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Nov 20, 2023 - Find the perfect place to stay at an amazing price in 191 countries. Belong anywhere with Airbnb.

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If you want to live forever, live in this town...

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If you want to live forever, live in this town...

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Alan Maisel, a cardiologist and professor at the University of California at San Diego, had long believed a moderate diet, exercise and refraining from smoking were the keys to a long and healthy life. So the first time he went on vacation to Acciaroli - a small village on the southern end of Italy's Amalfi Coast - in August 2012, he got a bit of a shock.

"I was at the beach, and I saw all these leathernecked, tanned people in their 90s and 100s who looked nine months pregnant and were smoking cigarettes," the doctor tells The Post.

Intrigued, he began asking questions, and soon found out that the town was home to an extraordinary number of elders. The mayor bragged that they had more 100-year-old residents than any other place in the world.

"Things didn't seem to add up: [They were] smoking and fat, but so relaxed and unstressed ... At first, I asked if it was the Mediterranean diet, but they do that all over Italy."

Had Maisel stumbled upon the Fountain of Youth? Acciaroli has a population of only 2,000, yet the village boasts some 300 elders who have reached the age of 100 - and about 20 percent of those centenarians have reached 110. Furthermore, the area has low rates of Alzheimer's and heart disease - despite a diet filled with cigarettes and wine.

Now Maisel and researchers at UC San Diego have teamed up with the Sapienza University of Rome to figure out why Acciaroli's residents live so long.

"This place has never been studied before," says Maisel. "It's never been infiltrated or expatriated, so we're planning on looking at their gene pool, doing blood tests, observing their habits - seeing what's what."

While the study just launched in March, Maisel has already gleaned some clues from the village's elders and their way of life. One secret: "Everybody eats rosemary - they all grow it, they use it as a garnish, they use it in oils," says Maisel. The herb, which home cooks use to garnish pastas and marinate seafood, has long been linked to preventing diseases such as Alzheimer's and improving brain function and memory. It releases a chemical compound that's shown to increase blood flow to the brain and head, boosting concentration.

Another diet staple that improves their health? Anchovies, which appear in almost every meal in Acciaroli. Like sardines and mackerel, the oily fish is full of antioxidants, keeps cholesterol down, "smoothes out" the arteries and cuts down on inflammation, which, Maisel says, is "helpful in the aging process."

It also helps that these Italians happen to live in an almost magical, untouched utopia. "There isn't a lot of industry here, so the air they breathe is unpolluted," says Maisel, adding that many studies have shown that people who live in polluted places tend to live shorter lives than those who get to breathe in fresh air.

Plus, the gorgeous weather - mild temperatures, Mediterranean breezes and lots of sunshine - means that villagers here spend lots of time outdoors and keeping their bodies, if not exactly trim, then pretty spry.

"There's the beach and these hilly mountains, so there's a lot of activity," says Maisel, "even if they don't take exercise classes or swim laps or do yoga."

Researchers for the study plan to collect blood samples and distribute questionnaires to the group over the next six months to see what role genes play in keeping these folks alive. Maisel hopes to start a university-run longevity clinic in the area to see how they can put their findings into action.
But even more important than genes and anchovies is that village residents both young and old don't sweat the small stuff.

"They sit around a lot and drink coffee, which turns into wine in the evening," says the doctor. "It's a stress-free life. There's a joie de vivre."

Tips from the world's oldest residents

Want to imitate that Acciaroli lifestyle - and live into your triple digits? Here are three ways you can add years and boost health.

Breathe some fresh air: You won't find that Mediterranean breeze in NYC, but it's always good to spend time outdoors. "New York has some of the [most pristine] parks in the world," Maisel says.

Avoid stress: Stress wipes out your immune system. "It eats at your brain cells," says Maisel. Decompress by opting for an evening stroll or a yoga class after a hectic day at the office.

Eat good food: The Mediterranean diet is touted for a reason. Maisel recommends eating veggies and other plants, such as rosemary [below], which makes an appearance at nearly every Acciaroli meal.

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If you want to live forever, move to this Italian town

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Alan Maisel, a cardiologist and professor at the University of California at San Diego, had long believed a moderate diet, exercise and refraining from smoking were the keys to a long and healthy l...

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It famously straddles seven hills, but Rome often feels like several cities. There's the ancient one, of course - the Rome of emperors and amphitheaters, still visible today. Then there's grand, baroque Rome, a city of immense squares, florid churches and fountains, each more spectacular than the next. There's the Dolce Vita vibe, still, in elegant boutiques, bars, and restaurants, and landmark hotels still on Via Veneto. But Rome is also modern, with formerly residential neighborhoods such as Testaccio, Monti, and Ostiense now as attractive to tourists for their nightlife as the classic areas.

It all swirls together into one timeless gumbo. In the space of a day you can go from a Roman emperor's home to a hipster market; you can peel away the layers simply by stepping down into the basement of a church. Of course, all this excess needs some restraint. You should find that in the Vatican; but instead, you'll find Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel there. So when it all gets too much, there are the parks: the Giardino degli Aranci with its sublime views of the dome of St Peter's; the Villa Borghese, whose sprawling grounds contain several museums; and the Via Appia Antica, a Roman road strewn with mausoleums, catacombs, and ancient aqueducts. Even out in nature, Rome can't help but go over the top.

Central European Standard Time

Best Time to Go

Fall is famously stunning in Rome, known for soft-lit afternoons and a warming sun. To avoid the crowds, go in early-to-mid December - the religious visitors start piling in for the Pope's Christmas address after that - or in January and February.

Things to Know

Currency: Euro
(Check the current exchange rate)

Language: Italian
I don't speak Italian: Non parlo italiano
I'm lost: Mi sono perso/a
How much is...: Quanto costa...
I would like...: Vorrei...
How do I get to...: Per andare a...
Learn more Italian phrases

Calling Code: +39

Capital City: Rome

How to Get Around

Trains: Roma Termini is one of the biggest railway stations in the country, perfectly placed on the high-speed lines for fast access to Naples, Florence, Milan, and beyond. Fast direct trains to Fiumicino airport also leave from here.

Buses: Rome has a decent bus network although there's not much coverage in the historic center. It's easy to get out to places just beyond the city walls, such as Testaccio, Piramide, and the Via Appia Antica however. The metro system skims the city center.

Taxis: Taxis are plentiful, with stands at major sites - you can also use the FREE NOW hailing app. Fixed rates are in place for rides from airports Fiumicino and Ciampino, with prices clearly marked on doors.

Car service: Most hotels can arrange transfers; those to and from Fiumicino are normally good value, with prices only a little higher, but with no risk of arguments over fares and supplements at the end.

Best Hotels

Rooms of Rome

Alda Fendi paused her fashion career to launch an art foundation; this hotel, which doubles as a gallery, is the next step. Below the Palatine Hill and near the Bocca della Verità (immortalized in Roman Holiday) it's an 18th-century palazzo stripped to the brick bone and rebuilt by Jean Nouvel. There are mind blowing Palatine views from the terrace, while guests have out-of-hours access to exhibitions located in the hotel.

Palazzo Manfredi

No hotel in the city can claim such a jaw-dropping view as this modern, tranquil retreat which sits plum opposite the Colosseum. Enjoy the panoramas from the rooftop restaurant; or book a front-facing room to see one of the world's most famous buildings from your bed. This is one place that's worth splashing out for a fabled room with a view.

Inn at the Roman Forum

History lovers, this one's for you. After breakfast, take a look at the underground level, where archeologists have dug down to find Roman ruins - part of Trajan's Forum, just around the corner. Then head to the roof terrace, where the views of the Eternal City are endlessly spectacular. Rooms mix the grandiose with the contemporary.

Residenza Ruspoli Bonaparte

Looking for a hotel fit for royalty? This is the place for you - the childhood home of Napoleon Bonaparte III, former French emperor. The staircase is a marble architectural marvel, the ceilings are coffered and the walls are clad in silken damasks. The apartment-sized suites are more modern - so you don't feel like you're sleeping in a museum.

Il Campo Marzio

Within the grand Palazzo Magnani, an 18th-century mansion in the super-central Campo Marzio area, is this intimate, 13-room hotel. With most rooms holding two double beds, it's a great pick for friends and family. Leave room in your suitcase for a few bottles from the in-house liquor store which sells exclusively Italian-brewed booze.

Gigli d'Oro Suite

One of the mini hotels that Rome does so well, this former family home now holds six rooms that bring a startling contemporary feel to the cobbled street behind Piazza Navona. 'Floating' beds hover under ancient beams; stark white chairs sit beside a carved fireplace. The tiny breakfast room doubles as a bar.

Everyone from Tom Cruise to Princess Diana have been welcomed to the Hassler by owner Roberto Wirth - incredibly, this world-famous grande dame, perched at the top of the Spanish Steps, is still family-owned and run hands-on. It's a sumptuous, marble-drenched affair as you'd expect from one of Rome's fanciest five stars - its slogan, "stairway to heaven," is no mere PR puff. The seventh-floor, guests-only terrace has once-in-a-lifetime 270-degree views of the Eternal City - with the dome of St Peter's straight ahead, the Spanish Steps unfurling beneath, and seagulls swooping overhead.

Villa Spalletti Trivelli

If it feels like you're staying at the home of Roman aristocracy, that's because you are - the Spalletti family opened their home to guests in 2004, and you'll still find their family photos dotted about. Rooms are super-comfy and traditional, but it's the public areas that are the real draw, from the stately drawing rooms to the garden outside and the spectacular hot-tubbed rooftop.

Baglioni Hotel Regina

Lady Gaga is rumored to have stayed here in 2021; back in the day, the buzzing Via Veneto was the heart of the Dolce Vita scene. It may be an art deco grande dame but it's thoroughly modern, with slick décor and neutral palettes. Perched above the city, you'll get panoramic views of Rome from the terrace.

Hotel Locarno

Everyone from Federico Fellini to Rupert Everett has spent time at the art deco Locarno, near the Tiber at the Villa Borghese level. Not that you'll want to venture far from the opulent rooms, with their damask walls, sensual heavy drapes and retro herringbone parquet. Stay in for cocktails at the bar to catch some dolce vita.

Fifteen Keys

A converted townhouse in hipster Monti offers 15 guest rooms surrounding a pretty courtyard. The look's contemporary-meets-urban, with exposed stone walls, creams-on-creams and pops of color from the modern art.

Villa Laetitia

Another hotel owned by fashion royalty, this Tiber-side retreat belongs to Anna Fendi. Past the swarthy naked giants on the door, you're through to a chic retreat of dogtooth floors and painted ceilings, all wrapped in an art nouveau palazzo. Pick from a room in the villa itself or the Garden House - an easy stagger from the Michelin-starred restaurant.

Best Restaurants

This extraordinary Michelin-starred restaurant sprawls over the sixth floor of the iconic Hassler Hotel at the top of the Spanish Steps. The views of the city are incomparable; and the food, by 29-year-old wunderkind Andrea Antonini, matches it. The six-course tasting menu (with multiple amuse bouches) is a stunningly inventive take on traditional Roman and Italian food, from pumpkin flowers stuffed with prawns and spaghetti with mint, pecorino and sea urchin, to a sublime take on Italy's famous rabbit dish, coniglio al cacciatore. Reservations recommended.

This is in hipster Monti, and it doesn't disappoint. Locally sourced food with an extra zing - like three types of pepper on the cacio e pepe pasta - it also does take-out pasta (or freshly rolled, if you're staying in an apartment). Reservations recommended.

Family-owned since 1860, this stalwart of the Jewish Quarter - which dates back over 2,000 years and was behind many of the city's most famous dishes - serves some of Rome's most memorable meals from rich-sauced pasta to the city's famous carciofi alla giuda artichokes. Eat outside on the pedestrianized, cobbled square. Reservations recommended.

It's all about the view at Aroma, the rooftop restaurant of Palazzo Manfredi hotel, which looks square onto the Colosseum. It has a retractable roof and glass doors that open up, leaving you to watch circling seagulls in the Colosseum's spotlights. Executive chef Giuseppe di Iorio's tasting menus take you through Roman classics, jazzing them up with modern touches.

Chef Giulio Terrinoni has won a Michelin star for the "striking originality" at his restaurant, 'For Me.' Go for the full 10-course tasting menu at dinner to get a handle on his work; for something more informal, try lunch, where he makes tapas-style "tappi." Reservations recommended.

