiences and some local tours.

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18 - 19  San Marino - 2N

castle-San Marino song festival UNESCO historic centre old town breathtaking views Italia in miniature

Image by Volker Glätsch from Pixabay 

  • Take the train from Bologna to Rimini and then the Bonelli Bus #72 to the duty-free micro     - country of San Marino. Buy your tickets across the road at the Tabbacheria to the left of Burger King then go wait at the bus stop. There are 6 buses per day. You may want to visit Italia in Miniatura while you're in town. See where you've been and where you're    going to. It is 6km north of the train station.

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  • San Marino has never lost a war and Abraham Lincoln was a citizen here. The historic   centre and Mount Titano are UNESCO World Heritage Listed Sites. The currency used  here is the euro. Being a duty-free port of call the shopping is good here and boutiques  line the streets.

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  1. Stay at or near the Hotel Cesare **** - excellent location with spectacular views and in the pedestrian area of the old town close to everything, free buffet breakfast with home made pastries, terrace, restaurant, bar, landscaped gardens, bidet, cafe, shuttle service

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  • Check out some of the tours below the map -

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Walking tour of San Marino scenic views UNESCO old town museums Towers castle

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San Marino Tours

  • Walk around the historic centre and you'll find no shortage of good places to eat and   drink. For something a bit special try La Terrazza. The local cuisine is called Sammarinese and these are four of the favourites.

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20 - 21  Venice - 2N

  • Next stop is one of the world's great cities - Venice. Take the bus back to Rimini then take the train to Venezia Mestre Station. As accommodation is so expensive in Venice proper  and so is getting your cumbersome luggage moved around you will split the visit     between two locations. Stop off and check into your hotel one station out from Venice    and straight across the road from the station. Leave your luggage behind and head in to  this city of canals unencumbered. Just watch out for those green steps. (they're very  slippery with seaweed and moss). Take your first look around, have a night out and catch  the last train home. There are 200 trains a day, the trip takes 10 minutes and the last one leaves at 11.51 pm. Young Venetians actually come over here for their night life and      places stay open a lot later. The station in Venice is called Venezia Santa Lucia. The next   day come in with your day pack, and check into your fancy Venice hotel and leave your  main packs in left luggage at the other hotel. 

Map of train line to venice from the mainland italy

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  1. In Venezia Mestre stay at or near Hotel Plaza **** - excellent location directly across from Venezia Mestre Train Station - Venice is a 10 minute train or bus ride away, left luggage, restaurant, bar - Happy Hour, snack bar, ATM, 24 hour desk

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  1. In Venice see if you can get a good rate at some of these: Hotel Rialto **** - one of the   best locations in Venice on the Grand Canal next to the Rialoto Bridge, terrace with      views of the Grand Canal, free buffet breakfast while enjoying views of the Canal and the Bridge, rooms with canal views, water bus stop linking to the train station

  2. Hotel Dona Palace **** - 14th century building 2 minutes from St Mark's, garden bar, very good free breakfast, cafe

  3. Albergo Cavalletto & Doge Orseolo **** - opened in 1308 it is one of the oldest hotel's in Venice, it is set right behind St Mark's Square and has it's own private pier, some rooms,    the bar and breakfast room all have views overlooking the canal

  4. Hotel Casanova **** - 70m from Piazza San Marco, 100m from Harry's Bar, good breakfast included

  5. 40.17 San Marco - located on a small canal, half way from the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco (St Mark's Square), coffee machine in the rooms, bidet

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Gondola venice canal italy full moon night time romance gondalier happy couple

Image by 6557056 from Pixabay 

  • As Venice isn't your average city there are a few things worth learning. To get around     you'll either be walking or in a boat. Some things can be very expensive so it's worth   being aware of them too. As mentioned earlier keep an eye out for those green steps. Private water taxis can blow the budget so learn how to catch the water bus - the  Vaporetto. They can be a good way to go for a cheap cruise down the Grand Canal if it's not too crowded. .

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  • Being so popular with tourists means there are a lot of tourist traps about. Avoid these    and you'll have a much better time. As you can see by this story there's no such thing as a free lunch in Venice but the authorities are trying to keep on top of things. The best way     to not have this happen is to eat where the locals do and avoid tourist restaurants like the plague. You'll get a much better meal and without the bill time hassles. Just ask hotel staff or locals for a recommendation and move away from tourist attractions. Here's a few giveaways that it's a tourist restaurant. Venice is a safe city but be careful of pickpockets. Here's a few more do's and don'ts for this unique city.

