Untold Italy travel podcast

Venice is a city full of wonder, secrets and special places just waiting to be discovered if you're even a little curious. Take a boat or vaporetto away from the main islands of the lagoon and come explore the lesser-known islands of Venice with us. Our guest, food and travel writer Valeria Necchio lets us into this special island life full of culture, tradition, artisan makers and even a flock of...

Travel to Italy is back! Hooray! Planning trips to Italy is fun and exciting but there are some common traps and mistakes travelers make (even very experienced ones) in the planning stage that can impact their trip. As we've been planning our own trip I've made a few too and I thought I'd share them with you so you can save time and important trip budget money by avoiding them. You'll find full ep...

If you've ever felt completely at home in Italy and not understood exactly why, you'll relate to Italophilia founder Ishita Sood's experience. A quick trip to Italy a decade ago sparked many adventures and even an exciting career Ishita shares favorite places and moments from her extensive travels in Italy and you'll learn that with an open mind and heart, anything is possible. Read the full episo...

Untold Italy community member Jen was wondering how to make the most of her family's time in Rome, Florence and the Amalfi Coast. So we asked our friend Danielle Oteri from Feast Travel to guide her with a trip consultation.  Danielle talked Jen through what was possible for her trip and where some adjustments could be made to their plans so that her family could have the Italy trip they were drea...

Nestled in the heart of Italy between Rome and Florence, Umbria is an ancient region largely untouched by external influences. The cuisine and culture of Umbria may therefore be the purest examples of Italian food.  Our guest, cookbook author Letizia Mattiacci shares the mouthwatering dishes of her region and shares her insight into their origins and stories as we discover Umbria bite by bite. Dis...

Travel to Italy is a serious financial investment for most of us and with prices rising around the world, we thought it was a good idea to share some brilliant hacks for saving money on your trip costs. We enlisted the help of savvy trip planner and budget stretcher extraordinaire, our good friend author Corinna Cooke, to share her amazing suggestions. With Corinna's tips, you can save money on tr...

When in Italy you've got to try aperitivo! It's one of our favorite things to do each evening before as the sun dips below the horizon. But what exactly is aperitivo? What do you need to know about this pre-dinner ritual and where can you go to experience it for yourself. Food tour leader Raffaela Ceddia joins us to discuss our love of aperitivo, our favorite spots in major cities and towns in Ita...

Some visitors make a stop in Bologna but most skip right through the central northern region of Emilia-Romagna. Nestled between Florence and Venice, this region is known for its world-class food products including Parmigiano Reggiano - the cheese to rule them all!, prestige cars and outstanding UNESCO-listed sites including the Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna. Food lover and local tour guide Giulia T...

Spring is in the air in Tuscany and of course, that means delicious seasonal dishes made from sprouting from the land. Joining us is Giulia Scarpaleggia, the cook, food writer and photographer behind Juls' Kitchen - an online destination that takes you deep inside Tuscany's gorgeous countryside and where you'll discover recipes, stories and much more. You'll find full episode show notes, including...

How much do you know about Italy's royal past? It's not well known but there are incredible stories to be told and fascinating characters to meet. In this episode, we're visiting the magnificent palace of Caserta that rivals Versailles in beauty and grandeur. And because we love great stories, you'll be amazed to know that there is a very strong connection between the two palaces. Art historian an...

Carnevale makes a triumphant return to Venice in 2022. This world-famous mid-winter festival is a highlight of the European social scene and is known for elaborate costumes, decadent parties and street entertainment. Learn about the centuries' old traditions, stories and customs behind today's celebrations from local guide Elisabetta whose family has lived and thrived in Venice for many generation...

Italy is one of the world's most romantic countries, I'm sure you'll agree! As we're very close to the anniversary of the martyrdom of San Valentino - otherwise known as Valentine's Day - we take a look at the story and legend of the saint who has the honor of being the patron saint of lovers. And, to inspire your romantic travels, and perhaps a honeymoon!, we share some of our favorite romantic s...

How much do we know about the women of Ancient Rome? Not as much as we should sadly as the stories and history of this era were told by the ruling elite of the time, who were almost exclusively male. In this fascinating conversation with Angelo Carotenuto, founder of Liv Tours , we discover some of the heroines and female protagonists of Ancient Rome. Angelo and his team have created new tours tha...