Agustarello A Testaccio

The Testaccio has long been known for its hearty restaurants. This laidback osteria is one of the best - and serves one of the best cacio e pepe in Rome. Don't miss the rosetta ripiena: bread rolls stuffed with pancetta, pecorino and mozzarella.

SantoPalato

Young chef Sara Cicolini has created an ultra-modern take on the "quinto quarto" - the 'fifth quarter,' or Rome's beloved offal. Unlike more traditional places, here it's jazzed up, so you'll get dishes like a frittata poached around a heart of chicken offal; wagyu heart tartare; and oxtail meatballs with a sauce of peanut and cocoa powder.

Stanley Tucci raves about the cacio e pepe at this restaurant, run by Japanese chef Kotaro Noda, who's won a Michelin star for his imaginative takes on classic Roman dishes. It's much cheaper than your average high-class restaurant, though; his five-course tasting menus start at just €50 ($60). Reservations recommended.

Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina

This is a true Roman institution - a deli-restaurant hybrid using top-quality ingredients. Sit at the counter to watch platters of everything from cold cuts to anchovies being prepared, and try the pizza rossa, straight from the Roscioli family's own bakery. Reservations recommended.

Ciro Scarmadella is the young chef at the helm of this super-sophisticated Michelin-starred restaurant, but maître d' and host Alessandro Pipero is the one whose name it bears. Try the innovative seven-course Carta Bianca ('carte blanche') tasting menu, or stick with the more traditional à la carte. Reservations recommended.

Flavio al Velavevodetto

This Testaccio restaurant does a mean gricia, cacio e pepe, and amatriciana; but you're not really here for the food. This is one place you'll want to eat inside, since it's dug into the side of the Monte Testaccio: a grassy hill formed by a Roman rubbish dumb of terracotta amphorae - which you can see through a glass wall in the main room.

Armando Al Pantheon

Forget the touristy location, right by the Pantheon; this is the real, Roman deal, going back three generations. In a tiny, wood-lined room, and on tables outside, the Bib Gourmand holder serves classic Roman pasta dishes, seared pajata, and the signature dessert - a sour cherry tart. Reservations recommended.

Il Goccetto

There are hundreds of wines (literally - over 800 at the last count) to choose from at this gorgeous, old-timey bar in a building dating back to the 16th century. There's a rotating selection by the glass; pair yours with their extremely elevated bar snacks.

Things to Do

All roads famously lead to Rome - and once you get there, sometimes it feels like all roads in Rome go past the Colosseum. The great amphitheater is every bit as spectacular as you imagine - book a ticket that includes a guided tour of the underground area, to see the gateways and holding pens for the animals and gladiators before they were sent out to fight.

The sprawling Roman Forum has several entrances, but start from the one behind Piazza Venezia for the most spectacular route, walking through the grand Arch of Titus and through the ancient city, the Colosseum looming at the other end.

Vatican City

A jurisdiction of its own in the middle of Italy, the Vatican dominates Rome. Visit St Peter's basilica - the largest church in the world - to see Michelangelo's "Pietà," a heartrending tribute to motherhood, as well as his giant dome. Leave the best part of a day to explore the Vatican Museums, home to masterpieces such as the ancient sculpture group Laocoön, Raphael's frescoes and, of course, the Sistine Chapel.

Trevi Fountain and Quirinal Hill

Address: Piazza di Trevi, 00187 Roma RM, Italy

Early mornings and late nights are the best time to see the Trevi Fountain, the city's most outrageous monument to the baroque age. While you're there, head up the nearby Quirinal Hill - the highest of the seven - to the grand piazza outside the presidential palace, for superb views.

Villa Borghese

Set within the Villa Borghese gardens - with some of the loveliest grounds in Rome - is this superb art gallery which occupies a grand 17th-century villa. The marble-clad interiors are glorious, but even they're outshone by the contents: a room full of Caravaggios and the hall of lifelike Bernini sculptures for starters.

Mausoleo di Augusto

Address: Piazza Augusto Imperatore, 00186 Roma RM, Italy
Website

The mausoleum of Rome's first emperor, Augustus, was once the grandest, highest building in the city. Over the centuries it lost its marble cladding, its roof and much of its elegance, but following a 13-year restoration it reopened to the public in 2021 - ancient Rome's newest site.

Walk the Tiber

The Tiber has one of Europe's loveliest riversides, studded with historical remains and buildings and shaded by trees. The stretch from the Foro Boario - where two ancient temples sit opposite the Bocca della Verità - up to the marble Ponte Sisto, is lovely, passing the grand synagogue and the mid-river island, Isola Tiberina. Or go from the grand Piazza del Popolo, past the Mausoleo di Augusto and the ancient Ara Pacis monument, across the Roman bridge to the Castel Sant'Angelo - the castle-like mausoleum of the emperor Hadrian, which then became the Pope's fortress.

Basilica di San Clemente

This church not far from the Colosseum is a prime example of Rome's layered history - and here you'll get to peel back time, tier by tier. The current church is medieval; underneath is an early Christian basilica from the fourth century; and below that is a mithraeum (an ancient Roman temple) and a Roman house.

Baths of Caracalla

Address: Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
Website

It's just off the tourist map (literally), beyond the Circus Maximus, which means this jaw-dropping Roman bath complex is rarely visited. Wander the sprawling complex to see mosaics still in situ, hulking walls and arches, and - if it's having a special opening - the underground mithraeum.

Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini

This lesser known site has a fantastic sound-and-light show taking you straight back to ancient Rome. Ruined Roman houses in the bowels of a grand palazzo have not only been excavated - so you walk above them on glass floors - but projectors show you how it would have been 2,000 years ago.

Cripta dei Cappuccini

A memento mori warning to the Dolce Vita set, this church crypt on the famous Via Veneto houses the remains of 3,700 bodies - assumed to be capuchin monks. But it isn't gruesome - the bones and skulls have been arranged artistically, into altarpieces, chandeliers, and even a Grim Reaper skeleton brandishing a scythe.

Giardino degli Aranci

Address: Piazza Pietro D'Illiria, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
Phone: +39 06 6710 5457

Follow the avenue of skinny pine trees to watch the sun set over St Peter's. This lovely little park atop the Aventine hill has prime views of the city skyline - and points straight towards Michelangelo's famous dome.

Best Shopping

Via Condotti

Address: Via dei Condotti

This street - the flashiest in Rome - offers world-class window-shopping. Most designers have branches on Via Condotti (technically Via dei Condotti, though it's never referred to as such) and its cobbled side streets.

Laura Bosetti Tonatto

Italy's best known 'nose' and parfumier to the great and good including the Queen of England, Laura has created dozens of exclusive perfumes and scents at her laboratory on trendy Via dei Coronari.

Ape Camiceria Artigianale

Master tailor Piero Albertelli made elegant clothes for royals and celebrities across the globe. Although he passed away in 2018, his team continues, making made-to-measure shirts, coats and sweaters. There's a ready-to-wear collection, too.

Lisa Corti was born and brought up in Ethiopia, and she pays homage to her upbringing with her bright, highly patterned textiles. You'll find everything from throws and curtains to tablecloths and bed covers; as well as interiors there's also a collection of kaftans and kurtas.

Mondelliani

This eyeglass brand has been going strong since 1961, and it shows in the retro designs. You'll find bright colors, the odd leopard print and even octagonal frames - they're design objects in themselves.

Ferdinando Codognotto

Artists and artisans tend to have been squeezed out of the city center in recent years. Wood sculptor Ferdinando Codognotto is one of those who remains - his extraordinary works of art can be seen around the city, while his workshop is on a cobbled street behind Piazza Navona.

Elisa Nepi handcrafts brightly colored bags, made from vegetable-dyed Tuscan leather (which she personally selects). Try her two-tone satchels, over-shoulder bags and wallets.

La Grotta Dipinta

Step back in time into this mosaic workshop, where pots of tesserae line the shelves and ancient designs are propped up against the walls. Artisans Tiziana Ferraresi and Francesca Nicosia split the large tesserae over a spiked tree stump - just as the ancient Romans used to do. They teach mosaic classes, too.

'Strategic Business Unit' isn't the most authentically Italian-sounding name, but these slick jeans, button-downs and t-shirts bear all the hallmarks of Bel Paese fashion. The ultra-soft denim comes from Japan, though it's tailored in Italy.

Rita Salvadori grows 80,000 chili pepper plants on her biodynamic Tuscan farm, including some of the spiciest strains on the planet. They're sold here, at this great little café and deli - try her chilli-laced salt and jam.

Neighborhoods to Know

Trastevere: On the Vatican side of the Tiber - the Ponte Sisto bridge is the entrance point - Trastevere is one of the center's trendiest neighborhoods, with exceptional restaurants and buzzing bars alongside quiet lanes and cobblestone streets that feel far from a city. This has always been an area of artists and artisans, and there's still a boho feel to the air.

Testaccio: A port of ancient Rome, this Tiber-side district south of the city center used to be best known as the location for the city's slaughterhouse. Today, that slaughterhouse hosts modern art exhibitions, and there's a slew of trendy bars straddling this and Ostiense, the district next door. As a working class area, its restaurants have always been top-notch.

Monti: Hipsters love Monti, the former down-at-heel neighborhood sitting between Termini railway station and the Colosseum. Back in ancient times, this was the Suburra (slums); more recently it was the Red Light district. But in the last couple of decades, its cobblestone streets have been transformed by artisans, bars, and boutique stores, making it Rome's nightlife capital, spiraling off from Piazza della Madonna dei Monti.

Vatican City: This is of course the seat of the Catholic faith, and life revolves around the church here in the Vatican, an independent city stage within Rome. You're here for the museums and St Peter's Basilica of course, but there are other finds, such as the Auditorium Conciliazione concert hall and its chic Chorus Caffe.

Campitelli: If you're here for all things ancient, this is where you'll spend most of your time. Campitelli is home to the most famous parts of ancient Rome, including the Forum, the Palatine, and the Campidoglio; the Colosseum skims its edge.

Campo Marzio: If you're looking to splash some cash, you'll want Campo Marzio. One of the most ancient areas of Rome, it pairs sites such as the Mausoleo di Augusto and the Ara Pacis with the chic shopping streets around Via Condotti and the Spanish Steps, and finishes at Via del Corso, where you'll find the high-street stores.

Fall in Rome is spectacular - so much so that there's a name for the city's warm and sunny October days: ottobrata, where temperatures can hit the 70s in the sun. Winters are mild, although January temperatures can plummet to the 40s, and it can rain. Spring, like fall, is a beautiful time to go, with trees in blossom and temperatures in the 60s. Summer is hot and humid - so much so that most Romans abandon the city for the month of August.

Apps to Download

Scooterino: Ride-sharing app to beat Rome's notorious traffic - on a Vespa
iOs | Android

FREE NOW (was MyTaxi): Taxi-hailing app
iOs | Android

Street Art Roma: Maps out Rome's street art
iOs only

Probus Rome: Bus schedules, routes, live updates
iOs | Android

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Visit Rome for an unforgettable adventure. Discover the best hotels, restaurants, and things to do with this highly curated Rome travel guide.

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Top beaches (including some off the beaten path)

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Top beaches (including some off the beaten path)

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When it comes to the art of living, Italians are masters, and this talent extends to the seaside. Combing coasts in 8 regions—Tuscany, Sardinia, Puglia, Sicily, Capri and Amalfi, the Italian Riviera, Maratea, and the Veneto (tough job, but someone had to do it)—Ondine Cohane discovers 50 fabulous pl…

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** Disclosure: some of the links on this site are affiliate links and should you make a purchase through these, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!** Ravello, Italy is the Amalfi Coast's most beautiful town and is thoroughly deserving of more than just a day trip. Through this travel guide, learn all you need to know before visiting, including useful travel tips, where to stay, where to eat and discover all of the best things to do in Ravello, gem of the Amalfi Coast.
Standing on Villa Cimbrone's Terrazze dell'Infinito, crowning glory of the Amalfi Coast's dignified Ravello, one could easily be forgiven for thinking you are on the edge of the earth, where the land of man ends and a cosmic ascent into utopia unfurls.

I don't think I'm alone in this thought, either. At the entry point to this terrace of infinity is the classical figure of Pheres, Roman god of Harvests, who was strategically placed as sentinel under a dramatic portico that has earned itself the moniker of " Doorway to the Sun ".

Through this portal, you catch your first glimpse of infinitude, as the horizon blurs cerulean sky into an even bluer sea and where the edge of the earth fades to a haze and slips into another dimension. It is a heady vista that is fully deserving of this lofty prelude from a Roman god.

