Untold Italy travel podcast

Matera is a unique city in the tiny region of Basilicata. Said to be the longest continually inhabited city in the world, it's a place of wonder and intrigue and is a beautiful setting for visitors to explore. Through the collaboration and fortitude of its residents, this city shook off its troubled past to rebuild, rejuvenate and be named a European City of Culture in 2019. Come with us as we let...

Trastevere is part of Rome where you instantly know you're in Italy. Whether it's the cobbled streets, busy piazza or buildings dripping with vines, it's a place that many visitors fall in love with. Just over the Ponte Sisto from the historic center, Trastevere is where Romans, live, work and play.  So if you want to feel what it's like to be Italian in Rome, join us as we chat to travel writer a...

Coffee is an integral part of Italian culture. Not simply a beverage, coffee is part of the fabric of life in Italy from dawn to dusk. From the tiniest of towns to Rome and Milan, Italians gather at caffe bars to catch on the latest news, gossip and drink espresso-style coffee. Join us as we chat with Michael Horne from Dü Coffee about why coffee is so important to Italians. You'll learn about the...

When you think of Italian food, cheese immediately springs to mind. And that's because Italy is one of the world's top cheese producers, making hundreds of unique varieties from similar basic ingredients. While some Italian cheeses may be familiar, how they taste is likely to be very different (and much more delicious) than what you're used to. Foodie Olivia Windsor joins us this week to walk us t...

Did you have itchy feet and a yearning to travel as a teenager? Or do you know a teen that is curious about the world beyond their neighborhood or country and can't wait to explore?  This week's guest trip reporter Tyla knew without a doubt that she wanted to explore Europe even before she finished high school and embarked on a series of Italian adventures - with many more to come. Tyla shares her...

When wandering around Florence, if you're observant, you may notice little nooks in the sides of buildings in the shape of a tiny door or window. Present for centuries, this building feature was not only pretty but practical. These Medieval curiosities were a way for Florentines to buy their supply of wine.  Well, over 150 wine windows or buchette del vino have been identified in Florence. Our gue...

One of our favorite things about visiting Italy is hearing Italian, arguably the world's most beautiful language, all around you. And while English is widely spoken in the major tourist areas, your trip becomes so much more special if you can speak at least a few words of Italian and interact in a more meaningful way with the locals. If you're curious about learning Italian and wondering how much...

# 090 Everything you ever wanted to know about limoncello! If you've ever been to the Amalfi Coast, or most parts of Italy, you're often offered a glass of limoncello after your meal. This delicious, lemon-flavored liqueur is one of the tastes that can transport us back to Italy in just one sip. It's like a sweet explosion of lemon in your mouth and oh-so delicious.  But did you know that limoncel...

# 089 How to experience harvest in Tuscany Harvest in Tuscany is a very special time to visit the region. As summer draws to a close, and the fall months roll on, the crops that are so important to Tuscan cuisine are ready to harvest. Olives for oil and grapes for wine, truffles, porcini mushrooms and more are in focus and the the landscape changes as each crop is harvested and the weather changes...

For centuries, travelers have dreamed of taking a Grand Tour of Italy. A rite of passage for many, exploring Italy's iconic cities has been celebrated by writers and poets and bundled up into packages by tour companies. There are many ways to undertake a Grand Tour of your own but in this episode, we explore one you may not have thought of. Our guest Kathleen, veteran of many trips to Italy over t...

When you think of Venice, the image of a lone oarsman guiding their sleek black boat springs to mind. The gondola is an iconic symbol of the city thanks to its beauty, mystery and history as an important method of transportation in the city. And riding a gondola is something you must experience when you visit Venice. Learn all about the history and craftsmanship of this magnificent vessel with our...

An Italian summer vacation is something to be treasured. At this time of year, the sun is bright and the beaches full. Italians love summer and head to their lakes, countryside, mountains and shores and celebrate all that is great about bright sunny days. You'll find festivals, feasting and concerts, long sunset dinners in vineyards and of course plenty of reasons to eat gelato! Often you'll hear...

One of the joys of visiting northern Italy is exploring the mountain region known as the Dolomites on foot. Even if you're more of an ambler and walker (ie not an expert hiker) there are plenty of trails that will take you deep into this beautiful wilderness so you can admire the mountain ranges up close and breathe in the fresh alpine air. Join us as we chat with our friends, South Tyrol speciali...

