WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:03.640 Twenty twenty seven seems a long way into the future 2 00:00:03.759 --> 00:00:05.919 right now, but it's going to come around quicker than 3 00:00:05.960 --> 00:00:08.039 you think. For those of us who don't live in 4 00:00:08.039 --> 00:00:10.720 Europe or who like to do a forward travel planning, 5 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:13.199 the best time to start planning your trip to Italy 6 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:16.800 next year starts right now. So on today's episode, we 7 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:20.920 are getting organized for travels in Italy in twenty twenty seven. 8 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:32.439 Saatuti and Benvenuti to one Told Italy the travel podcast 9 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:35.439 to where you go to the towns and villages, mountains 10 00:00:35.479 --> 00:00:39.759 and lakes, hills and coastlines of Belli, Italia. It's week 11 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:42.920 your host Katie Clark takes you on a journey in 12 00:00:42.960 --> 00:00:48.439 a search of magical landscapes, history, culture, wine, gelato, and 13 00:00:48.600 --> 00:00:51.759 of course a whole lot of pasta. If you're dreaming 14 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:55.359 of Italy and planning future adventures there, you've come to 15 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:56.280 the right place. 16 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:09.840 Jaoaduti and ven Venuti, Welcome back to the Untold Italy 17 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:13.000 Travel Podcast. I'm your host, Katie Clark, and this is 18 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:15.640 the show for people who want to travel Italy, be 19 00:01:15.719 --> 00:01:17.760 on the checklist and get right to the heart of 20 00:01:17.799 --> 00:01:21.239 this beautiful country that we all love. Italy is so 21 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:23.840 much more than a list of the obvious highlights. It's 22 00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:26.359 where you feel like you have escaped a whole another 23 00:01:26.480 --> 00:01:29.799 world full of beauty, history, and culture. Plus there's a 24 00:01:29.840 --> 00:01:33.920 healthy dose of chaos to keep things real. You probably 25 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:36.400 already know that, and that's likely why you're hear and 26 00:01:36.680 --> 00:01:38.719 today I want to talk to you about something that 27 00:01:38.799 --> 00:01:41.599 I get asked about a lot, and that's when to 28 00:01:41.640 --> 00:01:45.560 start planning the trips and more importantly, where to start. 29 00:01:46.200 --> 00:01:48.879 So if twenty twenty seven is your year for Italy, 30 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:51.959 this episode is for you. We are going to walk 31 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:55.000 through some important things to consider before you get deep 32 00:01:55.000 --> 00:01:57.959 into the weeds of your travel planning for your trips 33 00:01:57.959 --> 00:02:01.040 for next year, and just like every other country on Earth, 34 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:03.200 there are some quirks of traveling in Italy that are 35 00:02:03.200 --> 00:02:06.359 worth knowing upfront, like the best times to travel to 36 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:09.919 certain places like the Amalfi Coast in Sicily, and where 37 00:02:09.919 --> 00:02:12.439 and where to skip if you're not a big fan 38 00:02:12.520 --> 00:02:15.479 of crowds. I'm going to walk you through the initial 39 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:18.280 stages of planning on the podcast today and give you 40 00:02:18.319 --> 00:02:21.759 some things to get your trip organization underway. If you're 41 00:02:21.800 --> 00:02:24.439 stuck in dream mode, then in a couple of weeks. 42 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:27.199 We will also be running a free online event on 43 00:02:27.319 --> 00:02:30.199 Zoom where we will dive deeper into planning your trip 44 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:32.960 in more detail. I will tell you more about that 45 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:36.680 at the end of this episode. So to get it started, 46 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:39.080 let's have a think about what kind of trip you 47 00:02:39.080 --> 00:02:41.360 are taking. For most of us, the way that we 48 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:44.439 travel has evolved over many years. What works for me 49 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:47.240 in my twenties, which was interrailing around Europe on a 50 00:02:47.240 --> 00:02:50.000 budget of about twenty dollars a day, with very little sleep, 51 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:54.599 trying to maximize stops and cities, and more funds allocated 52 00:02:54.639 --> 00:02:58.080 to wine and nightlife activities than cultural pursuits. And it 53 00:02:58.120 --> 00:03:00.599 looks nothing like the way that I travel today, And 54 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:03.560 thank goodness for that, because it was exhausting. Those were 55 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:07.400 really really fun times. But as life continues, kids come along, 56 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:10.919 your life changes, and your tastes become, let's just say, 57 00:03:10.960 --> 00:03:14.240 a little more refined. The style of travel that you 58 00:03:14.360 --> 00:03:17.240 might choose changes too, and it might not. And you 59 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:20.719 know what, that's a beautiful thing, actually, because as we 60 00:03:20.879 --> 00:03:24.759 grow and evolve, our travel style changes and we