An introduction to the Amalfi Coast town of Ravello

Ravello's History

The hilltop hamlet of Ravello has been mesmerizing mere mortals for many centuries. The town grew to prominance as part of the Duchy of Amalfi, where it traced its path of success along that of the Golden Age of the Maritime Republic of Amalfi, rising to prominance from the 10th century onwards.

Stimulated by trade with North Arab Africa and the Byzantine Empire, Ravello grew rich as part of the Republic of Amalfi, where trade was organised along a geographical triangle. Boats were loaded with wood at the Arab centres along the African coast, which was then sold for gold, before making their way to Byzantium, where they acquired luxury goods, fabrics, spices and precious stones.

It was during this time when multiple civil and religous buildings were built in Arab-Sicilian style and when wealthy, patriarchal families begun to build sumptuous dwellings, such as the 13th century Villa Rufolo, in the town.

From the 14th century onwards, the town declined, until the plague decimated its population in the 17th century, leaving the glory days of Ravello as mere whispers of memory.

What is Ravello famous for?

Entrenched in the town of Ravello is a deep musical and literary heritage.

Of particular note, Ravello found itself on the map once more from the late 19th century onwards, when Richard Wagner arrived to Villa Rufolo in 1880 and was struck with divine inspiration for the magical gardens of Klingsor that went on to feature in his operatic masterpiece, Parsifal.

In July and August each year, the Ravello Music Festival (known also as the 'Wagner Festival') takes place under the stars from the rather fitting location of the gardens of Villa Rufolo. Since its inauguration in 1953, the festival has grown to become an almost two-month long programme of classical music, chamber groups, jazz and arts, featuring musicians and artists that are oft-times world-renowned.

If you're wondering what to see in Ravello during these months, you simply must try to book tickets to an outdoor concert.

On the literary side, Ravello has, for quite some time, been sheltering ad inspiring some of the world's best writers. In 1927, D.H. Lawrence famously wrote a number of chapters of Lady Chatterley's Lover in Ravello and American author Gore Vidal was so taken with the town, that he eventually moved there, where he resided happily for 30 years and was eventually made an honorary citizen.

Prior to this, at the turn of the 20th century, the Villa Cimbrone gained popularity amongst Virginia Woolf and London's Bloomsbury Set, which included amongst its ranks John Maynard Keynes, the 20th century's most famous economist.

From this point onwards, (gaining a particularly glamorous glow in the 1950's and 60's) Ravello has attracted a whole host of high profile guests, including Greta Garbo, Humphrey Bogart, Churchill, Jackie Kennedy and 007 himself, Pierce Brosnan, to name but a handful.

Is Ravello worth visiting?

While there are more famous towns along this stretch of the Tyrrhenian Sea - Amalfi is quaint, Positano iconic - without a doubt, Ravello is the most beautiful town on Italy's Amalfi Coast, which even when viewed on its own, makes it highly worth visiting.

However Ravello also offers visitors an intoxicating mix of attributes that you won't find elsewhere. Firstly, are those jaw-dropping views. While Ravello does not have a beach, this charming town rests on the laurels of its mountaintop position, where it acts as overlord of the Costiera Amalfitana and thus with it, boasts those far-reaching views.

Its starring role as muse in many artistic, musical and literary endeavours also permeates every cobbled street and winding alley of this truly gorgeous Italian town, allowing you to be absorbed in the real life canvas for many a famous work.

And then, there are the gardens - firstly, the Villa Cimbrone Gardens with its iconic terrace and mesmerizing views, along with the terraced gardens at Villa Rufolo in the center of town, which so captivated Richard Wagner.

Simply put, Ravello oozes with a quiet, dignified sophistication that the nearby towns of the Amalfi Coast (such as Amalfi and Positano) find out of their reach. While you may have to deal with a busy town centre during the day, that is easily remedied by choosing some sublime Ravello lodging that offers access to those impeccable views on tap while the day trippers are in town, before emerging to find the town very much your own in the latter part of the day.

GORE VIDAL

Things to do in Ravello, Italy

We've covered off why you should visit, but exactly what is there to do in Ravello? Besides losing yourself in those gorgeous views, you'll find that there is plenty to keep you occupied, with a variety of pursuits ranging from the intellectual to the outdoors-y in the list of Ravello things to do!

Visit the iconic gardens in Ravello

Ravello is home to not one, but two stunning gardens, which have become synonymous with the town and which are both must see attractions in Ravello. No visit is complete without a trip to Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo in Ravello!

Villa Cimbrone Gardens

At the apex of the town sits Villa Cimbrone, an elegant 11th century manor complete with resplendant gardens that hover gloriously above the shimmering Tyrrhenian Sea. While the villa itself is now home to a luxury five star hotel, the gardens are open to visitors for a fee and offer some of the most spectacular views you are ever likely to encounter in your lifetime.

Make your way to the famous Infinity Terrace ( Terrazze dell'Infinito), known also as the Belvedere, for the best views of the Amalfi Coast. This lofty perch stretches along the top of a cliff and is lined with regal, Romanesque busts that thoroughly befit their setting.

My top tip is to visit as it approaches dusk, so you can time seeing both the brilliant blues of daylight as well as an otherworldly sunset as the sun slips below the horizon - you really won't regret it. Also allow for ample time to explore the rest of the gardens, which truly are magnifcent, making sure to take in the Temple of Bacchus and its sweeping views onto the sea, the nearby town of Scala and the deep ravine that lies below.

Plan your visit to the Villa Cimbrone Gardens | Admission: €7 (ticket booth at gate) // Opening Hours: 9am - 7pm

Villa Rufolo

Located just off Ravello's town square, Piazza Vescovado, Villa Rufolo is a regal, patrician villa which was originally built in the 13th century. In its glory days, the villa was one of the largest and most grand on the Amalfi Coast, before it eventually fell into ruin. Purchased by Scottish botanist Sir Neville Reid in the 19th century, Villa Rufolo was slowly restored, with what could be salvaged of the villa renovated and the gardens receiving a new lease of life.

Close to the entrance you'll find a sublime Moorish cloister and further on, the terraced-gardens that Villa Rufolo has become renowned for (these are the gardens that inspired Wagner, remember?). There is also another splendid vista of the sea from here and Villa Rufolo also forms the centre of the action for the Ravello Musical Festival in summer.

Plan your visit to Villa Rufolo | Admission: €7 (ticket booth at gate) // Opening Hours: Summer 9.00am - 9.00pm (last entry at 8.30pm) | Winter 9.00 - Sunset

Discover some of Ravello's churches

Duomo di Ravello

Ravello Cathedral occupies a prime position in Ravello's main town square, a position it has proudly held since its origins in 1087. It is well known for its bronze Romanesque doors, which were designed by Barisano da Trani in 1179.

Inside the church, you will find a small museum that is worth taking some time to peruse. The interiors of the church are light, bright and replete with soaring ceilings and include mosaic carvings and medieval features.

Chiesa S.Francesco dei Frati Minori Conventuali

The Church of San Francesco (as it translates in English) is an unassuming building that you will likely encounter if you walk via Via San Francesco from Ravello town centre to Villa Cimbrone.

Local legend has it that it was built by Saint Francis himself, who travelled via Ravello in 1222 when heading to Amalfi. Annexed to a Franciscan convent, access to the church is via a covered atrium, that you access directly from Via San Francesco.

Chiesa dell'Annunziata

If you've seen any images take from the gardens of Villa Rufolo, you'll likely be familar with that iconic Ravello shot of the trees and two dome towers, with the spendid blues of the sea in the background. These are the famous twin towers of Chiesa dell'Annunziata, which can be accessed by taking roughly 100 steps down from the town.

It's worth popping your head in to see the church. Now deconsecrated, it is known today as the Annunziata Historic Building and is a music venue used for concerts by the Ravello Concert Society. Inside, it houses a unique alterpiece and a frieze-like fresco that runs along the bottom of the church's vaulted ceiling.

The Church of San Giovanni Del Toro

Like many of Ravello's structures, this little church is pretty ancient, having started its life in 1089. Located in what was formerly an aristocratic neighbourhood, it has seen a demise not once, but twice in its lifetime - firstly following damage in the 1715 earthquake and then having been left fall into disprepair by the end of the 19th century.

Inside, there are sections of glass floor for viewing below, and the church is also home to some beautiful mosaics, one depicting Jonah emerging from the whale, and a 13th century pulpit that dates from the time of Roger I of Sicily in the 13th century.

Enjoy the atmospheric surroundings of the town square and Ravello's unparalleled, amazing views

Lets face it, Ravello boasts surroundings that are so captivating it's likely that you'll want to spend a good deal of time wallowing in them upon your arrival. The town square, the Piazza Vescovado, is the perfect spot for doing just that.

Housing Ravello Cathedral, the entrance to Villa Rufolo and a clattering of cafes and bars along its edges, the town square is the perfect spot to grab a coffee/gelato/wine and soak it all in. It's also a strategic location for people watching and if you're lucky you'll be witness to a wedding party or two - cross your fingers that it's an Italian one, as guests are always uber-stylish.

Outside of that, follow where your feet take you and see how many different vantage points you can discover of the coastline from the winding streets of Ravello. I promise, it's a view that you could never grow tired of.

Attend a concert in Ravello

Ravello Festival

The Ravello Festival takes place in the summer months of July and August. If classical music in serene surroundings is your jam (and if you're prepared to book your accommodation well in advance and pay premium rates), then try to time your visit to Ravello to tie in with the music festival.

The festival's main stage is a genius piece of engineering that seems suspended between sea and sky on the edge of the Villa Rufolo Gardens. Holding 750 people, this is an intimate setting that boasts unique natural acoustics. A much clamoured after event is the Dawn Chorus that takes place each 11 August at 5am as the sun rises over Ravello - if you can snag tickets for this then you're in for an experience that you'll never forget.

Check out the Ravello Festival website for further info on the festival.

Ravello Concert Society

Musical performances in Ravello are not just constrained to the months of July and August. The Ravello Concert Society hosts regular performances throughout the year in a range of venues around the town. Check their website to see what musical performances are taking place in Ravello during your visit.

Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium

This uber-modern concert venue in Ravello, designed by famous Brazilian architect and namesake Oscar Niemeyer, has been dividing visitors since it was built. Stark white, curved and at what some would call flagrant contrast to the surrounding town and hillsides of Ravello, the Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer seats an audience of 450 people.

You'll find the auditorium on Via della Repubblica, a few hundred metres away from the main town square. As well as musical performances, the venue also hosts periodic sculptural and artistic displays, doubling up too as the town's art centre.

Go shopping in Ravello, Italy - discover charming shops and boutiques

If you want to take a break from all the things to see in Ravello, the main thoroughfares of the town are lined with a host of shops and boutiques, offering wares that range from ceramics to cashmere. Stores here are far less touristy than some other towns along the Amalfi Coast, making Ravello a great spot to pick up some high quality ceramics and clothing.

Ceramiche d'Arte Carmela

Located close to the main square of Ravello is this gorgeous little family run ceramic shop, that offers well priced Vietri and Deruta ceramics, along with extremely helpful staff. We (my family) have purchased a number of bits and pieces from here, that have travelled well, have been long lasting and which look great at home.

Filo d'Autore

This popular boutique offers high quality made in Italy cashmere clothing. You'll find it on Via Trinità and will likely pass by it if on your way to the Villa Cimbrone!

Profumi della Costiera

Nestled amongst the winding lanes of Ravello is this little limoncello producer. Made with the gigantic local lemons that are particular to the area, known as sfusato amalfitano, lemons are peeled by hand before being infused with alcohol to create delicious limoncello. Traditional recipes are deployed, with no colouring, flavouring or preservatives added during the process.

Hiking in the Amalfi Coast - Ravello walks

Because of its beautiful views and unique scenery, the Amalfi Coast is a popular spot in which to go hiking. There are a number of walks that you can do along the Amalfi Coast, that span a range of difficulty levels and duration. A number of these, including the Amalfi Coast's most famous walk, the " Path of the Gods " are accessible from Ravello.

Ravello to Amalfi Trail

It is possible to walk to Amalfi from Ravello. If you're wondering how to get from Amalfi to Ravello on foot, there are a number of scenic routes that take you through terraces, farmland and stoned pathways and which offer incredible views of the coastline as you weave your way downhill.

While the quickest walking routes from Ravello to Amalfi are between 3-4km, you will likely want to avoid sharing the oft-times frenetic main roads with the daredevils that career around them. Thankfully, there are a pedestrian paths that can shepherd you to Amalfi safely.