# 084 Trip Report: A Self Guided Walking Tour of the Amalfi Coast   Would you like to celebrate your milestone birthday or any other occasion on the Amalfi Coast? Our listener Karen Salter had this dream and made it come true! With the help of a specialist tour company, she and her husband explored the stunning Amalfi coastline, hiking from village to village, admiring the views and immersing them...

# 083 Sardina - Take a Detour to Italy's Second Largest Island   Sardinia is a place that flies under the radar outside of Europe where her beaches and natural wonders are well-loved and admired. Today we reveal what's so special about Italy's second-biggest island and why you should add a stop there on your Italy itinerary. We enlisted the help of Cagliari local Claudia Tavani to take us through...

# 082 Family adventures in Italy over the years When Bill and his wife decided to take their young children and parents to Italy to discover Rome and the Amalfi Coast 18 years ago, little did they know it would spark years of adventures in Italy and many treasured shared memories. It's a curious thing that happens to many of us when we visit Italy. Somehow it gets under our skin. We can't wait to...

# 081 Packing for Italy with Corinna Cooke   Planning your packing strategy for Italy is both an art and a science. What luggage should you take - check-in or carry-on only? What outfits should you pack? Do you need any fancy travel gadgets or technology? Join us as we chat with Glam Italia author Corinna Cooke to discuss the finer points of packing for your trip to Italy. If you're one of the luc...

# 080 Picturesque towns of Puglia   Puglia is fast becoming one of the up-and-coming regions of Italy thanks to its stunning Adriatic coastline, ancient traditions and picturesque towns and villages. Today we're taking a trip through the region with local Nikki Taylor, who found her spiritual and actual home in the cobbled streets and white-washed houses of the region. From the unique trulli house...

# 079 Exploring Tuscany's Maremma region with Emiko Davies   Italy has thousands of miles of stunning coastline but most English-speaking visitors see very little of it, sticking to well-worn paths. Today we're going to let you in on a little secret. The Tuscan coastline is a jewel waiting to be explored. Our guest, author Emiko Davies devoted her book Acquacotta to the recipes, people, places and...

# 078 Visiting Rome and Sorrento with extended family   Taking the whole family to Italy including the kids might seem like a big stretch to some, but not to our guest Jeannine. Italian heritage, a love of spending time together and a spirit of adventure took her and her extended family on the trip of a lifetime to Rome and Sorrento with a Mediterranean cruise thrown in for good measure. This trip...

# 077 Tips for photographing your trip to Italy   One of our favorite things to do is look at photos of past trips to Italy and relive the memories of time spent soaking up La Dolce Vita. Italy has to be one of the most photogenic countries in the world but sometimes the photo we hoped we had taken didn't quite turn out the way we wanted it to. If you want to take great photos in Italy, it pays to...

# 076 Popping Corks in the Prosecco Hills   Have you ever popped open a bottle of Prosecco and wondered about exactly where this delicious Italian sparkling wine comes from? Today we're taking a trip to the picturesque UNESCO-listed Prosecco Hills with our friends Chantelle and Giovanni. Just north of Venice, the hills are home to hundreds of wineries that produce one of the world's favorite drops...

# 075 Lake Como: villas on the lake, pretty towns and a "real lunch"   Como is the best-known of the Italian lakes and has earned its reputation for glamor and style over many centuries thanks to its stunning villas and celebrity residents. The lake has attracted well-heeled visitors since Roman times, entranced by its stunning beauty with the Alps providing the perfect backdrop. But the lake isn'...

# 74 Trip report: Michael's travels in Italy from top to toe   On their second trip to Italy, Michael and his wife wanted to see the country from north to south. Starting in Milan, they traveled to Florence, Rome and Puglia before heading to Sicily in search of Michael's family roots in the beautiful Aeolian Islands.  Would you like to tell your story on a listener trip report episode? This is whe...

# 073 All about Neapolitan pizza!   Pizza is one of the world's most favorite dishes and if you want to eat the best you need to go to Naples. This Italian food staple has evolved over the centuries into the delicious doughy goodness we know and love today. Join us as we talk to dedicated pizza lover Pierpaulo who has munched his way through the pizzerias of Napoli, dedicated to the cause of findi...