1.Visit Palermo, recently inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list for its Arab-Norman architecture, and savor a cannolo at Oscar or Cappello. Yes, in winter!
two. Continue gastronomic tourism in Palermo . The arancina of the Antica Focacceria S. Francesco is another must-see in the city. This temple of Sicilian street food – which has another location in Milan – was one of the first to rebel against the 'pizzo' (mafia tax) and is a symbol of ethical tourism on the island.
3. Take a granita and a brioche in the Duomo Square of Cefalù , after having spent the afternoon in the old fishing port, with its characteristic houses hanging over the sea.
4.Take a dip in La Scala dei Turchi and stay in one of the bungalows in the homonymous resort, which also has an outdoor swimming pool, to those days of extreme relaxation, in which we get lazy to go down to the beach...
5.Go back in time by watching a classical play at the Greek Theater in Syracuse.
The Scala dei Turchi
6.Walk along Catania's seafront promenade and treat yourself to gastronomic homage at Il Cantiniere. Lasagna, pear and parmesan risotto or i taglieri (cheese boards and typical Sicilian cured meats) are some of the most famous dishes of this restaurant.
7. Get away from the cars, the traffic and the madding crowd in the Aeolian Islands.
8. Dominate Sicily from La Rocca di Cerere de Enna, also called the navel of Sicily. On clear days you can see the Etna Volcano in all its splendor.
9. Take a boat ride from Monopoli to Polignano a mare, eat at the restaurant of the ** Grotta Palazzese, carved out of a cave overlooking the sea, admiring the statue of Domenico Modugno** – the author of Volare, among other hits of Italian folk song -.
Visit the navel of Sicily
10.Stay in a 'masseria' in Apulia. The 'masseria' is the typical farm in the rural areas of this Italian region. It is usually surrounded by green hills and centuries-old olive trees. In recent years, these buildings have been renovated to house restaurants or hotels. Of course, maintaining its original charm, highlighted by the white lime on the outside and the natural stone for the interior design.
eleven. Travel to Lecce, also known as the 'Florence of southern Italy' , famous for its peculiar baroque style, influenced by the Spanish plateresque and which spread in Salento from the mid-seventeenth century. Among the most important works, we highlight the spectacular Piazza del Duomo dominated by the Cathedral and the Seminary, whose well, located in the courtyard, enjoys a good state of conservation and is rich in sculptural ornamentation.
12. Eat a pizza at Da Michele, in Naples, the best pizzeria in the city and therefore, in Italy. Despite this, it has not lost an iota of its essence since 1870. In addition, they only make two types of pizza: the Margherita and the Marinara. Well, no, it is not a restaurant for modern people.
13 Get lost in the Royal Palace of Caserta , a baroque building that was commissioned by King Charles VII to serve as the administrative and court center of the new Kingdom of Naples, as well as a symbol of royal power. What is the largest royal residence in the world, with more than 2 million cubic meters, is also often the setting for many Hollywood blockbusters.
Lecce, the Florence of Southern Italy
14. Rent a scooter and tour the Costiera Amalfitana.
15. Melt your credit card on Via Condotti in Rome and take a break in the beautiful Spanish Steps, after having watched Michelangelo's Universal Judgment live.
16. Bathe in the middle of nature in the natural pools of the Termas del Bullicame, in Viterbo.
17.Vibrate to the **jazz music that surrounds the city of Perugia in July** and recharge your batteries in the Filodolio restaurant specializing in Umbrian cuisine.
Michelangelo's Universal Judgment or Stendhal Syndrome
18. Be spellbound by the majesty of the Duomo of Orvieto , with its two-tone façade with golden threads that glisten in the sun, the interior frescoes and the sculpture of La Pietá. It is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Italian Gothic.
19. Play at being one of the protagonists of Entre copas, strolling through the vineyards and cellars of Tuscany.
20.Contemplate The Annunciation by Leonardo da Vinci, David by Michelangelo, La Primavera and The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, along with other art masterpieces of all time, in the Uffizi Gallery.
21. Goofing around in Pisa to take the 'perfect' photo next to the famous Leaning Tower.
Grotta Palazzese
22. Running through the Plaza del Campo in Siena, the same one where the Palio is celebrated and which is considered one of the best medieval squares in Europe.
23. Ride a bike, canoe or car to get to know the Maremma Natural Park where the Maremman wild boar, the Maremman cow or the osprey live, among many other species of special interest.
24. Spend a whole day in Ravenna (a World Heritage city) in search of the Paleo-Christian and Byzantine monuments and religious buildings designated by UNESCO for housing the best mosaics in the world, made with great mastery and perfection. The richest mosaic heritage of humanity dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries is preserved here.
25.Get to know the city of Fellini, Rimini, walking around the Covignano Hills and having a wine and a 'piada' in one of the bars in the old town. Piadina is a puff pastry made with wheat flour, pork fat or olive oil, salt and water, and is usually filled with cheeses, sausages or vegetables.
The best pizza in the world? Try Da Michele and decide for yourself
26. Take a selfie in Piazza Santo Stefano or in the seven churches of Bologna and continue shopping under the arcades in the area. These seven chapels represent the oldest religious construction in the city , evoke the settings of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and await inside remains from the Roman, Byzantine and Longobard eras.
27. Reserve a table at Massimo Bottura's Osteria Francescana, three Michelin stars and best restaurant in the world 2016 according to The World's 50 Best Restaurants.
28. Stroll through Ferrara and stop to eat at Al Brindisi, very close to the Cathedral, to taste the 'salama da sugo', a sausage made with pork, very typical of this area of Emilia Romagna. This osteria, dating from 1435, is mentioned by Ariosto in his comedy La Lena and appears in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest in the world.
29. Getting lost in the old town and the port of Genoa, eating at Sá Pesta while ordering a focaccia and finish with a sweet bite, having an ice cream in the Boccadasse district.
Dedicate a day to Ravenna
30. Summering in true La Dolce Vita style in the Cinque Terre , that is, the portion of the coast formed by the five towns of the province of La Spezia (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore) washed by the Ligurian Sea.
31. See the deer in the dunes of Piscinas (Sardinia) at sunset.
32.Dreaming with the greats of Italian and international celluloid at the Turin Cinema Museum, located in the beautiful Mole Antonelliana.
33. Have a coffee with George Clooney at Lake Como.
Tour La Spezia and be amazed by towns like Manarola
3. 4. Be seen by the Victor Emmanuel II Gallery in Milan and observe the Duomo in all its splendor from the terrace of La Rinascente , after having contemplated The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci , which many experts and art historians consider one of the best pictorial works in the world.
35.Have a Spritz at Il paradiso perduto, in Venice, and gawk at the spectacular beauty of St. Mark's Square.
36. Touch Juliet's bosom in search of luck in Verona and attend the opera in the city's famous Roman amphitheatre.
37. Make the appetizer -the Italian, from 6:00 p.m. – at Osteria dalla Gigia in Treviso, savoring a Prosecco or a Cedrata.
Lake Como
38. Toast with Centenario beer, a raw specialty that cannot be bottled and that is made in the Pedavena Brewery, in Pedavena (Belluno).
39. Skiing in Cortina D'Ampezzo and in the Dolomites , declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
40. Enter a wine bar in any Italian city and enjoy the oenological wealth of this country. Because there is a lot of life beyond Lambrusco.
41. Eat a hot croissant, freshly baked, at dawn, after a night out, wherever you are.
* Published on 01.10.2017 and updated on 02.13.2017
Have a Spritz at Il paradiso perduto in Venice