One of the most popular routes is via the town of Pontone and Atrani, before reaching Amalfi. You can also go directly through Atrani, which means your walk takes around 1 hour downhill or add an additional stop in Scala, which of course increases your walking time to anything from 2-3 hours, depending on your pace and how many times you stop!

From Amalfi, you can then choose to walk back to Ravello - warning, this is uphill, with many steps and will take you longer than it did to come down - or take one of the frequest SITA buses that run from Amalfi to Ravello.

Ravello to Minori/Maiori Trail & the 'Lemon Walk'

Minori is a delighful little seaside down that is nestled right on the shoreline underneath the cliffs that hold Ravello. Further along the coastline, around a little peninsula, is the larger town of Maiori.

It's extremely easy to reach Minori from Ravello, via a series of well-worn, uneven stone steps. The route takes you by homesteads, past little churches, through arches and offers the most spectacular views of the Amalfi Coast along the way. I've walked this at night from Ravello and it took us around 40 minutes. The walk for the most part was quiet, well lit and was extremely atmospheric at that time of the day.

Once you reach Minori, you can then take the " Sentiero dei Limoni.", or Lemon Walk. It takes you through dozens of lemon groves and wows with stunning views of the Amalfi Coast, before ending in Maoiri. The walk from Minori to Maoiri takes around an hour if you include a few stops to take in the view.

I'd suggest doing the full walk through to Maoiri from Ravello, before returning to Minori and taking a dip in the sea, followed by a visit to one of Minori's restaurants. Two fantastic restaurants in Minori that I can recommend are the upscale Giardiniello and local trattoria Ristorante la Botte, which has the most incredible Napolitan style pizzas.

You can then finish of your visit to Minori off with a stop at the Villa Romana, the excavated ruins of a Roman villa that was destroyed and covered in ash during the 79AD eruption of Vesuvius that's situated right in the heart of the town.

Path of the Gods

The Amalfi Coast's most famous walk, this famous path runs for 7km between the towns of Bomerano and Noccelle. With a name like "Path of the Gods", you can probably guess in advance what's in store for you here. By the time you finish your hike in Nocello, you'll have reached the highest point on the Amalfi Coast and have gazed upon the deep blues of the Tyrrhenian Sea, amidst breathtaking views that defy man's imagination.

You can continue your walk to Positano, where you can get the SITA bus back to Ravello via Amalfi, or a ferry to Amalfi/Minori either, from where you can make your way back to Ravello.

Visit other towns on the Amalfi Coast

If you've exhausted the list of what to do in Ravello town itself, you'll be very well placed to discover many of the other towns of the Amalfi Coast using Ravello as a base. Its proximity to both Minori and Amalfi mean that you can easily access the best means of transport to get around the Amalfi Coast - the sea - the regular ferries travelling to and from both Minori and Maoiri.

From there, you can easily pay visits to many of the Amalfi Coast's most popular spots. The following incorporate some of the best day trips from Ravello:

Positano

Furore

Atrani

Praiano

Many of the smaller towns, such as Minori, Atrani and Maoiri offer a respite from the crowds that throng towns such as Positano and Amalfi, allowing you to experience a more traditional Italian holiday town, a chance to wander amongst the locals and an opportunity to dine at authentic resturants that are found in these towns.

Take a cruise along the Amalfi Coast

While the views and scenery from the towns of the Amalfi Coast are spectacular, there's a whole other way to explore the region and obtain a different viewpoint, and that is from the sea!

Charter your own boat, or rent one with a skipper if you've no experience of driving a boat. I'd recommend setting aside a whole day to make the most of a full-day experience, as you can amble from location to location and sun yourself in the meantime - bliss!
Search for Amalfi Coast boat hire providers and read reviews here.
Do a cooking class in Ravello

Mamma Agata's Cooking School has become an extremely well known name in Ravello and is spot of choice for those seeking an authentic cooking experience in the area. Using recipes passed down from Mamma Agata herself, this is the activity of choice for foodies visiting Ravello and with incredible views from the school to boot, what more could you want?

What to do in Ravello - where to eat & stay

Where to stay in Ravello

There are many hotels in Ravello and the surrounding area, however amongst the hordes it can be difficult to find accommodation that is 'just right'. Below are what I would consider to be the best hotels in Ravello across a range of luxury price points. If you leave it too late, finding accommodation in Ravello, Italy can prove difficult, so make sure to book well in advance as even in quiet times, some of Ravello's most popular hotels will book out.

Where to eat in Ravello

Thankfully, there are plenty of restaurants in Ravello, and some good ones at that. The following delicious restaurants are in my opinion, the best restaurants in Ravello, Italy and I am more than happy to recommend.

***

Rossellinis | Via San Giovanni del Toro 28 Palazzo Avino, 84010, Ravello Italy

Rosellinis is a rather fabulous Michelin starred restaurant that is set in the iconic Palazzo Avino hotel - in fact, it's the best restaurant in Ravello, Italy. I was lucky enough to be surprised with dinner here for my 30th birthday and it's an experience that I'll never forget. Dinner started with some pre-dinner drinks and amuse bouche on the outdoor terrace, before we moved to a table on the balcony in the restaurant. We proceeded to work our way through a tasting menu that had a nod to regional cuisine with a creative twist, along with some utterly incredible views.

***

Da Salvatore | Via della Repubblica 2, 84010, Ravello Italy

Located along the road that runs just underneath Palazzo Avino, Da Salvatore is a great restaurant in Ravello that also offers unparalleled views from its perfect terrace. The menu is high quality and creative too, with a woodfired pizza oven forming a central feature of the restaurant space. Book ahead and request a table with a view. This is also a perfect venue for a special dinner should you not wish to go all out and splurge on a Michelin experience at Rossellinis.

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Ristorante Pizzeria Vittoria | Via Dei Rufolo 3, 84010, Ravello Italy

Enjoying a position close to Ravello's main square, Vittoria is a family run, traditional restaurant that is packed to the rafters in the evenings. Not just a pizzeria, I had excellent seafood pasta here and their menu offers a wide variety to diners.

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Mimi Bar Pizzeria | Via San Francesco 12, 84010, Ravello Italy

We were sent here by a local and boy, is Mimi Bar Pizzeria a great recommendation! Another location that was out-the-door busy, it is the most informal of the restaurants on this list. The speciality, you guessed it, is pizza - and particularly great pizza at that. Nestled along the Via Francesco, there is also some charming outdoor seating areas here - both tucked in a corner along the street and outdoors in a lovely terrace garden.

How to get to Ravello

The Amalfi Coast is not known for its ease of manoeuvrability or access, but with great challenge comes great reward!

Unfortunately, you will find that there are no flights to Ravello, Italy! If you're flying from outside of Italy (or internally if the distance justifies a flight), then the closest airport to Ravello is Naples Airport.

Naples Airport is approximately 37km from Ravello as the crow flies, or anywhere from 59km to 78km by road, depending on the route taken.

How do I get from Naples to Ravello?

Here, you have one of three options:

1. Take a taxi from Naples Airport. If you flag one from Naples Airport, expect it to cost €150 plus depending on group size, amount of luggage and time of day/night. The journey takes approximately 90 minutes.

My method of choice would be to pre-book your transfer with Welcome Pickups who are my provider of choice when it comes to getting to and from airports abroad. As an idea of cost, the price quoted from Naples Airport to Ravello for 2 people with 2 pieces of luggage was €150 when I checked, with the added bonus of having a driver waiting for you in arrivals when you land!

2. If it's running, get the Pintour Bus, which is a privately operated shared minibus service. Buses cost €25 per passenger one way and run a number of times throughout the day. If their schedule lines up well with your flight arrival time, then this is a great option if you are trying to keep costs down, but don't want to take the train. Note that their schedule is not too frequent, however.

3. Take the train from Naples to Salerno and then transit by private transfer/taxi or bus from there. The train from Central Station Naples runs over 40 times a day and takes only 30-40 minutes to reach Salerno. Book your train tickets in advance here.

To get to Naples Central Station from the airport, take the dedicated Alibus, a shuttle that runs every 15-25 minutes and drops you outside the station.

How do I get from Salerno to Ravello?

Once you've made it as far as Salerno, you can take a taxi or pre-book a private transfer to Ravello. Like the taxi from Naples, however, this is pricey and could cost up to around €100 for an hour's journey depending on if you hail a taxi, or book privately.

Otherwise, you can get the local SITA bus, which departs from outside the train station (purchase tickets inside from the newstand). Bear in mind that you must take the bus to Amalfi first, and then transfer there for the final leg of the journey to Ravello.

How to get to Ravello from Rome

A trip to the Amalfi Coast is often combined with a few days in Italy's captial, Rome, which makes sense as they are not too far apart and offer two very different sides to Italy.

The most straightforward way to get from Rome to Ravello is by car (self-drive or private transfer) but you may not wish to drive and the cost of a private transfer may also be outside of what you are willing to pay (it may well end up costing €400+).

Therefore, the best way to get to Ravello from Rome is to take the train from Rome Termini Station to Salerno, before making your way onwards to Ravello as per my recommendations above. There are many trains running daily and the fast train does the journey in around 1.5 hours. To obtain the best price on tickets, make sure to book in advance. You can do so here.

How do I get from Positano to Ravello?

With the exception of hiring a private driver (or driving yourself), then the easiest way of getting from Positano to Ravello is to first take a ferry from Positano to Amalfi. The journey will take around 30 minutes and you can check ferry schedules here.

From Amalfi, you will then need to take a SITA bus, which will take around 20 minutes to reach Ravello. You can find up to date bus schedules here.

Should I rent a car for Amalfi Coast?

Having visited with a car, and without, I feel well rehearsed to answer this question. My answer would be a resounding "no". Driving on the Amalfi Coast is not enjoyable and the narrow roads are subjected to dense traffic and with it, numerous traffic jams. Furthermore, parking is very scarce (parking in Ravello is no different) and expensive so it is just more hassle than it is worth.

There's an extensive public bus system (more below) and also, you can easily get the ferry between all towns on the coast. It's a short bus ride from Ravello to Amalfi and from there, the Amalfi Coast is your oyster from its ferry port!

Getting around the Amalfi Coast without a car

There are three main ways that I would recommend getting around the Amalfi Coast:

1. Getting around the Amalfi Coast by bus

The Ravello SITA bus stop is located just outside of the pedestrian tunnel off Ravello's main square.

Most routes will require you to transit through Amalfi, which is no big deal, but it is worth noting that you will need either two single-ride bus tickets (" corsa singola"), or instead, if you plan on hopping on the next bus immediately to your end destination, you can purchase an " orario" ticket, which is cheaper than two singles.

It may work out better for you to purchase the 24-hour bus ticket that is called the " costierasita,". Validated when you step on your first bus, this allows you unlimited travel for 24 hours from this point and is the most cost effective option.

Note: tickets for SITA buses can be bought from local shops such as newsagents, grocers etc - just ask a local in the town where the nearest spot is. Also, while you can check bus timetables at this website, don't get too hung up on schedules - due to the nature of the traffic on the Amalfi Coast (very unpredictable), the bus will arrive when it arrives!

2. Getting around the Amalfi Coast by ferry

The ferries are a wonderful (and quite novel for most) way of getting around the Amalfi Coast. Journey times are drastically cut as you don't have to battle traffic and you also receive spectacular views of the Amalfi coastline to boot. You can check ferry schedules on this website.

While you can purchase your tickets at the ferry, it's a good idea to purchase these in advance during the busy summer months, especially if going to Capri. You can do so at this website.

3. Getting around the Amalfi Coast by scooter

As Ravello is not quite on the coast, you'll need to get to the nearest port towns of Minori or Amalfi before utilising the ferry. If you're planning on visiting a few of the Amalfi Coast towns, want flexibility and are confident on a scooter, then this is a great way to make your way around the Amalfi Coast from Ravello. You can book a scooter here.

Common questions to have when visiting Ravello

Since this post was first written, there have been a number of questions that have popped up - I will do my best to answer these below.

Day trip itinerary - what to do in Ravello in a day

The perfect Ravello itinerary will be somewhat different for everyone, but here is I would do in Ravello in a day.

1. Visit Villa Rufolo and its gardens.

2. Head to the town's Piazza Duomo to visit Ravello's cathedral. Afterwards, sit at one of the cafes and watch the world go by.