start 61 00:03:24.759 --> 00:03:27.960 to see places and people through a completely different lens. 62 00:03:28.919 --> 00:03:30.840 On this podcast, we are not here to tell you 63 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:33.400 how you should travel, because that is such a personal 64 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:37.560 thing based on your preferences, your budget, and your life stage. Instead, 65 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:40.120 we are here to share options that you might not 66 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:42.680 know about and which could make all the difference to 67 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:45.919 the experience that you want to have in Italy. I 68 00:03:45.960 --> 00:03:48.159 remember when I first started traveling, I was very much 69 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:50.479 about seeing as much as I could, and I'd map 70 00:03:50.479 --> 00:03:53.439 out itineries more in terms of logistics and places rather 71 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:56.039 than the feeling or experience that I wanted to have. 72 00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:59.439 But I think regardless of how you travel, it really 73 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:01.960 is important to step back before you do anything and 74 00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:04.919 think about that type of experience that you want in 75 00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:08.080 the time that you have available before you even book 76 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:10.879 a thing, because doing that will be your north star 77 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:15.199 as you make choices along the way. So here's an idea. 78 00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:17.959 How much time do you have? Most of our American 79 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:21.199 and Canadian listeners have a limited amount of vacation time 80 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:24.560 and usually plan trips of around two weeks. Our British, 81 00:04:24.639 --> 00:04:27.920 Irasian European friends can pop over for a weekend trip 82 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:29.959 and yes, we are very jealous of you and don't 83 00:04:30.040 --> 00:04:32.600 understand why you don't do it more often. And for 84 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:36.439 my fellow Aussie's Kiwis and anyone in Asia, Africa or 85 00:04:36.519 --> 00:04:39.319 South America which we do have listeners from which is 86 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:43.160 quite amazing. These trips are usually part of an extended vacation, 87 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:46.879 sometimes three to four weeks, which in reality is the 88 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:48.560 minimum if you're going to be sitting on a plane 89 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:51.839 for twenty four hours there and back. So you need 90 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:54.199 to understand how much time you have available. And then 91 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:56.680 it comes down to how do you want to travel. 92 00:04:56.959 --> 00:04:59.199 Do you want to slow a trip where you explore 93 00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:01.879 the back roads, stay in small towns and villages and 94 00:05:01.959 --> 00:05:04.759 go deep into local culture. Or do you want to 95 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:07.279 relax by the sea and soak it all up Lido 96 00:05:07.399 --> 00:05:11.879 by day, Passagata by night and maybe waking up to 97 00:05:11.959 --> 00:05:16.199 the sunrise over the Terrannian Sea, or maybe all about 98 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:20.240 the culture and want a deeply educational experience. Many of 99 00:05:20.240 --> 00:05:22.639 you travel for food, and I have to say that 100 00:05:22.759 --> 00:05:25.199 is a great theme for your Italy trip. And there's 101 00:05:25.199 --> 00:05:28.160 also the classic first trip that covers the major cities. 102 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.920 But again this can be approached in many different ways. 103 00:05:31.319 --> 00:05:34.040 Here's the thing. Most people skip. They go straight to 104 00:05:34.439 --> 00:05:36.680 where they're going to go. So they might be thinking, oh, 105 00:05:36.680 --> 00:05:38.600 we're going to go to Rome and Florence and Tuscany 106 00:05:38.680 --> 00:05:42.319 or Sicily, the Italian Lakes or the Amalfi Coast before 107 00:05:42.360 --> 00:05:46.120 they have answered a more important question, and it's how 108 00:05:46.360 --> 00:05:49.720 do they actually want to travel? Because there is a 109 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:53.199 real difference between a trip that's built around slowing down 110 00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:55.639 in one region and really getting under the skin of 111 00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:58.680 that place and a trip that covers more ground and 112 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:01.920 you move a little fast and you hit the moments 113 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:05.560 that matter most before you go home, and neither is wrong. 