Favorite Places in Italy to Keep Coming Back To

What are your favorite places in Italy?

Let’s create a guidebook of places and travel ideas for Italy together. Write in detail in the comments about your favorite places in the land of sun and wine. What impression did they make on you? Why should they be visited?

I’ll start with myself. My list of places I want to return to looks like this:

1. Rome
2. Ischia Island
3. Umbria and the city of Assisi
4. Abruzzo
5. Trapani, Sicily
6. Venice
7. Genoa

Rome

I believe that Rome is a city where you can live ten lives and still not fully discover it. It all depends on the level of immersion. Since we don’t have ten lives, we have to make an effort to see everything there.

You won’t find such a number of sights, historical volume, and cultural heritage in any other city in the world. I lived in Rome for 7 years, and my list of interesting places to visit keeps expanding. In the Eternal City, the saying about the more you learn, the more you realize how much you don’t know holds true. Truly, Socrates was right!

Even when I leave Rome for a week, I immediately start missing it. Tourists can definitely keep coming back to Rome endlessly.

Ischia

My friends and I go to Ischia Island twice a year, usually in April and October. It is there, on Mount San Montano, where our favorite hotel with thermal springs is located. Check out the video:

We usually spend 3-4 days at the hotel, recharging our batteries. If paradise exists, it definitely looks a lot like San Montano.

• Read more about thermal springs in Ischia

Umbria

I have several favorite places in Umbria. During the summer, we often stay near the city of Assisi at the Relais Parco Subasio villa mainly because of its proximity to the city, seclusion in the mountains, swimming pool, and theи Da Giovannino restaurant.

Umbria is a unique, very green, and beautiful region that is only surpassed by Tuscany in terms of the number of tourists, surprisingly enough.

In July 2018, we discovered another magical place, Agriturismo Casale Dei Frontini. Watch the video:

Abruzzo

Abruzzo is the most underrated region of Italy among tourists, and I absolutely enjoy returning there. In Abruzzo, we indulge in eating Arrosticini, the Italian version of lamb skewers

We have stayed near the sea next to Pescara several times. We rented this house for a group of 5 people for 100 euros per day.

Watch how Italians dance joyfully on the beach in the town of Silvi:

Last summer, we also spent three days with our phones turned off at FILIPPONE HOTEL&RISTORANTE.

We had delicious food at the hotel restaurant, conversed, read books, walked around the surroundings, and listened to the birds singing.

I’m happy to go anywhere and anytime in Abruzzo, as it only takes 2 hours from Rome.

Trapani, Sicily

Trapani was where I first encountered Sicily and Italian culture in general. In 2013, when I came here for the first time, I met Mario and Antonella, who became friends with our family. I have visited Trapani no less than ten times and have brought all my loved ones here.

Trapani is the western part of Sicily, practically unknown and unspoiled by tourists. Yes, there is no infrastructure and service here, but it’s exactly this “wild Sicily” that attracts us.

We stay in apartments or villas.

A minimum five-day plan includes:

1. Favignana island on bikes
2. The cloud city of Erice Erice
3. Strolling through Trapani and enjoying pizza while admiring the sunset on the pier
4. Zingaro national park, the video
5. San Vito Lo Capo beach. See tips for choosing a hotel in San Vito for a seaside vacation.

It often happens that there is at least one newcomer to Sicily in our group, so we have to repeat the perfect plan and introduce them to the local attractions.

And, of course, endless visits to Bar Tiffany for coffee and delicious Sicilian desserts. Dinners at local restaurants.

And contemplating sunsets:

Venice

Although Venice is the most expensive and touristy city in Italy, we still love to go back there. This city has a uniqueness and magic that captivate us from the very first time.

It has become a great tradition for us to witness the sunrise in Piazza San Marco  – we usually take a walk through the empty Venice early in the morning, and we love seeing it empty, enchanting, and just the way we love it.

Genoa

I never thought I would mention Genoa, but it pleasantly surprised me:

1. The food, or rather, the feast that was served to us during lunch at Hostaria I Maneggi;
2. The incredibly beautiful Basilica della Santissima Annunziata, as beautiful as Roman churches
3. The sights, scale, and coziness of the city

I’m looking forward to your advice and lists of favorite places in Italy in the comments. Let’s inspire each other to travel and explore this beautiful country!