Expert Recommendations for Amazing Itineraries

Siena’s Duomo is a stunning mix of black-and-white marble that stands out in the heart of the city. Inside, its striped columns and intricate mosaic floors make it one of Italy’s most beautiful churches. The Piccolomini Library, with its colorful frescoes, is a hidden gem worth exploring. For an incredible view over Siena, climb up to the panoramic terrace. Whether you love history, art, or just a great view, this cathedral is a must-see.

This great enoteca is at the top of the hill and has a huge variety of wines to try. You can select the amount of your pour as well. Since it’s at the top of the hill, it’s a quick walk to the Comune building, the Piazza Grande and the Cattedrale.

Great spot to stop for a pizza and salad for lunch. The staff is friendly and welcoming. If you are lucky to get one of the sidewalk tables, you’ll have a fun view of all the tourists in this lovely little town.

This wine shop, owned by a lovely and helpful couple, is a great place to stop to ask questions and learn about the local wines. They do not do tastings but they are full of information and suggestions. We stopped first, just to buy a bottle of Nebbiolo for our dinner in the apartment. The wine was so good, we went back to ask to have some shipped home for us. Their prices are fair and there is a huge amount to choose from plus they over different vintages that they have in their cellar. We even got advice about which wines to drink and which to hold on to for a few years. Bruna arranged to have the bottles shipped home and we would recommend them to anyone!

This wine tasting room is in the basement of the Wine Museum in the castle in Barolo. There is an enomatic machine which dispenses tastings of over 30 wines, all from the region. The staff is kind and helpful in explaining about the wines, the region and the production of the regional king, the nebbiolo grape. This organization also has shops in Barbaresco, Grizano Cavour,

The Ferrari Museum was a fun stop when we visited Modena. It’s easy to walk to from the train station and we enjoyed touring the slick, modern museum and seeing all the famous cars. We had a quick bite to eat in their lobby cafe which we enjoyed! It’s a fun stop in Modena and if you feel like spending a few euro, you can even sit in one of the new Ferraris for a photo.

Every year in early October, the folks in Bardolino get together for an epic wine festival. There is a panoramic walkway around the seafront and during the festival, it is lined with stalls serving delicious Bardolino red wine and a variety of foods. The food stalls are run by (or maybe for?) local organization and companies and they seem to be staffed entirely of folks from town. The food is all delicious and local — a particular type of risotto (with sausage) that is yummy. There is a stew that features donkey meat, again a local specialty along with lots of other options. The tourists leave at sunset and that’s when the fun begins with a live band, dancing and a disco-like atmosphere. The best thing about this festival is the way you can tell it’s all local people — with a few Germans mixed in. We did not hear any English the whole two days!

This is a great place to stop for lunch! It’s right in the centro, in between Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza Risorgimento. We had a beer and split a prosciutto e formaggio on focaccia. The staff is helpful and friendly and the panini are excellent. They have a few tables on the street or take your panino “a piedi” (to walk, meaning to go). They also have other sandwiches and pizza by the slice.

If you leave the city out of the Porta Berarda, walking down the Via Guiseppe Maffei, you’ll come to a beautiful church and park, just outside the city gates.
This park is a quiet place to sit for a minute and enjoy the lovely views.
We saw children playing and people with dogs walking which made it feel just like home!

There is a legend that if you can roll a coin down the Porcellino’s tongue, you’ll have good luck. You can tell it is a well known story as the bronze statue’s nose is shiny from people rubbing it for luck! The statue is at the end of one of the big famous leather markets in town, so make sure to take time to peruse the stalls for a new wallet, purse or belt. In the evening, when the stalls are closed, there is space for musicians to setup and serende the evening crowd.

This shop, located right on Piazza Michele Ferrero is full of amazing tastes and smells. Here you can buy your Piedmontese olive oil along with many different types of spreads and toppings. They allow you to taste the oil so you can learn the difference between the types offered. My absolute favorite is the Pistachio Pesto — you can spread that on pizza, pasta, pastries…. even just plain old sliced white bread – and it is absolutely delicious. Luckily this is a chain in other parts of Italy and they have an online store where you can have items shipped.

The Galleria is an expansive outdoor mall with very high end fashion shops and lovely restaurants. There is a spot in the center of the galleria where you may see people forming a line. The famous legend centers on the mosaic of a bull set into the floor at the intersection of the arcade. According to tradition, if you place your right heel on the bull’s genitals and spin around three times, it brings good luck. The mosaic represents the coat of arms of Turin (which features a bull). Over time, Milanese locals turned it into a playful superstition—part good-luck ritual, part gentle poke at their northern rivals in Turin. The exact origin is fuzzy, but it’s been practiced for decades, and visitors from all over the world join in.

For €12 per person (in September 2025), you can take a boat tour around the peninsula of Sirmione. The ride is about an hour and I’m so glad I did this tour. Keep an eye on the queue so hopefully you can get a spot on a boat that is not overfilled with tourists. I only had 7 other people on my boat. The captain explains the history of the region as we toured and it was interesting to see the bubbling spots in the lake. Sirmione has been known for its thermal waters since Roman times, and the lake bottom in certain areas is geologically active. The water near these spots is often slightly warmer and rich in minerals, which is why thermal baths and spa resorts thrive in the area; they’re part of what makes Sirmione’s lake waters unique.

This tiny gelato shop is my exception to the rule. I normally say not to stop at the places right in the tourist areas, but this gelato is so delicious it makes sense to grab a double on a cone and find a spot in the piazza to enjoy it and people watch.

A wonderful spot to stop for an authentic and delicious gelato. I went for the straticella and limone. Many times when we passed by there was a line waiting for their cones!

Well known Neapolitan pizzaiolo, Gino Sorbillo, has an restaurant here in the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. This is a great place to stop for lunch and enjoy some truly delicious pizza. We never go outside the normal when treated to amazing pizza in Italy so we ordered a margarita pizza. We enjoyed a spritz and a beer while sitting outside on the side street of the Galleria.

This small ristorante in the Monti neighborhood of Rome has the most delicious Cacio e Pepe pasta. Their cute tables outside are perfect for a nice dinner! I enjoyed having a solo dinner there while waiting for the rest of my group to arrive and the folks at the restaurant were attentive and kind. Just ate my dinner while reading my book and watching the world go by.

This amazing restaurant is an Instagram phenomenon. Set in a cave, every table has the view of a lifetime. The menu is extravagant and expensive but worth every penny. The food is delicious, the service is impeccable and it will definitely be a memorable evening. Reservations are hard to get so plan accordingly but if you have a special occasion while in Italy and are putting Puglia on your itinerary, this restaurant will be perfect for your celebration!

Yes, there is a picture of Guy Fieri on the wall. But it makes sense because the pizza is delicious. 10/10 — definitely recommend and can’t wait to go back. It’s right by the Piazza di Santo Spirito so don’t miss that when you are there. They offer lots of different toppings and the vibe is very friendly and warm!

Situated on the left side of the Piazza Ferrero, we once again enjoyed sitting outside and watching the world go by. We decided to try another traditional dish called Vitello Tonnato. It is a classic Piedmontese specialty made of thinly sliced chilled veal, topped with a creamy tuna, caper, and anchovy sauce. It is one of the most famous traditional dishes of the region and is served on every menu. The combination was surprisingly tasty. The veal was tender and cooked to perfection and the tuna sauce is light and does not overpower the meat. While we did not order it again during our visit, we were happy to have tasted it once.
The restaurant has a full menu with pizzas, pastas and more plus a comprehensive wine list.