One of the most famous towns of Piedmont, Italy has to be Asti. This charming town is world-renown for its wine, however, Asti offers far more things to do than just enjoy wine. This smaller city offers the charm of bigger cities without the crowds, some notable museums, and some beautiful churches. Follow this guide to Asti to discover the best things to do in Asti, Italy!
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5 reasons that you must visit Turin, Italy’s most underrated city
Of all the major Italian cities, perhaps the most underrated one is Turin (or Torino in Italian). While most have probably heard of its eponymous shroud, many people may not know much else about it.
Did you know Turin was the first capital of unified Italy, the epicenter of Italian cinema, the birthplace of Nutella, home of Fiat, and the main city in the region where wines such a Barolo originate?
This city is an amazing place of history and beauty, nestled against the Po river and sitting at the foot of the Alps. read on to find out about Torino and why you should visit Turin.
…Sagra di San Michele: A picturesque abbey near Turin
One of the most stunning day trips from Turin had to be the Sagra di San Michele. This stunning abbey on top of a mountain has been a pilgrimage location for thousands of years and remains a symbol of Piedmont. Recently, I visited this abbey, which was the inspiration for Umberto Eco’s The Name of the Rose!
…Italy: Trendy Travel for Modern Travellers
Ladies and gentlemen, trailblazing vagabonds and avant-garde voyagers, fasten your cerebral seatbelts, for we are embarking on an interesting, labyrinthine journey through the land of Italy, where the contemporary traveler is beset by choices as myriad as the stars. The staid travelogues of yesteryears are jettisoned into oblivion as we navigate the byzantine byways of Italy’s trendsetting havens. Whether you’re an arbiter of art, a gastronomic gadabout, or a seeker of social media eminence, Italy unfurls its patchwork of the transcendent for you. Prepare to lose yourself as we plunge into an immense cavalcade of audacious alternatives, where each enigmatic enclave conceals a cornucopia of experiences in the sinuous heart of the Mediterranean.
Before we move on though, into this realm of Italian adventure, we must first discuss something else: transportation. If you are landing in the floating city, then booking a Venice airport transfer will safely get you to your dandy destination. The same is true for the airports in all the cities listed below. AtoB airport taxi service offers a bespoke option in transportation that will exceed your wildest dreams; at least as far as transportation goes.
1. Milan: The Pinnacle of Sartorial Serendipity
Our inaugural outing commences in Milan, the epicenter of elegance, where fashion is not just a vocation; it’s a fervent devotion. Venturing down Via Montenapoleone, one encounters a pantheon of pulsating couturiers from Gucci to Prada, where the boulevards themselves metamorphose into runways. For those serendipitously ensconced in Milan during its hallowed Fashion Week, a spectacle of staggering proportions awaits, with high society’s glitterati parading their plumage in an ebullient pageantry of opulence.
2. Matera: An Enigmatic Liaison of Antiquity and Modernity
From the frenetic fashion fiesta of Milan, we catapult ourselves onwards to Matera, a city of enigmatic proportions, where the ancient harmoniously dallies with the contemporary. Here, dwellings of yore, hewn from the very marrow of the earth, are reincarnated into boutique subterranean abodes. The labyrinthine alleys, acknowledged by UNESCO as a paragon of heritage, beckon intrepid explorers to mince through a veritable catacomb of sensations, reaffirming that in the dance between antiquity and modernity, harmony is attainable.
3. Bologna: Gastronomy as Avant-Garde Artistry
Bologna, endearingly christened “La Grassa” (The Fat), beckons with a gastronomic odyssey that ingeniously entwines tradition with innovation. While reverence for the quintessential tagliatelle al ragù is obligatory, Bologna demonstrates its verve by transforming the Quadrilatero, a vestige of antiquity, into a nirvana for gastronomic aficionados. In the midst of its cobbled streets, discover a phantasmagoria of artisanal cheese, truffle-infused symphonies, and liquid ambrosia concocted by visionary mixologists.
4. Cinque Terre: Coastal Caprice Transcendent
For aficionados of vertiginous coastal vistas, Cinque Terre emerges as a masterpiece of maritime extravagance. These quintet of picturesque villages, perched precariously on the precipices of the Italian Riviera, evoke a reverie of coastal caprice. Trails of unparalleled splendor await exploration, and local libations beckon as a balm for the soul. Cinque Terre: where nature and nonchalance coalesce in a pas de deux of wonderment.
5. Florence: A Renaissance Reimagined
Florence, the cradle of the Renaissance, is not solely the abode of Botticelli and Michelangelo; it pulsates with the vivacity of contemporary creativity. Beyond the venerable galleries of the Uffizi and the Accademia, Florence metamorphoses during the Florence Biennale and the urbane graffiti that cascades through the streets of the Oltrarno district. It underscores that art and culture are mutable entities, transmuting ceaselessly through the currents of time.
6. Sicily: A Symphonic Melange of Cultures and Cuisines
Sicily, the Mediterranean’s most colossal isle, unfurls as a melange of civilizations and gastronomic delights. Whilst the august ruins and crystalline coasts unfailingly ensnare the wanderer’s gaze, it’s the visceral street-food spectacle that ignites the senses. Use an AtoB airport transfer and sample arancini, cannoli, and panelle from peripatetic purveyors, and succumb to the exquisite amalgamation of Arab, Norman, and Italian influences. Sicily: an aria of history and flavors in sublime harmony.