3. Wander through Ravello's labyrinth of quaint streets.

4. Browse Ravello's shops and pick up some ceramic pieces.

5. Head Villa Cimbrone to visit the gardens and Terrace of Infinity (try time your visit with sunset).

6. Finish with a special meal - Palazzo Avino's Rossellini's is really something else. Da Salvatore is a little more wallet friendly, but still comes with exceptional views.

How much time do you need in Ravello?

How much time you should spend in Ravello will be dependant on a number of factors. Firstly, if you're visiting on a day trip and not staying, then one day will be sufficient to see Ravello's highlights.

However, if you'd like to stay in Ravello, how long you should base yourself there for will be dependant on how long you have in the Amalfi Coast and what sort of trip you have planned. I'll address both in the next couple of questions below.

Is Ravello worth staying in?

I'd argue that night time is the best time to experience Ravello and so it is highly worth staying in Ravello. Day trippers have departed and the town feels a lot more intimate - you really get to experience it charms.

In my opinion, sunset is also the best time to visit Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo. The colours that streak the sky as the sun slips down below the horizon are positively spectacular - and this is something you mightn't have time to witness if you're visiting on a day trip.

While they can book out well in advance, there are also some beautiful places to stay in Ravello. If you want somewhere to relax by a pool amidst some of the best views in the world, then Ravello makes for a wonderful choice.

When to visit Ravello

The best time to visit Ravello is in the shoulder months of May or September. Temperatures will be warm enough for sunbathing, but the crazy summer crowds will be absent. That being said, if you don't mind the crowds (and the steeper prices) then summer in Ravello provides for the ultimate Italian summer vacation experience and if you are a music lover July and August is when you will find the Ravello music festival running.

Is Ravello a good base for Amalfi Coast

It's not to say that you won't be able to get around the Amalfi Coast from Ravello (you'll easily be able to hop on buses throughout the day), but Ravello is probably not the best base if you plan on seeing a lot more of the Amalfi Coast from one designated spot.

The reason for this is that it is not directly on the coastline and thus does not have access to the Amalfi Coast's best means of getting around - the ferries.

Ravello is perfect for dedicating a couple of relaxed days to. It makes for an extremely romantic place to visit with a partner or spouse, is a good choice if you're also staying somewhere like Positano during your trip too, or is a fabulous way to cap off the end of a longer Amalfi Coast itinerary.

How do you get around in Ravello Italy?

The good news is that you'll be able to explore all of Ravello on foot due to its relatively diminutive size. Note that it's probably not the most accessible of places if your mobility is impaired - there are quite a lot of cobblestones and steps.

In terms of accessing other parts of the Amalfi Coast from Ravello, I have dealt with this in the " Getting around the Amalfi Coast without a car " section above.

Does Ravello have a beach?

The town of Ravello itself does not have a beach. Perched on a particularly elevated patch of cliff along the Amalfi Coast, there is no sea access from the town, so you will not be able to swim in the sea at Ravello. The closest beach is in the town of Minori, which sits directly below Ravello along the shoreline.

Visiting the Amalfi Coast? Some more reading:

Travelling to Italy? You might find the following useful:

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Best things to do in Ravello - a complete Ravello Travel Guide - Cultured

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Read our complete Rome travel guide here. This story has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

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If the idea of a summer spent basking in the sunshine on sandy beaches, sipping a refreshing glass of white wine, and dining on exquisite seafood is a dream we all need to make into a reality.

But there's always one thing that bursts our dream bubble when it's turned into reality - hordes of tourists. And it seems like everyone and their grandmother are thinking of a European summer vacation this year.

Now you may be thinking all the hidden gems are less hidden these days due to the digital age we live in (thank you Tik Tok) that doesn't mean there aren't any secret sunny European destinations left to explore.

In this guide, we've listed our favourite sunny holiday destinations in Europe that are a little less crowded, so you can enjoy a European summer without the crowds.

Sunny Holiday Destinations in Europe

So without further ado, here are the best sunny places in Europe to visit for those looking for some much-needed Vitamin D!

1. Cilento, Italy

When you think of sunny holiday destinations in Spain, your mind often pictures Sardinia or Palermo, which are lovely, but they are crowded from June to September.

As long as you avoid August, when the Neapolitans troop to the area en masse for their annual beach holiday, the Cilento National Park is a delightfully tourist-free, typically southern Italian seaside idyll.

So much so that UNESCO named Cilento one of only four regions in Italy where you can still find the classic dolce vita - that means amazing food, beautiful beaches, sun-soaked days, and plenty of Italian vino!

Of course, the area is already listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historical and cultural importance, including the remains of two major ancient cities.

Just an hour south of the Amalfi Coast, Cilento is an area covered with olive trees, featuring 100km of coastline dotted with sandy beaches and cosy bays, all framed by spectacular mountains.

And, other than the sleepy locals, you'll have it all virtually to yourselves.

2. Bozburun Peninsula, Turkey

Okay, it's not exactly Europe, but since a small part of Turkey connects to Europe through Istanbul, we can make an exception for this incredible destination. Plus, it's still a somewhat hidden gem!

Lying a good two hours from Dalaman airport means that the area is avoided by most package holiday tourists, but the Bozburun Peninsula, protected by heavily enforced conservation laws, is well worth the drive.

Offering a stunning coastline, with turquoise waters dotted with traditional Turkish gulets, hidden coves, and craggy cliffs, plus heavenly-scented pine forests and villages virtually unchanged for centuries.

Just one very windy road traverses the cliffs, ending abruptly at a small harbour from which boats can be hired and it is entirely possible to drive the whole way without encountering another vehicle.

This is Turkey as it once was - see it now before it disappears.

3. Emporda, Spain

Mention the Costa Brava and images of sunburnt Brits swigging lager and eating full English breakfasts probably come to mind.

However, turn east instead of south when you leave the airport and you'll come to an entirely different Costa Brava in Spain.

You'll find no brash water parks, no paintball centres, and no lines of quad bikes attempting to overtake you inEmporda.

This wine-soaked region is, instead, lined with craggy cliffs, hidden inlets, and spectacular clifftop paths, and best of all, it is still very Spanish.

You have your pick of beaches too - two miles of sand at Platja de Pals at the base of the hilltown of Begur, followed by a seemingly endless stream of pretty coves all the way to La Fosca, each more empty and remote than the previous and each with its own charm and character.

4. Brac Island, Croatia

Ever since Dubrovnik was featured in Game of Thrones, more and more people are discovering the delights of Croatia, including its most beautiful beaches on the Mediterranean Sea.

While many people flock to this ancient city for their beach vacation, those who prefer a quieter holiday can breathe a sigh of relief as there are still places off-the-beaten-path in Croatia offering white sands, crystal-clear waters, and relaxed vibes.

For a beach vacation in Europe, Brac Island in Croatia is the ultimate choice. It's a small island off the coast of Split, and is known for its windsurfing and resort town of Bol, where you'll find one of my favourite beaches on Brac Island (and maybe even Europe), Zlatni Rat, also known as the Golden Horn or Golden Cape because of its horn-shaped beach.

For a more laid-back vibe and a quieter atmosphere, head to the town of Pučišća which has traditional architecture and several hidden beaches nearby.

5. Formentera, Balearic Islands, Spain

If you've ever experienced Costa del Sol in August, you might be balking at any suggestions of visiting Spain for a sunny holiday destination in the EU.

But what many people don't know is that Spain is not just one country and has several small islands in its territory as well. Mallorca is the largest and most famous in the Balearic Islands archipelago, and let's not forget Ibiza as well, but if you want somewhere quieter, consider Formentera.

It's the smallest island in the group and is only reachable by ferry, which makes getting there a bit of a pain. But you know what they say, nothing good comes easy, and because many people don't like visiting places that are a little tougher to get to, you'll find it's much quieter than its neighbor Ibiza

It's known for its stunning, clear waters that are a dazzling turquoise colour, as well as long stretches of beach with sand dunes and pine trees.

Grab your snorkel mask and life vest, as this island is teeming with marine life and corals.

6. Lagos, Portugal

Lagos is a small town in Portugal's Algarve region. It's famous for its historic old town and pristine stretches of beach, backed by craggy cliffs and unbelievably beautiful nature.

For a little peace and quiet, head to one of the best beaches in the area, the sandy cove of Praia do Camilo.

If you enjoy surfing, you'll find the best surf at Meia Praia and Porto de Mos. Be sure to pack your hiking boots and head out on one of the cliff-top walks over the sweeping headlands.

It doesn't get much better than this.

7. Taormina, Sicily

If you're looking for some sun in Europe, one of the best places that people often forget about is Sicily. This small island off the southern coast of Italy is most famous for its wine production since its volcanic terrain has the best soil for growing grapes.

When it comes to finding secret sunny destinations to park your beach towel, you should consider Taormina, a small hilltop town on the island's east coast.

Sitting near Mount Etna, an active volcano, it's not exactly a town people go running to (more away from), but you shouldn't let Etna scare you. In fact, there are many hiking trails leading to the summit from the town!

Taormina is home to many Greco-Roman landmarks, including the Teatro Antico di Taormina, an ancient theater that is still used today.

Of course, no sunny destination would be complete without a beach, and you'll find many quiet coves and bays below the cliffs. There's also a narrow stretch of beach that connects the town to Isola Bella, a tiny nature reserve.

8. Madeira, Portugal

Madeira is an archipelago of four islands that lie off the northwest coast of Africa. What attracts people to Madeira is its year-round warm and subtropical climate, and of course, its wine.

The main island of Madeira, also called Madeira to make matters confusing, is a huge green island formed from volcanoes, with the capital city Funchal nestled on the south coast.

If Jurassic Park was real, it would look like Maderia.

It's rugged, green, wild, and untamed, with craggy cliffs and pebbly beaches. If you're someone who isn't looking for beaches for their sunny holiday destination in Europe, then you'll enjoy the adventurous side of Madeira more.

It's a hot spot for hikers and has 30 official trails, each of them taking you to incredible peaks and rocky ridges overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

It's also a great place to do some whale watching. All year round you can see whales and dolphins enjoying the warm waters of Madeira, but they are most plentiful between May and September.

Keep your eyes on the lookout for bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins, pilot whales, sperm whales, and bryde's whales, which are best seen from October to April.

9. Comino, Malta

One of the best beach destinations in Europe that flies under the radar is Comino in Malta. This small island belongs to the Maltese archipelago and lies between Malta and Gozo in the Mediterranean.

At just 3.5 square kilometres, it's a true slice of paradise made up of golden sand beaches and turquoise waters.

Comino doesn't have any hotels, and most people come here on a day trip from Malta, but you should definitely bring a tent and go for a camping holiday here.

It's peace and quiet and sun - exactly what you need this summer!

10. Menton, France

Located on the French Riviera, just 64 km from Cannes and 29km from Nice, is Menton.

It's a hilly, medieval town with stunning golden beaches and vibrant gardens. It's most famous of which is the Serre de la Madone garden which is full of very rare plants.

Enjoy the architecture of 18th-century France painted in its vibrant multi-colours, and then get lost along the winding cobbled streets.

If you're someone who enjoys a combination of beaches and culture, you'll fall in love with Menton.

11. El Hierro, The Canary Islands

While many people rush to Tenerife for their Canary Islands holiday, for a quieter sunny holiday destination in Europe, consider the island of El Hierro.

El Hierro is the second-smallest island in the Canary Islands and is also the farthest south, so it has that beautiful, warm weather that you find in Africa.

The island is simply stunning, with rocky landscapes, dramatic cliffs with sea caves, and craggy peaks formed by its volcanic base, the best way to see this island is to hike around it.

Be sure to check out El Hierro Sabinar, protected trees that have been blown over by the wind, and the Mirador de Isora for some incredible views.

Final Thoughts on Sunny Holiday Destinations in Europe

So there you have it, those are 11 of the best sunny holiday places in Europe to visit, and what's great about these locations is, they are pretty much sunny year-round, so you can visit in the winter months too!

While your fantasies of Europe in the summer may have conjured up scenes of the Greek Islands or resort towns in Spain, we hope this list gave you some inspiration about some other destinations worth visiting too.

Of course, no matter where you visit, you will find other tourists, but we hope these suggestions off you a quieter holiday away from the massive crowds.

More Europe Travel Ideas

Are you planning a big trip around Europe? Then these other guides might give you some inspiration!

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The 11 Best Secret Sunny Holiday Destinations In Europe!

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Are you looking for sunny holiday destinations in Europe? Here are some secret sunny destinations in Europe you may not have thought of!

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I don't know where you all are in the world right now, but most of my friends and family are coming off the end of the #PolarVortex which pretty much turned most of North America into a popsicle this past week.

