Get to know……
Experiencing Italy for the first time is one of those trip that most us always wanted to try. However, when at the verge to take the decision to go, one generally find himself full of doubts, questions, and maybe worries. This is due to the difference culture from an Anglo-Saxon country and a Mediterranean country. We than decided that it would have been good to write a small guide on how to do it so that the first trip would be one of the most enjoyable travel experience that you will ever do.
Italy is one of the most visited country in the world, the reason that will bring you here are diverse in many ways that anyone will have their own: the culture, the cuisine, the history, the fashion, the craziness of their inhabitants and of course the art. Italy is the country with that contain more World Heritage Site than any other country.
Britons in general love to visit Italy and this is a long going relationship dated back to the 17th centuries when the Grand Tour started. Back then It was a right only reserved to aristocrats, but it developed in the 18th century with literate and researcher and exploded in mass tourism in the late 19th and 20th century.
So, what is it that makes this country a so desirable destination? Anyone would have their own view but let us tell you our reason.
How to orientate
For a novice to the country there are 3 main cities that you would have to explore first: Rome, Florence and Venice. Despite here at repitaly.com we specialise in your “Next Trip” we cannot deny that visiting this 3 is a priority as they are able to concentrate the gist of the experience all in themselves. Indeed, here you would find all the content listed above. Who would not want to see the Colosseum, the Sistine Chapel or St Peter Church (Rome)? Have you ever heard of the Uffizi Gallery, Santa Maria Novella church or Ponte Vecchio (Florence)? Ask your partner if they would not want to have a stroll in the Canals with a Gondola starting from St Marco Square (Venice)?
The food
In the same way, those 3 cities would let you explore the food identity that made Italy the most famous food destination in world.
Olive oil, tomato, pepper and pasta
When in Rome you would have to try Pasta in one of the many different sauces, the most of it is for sure the Carbonara but also you will have to have Amatriciana, Cacio e Pepe, or Pasta and Ceci (chickpeas). This come from a poorer kitchen historical identity (mainly with agricultural products and not too much of meat present) and as in fact you would notice the difference once in Florence.
A highly aristocratically society with the Medici family is a tradition that you can also see in the food. Here you will have much more meat based kitchen with the famous Fiorentina Steak (cut from the loin, just below the rib cage and above the round or rump) but you would also have Lampredotto or an abundant use of game meat like Lepre (Hare).
Seafood Salad in Venice
While in Venice, a sea city, you would find many and various dishes with fish: Sarde in Saor (Marinated Sardines), Baccala (Cod), Risotto with fish but they are also world famous for the Liver venetian style.
Do your research before you leave
Caption taken from across the river
Taking Rome as first goal, this is a city which is up for 28 centuries since 753 BC, therefore, as you would expect, there are a lot of marks left from the previous generations so if you plan to see them all you would probably need a good couple of years of constantly going out every day and exploring the city. I am sure that you would not have that amount of time available, so you would need to pick and choose. As the amount of location is so vast for your first trip we would suggest sticking with the main location. By doing so you would need a good 4 or 5 days to be merely satisfied.
The same goes with Florence. Slightly younger city dated back in 200 BC it would still have plenty of locations, churches, palaces, shops, restaurants, statues and corners for you to explore. Not to exclude the Uffizi Gallery that alone would take you a good half a day. 3 or 4 days would be enough as first timer. You would reserve more for your next visit .
Typical masks during the famous carnival
Venice is all about the taste of Italy and the sensation that you have while in there. The romanticism flow like its numerous canals and by simply doing a little of research you not only experience it all, but you would get some more. Some crazy adventurous declare that you can visit the city in one day, maybe few hours, we do not recommend that, but 2 or 3 days would be ideal.
By doing this program you already filled 12 days of full day’s activities, if you also consider the travelling between one place and another and also the resting time for sure would need at least two weeks.
Travelling tips
If you stick with the above plan, you would not need to rent a car and you can rely to public transport. They are worldly famous to be not the best in the world but in within those cities and for a limited amount of time they will be enough.
Not only that, you would save time parking and traffic can spoil all your programs and in Venice for example, there are no cars!!!
You will save money as the rental companies are not as cheap as you would think, parking nearby city centre can be costly and by simply not be familiar with the sign you might end up in a Resident Controlled Zone where a fine might hit you.
Lastly you might save some hassle too, as Italian drivers are also famous for their animosity while behind the wheel. However budget some hassle in your personal recipe for the trip success as you might have to include public transports delays, cancellations, or strikes before you reach your destinations.
Enjoy!!!
This was not meant to be a detailed guide on what exactly to do and how, this was more a tasting, a reminder if you will, of what the Italian experience can be. It was meant to remind you how great it was to come here for the first time and how great it would be to come again, repitaly.com aim to fill the purpose. Come back and allow us to bring you to real essence that this country represent within Europe but also within the world.
Using our services, you will learn to love, and chose, so much more than the big 3 for example Sicily, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Apulia, Sardinia, Cinque Terre, Umbria and many more. You will find detailed packages specifically tailored to leave you a world of memories.
Lastly you will be tear apart by the simple process including our astonishing method of payments!