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  • If you want to visit some of the iconic attractions it's best to get skip the line tickets rather than wait in a crowded line for hours. A ride on a gondola should cost around €90 for the whole boat and regardless the number of passengers. See the tours just below 👇-

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  • Living in the middle of a lagoon means the local cuisine is based on seafood. Local specialties to try include these dishes. The oldest cafe in town is the Florian which has   been here since 1720 and the oldest restaurant is the Poste Vecie at the fish market. Originally a Post Office it has been around since the 16th century.

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Venice Tours

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Map of Venice Bars Italy Harry's Bar St Marks Square Doges Palace famous tourists

  • Bars aren't hard to find in Venice. Here's a few worth hunting down. Having a Bellini at Harry's Bar where it was invented is a rite of passage. You'll be following in the footsteps    of many famous people. Try to be in a west facing alfresco or rooftop bar for sunset. They can be more than spectacular. The nightlife here tends to finish early compared to other party towns.​

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22 - 24  Trieste - 3N

  • Spend your next day seeing what you want to in Venice. When you're ready head back to the hotel in Mestre, pick up your gear and catch the train to Trieste - Capital of Coffee. It takes an hour and a half.

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  • Ironically the final city you visit is the least Italian of them all. It is more like Austria and Eastern Europe. Trieste has had an interesting past and many influences which gives it a multi-cultural character. This makes it a great place to visit. It was the main port for the Austro-Hungarian Empire for more than 500 years. It is the main coffee port in the Mediterranean and home to the famous Italian coffee brand Illy. In fact it was the port through which coffee entered Europe. Unlike other parts of Italy coffee is lingered over      for hours often in some very famous old cafes such as the Caffe San Marco. Some of    which  were frequented by James Joyce when he lived here for 15 years. He even has a museum. The food is more akin to Central European than Italian featuring the mandatory Buffet of Pork complete with sauerkraut and mustard. There is a huge town square facing the waterfront, a historic old town, Roman ruins, castles, caves, sunset promenade, great day trips and far too much to fit into 3 days. ​​

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  1. Stay at or near the Hotel Centrale *** - perfect location in the pedestrian area in the heart  of town, 800m from the train station, restaurant, bar, cafe

  2. Or Casa Pepe Rooms & Apartments - also well located and a bit cheaper

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  • Rent a scooter and head out for a daytrip into Slovenia and up the coast. ​You're probably wondering where the UNESCO site is for this leg of the journey. Don't worry The     UNESCO World Heritage Listed Grotte di San Canziano aka Skocjan Caves Park are the first stop today. There's a good chance you've been drinking a reasonable amount of prosecco on the trip so far and today you will be calling in at it's birthplace - Prosecco.    Pick up lunch in a little town somewhere when you get hungry.

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Map of Trieste scooter road trip Prosecco castle Skocjan Caves Grotta Gigante Italy

  1. Grotta Gigante - the World's largest tourist cave

  2. Miramare Castle - and the curse

  3. Sunset Bars - along the coast north of Trieste - take your pick

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  • With so many interesting places to eat it's hard to make a decision. Try a few of these suggestions. For something sweet the Pirona Pastry Shop is a local institution and was opened in 1900. In fact James Joyce started writing Ulysses in this shop. For a special  coffee in this coffee capital Torrefazione La Triestina offers tastings and has teas as well.

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Map of Trieste cafes restaurants bars Caffe San Marco Harrys Bistro & Bar

  • After sunset you should be down by the waterfront with drink in hand. The Pier on the    Roof is a nice spot to sit, take in the view, drink and eat.

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  • If you're on the Harry's Bar trail there are 2 in this town to tick off the list. Harry's Bar #1 is good for breakfast to cocktails and everything in between. This one is the least      expensive. Harry's Bar #2 is part of the Venice one and has a bar, Pasticceria, bistro and Michelin Star Restaurant attached.

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  • Check out the Trieste tours at the bottom of the page 🔻 - 

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  Rome & Beyond

  • Their are quick and cheap flights back to Rome airport where you can link up to your departure flight. If you want to spend a few more days in Rome you can catch the train  back. If you want to see Southern Italy keep on scrolling down. 

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Trieste Tours

Florence
Pisa
Cinque Terre
Vernazza
Parma
Modena
Bologna
San Marino
Venice
Trieste
Rome 2
TT3
South Italy
South Italy

  1. Stay at or near Casa dell'Avventura - free public parking nearby, excellent location with fabulous views of the the town and across the valley from the balcony, bidet, outdoor  dining area, kitchen. Or another two good options are Casa delle Stelle and Casa del  Mago, all on Booking.com.