Is it rude of me to say I went to the beach? Twice.

If it makes you feel any better, the weather in Wellington is generally shit, and I really don't think we are going to have a proper summer. It is never NOT windy here. I hate it! I'm still cleaning sand out of my ears from the beach!

Going from summer in Europe to a New Zealand "summer" (a phrase I use lightly since I'm convinced summer doesn't exist in this part of the world) has been strange. It feels like only yesterday I was sweating my clothes off in southern Italy and Greece. Can I go back?

Sigh, I miss Europe sometimes. Back to Italy!

Maybe I'm wrong (please tell me if I am) but after spending some time in southern Italy, I've realized a few things, the first and foremost being that it doesn't get the attention it deserves. Rome, Florence, Venice, and all those great cities and regions of the north get heaps of love from us foreigners, and for good reason, they rock. But what about the south?

Always the champion for the underdog, any chance I have to visit a place that I feel is being overlooked, I jump at.

I just got a taste for southern Italy this summer, and it wasn't enough. I am already thinking about when I might be able to go back to explore and dig deeper.

Has a place ever affected you that way?

While staying in nearby Salerno, one of the day trips I was most excited to make was out to Positano. Can anyone hanker a guess as to why? Go on.

If you thought Under the Tuscan Sun, you would be absolutely correct!

I actually first visited Positano in 2008 while traveling around the Amalfi Coast, and yes, for the same reason. Here is why Diane Lane spontaneously has a love affair with Marcello, where she drinks limoncello on the beach with him and finds a kitten to take home. It's like fate really, until she finds out he was already seeing someone else.

Ugh, men.

Anyways, there's no denying it, the Amalfi Coast is stunning, and when I visited before it was a very wet spring, so I was thrilled to go back in July.

Little did I know the rest of the world would also be there.

Crowds aside, getting to walk down the streets I remember so fondly from 5 years ago was a beautiful feeling.
Have you ever gone back to a place you loved after a good chunk of time has passed? Have you ever gone to a place you saw in a movie?
Brindisi was my first solid introduction to southern Italy this summer, and it was fabulous. A week of exploring olive groves and harbors, getting lost on the crumbling old side streets in the hot sun, trying local dishes and hanging out in the markets, it couldn't have been more local and more special.

Brindisi has that charm of old-school traditional Italy that sometimes feels lost in the more touristic cities. Here is a place where tradition is only just beginning to collide with modernity, where shopkeepers know your name and the food is local and fresh.

Emma, the powerhouse behind Brindisi is My Destination, helped introduce me to so many of the things that makes Brindisi special, from the budding interest in ecotourism, to the sailing and maritime culture to the wine, of course. But I think one of the things I loved the most about this little corner of Italy are all of the old farmhouses-turned-B&B's and beautiful rural masserias.

Getting to wine, dine and stay at Tenuta Moreno outside Brindisi was a dream come true in many ways. A hop, skip and jump aways outside Brindisi, down some dirt farm roads winding through olive groves that have probably been there since Roman times, you'll eventually stumble on the massive Tenuta Moreno.

Here is the perfect example of historic colliding with modernity. Exploring the beautiful stone corridors that lead to gorgeous gardens and swimming pools. The property is vast and the kitchens are divine. I was blown away by the depth and precision of the meals offered.

I have conflicting feelings for Italy. On the one hand, I love how old-school, traditional, and rustic certain places can be. Nothing gets me more exciting than visiting a place with real old-world charm. But the flipside? Sometimes I get extremely annoyed with how behind the times places in Italy can be. No functioning website? Or the worst, wait for it, no wifi. *gasp*

You just can't win. Unless you're in Brindisi.

At Tenuta Moreno, I was lucky enough to hang out with the owner who really gets it, and the idea of having an innovative property. Clad in a very nice Italian suit (as if you could expect something less after all) we rode bicycles together around the property as he pointed out the gardens where the food is produced for the kitchens on site, or the best part, the new chicken coops he's built so that they will have fresh eggs every day.

Here is a place where the top person truly cares about making a better, sustainable, green hotel, and is passionate about change and productivity. IN ITALY OF ALL PLACES. Here is a place that really cares about keeping it local, sustainable farming and having a hotel that can supply itself - how often do you find that?

I couldn't help but smile to myself as we cycled back to the main building, me in my jean shorts and tank top, and him in his suit. What a pair.

The white city of Ostuni near Brindisi was also one of the biggest surprises for me last summer. I really wasn't expecting to be as wowed as I was. Living in Andalucía in southern Spain for a year, I had no shortage of picturesque white towns surrounding me. Hell, I even worked in one, in Espejo, near Córdoba, complete with castle on the top.

But Ostuni embodies just about everything I loved about Italy. A beautiful old quarter packed with narrow streets you can spend ages getting lost in, rusty wrought-iron balconies juxtaposed with overflowing flower pots adding a splash of color here and there to the bleached white town.

After spending hours exploring the town under the bright sun, it was perfect to relax in the shade of the main square sipping beer with new friends.

Don't you just want to explore this place?

After a month of nonstop travel, I was in need of some down town and to hang out with friends. Through a friend of a friend, I ended up in Salerno for a few days. Just what I needed.

Tucked in on the beach at La Isla Resort, I was lucky enough to explore the area with locals, and really get an idea of what makes this area of Italy tick. After all of the hustle and bustle of the popular Amalfi Coast, getting to Salerno felt like I was coming back to the real Italy.

For me, there are times when I want to be a tourist, relish in taking photos, buying postcards and enjoy being the token foreigner. But there are other times I want to put my camera down and experience a place for itself, observe what it must be like to live there, wonder at cultural differences.

Can you guess which one I went for in Salerno?

With my camera tucked away and my mind focused on food and making new friends, I enjoyed my few days in Salerno. From eating proper Italian pizza with Italians at La Basculla, to visiting a buffalo farm and eating decadent buffalo ice-cream (holy shit, how have I not tried this before?!) at Tenuta Vannulo to sitting on the beach and watching the sun set, I forgot about all trying to analyze a place and just enjoyed being there.

This is something I need to do more often. Oh, and buffalo ice-cream.

Have you ever gone off the grid in a place like Salerno?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Matera was one of the biggest surprises for me this summer.

Straight out of a movie (The Passion of the Christ by Mel Gibson) Matera is one of best preserved ancient cities and one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, making walking its narrow cobbled streets feel like you've actually stepped back in time.

Combined with the fact that the rest of the known world has yet to discover the charm and magic surrounded this time-capsule of a city, makes Matera one of my top favorite places in Italy.

From sleeping in a restored Renaissance palace to getting lost in overgrown back alleys and following the cats to trying flower flavored gourmet gelato in the main square, I have nothing but fond memories from Matera, well except for the part where I royally fucked up the public transportation in Puglia and almost didn't arrive.

Selective amnesia, let's forget about that little mess.

All in all, I can't recommend southern Italy enough, and I know next time I head back to Europe, I will be building in time to discover more about this area of the country.
Have you been to southern Italy? Heard of any of these places? Would you like to visit one day?

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Postcards from Southern Italy - Young Adventuress

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Come with me on a visual journey around southern Italy, from Brindisi to Ostuni, Salerno to Positano and finishing up in Matera. Have you been?

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At the risk of sounding like a massive tool, I am going to start off this post with one of my favorite quotes about Italy, you know, because there are so many to chose from.

"A man who has not been in Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what it is expected a man should see." -Samuel Johnson

9 out of 10 Americans when polled about their dream trip answered "Italy." (Disclosure - I just made that up). What is behind this anglo-fascination with Italy? Certainly I am guilty of this, losing count around 2009 of just how many times I've journeyed to the boot of Europe. At least 10 now. And there is so much left I want to eat, see, do, and then eat some more.

And did I mention I am going back to Italy again in 3 weeks to speak about travel blogging at TBD-Italy? I just can't stay away!

Is it because Italy has it all? Is it the perfect destination rolled up into one nice, neat elongated package? What is the root of this romantic, mysterious fascination with Italy, and why is Samuel Johnson so spot on - if you haven't been to Italy, you haven't been anywhere. Be embarrassed.

Do Italians realize just how idolized their country is by the rest of the world?

To say that Italy is magnificent is a massive understatement, and there is a very good reason why the Big 3 - Rome, Florence and Venice - are worshipped by not only Americans, but the world. They rock. They are beautiful. They are cultural, historical, and every other iterative adjective you could possibly come up with. Italy has earned its fame.

Florence is no exception, in fact, it's the king of Italy. I have never heard more Americans abroad in one place than I have in Florence. My fellow countrymen (and I) are attracted to this great Tuscan capital like moths to a flame.

I first stepped foot in Florence in January 2008, where I spent a week taking in all the art, eating all the pasta and getting kicked out the museums. I knocked off pretty much every single touristic Florentine site from my bucketlist and then some. I did it all - or did it do me?

Florence is popular for a reason - it's spectacular. Of course the downside is that everyone and their mother turns up during peak travel times to this neck of the Italian woods.

You see, Florence in the summer turns into an amusement park. I'm not even exaggerating. There are so many tourists, it can be difficult to walk down the street in the old part of the city, and the lines for the major sites and attractions can be daunting. For me, this was a good thing because it forced me to see a different side of Florence.

Too. Many. People. ACK!

This time around, I wanted to take it easy in Florence. My travel style has evolved over the years, and now I try to take things slow, especially in places I've already been. Knowing myself, the last thing I wanted to do was wait around in massive crowds and lines, sweating my face off to pay to see something I've seen before.

I have crowd-phobia but I still love Florence.

With some careful maneuvering around the jam-packed parts of town, I was able to discover the local, overlooked and quiet side of Florence, which for me was the best part.

Here's my guide to a different side of Florence, away from the massive crowds, away from the cheesy stereotypes. These are places I loved and enjoyed and I hope one day you do too (you know, because life is incomplete without a trip to Italy)

Reflecting back on my chilly week-long January trip to Florence when I was 19, oddly enough it turns out that one of my favorite places I visited was the Pitti Palace and gardens. This time around, I made sure to go back and spend time exploring the maze-like gardens. The Pitti Palace has different tickets you can buy, so I opted for the Boboli Gardens-only one, and whizzed on by pass the crowds straight into the sprawling green space behind the palace.

Similar to Versailles, I've found most tourists don't bother walking more than 5 minutes or so from the palace itself, leaving the Boboli Gardens people-free - just how I like it! With Florence is as crazy-busy as it is in July, these gardens were a welcome respite from the general mayhem and mass of people around town.

Now for the best kept secret in Florence, are you ready for it? Just past the Boboli Gardens, if you keep on wandering for long enough, you might find the entrance to the Bardini Gardens. Only recently opened, this green space is completely unknown to tourists. I reckon I saw maybe 5 people the whole time I was exploring them, and 2 were park employees!

This small Renaissance garden is perched up high enough, when you just walk in you get great views of the city. This was my favorite find of the trip and I spent a good hour just sitting on one of the benches overlooking the city, reading and writing. If you need a break from the crowds in a beautiful place, head here. Just don't tell anyone! This has to be our secret!

Also I have way too many photos from here, but I just couldn't help it -forgive me!
Florence Food Tour with Walks of Italy
It's no secret, I am not a fan of organized walking tours. However, this is a constant struggle when I'm on the road because as much as I hate trotting around like ducklings with large groups of strangers, I equally want to learn as much as possible about wherever I am - and most of the time the cheapest/easiest/quickest way is to join a tour.

And my favorite kind of tour is a food tour - surprise, surprise, I know you must be shocked. After years on the road, I've finally come to the realization that the best way to get to know a new culture and place is through the food. Smell it. Taste it. Eat it. Repeat.

As soon as I discovered there was a Florence Food Tour offered by Walks of Italy, I signed up. What a perfect way to get to know a different side of the city. Plus, all the noms! Winning.

Now everyone raves about the food in Italy, and with good reason - it's fabulous. However, for the foodies in all of us (and for Italians) most cities and regions in Italy have their own cuisine and typical dishes, and it's important to broaden our minds past the concept of "Italian dining." There is so much more to food around Italy than pasta and pizza. I wanted to learn how the locals eat!

This of course means that Florence has its own culinary traditions, rooted in not exactly what you might expect - peasant food. Dishes that use weird types of meat used to be the norm and even now can be found on street stalls - simple food that used all parts of the animal. We all tried lampredotto, a dish made from cow's stomach which is typical in Florence, and you know what? It wasn't half bad. As long as you didn't think about it too long, that is.

