Are you planning a trip to Italy? Check out our recommendations for some of the best things to do in Italy! Need advice on where to stay in Italy? Check out my post on where we slept in Italy.
Best Things to Do in Italy
When we left for Italy this past summer for a family trip, my youngest daughter announced that she planned to eat pizza for lunch and pasta for dinner every day of our trip. And I am just going to own it. She pretty much got her wish.!
But our trip wasn’t all about carb loading. We hit Rome, Pompeii, Florence, Milan, Lake Como, and Piedmont. Here’s a recap of our trip highlights.
Eat Artichoke Hearts in Rome
One of the most memorable meals of our trip was our dinner at Ristorante Piperno. The restaurant, which cookbook author and food blogger @mimithor says is her favorite restaurant in Rome, has been in business since 1860. And it’s tucked away on a beautiful, tiny piazza in Rome’s historic Jewish quarter. And it’s known for its classic Roman dishes.
In addition to the artichokes, we also tried the Fiori di Zucca ripieni e Fritti (fried stuffed zucchini flowers) and several pasta dishes.
Tip: If you go in warm weather, make sure to ask for a table outside!
Celebrate St. John’s Feast Day in Florence
So I have to admit that we ended up in Florence on June 23, the eve of one of the city’s biggest holidays, by serendipity. We’d never even heard of the Feast Day for San Giovanni, which celebrates Florence’s patron saint, St. John the Baptist. But we’re glad we made it.
Florence sure knows how to throw a party!
St. John’s Feast Day in Florence
The holiday kicks off with a city-wide parade of men and horses dressed in medieval costumes. There is the final match for Calcio Storico Fiorentino in the afternoon, which is held in the renowned Piazza Santa Croce. Calcio Storico is an ancient form of football, which was first played in the 16th century in Renaissance Florence. It’s a brutal mix of soccer, rugby, and wrestling and allows players to head butt, punch, elbow, and choke.
The day is topped off with an incredible fireworks display called i Fochi di San Giovanni. We watched the fireworks from the balcony of our hotel room at the Hotel Plaza Lucchesi. The hotel is located on the banks of the Arno river and directly across the river from where the fireworks are set off at dal Piazzale Michelangelo. The hotel also has a roof-top swimming pool with views of the whole city.
Read more about the hotel here.
Explore Piedmont Like a Local
We came to the Piedmont region of Italy to drink the Barolo. I immediately fell in love with the dreamy landscape of rolling hills littered with ancient hilltop towns, hazelnut trees, and of course, grapevines. We rented a 400-year-old villa with friends for our stay in the region. This charming, 7-bedroom restored farmhouse (with a pool and wifi) provided the perfect base for exploring the Piemont region. And for just hanging out.
What made this part of the trip truly special, though, was the itinerary that the villa’s owner, Clay, put together for us. Clay is an American professional photographer who has relocated to this tiny corner of Italy to enjoy la dolce vita. He’s also a great cook! On our first night, he treated us to one of our favorite meals of our trip: a welcome dinner of homemade, wood-fired pizzas and grilled vegetables.
Clay also set up a pasta-making classes class for us with the super-talented chef, Stefania, who owns a charming (and excellent) restaurant in the nearby town of Bossolasco. Her restaurant, the Drogheria di Langa, is located in a lovingly-restored, historic building perched on a hilltop overlooking the Barolo region. The night we were there, we were able to watch a lightning storm from our table. My mouth is watering just thinking about her food, especially her plin pasta!
Truffle Hunting in Piedmont
We hit the jackpot while hunting for truffles thanks to Danilo Galliano and his dog Lila (another activity set up by Clay). And of course, we also went wine tasting! We spent an incredible day touring, tasting, and meeting the winemakers at G.D. Vajra and Bartolo Mascarello. For lunch, we made a leisurely break at Vinoteca Centro Storico. This small restaurant, located in Serralunga D’Alba at the base of the Serralunga D’Alba castle, is a don’t-miss spot for great wine, pasta, and cured meats like prosciutto.
Shop the Designer Sales in Milan
I did not have high expectations for our visit to Milan. I’d never been to the city before. But I had heard it was not as charming and historic (it was bombed extensively during World War II) as other Italian regions. But I ended up charmed by the city’s unique character! Milan has a flavor all it’s own with its brightly-colored, vintage streetcars, majestic Duomo (make sure you check out the roof deck if you visit), and the famous La Scala Theater. Leonardo da Vinci’s famous fresco, The Last Supper, is also located in Milan. But we couldn’t get tickets while we were there.
Tip: Make sure to plan well in advance ahead if you want to see The Last Supper.
I also loved the designer sales, which kicked off right as we arrived in early July! Can you blame me?
Take a Boat Ride on Lake Como
Lake Como has been on my bucket list for a while now. And I was so excited to get to visit. We were lucky enough to stay right on the lake at the beautiful 75-room Castadiva Resort and Spa, which is located in a historic villa just a short drive from the town of Como. (UPDATE: the Costadiva Resort and Spa is now the Mandarin Oriental Lake Como).
It was warm when we arrived at our hotel, and we ate lunch on the outdoor overlooking the water and the hotel’s floating pool. But shortly afterward, the weather turned, and it rained on and off for the rest of our stay.
The sun did come out for our 4-hour boat tour of the lake. We were picked up at the hotel’s private boat dock in a Venetian-style, wooden taxi boat. For the next several hours, our tour guide, Anna Maria Gilardoni, took us on a tour of the lake’s ancient waterside villages and famous villas (including George Clooney’s).
We stopped at the breathtakingly beautiful Villa del Balbianello (you might recognize this fairytale location for movies including A Month by the Lake, Casino Royale, and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones). And at the town of Bellagio for some shopping for locally made silk products.
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