Italy is my country. I’ve spent a long time there, I studied abroad there, and I get a huge smile on my face each time I return, excited for the food and the wine and the beautiful people.
As a result, my readers are always asking me for Italy advice. Most of the time, people want help with their itinerary, and I give them a variation of the Rome-Florence-Venice route with a day or two in the countryside.
I was wrong.
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So here is my new advice for visiting Italy: rent a car and drive into the countryside. Visit every small town that catches your fancy. Book a few days at an agriturismo. Eat everything you set your eyes on.
It’s not Rome, and it’s not Venice, but it’s a very different kind of Italian experience, and one that I enjoyed greatly. If you’re planning a trip to Italy for the first time, consider taking the Umbrian route instead!
Sounds good. Personally, I’ve always liked the idea of riding a bike through the Italian countryside. Maybe one day.