Sorrento is a popular base for many visitors wanting to see the Amalfi Coast and surrounds. In fact, it is so strategically positioned that you could easily spend a week doing day trips from the coastal city. Our favorite local guide and friend of the podcast Pierpaulo shares some of the trips and experiences you can enjoy when you stay in Sorrento - from Pompeii to bustling Naples and the island...

Sicilian food is one of life's great pleasures. Drawing on the layers of history and occupants of the island over many centuries, it has character, nuance and flavor that sets it apart from dishes from the Italian mainland. Sicily expert Karen La Rosa joins us to discuss the mouthwatering tastes you can expect to enjoy when you visit the island - from the important local produce, cheese and pasta...

Many of us fell in love with the villages of the Cinque Terre but did you know that this region holds a whole host of treasures? Exploring beyond this pretty pocket of Liguria is a delight and it's one of our favorite regions in Italy. Joining us is local cook, blogger and food guide Enrica Manzoni from A Small Kitchen in Genoa who shares some of the incredible things to see and do in Liguria. Fro...

Piedmont is a northern Italian region on the border with France that is renowned in Europe for wonderful food and wine.  Somehow it flies under the radar for many visitors despite its close proximity to Milan and potential for gastronomic adventures. You're bound to get hungry as we take a quick bite of the dishes of Piedmont, featuring truffles, pasta and chocolate. Local Olivia Windsor explains...

Itinerary planning for our Italy trips is such a fun activity but sometimes we get caught up in the places and destinations we want to see rather than the experiences we want to have. Let's get you focused on those things that you'll remember fondly for years to come as we chat with Glam Italia author Corinna Cooke and discover uniquely Italian experiences to include in your Italian itinerary. You...

Buon Natale! Merry Christmas friends. Time to say farewell to 2021 and look forward to an exciting year of possibilities in 2022. But not before some of our favorite guests share typical Christmas dishes from their region.  You'll find the dishes mentioned (including some recipes) in the full show notes for this episode here >  https://untolditaly.com/103 Support the show Join our mailing list...

Our long-awaited return to the beautiful island of Capri is here just in time for Christmas! Capri is best known as a summertime destination but it also holds a special allure during the festive and off-season with light shows, artisan markets and an intimate and fun atmosphere. We'll hear from our good friend Holly Star from Michel'angelo Capri what a typical (pre-covid) Christmas is like on Capr...

Ciao! Looking for more Italy travel chat and a deep dive into Italian sights and experiences that are guaranteed to make your heart skip a beat? This is a very quick announcement to let you know how you can join the friends or "amici" of our show Untold Italy Amici and access exclusive live episodes with some of our favorite guests, private travel chat, member discounts, Italy travel resources and...

The Pantheon is arguably one of the most important buildings in the world and the inspiration for many others. Let's step inside this awe-inspiring structure and learn why it is at the very heart, literally and emotionally, of Rome. Joining us is resident of Rome, licensed tour guide and architectural historian Agnes Crawford who reveals fascinating stories behind the construction of the Pantheon...

On our 100th episode, we discuss where to find the authentic Italy you're dreaming of.  We all have an idea of what Italy will be like in our mind's eye, but does it live up to reality? We explore the different ways you can experience your own version of idyllic Italy and travel your way. But perhaps more importantly, we discuss how can we visitors approach our trip authentically and with consider...

Milan is Italy's biggest city and it's a thriving hub of design, fashion and also coffee! We're paying a visit to this fun city with Dü Coffee founder Michael Horne to discover his favorite places and spaces in the city. In Milan, you'll find an interesting mix of old and new - from the incredible Duomo and Galleria Emannuele II to modern architecture and also historic and new-wave coffee bars. Yo...

The Vatican Museums are one of the greatest collections of art and antiquities in the world holding thousands of paintings, sculpture and treasures including the Sistine Chapel. Most people plan to visit there at least once during their trips to Italy so today we're exploring the highlights and logistics of managing your visit.  Our guest today, Take Walks founder and former Vatican tour guide Ste...