Italy

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Italians call it Il Bel Paese, the beautiful country, for good reason. It seems that in Italy beauty is the driving force for everything. This is evident in all things Italian. Breathtaking landscapes, magnificent architecture, superb art, top fashion, exquisite cuisine, fantastic cars and unique scooters, all have one thing in common: they are beautiful. It is as simple as that.

Our love for this country started from our very first trips there and is growing every time we visit. Its beauty often leaves us speechless and unable to express the feeling we get when we are in Italy. We feel at home more than we have ever felt in any other place, our own country included.

Our life’s goal and dream is to see as much of our beautiful world as possible. However, if we ever faced the impossible dilemma of having to choose whether to see the whole world but never to visit Italy again or to only travel to Italy for the rest of our lives, we believe we would wholeheartedly choose the latter.

So, read on and get to know Italy through the eyes of two travellers whose hearts are forever left in the most beautiful country in the world.

Our Grecia Salentina Trip: Making Friends in Italy’s South

When we were kids, our school teachers would go on and on about how Ancient Greek settlers founded many important towns in Southern Italy. All this sounded really exciting. For 15′ or so. However, as grown-ups and avid travellers, we were fascinated by the idea that there are still Greek communities in Italy’s Deep South and genuinely intrigued by the prospect of visiting some of them one day. So, once we decided to visit Puglia, we were determined to explore as many of the region’s Greek towns as possible. This is why we planned a 2-day Grecia Salentina trip as part of our two-week Puglia itinerary.

Why Visit Matera, Italy’s Ancient Cave Town

Do you believe in love at first sight? We do. Our love affair with Matera started the very second the existence of this ancient cave town in Southern Italy came to our knowledge. We don’t remember exactly when that was, but as soon as we googled Matera and hit the Images tab, we were hooked.

Venice Islands: The perfect Venice day trip

Once in Venice, it is highly unlikely that you will want to let it out of your sight. It is a city of unique, almost dreamy, beauty. That’s why we are adamant that travellers should not do Venice in a day but try to spend as much time as possible there. This way, there will also be time to visit the nearby Venice islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello and enjoy one of the best day trips from Venice.

Venice boat tour: A unique experience

Venice is a destination unlike any other. The floating city got us under its spell from the very first moment we laid eyes on its beautiful canals and pastel-coloured buildings. Walking around Venice’s picturesque cobblestone streets is enchanting. Yet seeing the city from the water is pure magic. Be it a private gondola ride, a vaporetto ride or a Venice boat tour the best vantage point to marvel at the charms of La Serenissima is the water.

The best gondola ride in Venice

Undoubtedly, the gondola is the ultimate symbol of Venice. It’s hard to imagine that the sleek black vessels used to be colourful in the past. The noble families who owned gondolas used them as a means to show off their power thus turning their lush decoration and vivid colours into some kind of competition. It was in the early 1600s when the Senate decided to bring this competition to an end by forbidding all other colours but black. Evidently, a gondola ride is among the top things to do in Venice.