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  • Spend the two days exploring two of the most beautiful villages in Italy and taking in the views. You can walk or hire normal and e-bikes to get around. If you're looking for a       good example of the local cuisine try Al Becco Della Civeto. There are plenty of family places around. Try to find an al fresco place with a sunset view when it's that time of the  day. Later on have a stroll around and check out a few of the bars.

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11 - 12  mATERA - 2n

  • You would be forgiven for thinking that after two such amazing locations everything else  will be a bit of a let down. But fear not, the highlights will keep on coming. And coming. And coming... Many of these stopovers appear on the most beautiful towns and villages     in Italy lists. The next stop is the world's third longest continually inhabited settlement    and 2019 European Capital of Culture -  Matera. It is the oldest city in Italy and Europe     and one of the most spectacular. In fact it is so old you will go back to dwelling in a cave.

         SOUTHERN ITALY 40N       

Map of your trip around southern Italy Rome Amalfi Matera Pizzo Stromboli Palermo Mt Etna Sardinia Stintino Olbia

HIGHLIGHTS - Stunning towns & beaches

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​Rome 3N

Naples 2N

Amalfi Coast 3N

Castelmezzano 2N 

Matera 2N

Pizzo 2N 

Tropea 2N

Stromboli 2N

Malfa 2N

Lipari 2N

Vulcano 2N

Taormina 3N

Cefalu 2N

Palermo 2N

Cagliari 2N

Putzu Idi 1N

Cala Gonome 1N

Stintino 1N

Castelsardo 1N

La Maddalena 2N

Olbia 1N = 40N

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  • Vatican

  • Trevi Fountain

  • Coliseum

  • Amalfi Coast

  • Pink Flamingos 

  • Limoncello tour

  • Garibaldi's House

  • Sicily & Sardinia

  • Onion Ice Cream

  • Road Trip Sardinia

  • World class diving

  • Sardinian Beaches

  • Lunch in Buggerru

  • Angel's Flight Zipline

  • The Path of the Gods

  • The Coast of the Gods

  • Stromboli and Vulcano

  • The anti-Mafia museum

  • Pompei and Vesuvius

  • UNESCO Aeolian islands

  • UNESCO Listed Cefalu

  • UNESCO Listed Mount Etna

  • UNESCO  Sicilian Puppet Theatre

  • The best place in the World

  • The World's best Capers

  • The World's best Ice Cream

  • The World's most beautiful Prison Island

  • Night time visit to a Volcano spewing fire every 20 - 30 minutes

  • The Birthplaces of Pizza, Tartufo (one of the world's greatest desserts), Cannoli, Cassata, Granita      & Amaro Lucano

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1 - 3  Rome - 3N​​​​​​​

Positano on the Amalfi Coast

Photo by Jordan Steranka on Unsplash

Positano

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Walking tour of rome Vatican St Peters Basilica Trastevere Colosseum Trevi Fountain Spanish Steps Pantheon

  • For the best results you will need to time this trip with the one way ferry from Tropea to Stromboli. Usually it runs from June to September which would mean starting this trip in mid May or early September. July and August can get very busy, hot and expensive. You could also travel via Milazzo which will mean travelling most of the day with a few      different legs, but easily doable. To check and book the one way direct ferry from Tropea   to Stromboli click on Check Availability.

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  • Fly into Rome and stay in the fun neighbourhood of Trastevere. ​​Take the train from Rome Fiumicino Airport to Roma Trastevere. It takes ½ an hour and there are 66 per day. From here it is a short taxi ride to your hotel.

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  • Rome is quite compact and you can walk around to most of the attractions. Buses and  trams are the next best way to get around. To see the sights there is the Hop on Hop off Bus. You won't have to travel far to get some of the best Suppli in Rome. Just a 10 minute walk away across the river is the rooftop bar Hey Guey. On top of the hotel Chapter Roma   it has a Mexican theme and great views. There are 4 Harry's Bars on this trip, so if you    want to commit to the trail the first one is here in Rome. Unfortunately more than one    drink in at least 3 of them will probably break the bank. This is one of those 3.

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  • Trastevere is a fantastic place to eat and drink. Have a look below at the many activities available and for more tours and skip the line tickets around the highlights of Rome have a look here.

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Trastevere Tours 4