114 00:06:05.879 --> 00:06:08.839 And I really want to emphasize that you can do 115 00:06:09.240 --> 00:06:11.800 whichever way you want to travel, and in fact, you 116 00:06:11.800 --> 00:06:14.920 can obviously combine both styles of travel, but they do 117 00:06:15.120 --> 00:06:18.120 mean different things for your planning. So let's start here, 118 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:20.800 and I've got a few questions that you should ask 119 00:06:20.800 --> 00:06:24.480 yourself before you start on your planning journey. And the 120 00:06:24.519 --> 00:06:26.920 first one is are you a slow traveler or a 121 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:29.600 see moore traveler? If you love the idea of having 122 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:32.879 a regular cafe bar, getting to know the neighborhood, and 123 00:06:32.920 --> 00:06:36.000 not looking at your map every ten minutes, you're probably 124 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:39.519 a slow traveler. You will want fewer bases and more 125 00:06:39.560 --> 00:06:42.439 time in each one. If the idea of sitting still 126 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:44.519 for four days sounds like a waste of time. That 127 00:06:44.680 --> 00:06:48.920 is useful information too, And look, everyone is different. I 128 00:06:49.000 --> 00:06:51.560 have changed a lot over the years, and I used 129 00:06:51.560 --> 00:06:55.120 to be a not sit still person, but these days 130 00:06:55.160 --> 00:06:58.560 I don't mind a little sitting around soaking it all 131 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:02.879 up action. So everyone is different and there's no reason 132 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:05.839 for you to adjust your travel style based on what 133 00:07:05.879 --> 00:07:09.920 anyone else thinks. The next question is are you considering 134 00:07:10.079 --> 00:07:13.560 driving or are you wondering about getting around by train? 135 00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:16.800 And this isn't just a practical question, it really will 136 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:19.600 shape the trip that you're going to create when you 137 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:23.199 go to Italy. Driving will open up the countryside and 138 00:07:23.279 --> 00:07:27.160 smaller towns and places that have no train station, and 139 00:07:27.240 --> 00:07:29.480 even in Tuscany, getting around by train is a little 140 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:31.959 bit problematic if you want to really go deep into 141 00:07:31.959 --> 00:07:34.439 the countryside unless you have a lot of time, which 142 00:07:34.600 --> 00:07:37.519 most people don't. But it also means that someone in 143 00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:40.279 your group cannot drink at dinner or if you want 144 00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:43.160 to go to a winery, and parking in Italian cities 145 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:45.720 and towns is really not that fun unless you treat 146 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:49.040 it like a competitive sport like my husband does. You 147 00:07:49.079 --> 00:07:52.079 can also try driving service if you like the idea 148 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:54.199 of driving, but this is not a budget option. You're 149 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:56.399 looking at around eight hundred euros per day and that 150 00:07:56.560 --> 00:07:59.399 is before any adjustments for fuel price increases that are 151 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:03.519 likely to be unless something changes radically with the situation 152 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:07.319 in the Middle East. The train is fantastic between major cities. 153 00:08:07.319 --> 00:08:10.160 It's comfortable and fast and I absolutely love it, but 154 00:08:10.759 --> 00:08:13.279 it slots you into a certain kind of itinery based 155 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:15.879 around cities. So I haven't think about this before you 156 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:20.199 start really planning because it does change things a bit downstream. 157 00:08:20.839 --> 00:08:23.319 But we also remember you can mix and match this 158 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:26.360 some train and some driving. Last year we did train 159 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:29.000 travel between Rome and Bologna and then up to Bolzano 160 00:08:29.079 --> 00:08:31.759 where we rented a car to explore south to roll 161 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:34.240 and we do this quite a lot, so mixing and 162 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:39.240 matching different transportation styles. But remember we have a lot 163 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:42.080 of experience driving in Italy and we enjoy it more 164 00:08:42.120 --> 00:08:46.519 my husband does, and so that's something that we don't 165 00:08:46.519 --> 00:08:48.759 think twice about. But if you're new to driving initially, 166 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:50.639 I would encourage you to go and have a bit 167 00:08:50.679 --> 00:08:54.840 of a research into what's actually required because it might 168 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:59.159 sound like a maybe more cost effective option, but there 169 00:08:59.240 --> 00:09:02.960 are toll and fuel charges and all sorts of other 170 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:06.440 complications around driving in Italy that you should have a 171 00:09:06.440 --> 00:09:08.399 little bit of a think about before you one hundred 172 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:12.519 percent to side. Another time, we had a solid base 173 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:14.480 for a week in southern Italy and then ditched the 174 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:17.960 car to go to Naples, Rome and Florence. So yeah, 175 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:21.679 there's different ways you can travel, and I think making 176 00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:24.840 sure that you are aware of the different options is 177 00:09:24.879 --> 00:09:27.600 a good starting point before you make any decisions on 178 00:09:27.720 --> 00:09:30.919 how you're going to get around the next question is 179 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:34.240 who are you traveling with. So a solo trip, a 180 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:37.120 couple's trip, a mother daughter trip, a group of friends 181 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:40.200 and they this is all different trips, and everyone has 182 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:45.080 different ways of traveling. Again, and people have different needs 183 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:50.120 and requests. Let's just say not to mention different travel styles. 