Untold Italy travel podcast

# 048 Venice - where to stay - the best districts for your trip Venice is a highlight of any trip to Italy.  The lagoon city is one of the most magical cities in the world, full of wonder and mystery. But, many people get their choice of accommodation wrong and end up in overpriced and less than charming lodging. Join us as we uncover the best areas to stay in Venice for your trip and your prefere...

# 047 Basilicata - an ancient region of southern Italy with Karen Haid Basilicata is a small region of Italy that sits snugly among its more famous neighbors - Campania, Puglia and Calabria. It is best known for the fascinating city of Matera which was added to UNESCO's World Heritage list in recognition of its centuries of continuous human settlement.  Yet Basilicata's ancient past, mountainous t...

# 046 Puglia - food adventures and the travel tips with Paola Bacchia On the heel of Italy's boot, the southern region of Puglia is enjoying a moment in the sun. Increasingly popular with international visitors, it's a place where the simple things in life are valued above all else. In this episode, we are joined by Paola Bacchia, cookbook author and photographer, who spent weeks exploring Puglia...

A special invitation Planning trips and dreaming of Italy is one of our favorite things to do. And it has been a great way to fill the long days of this challenging year. Today we're announcing a way for you to escape to Italy from your own home and keep those dreams alive by joining us in our very own online piazza! Insiders club is now closed but check out some of our exciting new services below...

#045 Listener Q&A Vol. 2 Your Italy travel questions answered! We're back with another listener Q&A and answering some great questions about planning trips to Italy. Listen in as we answer our listener's questions and help them plan trips for 2021, 2022 and beyond. In this episode, you'll learn about driving and parking your rental car, whether splashing out on steak in Florence is a good...

# 044 Ciao Napoli! Magnificent Naples, Italy's third largest city, is often misunderstood and has borne the brunt of some bad (and ancient) press. And we're here to let you know that if you miss out on Naples then you're skipping one of the most fun, vibrant, and art-filled cities in the world. Come with us and explore beautiful seafront walks, ancient underground labyrinths, romantic castles and...

# 043 Excursions from Palermo, Sicily Sicily has a wealth of treasures to explore within easy reach of its capital Palermo. In this episode, we explore suggestions for using Palermo as your base to discover the north west corner of the island with expert Karen La Rosa. You'll discover beautiful landscapes of hilltop towns, salt pans and windmills and tiny islands out to sea. And almost taste the s...

#042 Come away with us to Capri! If there is one place in Italy that conjures up images of incredible landscapes, azure blue seas, and stylish vacationing, it's the legendary island of Capri. Since Roman times the island has been a magnet for the wealthy, bohemian and jetset crowd who are drawn there like bees to honey. But, Capri is a place everyone should visit at least once if they can. Our gue...

#041 Bergamo - beautiful gateway to the Alps Take a break from the hustle and bustle of Italy's major cities and head to charming Bergamo in the foothills of the Italian Alps. This small and picturesque city was an ideal base for our guest Dianne Bortoletto who attended a language school in the city and explored the surrounding area in her free time. From Bergamo, you can reach the famous lakes (a...

#040 Top 5 Small cities to visit in Italy Want to explore Italy's small cities? Listeners Sofija and Lesley wanted to know our favorite small cities in Italy and asked us to nominate our top 5. After much deliberation, we managed to come up with a list we know you'll love. Our list includes a lesser-known city in Tuscany and one overlooking a beautiful lake. There is a city of canals, one perched...

#039 Listener Q&A Vol. 1 Listen in today as we answer our listeners' questions about planning trips to Italy. In this episode, you'll discover our best tips for romantic places to visit in Italy, when and how to book restaurants, some unique places to dine at in Puglia, how to fit a trip to Pisa into your itinerary, a general travel update plus more. Grazie, thank you for listening. We hope yo...

#038 Cilento Coast - a hidden secret close to Amalfi Looking for a quiet coastal escape with world-renowned food and historical wonders just a couple of hour's train ride from Rome? Presenting the Cilento Coast! This area is just south of the glamorous Amalfi Coast and is accessible from Salerno. The pace of life in this part of the world goes .. piano, piano (slowly, slowly) so there's plenty of...

