Other Destinations in Italy > Italy Experience

Advantages: Fantastic Scenery, wonderfully friendly locals, few tourists.
Disadvantages: None

I am in two minds whether to write this review, having travelled all over Italy I have found a hidden gem and its always tempting to keep this kind of thing to yourself. However it deserves to be shared and discovered. Where am I talking about? The Appennines of Emilia Romagna. Most people only know the region of Emilia Romagna with regard to the main cities of the Po delta, namely, Modenna, Parma, Bologna and if you are a culture vulture maybe Ferrara ...
...this area of Italy than the cities and the food. So where shall I begin? The Scenery The Appennine region of Emilia Romagna, to the South of the Po Delta is an area of outstanding beauty and dramatic landscape. Unlike the Dolomites it does not have the dramatic main ridge, rather it has many ranges all at different angles over the region, and of course the dramatic Pietra de Bismantova which rises up like a giant table in the middle of the appennines. ... Read review

Advantages: Snowmaking facilities, relaxed skiing, Winter Olympics resort
Disadvantages: Only 50% pistes open

I have just come back from a week's skiing in Sestriere. The resort is situated in the Italian Alps quite close to the French border. I was a bit worried about the snow and weather reports before we went but at least 50% of the runs were open but it was not possible to link up with the other resorts in the famous Milky Way. However, as an intermediate level skier, I found plenty of enjoyable red runs in and around the resort. The resort is relatively ...
...suffered from breathing difficulties because of this. The resort is going to host the 2006 Olympics and there was quite a lot of building work in progress which did tend to have an adverse effect on our enjoyment of the scenery. We travelled with Equity Ski, who offer an all inclusive deal. The transfer from Turin airport is relatively quick at one and a half hours. We stayed in the Cavaliere hotel which was a 15 minute walk away from the centre ... Read review

Advantages: beauty, history, people, just about everything!
Disadvantages: probably very touristy in the Italian season

...south of the region to Foggia in the north, some of the olive groves give way to vineyards and then wheat fields - we are approaching Tavoliere, the plain round Foggia; the biggest wheat-producing area in Italy which makes Puglia a true land of bread and pasta as well as olive oil. Foggia is the capital of Capitanata province and constitutes a major transport hub and a convenient launching point for Gargano. Gargano which is the spur on Italy's ...
...the way back to Foggia and then again after my date mishap (see Grand Hotel Tiziano review) which resulted in having another day in Lovely Lecce! For the rest of the our stay we camp near Mattinata, a town descending down a hillside above a coastal plain which stretches for 2 miles below and on which most of the holiday accommodation is located amongst the olive and lemon groves. Its white-washed buildings, winding streets and interconnecting steps ... Read review

Advantages: Weather, Food, People, Beach, sea, views
Disadvantages: A lot more can be done for disabled

Diano Marina is a seaside town nestling on the Italian Riviera in North West Italy. We chose to visit Diano Marina in July, which upon hindsight may not have been the wisest time as the temperatures got quite hot. It was our first our first time to Italy. Our tour guide recommended September/October for visiting or earlier in the year such as April/May. However, we were here and we were going to make the most of it – regardless of the hotness or ...
...hour trip by coach to Diano Marina. The journey between Nice and Diano Marina is nothing if not spectacular. It truly is the most awe inspiring views I have ever seen (but then I am not a seasoned traveller). The motorway (auto strata) on which you travel to Diano Marina is several hundred feet high and despite my fear of heights, I just couldn’t get enough of the mountainous coastal scenes. Diano Marina itself is a relatively small town with a ... Read review

Advantages: Nice small city
Disadvantages: None

...to visit Bergamo. Bergamo is situated at the feet of Orobiche Alps. It si divided in two parts, the high and lower part. Locals are mocked over the country for their Funny way of describing the 2 parts in the their dilect, which is reputedly one of the most difficult to understand to anyone who was not born there. The main monument is Palazzo della Regione dating back to the 12th Century. Next to it is the tower of the county hall, from the 13th ...
...old medieval walls. Bergamo is also a place where you can have good food. I would recoomend you try "polsetto di vitello alla bergamasca" a very tender piece of veal and "Polenta e codeghi", which is the traditional Polenta with a speacial kind of salami. Wash your meal with one of the wines form the nearby valleys, Inferno and Sassella are my favourites. ... Read review