184 00:09:50.799 --> 00:09:53.200 I once did a trip through France and Spain with 185 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:55.600 some friends that were let's just say they went very 186 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:58.480 adventurous eaters, and we ended up going for a Mexican 187 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:02.120 takeaway in San Sebastian. If you're a foodie you will 188 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:05.159 understand how this is one of my biggest travel regrets. 189 00:10:05.399 --> 00:10:07.279 I really should have gone off on my own that 190 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:12.440 night and gone to explore some of the most amazing 191 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:15.799 cuisine that comes out of that town. Anyway, I didn't, 192 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:17.759 So you live and you learn, and I just need 193 00:10:17.799 --> 00:10:20.559 to go back with my food loving family. The point 194 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:23.399 is the trip that works brilliantly for two people who 195 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:26.720 agree on everything looks quite different from the one that 196 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:29.879 needs to make for people happy. So have a think 197 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:32.639 about who you're traveling with and really make sure you're 198 00:10:32.679 --> 00:10:35.279 talking to everyone about what their expectations are that the 199 00:10:35.320 --> 00:10:38.960 trip art as well. The next question is what is 200 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:42.159 your budget orientation? And so this is not just about 201 00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:43.840 how much you want to spend on the trip, but 202 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:46.639 also how you will allocate your budget. So are you 203 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:50.600 happy to spend more to stay somewhere like spectacular with 204 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:55.360 somewhere with beautiful sea views and that has amazing food 205 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:58.639 and then cut back on activities, or do you want 206 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:02.120 to do more seymour as somewhere comfortable but not so special. 207 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:06.320 And again that's all personal preference. Nothing is wrong, but 208 00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:09.559 knowing which things you prefer really helps a lot when 209 00:11:09.679 --> 00:11:13.440 decisions get harder later on in the trip planning. So 210 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:15.440 the important thing here is to be really clear on 211 00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:17.840 your preferences and how you see your trip playing out 212 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:20.559 and The only person that can really tell you that 213 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:23.159 is you. I think it's super easy to see different 214 00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:25.879 itineries and things on YouTube and other platforms that you 215 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:30.559 think might copy or adapt, but I really encourage everyone 216 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:32.440 to think hard on what they would really like to 217 00:11:32.519 --> 00:11:36.279 experience for themselves. I've been around travel social media for 218 00:11:36.279 --> 00:11:39.120 a very long time now, over a decade, and what 219 00:11:39.159 --> 00:11:41.480 I've noticed is there's now such a push to get 220 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:45.600 people into a sausage factory of experiences and everything looks 221 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:48.759 a little the same. Here's an example that I can 222 00:11:48.759 --> 00:11:50.200 think off the top of my head, and it's this 223 00:11:50.360 --> 00:11:53.200 particular sandwich shop in Florence that is now all over 224 00:11:53.240 --> 00:11:56.879 Italy where people line up for a long time to 225 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:00.919 get this for culture full of cub meats, and personally 226 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:04.360 I think it's a meal for foot people, but it's 227 00:12:04.399 --> 00:12:07.399 a lot now. These people are the rare Italians who 228 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:09.759 know how to do social media, and really good luck 229 00:12:09.799 --> 00:12:12.080 to them because you know they've done an amazing job 230 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:15.039 of promoting their business. But all I can say is, 231 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:18.039 as a mom with a couple of tween ages who 232 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:20.200 get the hangrys, the last thing I want to be 233 00:12:20.279 --> 00:12:22.559 doing is standing in line for a sandwich for an 234 