“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” ― Bill Bryson
“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” ― Bill Bryson
From the crumbling forum in Rome and the infamously leaning tower in Pisa to the stunning beaches of the Amalfi Coast and the fashion capital in luxurious Milan. And that's just the beginning.
Venice, Florence, Sicily, Naples, Lucca, Verona, Capri, Cinque Terre - each city, island and countryside town, will leave you falling even more in love with this beautiful, wonderful, incredible country. Time to confess, I am of Italian heritage.
But having grown up in Melbourne, Australia with all things true blue, I am convinced that my love of the country is honest and pure. The reviews I've heard from travellers gone by vary wildly, but this is my promise to you: follow my tips and you'll leave Italy feeling like you just left home.
From where to stay and what to eat, to things to see and bars that cannot be missed - read through my Rome city guide for everything you need to know about beautiful Roma.
Cinque Terre is one of those places you see in photos and wonder if it could ever truly exist. The image of perfection, the five towns of the Cinque Terre are vibrant clusters of colourful buildings perched one after the other, along the north-western coastline of Italy in an area called La Spezia.
If you're currently drifting through the streets of Rome (lucky!), planning a trip or simply dreaming of a Roman getaway - bear these ideas in mind and you'll be sure to leave this city with a satisfied belly, stunning happy snaps, unforgettable memories and a perpetual yearning for more - you've been warned!
If one could imagine Venice sans the gondolas and countless tourists, with wider canals and cobble footpaths but with that same enchanting feel, then that is Treviso Italy.
Lipari is one of my favourite places on this Earth. Sunrises and sunsets are always captivating to me but they somehow felt more magical in this place than they have in almost any other.
In a city as magnificent as Rome it's not hard to imagine the vast number of places from which you can witness the beauty of the setting sun but finding a prime spot above The Forum should not be overlooked.
Pass by La Bocca Della Verita to find an equally romantic, if not more romantic, and certainly much less crowded spot to unwind in this beautiful Eternal City.
There’s something to be said for waking up early. It's the ultimate struggle, but drag yourself out of bed before the sunrises in Rome and you'll be thanking yourself later for sure.
Sometimes you need to take the bad in with the good. In Rome, that means with the incredible architecture and delicious food, you need to accept some of the most unreliable public transportation you may ever have experienced.
Beautiful scenery, delicious home made cuisine and the most peaceful atmosphere - Lake Bracciano has it all!
I had my very own ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ moment. No, it wasn’t a moment of absolute clarity while getting in touch with my spiritual side in an Ashram in India, and unfortunately it was not falling for a suave and sexy Javier Bardem type while exploring exotic landscapes in Bali.
‘Treviso is like a little Venice’ my cousin Francesco said to me as we drove from the train station through town, while my eyes hungrily took in the sites whirling passed me. It’s a strange thing to find yourself in a place that you’ve never seen before, but where you feel an immediate connection, like you’ve found another piece to a puzzle you thought you had already completed.
I have a love. It’s a strong and pure kind of love, of the life-long variety. When we are together I feel absolute bliss, even if everything else in life feels in complete disarray. It’s one of those relationships that can survive time and distance.