Forget the pasta. Forget the pizza. Beef. Wine. Olive oil. Bread - these are the staples of the Florentine diet. Hearty and simple, just how I like it.

I was so excited when I realized the tour only had 4 people on it, including the guide. Convening on the steps of Santa Croce, we headed away from the crowds into the food heart of Florence: Sant'Ambrogio. If you want to see the real side of Florence, this is where you go.

Eagerly follow our guide, we began to eat our way through the city. We started at a wine shop, clustered around a table learning about the local wine and olive oil tradition. After living in Spain for years, I realized I was very biased and didn't know that much about the Italian traditions, so I eagerly perked up and tried to remember everything I was learning while drinking heady red Tuscan wines - a bit counterproductive, right?

My favorite part of the tour was the market in Sant'Ambrogio. Picking our way among the stalls, we nibbled on fresh figs, were awed by the incredible selection of fresh food, before making our way inside and trying ALL the cured meat and cheese in Florence!

I don't know about you guys, but I can't say no to food, especially cheese and especially when it's starting at me in the face.

By the end of the tour I was feeling especially fat and lethargic, not to mention I really was beginning to regret wearing tight denim Daisy Dukes. What was I thinking? On a food tour?

All needing a pick-me-up, we stopped into the most charming cafe I'd seen in ages - Caffè Cibrèo owned by the man, the myth, the legend, the famous Florentine chef Fabio Picchi.

Sipping a quick espresso at the bar, we admired the beautiful carved woodwork and elegant red velvet chairs, old-fashioned and retro, this was my kind of place! Suddenly, a big guy with the most impressive mustache this side of the Atlantic came into my vision.

"Is that HIM?" I squealed, "is that Fabio??"

Thanks to some quick thinking by our suave guide, I was able to meet the genius behind these famous Florentine restaurants and cafes - I even had a total fangirl moment and got a picture with him. He was such a character! If only HONY was in Florence that day...

LOOK AT THAT MUSTACHE!

No food tour in Italy would be incomplete without gelato as the finale. Am I right or am I right?

This tour was everything I could have wanted and more. From eating my way through the truly "local" part of Florence to making friends with a famous chef to drinking morning wine, I couldn't have been happier. Correction: I would have been happier wearing leggings. Take note ladies!

La Specola - the weirdest museum in Florence

On my first day in Florence, and spectacularly annoyed with all the crowds of tourists in all the places, I quickly polled in on my Facebook page for some tips of 0ff-the-beaten-track things to do in Florence. Little did I know how much you all would throw me off the the beaten path.

Cue La Specola, the weirdest museum in Florence, and quite possibly the whole world, also known as the Museum of Zoology and Natural History. 18th century natural history that is. After hearing several of you guys rave about it, I was intrigued. I like weird, Victorian, historical and science museums, so this seemed like my kind of place.

Just past the Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, I walked by the entrance twice before I finally found it. That should have been some indication of what I was getting myself into. Without a soul in sight, I wandered around this palace for a solid 10 minutes before I finally found the ticket counter. No one was more surprised than the attendant.

Basically La Specola is a museum filled with natural curiosities from 300 years ago, which in my books is pretty damn awesome. It is the oldest scientific museum in Europe. An odd combination of Renaissance palace, euro university and a museum in dire need of renovation, this place was so fascinating, I spent a good part of my afternoon inside.

The first part of the museum is filled with stuffed animals, think zoology not Toys'R'Us. Wandering from room to room filled with glass cases of strange creatures with strange looks frozen on their stuffed faces, I was surprised by vast amount of wildlife from around the world was procured in Italy so long ago.

My favorite dead animal in the museum had to be the hippo, which according to the placard was a 17th century Medici pet who lived in the Boboli Gardens. Hey, I was just there!

Of course the weirdest part of the museum is the enormous collection of wax anatomical models from the 1700's. Incredibly realistic and lifelike, apparently they were copied from real corpses (shudder) and used to teach medicine in Florence.

However, what I found most fascinating was how the wax models were posed. You would think they would just be displayed on their backs or in whatever position made most sense, right?

Instead they were all displayed lounging about on pillows, propped with their legs delicately resting on what could have been a lounge chair, head flung to the side and fingers delicately resting on their throats, as if they are saying, "oh yes darling, please bring me some more tea and crumpets."

It was creepy. But fascinating, and definitely interesting and unique.
Renting an apartment with Go With Oh
Knowing that I wanted to experience a different side of Florence this time around, and to get as local as possible, I decided instead of a hotel or hostel, I'd rather try renting an apartment instead. Since I almost always travel alone, I opted for a one bedroom Go With Oh loft right in the center of everything. Literally I walked out of my door and I was 30 seconds from the Duomo. I couldn't believe the location!

Staying in an apartment was perfect for me as a solo female traveler, and it let me have the kind of independence and flexibility of cooking at home and feeling like I belong that I always look for on the road.

Of course this meant that I didn't want to leave! In fact, I loved this apartment so much I ended up staying in Florence longer than I meant to!

Right inside the Piazza della Signoria, I was no more than a few minutes walk away from just about all the major attractions, which I enjoyed walking around and exploring on the outside, avoiding the lines on the inside. The best of both worlds really.

There is just something about staying in an apartment instead of a hotel that gives you a different experience; if you're an independent traveler like me, sometimes you just need that.

My morning ritual quickly became wake up and hop across the piazza to a beautiful art-deco style cafe. At first I walked by it glancing in at the magnificent pastries displayed in the windows. Doesn't take much to draw in a girl.

Until now though, when I googled the name to write for this post, did I realize that Caffè Gilli is a Florentine institution, and a tremendously popular cafe. I had no idea at the time. I was sucked in by the beautiful chocolate croissants and bright colors.

Because I wanted only coffee and a pastry, I went inside to pick it out for myself, instead of sitting on the terrace outside. Let me let you in on a big ol' secret - in Italy, have your coffee and pastries standing at the bar, do not sit down. The price difference between table service and bar service, especially at a place like Gilli, is astronomical. I paid € 2,50 for a cappuccino and the best chocolate croissant outside of France every morning I was in Florence. That would have been over € 10 outside sitting.

Reading the reviews online for this place, I realized it has a horrible reputation for its terrace dining and people have been repeatedly ripped off and have left in anger. However, my experience standing inside at the bar (sometimes twice a day) was fabulous. It was never crowded and the people-watching was excellent. Also take note, Italians stand at the bar, foreigners sit for coffee.

If you want to fit in like a local, order your coffee and breakfast at the bar.
Have you ever been to Florence? Do you get sick of crowds traveling and how do you cope? Do you ever try to see a different side of a popular place on the road? Many thanks to Go with Oh and Walks of Italy for hosting me during my time in Florence. Like always, I'm keeping it real - all opinions are my own, like you could expect anything less from me!

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A Different Side of Florence - Young Adventuress

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Alternative things to do in Florence; from sleeping in an apartment to going on a local food tour, check out my guide to a different experience in Florence.

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Intercity trains connect major and minor cities in Italy to meet the different mobility requirements of medium to long distances, especially over less heavily traveled routes.

The vast majority of tourists in Italy focus on the primary destinations Rome, Venice and Florence, with Milan and Verona as secondary destinations. These big five are well-served by Italy's high-speed city-to-city rail lines.

The undiscovered beauty of the surrounding regions, however, is best accessed with Italy's extensive and convenient intercity train lines. With 86 daily connections, intercity trains reach more than 200 destinations in Italy.

You'll find an overview of some of the most popular intercity routes in the table below.

On Board Trains:

There is one first class car, 1 Grand Comfort, and 7 second class cars on these trains; there is always a cafe car where you can purchase beverages and snacks.

For your comfort, all intercity trains are air conditioned, equipped with a sound system and power sockets at each seat for your laptops or other electronic devices.

First class passengers receive a welcome drink and Depending on the time of day or week, a first class fare may not be much more expensive than a regular price ticket. If you feel like treating yourself, it's worth inquiring about the cost of an upgrade.

Rules:

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Italian Intercity - IC trains can be a fanstastic, cost-effective method to make your way throughout Italy. While typically much slower than high-speed trains, they can reach more places and are generally more affordable.

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Siena is likely Italy's loveliest medieval city, and a trip worth making even if you are in Tuscany for just a few days. Siena's heart is its central piazza known as Il Campo, known worldwide for the famous Palio run here, a horse race run around the piazza two times every summer. Movie audiences worldwide can see Siena and the Palio in the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace.

Siena is said to have been founded by Senius, son of Remus, one of the two legendary founders of Rome thus Siena's emblem is the she-wolf who suckled Remus and Romulus - you'll find many statues throughout the city. The city sits over three hills with its heart the huge piazza del Campo, where the Roman forum used to be. Rebuilt during the rule of the Council of Nine, a quasi-democratic group from 1287 to 1355, the nine sections of the fan-like brick pavement of the piazza represent the council and symbolizes the Madonna's cloak which shelters Siena.

The Campo is dominated by the red Palazzo Pubblico and its tower, Torre del Mangia. Along with the Duomo of Siena, the Palazzo Pubblico was also built during the same period of rule by the Council of Nine. The civic palace, built between 1297 and 1310, still houses the city's municipal offices much like Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. Its internal courtyard has entrances to the Torre del Mangia and to the Civic Museum. If you feel energetic, a climb up the over 500 steps will reward you with a wonderful view of Siena and its surroundings. The Museum, on the other hand, offers some of the greatest of Sienese paintings. The Sala del Concistoro houses one of Domenico Beccafumi's best works, ceiling frescoes of allegories on the virtues of Siena's medieval government. But it is the Sala del Mappamondo and the Sale della Pace that hold the palaces's highlights: Simone Martini's huge Maestà and Equestrian Portrait of Guidoriccio da Fogliano and Ambrogio Lorenzetti's Allegories of Good and Bad Government, once considered the most important cycle of secular paintings of the Middle Ages.

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Siena,Italy:Tourist Guide to Siena,Visit Siena Italy with Siena Pass

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Visit Siena, Italy with our travel guide, discover the medieval city of the Palio, the Duomo of Siena, Piazza del Campo, the museums of Siena, Italy

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Some of the most beautiful places in Italy are also some of the most beautiful in the world. In fact, few parts of the world can claim such a range of natural beauty as Italy, from craggy peaks and verdant hills to turquoise waters lined by white-sand beaches. The country is also to some of the best art and architecture you'll ever come across: We're talking about the astonishing cathedrals of Rome, the rainbows of houses flanking the canals in Venice, and the modern masterpieces of Milan. And while no list of the best could possibly begin to cover them all, we've done our best to round up 36 of the most beautiful places in Italy.

The good news? Wherever you choose to visit first, it's sure to be a hit in this country.
This article has been updated since its original publish date.

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No list declaring the "best" of Italy's multitudes of gorgeous sights could begin to cover them all, but we've done our very best to round up 36 of the country's most beautiful places.

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Top 10 Things To Do On Your First-Time Visit To Bologna

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If you’ve never been to Bologna, use this handy guide to make sure you don’t miss some of its top attractions!

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Naples, made famous as the birthplace of pizza, is a gritty city home to a wealth of historical treasures. The medieval Naples Cathedral, the 18th-century Villa Comunale park, and nearby Pompeii make Naples a must-see destination for history buffs and foodies alike.

Naples is the gateway to the south of Italy so you're very likely to come here if you're crisscrossing the country. Its location near Pompeii, Capri, and Sorrento makes it the perfect starting point for exploring the region.

Best of all, it's a foodie city like no other; I ate my weight in pizza during my visit!

This Naples travel guide can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your time in this iconic Italian city!

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Naples

1. Visit the Archaeological Museum of Naples

This museum has one of the world's best collections of Greek and Roman artifacts from both the city of Naples and nearby Pompeii. There's ancient jewelry, mosaics, bronzes, sculptures, and a cast of a girl who perished in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. The museum also contains a room that is referred to as the "Secret Cabinet," a collection of 1st-century Roman erotic art from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Admission is 15 EUR.

2. Check out Villa Comunale

King Ferdinand IV designed this strip of seaside land as a park for Bourbon royalty in the 1780s. Except for special events, it was closed to the public until 1869 after the unification of Italy. In addition to beautiful walkways and gardens, there is a vintage aquarium and several ornate fountains lining the 1-kilometer (0.62 miles) promenade.