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:25.240 hour when I could have got something similar, tasty and 235 00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:28.919 much less photographed version at the market one hundred meters 236 00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:31.799 away in less than five minutes. So the point is 237 00:12:31.960 --> 00:12:33.440 you do you If you want to go to that 238 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:35.720 sandwich shop, go do it. If you want your travel 239 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:38.000 to be a bit more about self discovery, there are 240 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:40.279 other options, and I really do hope that you find 241 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:42.840 them here on Untold Italy because their goal is to 242 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:46.080 bring those to you. Now. Once you know how you 243 00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:48.919 want to travel, you can start thinking seriously about when. 244 00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:53.120 And this matters more than most people realize. Things change 245 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:55.879 in Italy depending on the season. The same place in 246 00:12:55.960 --> 00:12:59.399 April and the same place in August can be completely 247 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:02.519 different experiences. I wanted to give you an example, so 248 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:06.000 Sicily is a really great example of this. April and 249 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:10.320 early may absolutely stupendous in Sicily. It is the best 250 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:13.440 time to go in my opinion. The island is waking 251 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:15.960 up from winter. There is a great energy that you 252 00:13:15.960 --> 00:13:18.039 don't see later in the year when everyone in the 253 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:20.519 travel industry is starting to get a little bit tired 254 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:23.320 after a long season. And to top it all off, 255 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:26.720 there are so many local festivals and festivities around the 256 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:30.320 easter break that really bring everything to life. The weather 257 00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:32.399 is warm, but it's not too hot if you want 258 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:35.000 to travel around and visit some of the iconic sites 259 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:38.720 like the Valley of the Temples and Suggesta and exploring 260 00:13:38.759 --> 00:13:42.519 the markets in Palermo and Catania. And I can't recommend 261 00:13:42.639 --> 00:13:45.600 spring in Sicily more. To be honest, I absolutely love it. 262 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:49.679 On the flip side, August in Sicily is a totally 263 00:13:49.720 --> 00:13:53.519 different experience. It's for long, lazy beach days and there's 264 00:13:53.559 --> 00:13:56.320 no getting around this. It is really hot and it's 265 00:13:56.360 --> 00:13:59.200 not ideal for sight seeing and visiting ancient sites that 266 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:02.720 are highly expose to the elements. So here you can 267 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:06.639 see that you have one destination and there are different 268 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:09.759 times that suit different types of trips, so really have 269 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:12.639 a think about when you want to go and then 270 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:16.000 things will evolve from there. One important thing to note 271 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:20.519 is that traditionally Italy has defined travel seasons, so May 272 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:24.000 till the end of October is when Italians tend to 273 00:14:24.200 --> 00:14:26.639 open for the season, is what they call it. And 274 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:30.080 people in the travel industry outside of the big three cities, 275 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:32.720 so Rome, Florence and Venice and some of the major 276 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:37.519 tourist sites still generally follow this rule because they like 277 00:14:37.639 --> 00:14:41.240 to balance work and their rest time and they're quite 278 00:14:41.279 --> 00:14:44.559 fastidious about doing that. Pully is a great example actually, 279 00:14:44.600 --> 00:14:48.159 because things will really shut up later in the year 280 00:14:48.440 --> 00:14:53.480 and there's not usually as many services available for visitors. 281 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:57.559 It's sort of more geared towards locals, and even locals 282 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.360 in the travel industry will go off and you know, 283 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:02.000 do their own travels at that time, so you know, 284 00:15:02.039 --> 00:15:06.080 you get a lot of people traveling to Australia or Asia, 285 00:15:06.159 --> 00:15:10.120 and they do that because for them it's also cheaper 286 00:15:10.279 --> 00:15:12.600 and they get a big rest after a long, long 287 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:17.120 season of helping people enjoy their own country. So of 288 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:19.840 course up in the mountains it's slightly different because they 289 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:22.759 cater for skiing and snow season. But for the most part, 290 