7. Turin: The Chocolate Enigma
Depart, if you will, from the whimsy of Willy Wonka, for Turin is the pièce de résistance for grown-up confectionary connoisseurs. Nestled in the north, this city is an illustrious enclave of chocolate, epitomized by the celestial gianduja, a rhapsodic duet of chocolate and hazelnut. Hire an airport taxi and immerse yourself in the storied chocolate emporia, engage in praline rapture, and contemplate whether the hot chocolate coursing through your cup is a beverage or a work of art.
8. Rome: Eternal Panache Unveiled
Ah, Rome! The Eternal City is a palimpsest of paradox, where ancient edifices and contemporary energy merge in a danse macabre of panache. Whilst the Colosseum and the Vatican punctuate the cityscape, it is the burgeoning districts of Trastevere and Pigneto that unleash Rome’s modern mirth. There, amidst chic enoteche and beguiling boutiques, one can book an AtoB airport taxi and partake in nocturnal revelry that refuses to heed the dawn’s call. Rome: the city where bygone grandeur and contemporary charisma coalesce.
9. Venice: The Lagoon’s Enigmatic Enchantment
Venice, the phantasmagoric aquatic realm, tantalizes the traveler with its labyrinthine canals and architectural relics. For the modern mystic, Venice presents a dual narrative: the Venice Film Festival and the Venice Biennale, where contemporary culture flourishes. Sojourn in boutique abodes that kiss the canals, reserve a Venice airport transfer to come here and dine in fashionable establishments by the water’s edge, and allow Venice to rekindle your passion.
10. Naples: Authenticity Unveiled
Our penultimate peregrination lands us in Naples, a city that wears authenticity as its crowning jewel. While Naples’ Neapolitan pizza is its leitmotif, the city is also an incubator of underground art and music. Immerse yourself in the auditory tapestry of Officina 99, bear witness to the kaleidoscope of street art that adorns the city’s visage, and surrender to Naples’ kaleidoscope of authenticity.
In summation, Italy unfolds as an anthology of modern odysseys, catering assiduously to the avant-garde sensibilities of contemporary globetrotters. From Milan’s sartorial symphony to Naples’ embrace of the unvarnished, each destination on this enigmatic itinerary encapsulates a symbiosis of history, innovation, and culture. So, summon your wanderlust, book your AtoB airport transfer, unleash your inner aesthete, and allow Italy’s enigmatic embrace to redefine your voyage. As the illustrious Italian fashion designer Miuccia Prada once opined, “What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language.” Let Italy’s dialect of modernity speak to your soul. Buon viaggio!
Introductory Guide to Via Ferrata: What to know before your first via ferrata
Via Ferrata is like rock climbing although instead of using a rope, you are securing yourself to steel cables that are drilled into the rock. This allows you access difficult/isolated mountainous areas that would otherwise require expert climbing skills/ropes or the willingness to climb very steep scrambles without any assurances of safety.
It allows you to also get a glimpse of the isolated, raw beauty of the mountains. For someone who is reasonably in shape, it’s a great way to get off-the-beaten path, work out while on vacation, and have an adrenaline-filled adventure!
In this post, this is a via ferrata guide for beginners with why you should try out via ferrata, the best gear for via ferratas, and where to do via ferrata.
…A Europe Itinerary for 2 months in Europe: Your perfect itinerary for Europe
On my first trip to Europe, I made a lot of mistakes as I was trying to see many capital cities as possible in the shortest possible time. Halfway through my Europe trip, I was exhausted and I felt like I had barely seen any nature or small cities.
I’ve been very fortunate to have taken multiple European backpacking trips and I’ve been living in Europe for nearly three years now. I hope that I can help a bit with helping you create your perfect European itinerary that mixes capital cities with cultural centers and stunning nature to show you the best of Europe in two months! You’ll find a downloadable excel to help you plan your own European trip at the end!
…How to do a wine tasting in Piedmont without a tour
For wine lovers, Piedmont is kind of the holy grail as it is the home place of Barolo and Barbaresco. Despite the prestige of these wines, you don’t get the crowds that you get in Tuscany (for now!). After years of hearing about the wine of Piedmont from my husband who lived in Turin, we spent several days driving around Piedmont tasting Piedmont’s best wines, including Barolo. This post will be discussing transportation, tips for making it easier to do wine tastings on your own in Barolo and Barbaresco, how to get winery tours (without spending hundreds), and how to do a tasting of multiple wines at once.
…A perfect honeymoon in Italy: Your tried & tested itinerary
My husband and I love to enjoy good food together, and there’s so much ancient beauty in Italy to experience, so spending almost two weeks in Italy was the natural choice for a destination for our honeymoon in Italy. Besides sitting fountain-side enjoying Caprese salad and a glass of wine, there’s also the beautiful countryside to take in while you’re traveling via train. This tried-and-tested itinerary for a honeymoon in Italy will take you to the highlights of Italy both attraction-wise and food-wise. This Italian itinerary is only for a ten-day trip, however, I include recommendations on easy day trips to add more time onto your honeymoon.
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