#037 Truffle Hunting - searching for Italy's white gold Have you tried truffles? This decadent ingredient is an important aspect of Italian cuisine and you must enjoy them when you visit Italy. Our friends from the Italian on Tour join us to explain the importance of truffles, where you can find them Italy and the dishes you should try (plus wines to match). You'll learn what it is like to go on a...

#036 Palermo - Sicily Constantly evolving over the centuries, Palermo is unique among Italian cities thanks to its Arab, Greek, Spanish and Norman past. In Palermo, these cultures collided and their legacy remains in the architecture, art and street food of the city. Join us as we explore this wonderful city, often misunderstood thanks to the goings on in its more recent past. These days Palermo i...

#035 Secrets of Venice with Monica Cesarato Venice is a city of wonders and mystery that many visitors miss when they zip through the city in 24 hours. Of course, you must see Piazza San Marco, the basilica and Rialto bridge but make sure to allow time to savor this most magical of cities. Join us today to discover Venice with local tour guide and food expert Monica Cesarato who tells us about her...

#034 Lifting the lid on Bologna's food culture Although food is a huge part of the culture of every city and region in Italy, Bologna and the Emilia Romagna may take the crown for the most foodie places in Italy. Home to the "holy trinity' of Italian foods, if you are serious about learning about the origins of Italian dishes or simply just want to try amazing produce then you must add them to you...

#033 Foodie finds in the Sabine hills near Rome The ancient Sabine hills are just north of Rome. Here you'll find yourself in glorious countryside dotted with hilltop towns and olive groves. It is idyllic countryside a whole world away from the metropolis close by. Many of the famous recipes of Rome come from these hills thanks to its abundant natural resources. Our guests Sally Ransom and Guido S...

#032 A love letter to Brescia in Lombardy Halfway between Milan and Venice, on the shores of Lake Garda, you'll find the beautiful province of Brescia in Lombardy. This hidden corner of Italy is full of cultural treasures and natural wonders to explore. In this episode, we uncover the places to visit, food and wine to try and sights to see in Brescia. From its fascinating capital to small country...

#031 Val di Noto - Sicily Baroque splendor, shady piazzas, delicious dishes and very drinkable wine. The Val di Noto in Sicily has all this and much more. Sicily is becoming increasingly popular with visitors looking for a slower Italian experience away from the main sights and crowds that visit them. And with good reason. Join us as we explore this beautiful region in the island's south east that...

#030 Highlights of Milan Let's go to Milan - a city full of contrasts. People often focus on the Duomo and area around it and rush through Italy's second-largest city. Of course, the Duomo is magnificent and a must-see but what are the other top things to do in Milan? In this episode, we share our favorite parts of this fabulous city. We can't wait to share with you our love for Milan's vibrant mi...

#029 Delicious dishes to try on your trip to Rome (plus where you can eat them) Carbonara, pizza al taglio, artichokes and more! If you're visiting Rome, eating your way around the city is probably high up on your list of things to do. And if it's not, it should be! Rome is one of the world's top foodie cities in the world and exploring its dishes is one of life's ultimate pleasures. While you may...

#028 Best places to stay in Florence - a neighborhood and district guide Looking for the perfect neighborhood to stay in when you visit Florence? Or even a coveted "room with a view". Florence is a very small city with unique and characterful districts that will charm any traveler. Whether you only have a few days in Florence or a little longer you want to choose a district that appeals to you and...

#027 How to choose where to stay in Rome Rome is where many of us begin or end our trips to Italy. And choosing where to stay in the city is an important choice. If you only have a limited amount of time in Rome you want to choose a neighborhood or district that suits your travel style and is a great base for what you want to see and do. In this episode, we describe seven different areas of Rome t...

#026 10 things we wish we knew before our first trip to Italy Recently we asked our amazing online community what things they wished they knew on their first trip to Italy. After an overwhelming response, we compiled this list of expert tips for people visiting Italy for the first time. Our group shared many practical and planning tips to help Italy trip planning novices. They've covered transport...

#025 Traveling with kids in Italy - with Marta Correale What kid doesn't love pizza, pasta and gelato? Mix that up with beautiful landscapes and a healthy dose of history and culture and you've got a family vacation you'll be talking about for years to come.  Italy is the place to go for some of the most memorable family adventures you can dream of. But, just like any trip with kids, there are a f...