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:26.000 Italians who work in the tourist industry outside Rome, Florence 291 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:29.000 and Venice will take a longer winter break, and like 292 00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:31.360 I said, you're not going to find as many services, 293 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:35.720 and this will include things like ferries and boat tours 294 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:38.919 or other types of experiences that you might expect to 295 00:15:38.919 --> 00:15:41.840 be running. And that might be absolutely fine for you, 296 00:15:42.080 --> 00:15:44.320 but if you were expecting there to be a year 297 00:15:44.360 --> 00:15:48.399 round industry, catering to visitors, you might be disappointed in 298 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:52.720 some places outside the main tourist areas. So now let 299 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:55.759 me give you a quick picture of what each season 300 00:15:55.879 --> 00:15:59.960 in Italy means, and will sort of deep dive into 301 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:02.720 that later when we if you join me on the 302 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:05.759 webinar that we're going to be running, that's a quick rundown. 303 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:09.480 Spring and by this I mean after Easter, so April 304 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:11.639 and May is one of my favorite times. So I 305 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:16.519 mentioned Sicily and it is absolutely stunning in spring. So 306 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:20.080 just like there in Sicily, the whole country is waking 307 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:23.679 up from winter, and the energy is real, the light 308 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:26.559 is beautiful, and the days are really long after the 309 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:30.279 daylight saving time change in March. It's warm, but it's 310 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:33.720 not too hot, especially in the south, and the crowds 311 00:16:33.759 --> 00:16:37.960 haven't arrived yet in huge droves at most places, not 312 00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:40.639 the summer crowds anyway, So the crowds will be in 313 00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:42.840 the cities, but as you go out into the countryside, 314 00:16:42.840 --> 00:16:46.159 you don't have as have as many people cruising around 315 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:50.320 at this time. The flowers blank at the countryside, and 316 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:52.600 there is a little bit of risk of rain, particularly 317 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:55.600 in the north, but honestly, a rainy day in a 318 00:16:55.639 --> 00:16:59.320 small Italian town or like a city like Bologna or 319 00:16:59.440 --> 00:17:03.559 Florin with a cozy tretia and nowhere really to be 320 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:05.920 is not the worst thing that has ever happened to me. 321 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:09.839 It's actually quite fun. Back in a flash right after 322 00:17:09.920 --> 00:17:16.880 these messages if you've been dreaming of experiencing Italy the 323 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:19.640 way it's meant to be lived, slow, unhurried and with 324 00:17:19.759 --> 00:17:23.200 locals who open their homes and hearts. Our Untold Italy 325 00:17:23.240 --> 00:17:26.279 Tours are now open for twenty twenty six and beyond. 326 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:29.839 We handle every detail, so you can just show up 327 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:32.839 and soak in the magic. Spots are limited and many 328 00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:35.480 field months in advance. Check the link in the show 329 00:17:35.519 --> 00:17:39.200 notes or visit Untold Italy Tours dot com for details. 330 00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:46.039 Early summer so I'll kind of call that June is 331 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:49.200 still lovely in many parts of Italy, and it's before 332 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:51.279 it gets too hot, but it can be quite hot. 333 00:17:51.319 --> 00:17:54.640 I've had a few trips in June that have been 334 00:17:55.279 --> 00:17:59.119 very warm, but it is generally, especially the earlier part 335 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:01.920 of the month, it's just really lovely, and you will 336 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:04.720 start to find the heat in late June, especially in 337 00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:07.759 Rome in the south. In June, the school holidays haven't 338 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:09.799 started yet in most of Europe, so you don't have 339 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:14.079 a lot of families and people traveling around. But it 340 00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:17.000 can be busy and it can be hot in the south, 341 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:19.119 so it's a good time for staying in a villa 342 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:22.799 on Masaia and relaxing on the coast before all the 343 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:26.240 Europeans arrived for summer. Peak summer is July and August, 344 00:18:26.359 --> 00:18:29.720 and I'll be honest with you, it is really hot, 345 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:33.680 and it's when Italians and Europeans go on holiday themselves, 346 00:18:34.119 --> 00:18:38.039 which means in the big cities, some restaurants and shops 347 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:40.559 closed because the owners are going on their own vacation, 348 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:43.880 you know. So that gives it a different kind of 349 00:18:43.960 --> 00:18:46.920 vibe in places like Rome, but it might be for you, 350 00:18:46.960 --> 00:18:49.000 and I'll explain a little bit more about that later. 