I have a whole year to explore Italy.
I am going to be an au pair in Ancona, Italy in July, and I will be staying in Italy for an entire year. So obviously I have a lot of time to explore the country. Does anyone have any places, whether they are very touristy or not, that I should absolutely see? Any restaurants I should go to?
Reply to this Ooooh! I love Italy! Lucky you. Highlights of Italy for me are Venice, Lake Como, Florence, Pisa, Milan and the Amalfi Coast. Tuscany is a popular area to visit, however best way is to hire your own vehicle and just wander....
Sicily is also well worth a visit, although I'm not that keen on Naples. But Etna National Park is a vivid visual dramatisation of the power of volcanoes. Wonderfully scary!
Enjoy Italy!
Reply to this Thanks! I had never even heard of Lake Como or Amalfi Coast, but both look amazing. I can't wait to leave already.
Reply to this Very lucky you - one year - that is fantastic! Apart from the usual tourist sites which are already mentioned - I too have heard great things about the Amalfi Coast, and also high praise for the walking trails of Cinque Terre - but I cannot speak from personal experience.
If you like opera, see if you can attend one of the outdoor operas held in the 2000 year old Roman Arena in Verona. There is an official website that shows the whole program for the summer and you can book tickets directly - this is cheaper and safer than relying on a third party. The famous production here is that of
Aida - the Arena is an excellent backdrop for this story.
Nabucco would be similarly good. Verona is also known for being the setting of
Romeo and Juliet.
There are many wonderful quaint villages in Italy, my favourite was San Gimignano in Tuscanny. If you wish to visit the world's oldest republic - head to San Marino (near Rimini). If the touristy little country doesn't impress you, the view certainly will!
Reply to this Ohhhh gosh, all of these places look fantastic! I am so excited. Thank you so much for the advice, especially about the opera. I would have never thought of something like that.
Reply to this A whole year to visit Italy! that's plenty of time!!! Well, I'd say thay you could see really a lot...I would suggest, as musts, Venice, Rome, Florence and Tuscany in general, Naples, the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii, Sicily, together with the Eolian Islands...
But, since you've got such a long period, you could see some less know parts of the Bel Paese...like, in Sicily everyone knows Palermo, but Catania is wonderful as well, and the southern point of Sicily (and Italy!) is just breathtaking. Liguria: Cinque Terre and Genova. Near Venice: Padova, Treviso, Verona, Vicenza. Near Florence: Pisa, Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano........
There's so much to see in Italy that a post won't be enough! But my suggestion is, since you've got a whole year, try to go deeper than just Venice and Rome, and when you'r there, there's much more than St. Mark's Square in Venice and the Colosseum in Rome: you really have to see them, but remember that there's much more!!! Enjoy Italy!!!
Reply to this Hello Lindsey 😊
Be sure to spend at least a day in Venice. I thought it was beautiful. I was there in October so it wasnt too crowed with tourists and it had not yet got too cold. Maybe out of tourist season is the best time. It will probably be overcroweded otherwise.
Mel
Reply to this I think you should stay more than one day in Venice...it's such a unique city that you'll need more than that to "get used" to it and begin to "understand" it! I think Venice is really unique and unmissable, it's one of my favourite cities!
Reply to this 😊 Venice is definitely on my "must see" list. I hope to spend at LEAST a weekend there.
Again, thank you guys so much for your advice!
Reply to this Well I am going to recommend something different. You can't go wrong by going to any of the suggested places. I have criss crossed Italy from North to Sicily 5 times and visited every region except Sardinia. I was not disappointed with any of it. Last fall however, we spent three weeks in one of the regions that I had only touched on before. I have been to Ancona and you are perfectly located to head straight south to Puglia. This is Italy's largest producer of olive oil, wine and wheat and is also Italy's "flattest" region. Avoid it during the summer months of course, but when the tourists are all gone, it is PERFECT.
Reply to this Rome is also unmissable: its very easy to spend at least 3 days there - there is so much history and stuff to do. Also if you go in about feburary it isn't too hot, too touristy and you can still get snow in the mountains 2-3 hours drive east of it (which most people don't go to!).
😊
Reply to this Well... it seems you already received plenty of information... here is a tip: plan some itineraries of 3 days or more, and then get italy rail passes (www.railpass.com) so that you can travel from one place to the other saving some money. These passes are not available in Europe, so you'd better get them before your departure.
Have fun
Reply to this I would suggets you to visit Umbria. It's less "commercial" compare to Tuscany, but so unmissable. Assisi in particular.
Reply to this well...you cannot say Assisi is not touristy... ;-)
international and national pilgrims & tourists ... anyways Umbria is fantastic for the art cities and villages... (does Piero della Francesca ring you a bell? )
if you want to see Tuscany out od the Chianti region try Maremma ( in particular parco dell'Uccellina!!!!! and the Gilgio island just in front of it) and its sea! Top for wine tasting, food, festivals, landscape (olive trees and sheeps...)
;-)) just came back from there....
(in general for everything that concern Veneto region ( Venice, Padua, Verona, Alps, Sea...) and Tuscany ....I am not an expert.. but a local residential.... maybe that's even better! Ciao!
Reply to this I haven't ever been either! I am planning on going next year. So I don't know for sure where the best places are to go. But if you want to know some of the
best places to go see in Italy, follow that link. I just recently found it, and I am using it to plan my trip. I have been having a lot of success thus far!
Let us know how your trip went!
Reply to this I have had a dream to travel to Italy someday. My family and I live in the U.S. but I have heard how majestic the places are in Italy. There are many places to find in Italy!
In following Italian cities, where are some great attractions and places to find? eat? and experience? I really want to know the culture and know everything I can about the people!!
Can someone please give me information, history, or places to find in:
Italy (overall)
Rome
Venice
Florence
Turin
Milan
Naples
Bologna
I have been here, but need more information about culture, travel, and everything.
attractions and places to see in italy
I am passionate about Italy. I would so much appreciate the help! Thanks Much!
Reply to this For one year?? That's amazing. I've been living here for the last 5 months (in Sicily) and I can honestly tell you that I don't think I'm going back to my home country. At first I was just going to stay here for only 3 months but here I am still. You are not going to regret your decision. on the contrary, you are going to think it's the best decision you've taken in your whole life.
Good luck to you and hope you will enjoy your staying.
/Stefanie Reply to this I would try and go to the national park in italy its mind blowing!! travel as much as you can and leave till this till almost last because its a place of pure relaxation and I would recommend this hotel
- hope that helps Reply to this Venice, Florence, Rome are must see's.
Cinque Terra and Tropea are my favorite two area's in Italy.
Amalfi coast (Sorrento, Capri, Positano, Ravello) are probably the best views in the entire country.
Reply to this 