3. Hike Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is the volcano that wiped out Pompeii and Herculaneum in 79 CE, killing thousands of people in the process. The hike is a fairly steep climb, but a short one (it's just 30-60 minutes). At the top, you'll be able to look into the volcano's crater and out across the Bay of Naples. The entry fee is 10 EUR and it must be purchased online in advance. It's easy to get here from Naples by taking the train and then transferring to a shuttle bus.

4. Explore Pompeii

The archaeological site of Pompeii lives up to the hype. Buried under 4-6 meters (13-20 feet) of volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted, the ancient Roman city was preserved as a snapshot in time. Today, you can wander the expansive, 160-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site with its excavated villas, baths, amphitheater, mosaics, frescoes, and gruesome casts of victims in their final moments. It's a fascinating place, and I spent a whole day here. You can visit the site on your own for 16 EUR, but the best way to make the most of your time is to take a guided tour to get the context of all the buildings and remains.

5. See the Duomo

The Duomo is a 13th-century Gothic cathedral dedicated to the city's patron saint, San Gennaro. The church is decorated with frescoes, reliefs, and mosaics from across the centuries. You can also descend into the crypt to see the archaeological remains of the ancient paleo-Christian church that the cathedral was built on top of. Every year, the Duomo hosts the Festival of San Gennaro, where a vial of the saint's dried blood is taken out of storage in hopes that it will liquefy. Legend states that if the blood does not liquefy, tragedy will befall Naples.

Other Things to See and Do in Naples

1. Take a free walking tour

One of the first things I do in a new destination is to take a free walking tour. It's the best way to see the main highlights and learn about the city from a local guide who can answer all your questions. Free Walking Tour Napoli offers a solid free tour that covers all the main sights. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!

2. Shop at Piazza del Mercato

This market has been Naples' main market square since the 13th century. It sells everything from household goods to fresh produce and handmade souvenirs. During the Christmas season, this place is jam-packed with even more stalls selling festive goods.

3. Watch a show at Teatro San Carlo

Opened in 1737, this is the world's oldest opera house, having survived wars, fires, and revolutions. The inside, with blue upholstery, gold décor, sparkling chandeliers, and almost 1,400 seats gives off a lavish and ornate atmosphere. If you can't catch a show here, at least do a guided tour for 7 EUR.

4. Explore Herculaneum

Herculaneum is the lesser-known cousin of Pompeii. It used to be a fishing village of about 4,000 inhabitants who all befell the same fate as the citizens of Pompeii. The site is also very well preserved and usually has fewer tourists. While I wouldn't skip Pompeii, you should also try to work in a visit here too. Tickets are 11 EUR. If you want to do a guided tour with an archeologist, tours are 45 EUR.

5. Watch a film under the stars

Every summer there is an open-air film festival held here called N'ato Cinema. It starts at the beginning of June and then runs every week until the end of July, with screenings of international films and family films. Tickets are just 4.50 EUR.

6. Visit Villa Floridiana

Originally built in 1816 as a gift from King Ferdinand I to his second wife Duchess Lucia Migliaccio, this estate has beautifully manicured gardens, expansive views over Naples Bay, and an ornate fountain filled with turtles. It also houses the National Museum of Ceramics. With over 6,000 pieces in the collection, you'll see everything from Japanese Edo ceramics to European pieces. It's 4 EUR to visit the museum.

7. Tour the Anfiteatro Flavio

This was once the third-largest amphitheater in all of Italy, dating back to 1 CE (only the Roman Colosseum and the amphitheater in Capua are larger). Started under Emperor Vespasian and completed by his son, over 40,000 people used to gather here to watch gladiator matches and other entertainment. Today, you can tour the various fallen columns and learn more about the history of the stadium and its events. Admission is 4 EUR.

8. Visit Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte

This is the Neapolitan National Gallery, a museum featuring work by Baroque and Renaissance artists. Some of the big names here include Giordano, Caravaggio, Bellini, El Greco, and Titian. Works date from the 13th to 18th century. Admission is 12 EUR.

9. Wander through Castelnuovo

Castelnuovo is a large medieval castle that stands out along the coastline. Come here to visit the art museum, which houses a gallery of 17th-19th century Italian paintings, including works from Luigi Crisconio and Carlo Vanvitelli. It's 6 EUR to visit and you will get some great views over Naples and the coast too.

10. Take the Underground Tour

This was my favorite activity in Naples. Located in the city center, you can take an underground tour to explore some of the historic ruins of the city, including ancient reservoirs and the remains of a Roman-era theater. You'll learn about how the city has been built upon and changed over its 2,400-year history. It costs 80 EUR, but it's worth every penny.

For more information on other cities in Italy, check out these guides:

Naples Travel Costs

Hostel prices - A dorm bed in a hostel with 4-6 beds costs 28-35 EUR per night, while a bed in a room with 8-12 beds costs 20-27 EUR per night. Private rooms range from 75-100 EUR per night. Prices don't fluctuate much with the seasons. Hostels usually include free Wi-Fi and some also include free breakfast.

For those traveling with a tent, camping is available outside the city for as little as 10 EUR per night for one person and a basic plot without electricity.

Budget hotel prices - There aren't many two-star budget hotels in Naples. For a three-star budget hotel, prices range from 60-100 EUR per night. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, AC, TV, and a coffee/tea maker. Some also include free breakfast.

On Airbnb, you can find private rooms for 35-60 EUR per night. Entire apartments cost closer to 100 EUR per night but expect prices to double if you don't book early.

Average cost of food - Italian cuisine is beloved around the world, though every region in Italy offers its own distinct flavor. Tomatoes, pasta, olives, and olive oil form the backbone of most meals, with meat and fish and various cheeses rounding out the menu.

Pizza, popularized here in the 18th century, is a must when you're in Naples. Spaghetti alla puttanesca (spaghetti with capers) and Caprese salad (a fresh salad with tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella) are two other local favorites.

Overall, you can eat very cheaply in Naples. As the birthplace of pizza, there is no shortage of options under 10 EUR. Try Pizzeria Sorbillo (it's famous for a reason). Most casual restaurants offer pizza or pasta dishes for 10 EUR or less.

For other affordable eats, head to just about anywhere along Via dei Tribunali. Chinese takeout is another low-cost option, costing 5-7 EUR for a dish.

If you want to splash out, a three-course meal at a mid-range restaurant serving traditional Italian cuisine costs around 25 EUR.

Fast food (thick McDonald's) costs around 8 EUR for a combo meal. Beer is around 3 EUR while a latte/cappuccino costs around 1.50 EUR. Bottled water is less than 1 EUR.

If you're staying somewhere with a kitchen, a week's worth of groceries costs 50-60 EUR. This gets you basic staples like pasta, seasonal produce, and some meat.

Backpacking Naples Suggested Budgets

On a backpacking budget of 60 EUR per day, you can stay in a hostel dorm, cook all your meals, limit your drinking, take public transportation to get around, and do mostly free activities like strolling the parks and taking free walking tours. If you plan on drinking, add 5-10 EUR to your daily budget.

On a mid-range budget of 135 EUR per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb, eat out for most meals, enjoy a few drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like visiting the museums and taking a day trip to Pompeii.

On a "luxury" budget of 230 EUR or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out for all your meals, drink more, rent a car or take more taxis, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

Use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages - some days you'll spend more, some days you'll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in EUR.

Naples Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Naples isn't as expensive as northern Italian cities like Rome or Florence but it's still easy to blow your budget if you eat out a lot and do lots of activities. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to save here too. Here's how you can save money in Naples:

1. Eat on the cheap - Have a pizza or take a sandwich to go for just a few dollars to help manage your spending. Pizza is the best food in Naples and won't break the bank.

2. Get the Visitalia Tourist Card Napoli - If you are going to do lots of sightseeing, this tourist card provides discounts on the top museums, tours, and attractions. It's priced to save you money compared to buying separate tickets and includes free public transportation. A one-day pass costs 14.50 EUR, a two-day pass costs 19 EUR, and a three-day pass costs 23.50 EUR. There's even a week-long pass for just 26.80 EUR.

3. Buy wine instead of going to a bar - You can buy a great bottle of wine for just a few euros at the store. It's a lot cheaper than drinking at the bar.

4. Stay with a local - Accommodation is quite expensive in Italy, even in the hostels. Use Couchsurfing to stay with locals who have extra beds and couches for free. It's a great way to save money and connect with locals who can share their tips and advice. Just make sure to send your requests early.

5. Go on a free walking tour - This is a great way to learn the history behind the places you are seeing and to avoid missing any must-see stops. Free Walking Tour Napoli runs regular tours to help you get your bearings and see the main highlights. Just don't forget to tip your tour guide!

6. Bring a water bottle - The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built-in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Naples

Looking for an affordable place to stay when you visit? Here are some of my recommended places to stay in Naples:

How to Get Around Naples

Public transportation - When it comes to public transportation in Naples, it's best to get a TIC (Ticket Integrato Campani) ticket, which works on all city metro, bus, and funicular services. A single ticket costs 1.60 EUR and is good for 90 minutes. A one-day pass is 4.50 EUR and a weekly ticket is 15.80 EUR.

The bus isn't the most efficient way to get around Naples, but it's useful for navigating Corso Umberto (the long main commercial street) since there is a designated bus lane.

Naples has a metro, but it doesn't have an extensive network so the bus is usually a better idea.

Train - The Circumvesuviana trains from Napoli Centrale runs to Sorrento for 4.50 EUR, and Herculaneum for 2.20 EUR. Pompeii costs just 2.80 EUR. The Ferrovia Cumana trains run to Pozzuoli for 2.20 EUR.

A great resource to use when planning your trip via train is ItaliaRail.

Taxis - Taxis are not cheap here. Meter rates start from 4.25 EUR and cost 1 EUR per kilometer. Skip the taxis if you can as they add up fast. If you do need a taxi, make sure the driver uses the meter so you don't get ripped off.

Bike rental - Naples is a bike-friendly city and rentals can be found for as little as 10 EUR per day.

Car rental - Cars can be rented for around 30-40 EUR per day for a multi-day rental. However, traffic in Naples is terrible so I'd only rent a car if you're heading out to do some day trips. Additionally, drivers here are on the aggressive side, so I'd only rent a car if you're an experienced driver.

When to Go to Naples

Thanks to its location on the Mediterranean, Naples is warm year-round. The summer months (June-August) are the most popular time to visit but they are also scorching, with temperatures usually above 31°C (88°F). July is also the driest month of the year. Many Italians take their vacations in August, so it gets particularly crowded here then. Expect accommodation to be booked well in advance (and to be more expensive) during this time.

Personally, I think the shoulder seasons are the best time to visit Naples (April-May and September-October). You'll avoid peak tourism season and you'll still have nice weather. Temperatures average around 22°C (72°F) which is much more tolerable.

This is especially a good time to visit Naples if your priority is going to Pompeii or Herculaneum. There will be fewer crowds and you will be a lot more comfortable exploring the ruins in cooler temperatures. There isn't much shade at these sites and very few places to sit and take breaks.

December to February are the coldest months, with daily highs around 8°C (46°F). This isn't the best time to visit, but prices will be a little lower and the crowds are gone.

How to Stay Safe in Naples

Naples is a very safe place to backpack and travel but often gets a bad rap for being a bit grittier than other places in Italy. Pickpocketing is the most common crime you'll encounter here so you need to stay vigilant in crowded areas (especially on public transportation). Always keep your valuables secure and out of reach.

When taking a taxi, always make sure they use the meter so you don't get ripped off.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (don't leave your drink unattended at the bar, don't walk around alone at night intoxicated, etc.).

While scams here are rare, if you're worried about getting ripped off you can read about common travel scams to avoid here.

The Spanish Quarter is a little sketchy at night, so avoid that area after dark or if you're alone.

If you're walking everywhere, stay alert! The traffic in Naples is crazy, and drivers do not respond to traffic lights very well. Be careful when crossing the street.

If you experience an emergency, dial 113 for assistance.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It's comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I've had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Naples Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

Skyscanner - Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.

Hostelworld - This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.

Booking.com - The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they've always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.

HostelPass - This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It's a great way to save money. They're constantly adding new hostels too. I've always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.

Get Your Guide - Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!

The Man in Seat 61 - This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.

Rome2Rio - This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.

FlixBus - Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.

SafetyWing - Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.

LifeStraw - My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.

Unbound Merino - They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.

Top Travel Credit Cards - Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here's my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

BlaBlaCar - BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, and off you go! It's a cheaper and more interesting way to travel than by bus or train!

Naples Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I've written on backpacking/traveling Italy and continue planning your trip:

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A comprehensive budget travel guide to Naples with tips on things to do, costs, ways to save money, transportation, and more!