351 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:51.880 So at this time, the mountains, the coast and the 352 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:54.759 countryside are really wonderful, but they're heaving with people trying 353 00:18:54.759 --> 00:18:58.759 to escape the heat. I've actually had some lovely experiences 354 00:18:58.799 --> 00:19:01.480 in Rome in late August, and some of my favorite 355 00:19:01.480 --> 00:19:05.039 restaurants are closed then and people seem to stay away 356 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:08.039 due to the heat. But everything also seems a little 357 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:11.000 bit more languid, a little bit more lazy and less chaotic, 358 00:19:11.079 --> 00:19:13.720 and if you plan your days around having a little 359 00:19:13.720 --> 00:19:15.839 snooze in the middle of the day, it can be 360 00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:18.599 quite lovely. I've really enjoyed the last times that I've 361 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:21.680 arrived in Rome at the end of August actually, which 362 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:25.480 brings us to September in October, and they are arguably 363 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:27.680 the best months to travel all of Italy, and in 364 00:19:27.680 --> 00:19:31.519 fact are now undeniably peak season for English speaking travelers, 365 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:35.160 especially in the main cities and tourist areas. And that's 366 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:38.160 because it's still warm, but you won't get the oppressive heat. 367 00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:41.720 The cities are busy, but this is the time really 368 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:44.279 to go head off into the countryside and explore, because 369 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:48.480 the Italians and Europeans that go to those countryside mountain 370 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:51.640 coast areas in summer they've all headed back to work, 371 00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:55.319 and so it's also the time when the harvest and 372 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:59.240 the related sagre or food festivals are happening, so the grapes, 373 00:19:59.319 --> 00:20:03.480 the olives, truffles, pushiny mushrooms. It's really a food lover's delight. 374 00:20:04.079 --> 00:20:06.640 September and October are great in the cities. It's going 375 00:20:06.720 --> 00:20:10.039 to be super busy, but out in the countryside, it's 376 00:20:10.079 --> 00:20:13.759 really absolutely gorgeous, and that's why we have most of 377 00:20:13.799 --> 00:20:16.720 our tours running at those times throughout the year is 378 00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:22.119 in September and October because the conditions are excellent. Now 379 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:25.039 November through February is a mixed bag, and a lot 380 00:20:25.079 --> 00:20:27.079 of people don't like this type of weather. You know what, 381 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:30.359 I don't mind. I think it's lovely. But the big cities, 382 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:34.119 while they stay busy these days, even during this time, 383 00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:36.480 they're a little bit less busy, and it's kind of 384 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:38.960 more enjoyable because you know, it doesn't have the heat 385 00:20:39.039 --> 00:20:42.279 and you can wander around and avoid the huge crowds 386 00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:46.039 of summer and spring and autumn. But really the smallest 387 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:50.119 cities absolutely delightful. I just love the smaller cities in 388 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:54.119 the full and just wandering around. There's chestnuts, very sitting. 389 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:58.519 There's like cute little austerlia. You can zip into those 390 00:20:58.680 --> 00:21:02.599 and just go wandering in piazzas are really I love 391 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:05.440 a bit of crispiness in the air too, but that 392 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:08.400 means you definitely won't be swimming, but you will enjoy 393 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:11.839 the galleries and museums with fewer crowds. Eating at restaurants 394 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:14.680 where the all the Italians venturing back into their historic 395 00:21:14.759 --> 00:21:17.920 centers after the tourist peaks, and you'll be seeing Italy 396 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:21.720 in a completely different light. Some things do close, particularly 397 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:25.759 in smaller towns and coastal areas that gig more to tourists. 398 00:21:25.799 --> 00:21:28.960 But I do think winter in Italy is really underrated. 399 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:32.920 The exception to this rule, and I found this out 400 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:35.720 the hard way, is the period between Christmas and New Year, 401 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:38.079