Italy Insider tips

Antonella Deuster

Tourlane Travel Expert for Italy

I come from Germany, but part of my family lives in Sicily, in a small town at the foot of Mount Etna. That's where I've spent all my summers so far. During my studies, I lived in Rome for six months and explored the surrounding regions from there. I also lived in Milan for a while and was able to discover the northern regions, mountain landscapes and lakes of Italy on my own.

What I love about Italy is the different landscapes, the linguistic diversity and, of course, the food.

Typical Festivals

Italians love their sagras, traditional festivals at harvest time that are all about regional specialties. While the Sagra del Tartufo di Alba is celebrated in Piedmont, the Sagra della Polenta causes a stir in Lombardy.

Meanwhile, the Sagra delle Polpette di Avetrana is celebrated in Puglia, the Sagra del Peperoncino in Calabria and the Sagra del Pistacchio in Bronte. The various sagras offer a fantastic opportunity to experience Italian cuisine and culture up close.

Traditional Markets

Italy is known for its first-class cuisine. That's why it's worth visiting the colorful weekly markets. Marvel at the diverse range of products on offer at markets such as the Mercato Centrale in Turin.

Watch the market criers at Catania's traditional Mercato del Pesce. Try stigghiole (grilled lamb intestine skewers) or pane e panelle at the Vuccirìa in Palermo. Or buy fresh fruit and vegetables and vintage clothing at the Mercato Isola in Milan.

Local Cuisine

Almost every Italian city has at least one local specialty. So take the opportunity to let Italy literally melt in your mouth. Don't miss the trapezoidal nut nougat chocolate Gianduiotti or the Bicerin coffee in Turin, which is made with plenty of milk foam and chocolate.

But a mortadella panino in Bologna or a saffron risotto with ossobuco in Milan are also almost a culinary must on a trip to Italy. If you visit Sicily, you can't go past the popular cannoli and arancini.

Underground Italy

Explore Italy from a completely new perspective and discover the fascinating archaeological sites, catacombs and ancient sites of Italia Sotterranea.

Naples, in particular, is full of fascinating underground sites such as the Galleria Borbonica or the catacombs of San Gennaro and San Gaudioso. Alternatively, the underground Imperial Forums in Rome or the Paleochristian Porta D'Ossuna and the Qanat Labyrinth in Palermo are great places to explore. The air raid shelter from the Second World War in Turin is also well worth a visit.

Insider Tip: Venice

Mingle with the locals in Venice and explore the picturesque city on a Bacaro tour. You can enjoy typical Venetian wine (ombra) as well as traditional delicacies such as the popular cicheti in the quaint little taverns.

While most bacaros only have a bar or one or two small tables, the traditional taverns impress with their unmistakable flair and affordable prices. You can usually get a glass of wine for just €1-3.

Relaxed Train Journeys

If you mainly want to explore the larger cities in northern Italy, you can confidently do without a rental car. The Italian rail network and its regional and high-speed trains work perfectly here.

The Frecciarossa takes just one hour from Milan to Turin, for example. What's more, there is first-class Wi-Fi on board and seats are automatically allocated when you buy your ticket. In contrast, patience is required when traveling by train on the islands and in more rural regions in the south of the country.