When we create personalized Italy itineraries for our travelers at Italy Beyond the Obvious, food usually plays a key role. We offer recommendations on where to eat, of course, but also what to eat, when to eat, and what to eat when. Often, when we start discussing dinner reservations, we hear, “What do you mean, restaurants in Italy don’t open for dinner before 7.30 pm? We eat dinner at 6 pm at home – we’ll be starving by then!” We get it. In North America, people sit down to dinner much earlier than in Italy. But you won’t be hungry if you eat like an Italian during your trip. Also, it ..read more

Gorgeous seaside scenery, castles, caves, and of course the city itself: Trieste, nestled in Italy’s northeast corner, might be a little out of your way, but here are a few reasons it’s worth a visit.  This diverse city that sits on the border between Italy and Slovenia on the Adriatic coast belies the idea of a homogeneous “Italian” culture, with its mishmash of languages and ethnicities formed over millennia. It has survived a succession of invaders and rulers since the ancient Romans settled here, and was annexed by Italy from the former Austro-Hungarian empire after WWI.  Once an ..read more

The excavated archaeological site of Pompeii is unlike anything you’ll ever see. Even if you’ve visited in the past, continuing excavations have unearthed new wonders worth a second stop—and if it’s you’re first visit to southern Italy, a stop here is a must. But the site is immense and gets millions of annual visitors, so we have some tips to help you make the most out of your visit.  What’s the best way to visit Pompeii? Follow our 5 tips below.   Pompeii: a bit of background Once a thriving and cosmopolitan city of the Roman Empire, Pompeii and its inhabitants were frozen in ..read more

Foodies flock to the Parma area for its spectacular gourmet blockbusters like Parmigiano Reggiano cheese,  Prosciutto di Parma ham, Lambrusco wine, and more; while cyclists love the area because it’s relatively flat compared to much of the rest of Italy and easy to explore on two wheels.  But there’s another great reason to visit the area: the incredible historic castles scattered through the countryside just outside of Parma. Here are five of my favorite castles near Parma: Torrechiara Castle Almost 600 years old, this magnificent castle is in the Langhirano hills about 10 miles fro ..read more

The Cinque Terre are five picturesque towns that appear to cling to the rocks along a short stretch of Ligurian coastline in northern Italy, and are famous for the former mule tracks that connect them and today attract thousands of hikers each year.  Though the area is striking, it’s also very fragile; overtourism has strained both the villages and surrounding countryside to the limit. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit, of course, but there are a few things you should know before you go:  You can no longer hike the famous Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail) that runs directly along th ..read more

The most common questions we get from clients about to leave for Italy have to do with packing conundrums. From comfortable shoes to reliable adaptors, packing details seem to take up a lot of bandwidth in the final days before departure—which comes as no surprise, since our custom Italy travel planning services are so comprehensive that clients don’t have anything else to worry about! That said, just about the only thing we can’t do for clients is pack their bags, so the closest we can get is compiling an A-to-Z guide to what to pack for Italy for a seamless trip, no matter what your itinerar ..read more

Venice represents the very best and the very worst of shopping in Italy.  There is no denying that the streets around St. Mark’s Square and other headliners are crammed full of tacky souvenir shops that cater to daytrippers who have little time and need to grab a trinket from the Floating City quickly.  Strike out just a bit farther from the throngs, however, and you’ll find that Venice has one of the most thriving artisan scenes in all of Italy. You can find historic (and contemporary) workshops where skilled craftspeople painstakingly create fabulous wares by hand, from art glass ..read more

Capri is a walker’s paradise, full of incredible views and scenery, but most visitors never venture beyond the winding lanes of the island’s two towns, Capri and Anacapri. If you want to put some distance between you and the crowds and experience the sweeping vistas that have inspired visitors since the time of the Roman emperors, however, there’s no better way than to set off along one of the stunning walking trails that skirt the coastline and climb into the inland hills. Here are five spectacular Capri hiking paths to get you started, though there are many more on the island. The terrain ca ..read more

As an increasing number of summer travelers make low-season travel more appealing, we are seeing more and more clients push trips into spring—and for good reason. In addition to fewer crowds in Italy’s top sights (especially true in March and early April); hotel rates are more reasonable; it’s easier to get tickets to must-see sights and tables at must-eat restaurants; and guides and other hospitality and tourism professionals are rested from the winter respite and ready to welcome the new season. There are, of course, a few caveats to traveling in March and April (and, to a lesser extent, May ..read more

The towns on the Amalfi Coast are popular for good reason, but the most famous ones like Positano and Amalfi overflow with tourists in high season. That said, like many A-list destinations in Italy, it’s not that hard to find respite from the crowds. To visit the Amalfi Coast off the beaten path, just head just a few miles down the coast for impressive food and culture without sacrificing the incredible coastline views or picturesque fishing villages that make this UNESCO-listed stretch of coast so popular. Here are five very worthwhile stops on or near the Amalfi Coast that have just a fracti ..read more