My love affair with Italy began in the early 1990’s. I think it started the moment I had my first meal at a cozy trattoria in Florence. The food was absolutely divine. Simple, fresh and cooked with a passion that was almost tangible. There are so many reasons to love Italy: its food, wines, language, architecture, design, people, history, landscapes, beaches… the list is endless. These are all great reasons to visit Italy and I always try to plan a trip back every year.
Since that first trip, I’ve covered large swathes of Veneto, Lombardy, Piedmont, Liguria, Süd Tirol, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, Abruzzo, Sicily, Sardinia, Campania, Puglia and Basilicata by car, foot and public transport; driven along the stunning coasts of the Amalfi and the Cinque Terre; strolled through cities and towns like Rome, Milan, Venice, Verona, Naples, Florence, Siena, Assisi, Lecce and Bologna; and yet, there’s so much more to see and do, so many more culinary secrets to discover and countless wines to taste!
AD Fly to Italy with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Historic heritage
Italy’s history goes back thousands of years and the legacy of that long and often tempestuous history can be found throughout the country. I’m a big fan of history and art so it’s not difficult to imagine why Italy always fascinates me.
Read about things to see in Pompeii.
Read about things to do in Ravenna.
Read about the Art Cities of Emilia-Romagna.
Read more about things to see in Lecce.
Read about the highlights of Abruzzo.
Read about things to see in Gallipoli.
Read about things to see in Ferrara.
Read about things to do in Matera.
Cities and towns
From the hustle-and-bustle of cities like Rome, Milan, Naples and Bologna to extraordinary towns like Matera, San Gimignano, Assisi, Alberobello and Positano, Italy is awash with fascinating places to visit!
Read about the Duomo in Milan.
Read about things to do in Bologna.
Read about things to do in Bergamo.
Read about places to visit in Liguria.
Read about places to visit in the Itria Valley.
Read about my visit to Positano.
Read about visiting Civitella del Tronto.
Read about the best places to visit in Piedmont on a road trip.
Read more about the best places to visit in Puglia.
Read about the best places to visit in Emilia-Romagna.
Food & wines
Italy is heaven for foodies and wine-lovers. The diversity of dishes and wines is simply enormous and Italians are deservedly proud of their culinary heritage. Eating in Italy is always a joy for me!
Read about my Moscato di Scanzo wine-tasting.
Read about my Lambrusco experience.
Read about my food and wine experiences and the best places to visit in Monferrato, Piedmont.
Read about a food tour of Modena.
Street scenes
When I’m in Italy, one of my favourite things to do is sit at a café with a coffee or a glass of wine and simply watch people pass by or chatting animatedly with one another.
Read about things to see in Bari.
Read about how to spend a few days in Modena.
See more photos of Bologna.
Read about things to do in Casale Monferrato in Piedmont.
Colours
Italy is an incredibly colourful country. Wherever you go, a splash of colour is never far away.
Art and Design
From its countless historic treasures to cutting-edge fast cars, Italy is simply heaven for art and design lovers!
Read more about the Motor Valley.
Read about my visit to the Vespa Museum.
Read about a things to do in Emilia-Romagna.
Nature
With a length of more than 1,000km, boot-shaped Italy is home to a big variety of natural landscapes; from the jagged peaks of the Dolomites and the rolling hills of Tuscany to the thick forests of the Gargano Peninsula and the blindingly white beaches of Sardinia.
Yes, I have many reasons to love Italy! I always feel happy when I visit Italy. The food, wines, historic heritage and sights never fail to excite my senses. The whole country is simply one big Velvet Escape! 🙂
